THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF DISTANCE LEARNING

Our Principal claims that he was given the following Ten Commandments of Distance Learning “by an angel - in a dream” following a night of extended revelry down the Plasterers Arms.

Nevertheless, one or two points might be worth bearing in mind when you talk to a potential distance learning provider

1. THOU SHALT NOT take a student’s money (e.g. via your website) without even talking to them or evaluating their suitability for the programme.
   
   A good distance learning provider will insist on a detailed and measured application process to ensure that you only enrol on programmes where you have a good chance of success -  and a good chance of completing the programme. Remember - if you withdraw from the programme because it proves to be unsuitable or because your motivation drops off, your distance learning provider will save all your tuition costs and will spend the ensuing windfall on stress management workshops and Feng Shui consultants. Something to bear in mind when you first talk to a potential provider!
   
   
2. THOU SHALT give your enquirers the chance to study a detailed Prospectus before making a decision and thou SHALT NOT rush them into it. (“50% off,” “Today, only 300 rupees!” “Enrol online and we’ll give you “The Complete Encyclopaedia of Wing Nuts” - ABSOLUTELY FREE!
   
   If your prospective distance learning provider engages in hard sell tactics, you need to ask yourself a simple question:  are they really concerned whether you will succeed or fail on the course once you have enrolled with them?  
   
   
3. THOU SHALT assign a specific named tutor whose directline number your students can ring and who specialises in the subject your students are going to be studying.
   
   All Oxford Open Learning GCSE and A level tutors are fully qualified teachers with many years of distance learning experience. Many of our tutors also act as examiners in the subjects they teach.
   
   In fact many set the examinations, write the questions AND mark the papers.   So you can be sure you will be given the best possible chance to succeed in the examinations. Ask your potential provider about the teaching qualifications of their tutors.
   
   
4. THOU SHALT keep in regular contact with thy students and ring them at regular intervals.
   
   All the research into distance learning shows that effective tutor support is the most critical factor in ensuring students complete their course of  study. It is amazing what a difference such support makes to your chances of  success. Chalk and cheese, as they say. (Although both are a good source of calcium.)
   
   At Oxford Open Learning we have systems in place to monitor every aspect of the support our tutors provide. In fact our systems are SO good we can monitor practically every aspect of their lives.
   
   
5. THOU SHALT NOT offer worthless Certificates and Diplomas which are not linked to nationally recognised qualifications.
   
   Despite any reassurances to the contrary, the Certificates and Diplomas offered by distance learning providers are more often than not worthless in the eyes of employers and the academic world unless they are linked to the National Qualifications framework. (I have a Certificate of Completion for eating a McDonald’s Happy Meal but it has so far only been accepted as a bona fide qualification when applying for jobs at the Child Support Agency)
   
   
6. THOU SHALT do a really good job so customers come back for more.
   
   If you are pleased with the service you receive at a garage or a restaurant you recommend it to your friends….right?
   
   If you receive lousy service you may not complain (well not if you’re British) - but you don’t go back. And you certainly don’t recommend it.
   
   Now consider this.
   
   More than 50% of Oxford Open Learning’s business comes from recommendations or from students coming back to take further courses with us.
   
   We’re proud of that. (And it keeps the chi energy flowing in our offices.)
    
7. THOU SHALT NOT prevent potential customers from seeing your course material.
   
   If your distance learning provider is confident in the quality of their distance learning courses they will let you see samples before you buy. What other product would you buy without first having an idea of what you’re buying? If your distance learning provider won’t let you see samples of their courses you might ask yourself why that is. (I would never marry one of my blind dates – although a high percentage of my dates are blind)
    
8. THOU SHALT provide model answers for your Tutor-marked Assignments and provide enough of them to give students the practice they need.
   
   If your course is offered at a cut price you can be fairly sure that it is in this critical area of tutor support where the provider will cut back on costs – and your motivation will suffer as a result. So you may get the course at cut price – but you will never achieve your qualification either! Most Oxford Open Learning GSCE and A levels include between 12 and 15 Tutor-marked Assignments (TMAs).
   
   Ask your provider how many TMAs are provided with each course.
   
9. THOU SHALT provide help and support with examination arrangements and will not leave students to fend for themselves.
   
   Trying to sort out your exams with Awarding Bodies and Colleges of FE can be difficult. Put it this way – rather like trying to overthrow a foreign government - you don’t want to do it on your own if you can possibly avoid it. At Oxford Open Learning we have a dedicated Exams Officer who is there to help you with your examination arrangements. She is the kind of person you would want watching your back if you were involved in heavy street fighting. She’s called Jenny. Which is quite a sweet sounding name really - and often lulls Awarding Bodies and FE Colleges into a false sense of security.
   
   So when you speak to a distance learning provider ask them if they’ve “got a Jenny”.  And, if not, be very afraid.
   
   
10. THOU SHALT provide students with their money back if they fail.
    
    At Oxford Open Learning we are so confident in the quality of the service we provide that we offer a FULL MONEY BACK GUARANTEE in the unlikely event that you fail your course. Why do we provide that guarantee? Because we want you to be completely satisfied with our service and to recommend us to other people. Ask your distance learning provider if  they provide such a guarantee.
    
    Note: If they offer to give you more money back than you paid them in the first place then it’s probably wise to enrol on as many courses as possible with them despite any reservations expressed above.