b'18 Partner News Winter 2021EnterpriseDistance Learning, Remote Learning and Online LearningUnderstanding the DifferenceStudying independently, without attendingto test their knowledge and understanding.If youre looking for quality teaching, where a College or University, has becomeThe feedback from the practice questionsyou can learn at your own pace and under increasingly popular over recent years,can include hints and prompts, helpingno pressure, then Engineers Academy is particularly amongst mature students andstudents to overcome common errors andperfect.those who are unable to attend College.correct their mistakes. When accompanied For prospective students who work awayby dedicated Online tutors to provideGraham Mills (Engineering Enthusiast) from home or work complex shift patterns,additional support and guidance, studentsprovided unique insight into his attending a College will most likely not bereport they feel engaged and motivated. experiences, following completion of an an option. HNC in Mechanical Engineering in around This approach enables students to study in20 months. Graham has subsequently This type of study has been given varioustheir own time and at their own pace, withprogressed on to the HND in Mechanical names, including Distance Learning,tutors to oversee their progress and provideEngineering:Online Learning and, more recently (sincesupport and encouragement. By leveraging COVID-19), Remote Learning.But whatthe benefits of new, interactive technologiesI went into this expecting a hard time as should students expect when choosing to and unlike traditional Distance LearningI had previously attempted A-Level Maths study by one of these methods?students are now able to track their ownand dropped out after two weeks. I was progress in real time, and tutors are able totrying, so the fact that I failed then but Traditionally, Distance Learning placed allidentify and support those individuals whosucceeded now can be credited to the the onus on the student. Study materialsmight be struggling. learning structure and methods used. The and assessments would be sent to thelessons are clearly laid out and excellently individual and they would be expectedAdam Senior (Senior Technician,paced, while the progression through the to work entirely independently, with verySiemens Gamesa Renewable Energy)topics will take you from a few simple little support or guidance. Students wouldrecently completed an HNC in Generalconcepts to complex calculations. Its a then return their completed work and awaitEngineering, despite working offshore ascredit to the design of the course that Ive their marks or feedback. Understandably,a wind turbine technician: completed it.traditional Distance Learning success rates were very low and consequently theDuring my off-shift, I would always putEngineers Academy LTD are an approved opinions of Distance Learning study werean hour aside each day to maintain goodPearson EDEXCEL centre and IET generally quite poor.progress throughout the qualification.Enterprise Partner. They currently For myself, the structure of the learningoffer Online/Interactive HNC and During the COVID-19 restrictions, manymaterials and video tutorials are fantastic.HND programmes in E&E, General and Colleges opted for Remote Learning, whereAny questions or queries are answered veryMechanical Engineering.lessons would still take place at a specificquickly, and tutors are always more than time of day, but these would be carried outhappy to help. For more information, please visit:using technologies such as Skype, Zoom orengineers.academyMicrosoft Teams, and would be facilitatedLiam Morris (Shift Operations Technician, by a classroom teacher. The studentsVeolia) shared similar opinions of the HNC benefited from the interaction with theirin E&E Engineering, having completed the teachers and peers, but only according toprogramme in under two years:the pre-arranged, and possibly somewhat limited lesson schedule.I will admit to being a little nervous when starting the HNC online, but the videos A new and innovative approach to Onlineand information packs give you all the Learning is an Interactive approach.information you need to succeed. Even when Shorter, pre-recorded video tutorials can beI needed a little extra support, the team watched by students at any time, with self- were always there to help and that help marking practice questions to allow themcomes quickly (within a matter of hours).'