Context: I’m pursuing a WSQ Diploma in Adult and Continuing Education (DACE). As part of my first module, CM1: Develop Practice Through Reflection (RP), I’m keeping an online journal of my reflections with artifacts (pictures). Hope it works out!
So after the copious errors in the learning materials (textbooks and the e-learning platform) for DACE CM1 and CM2, the DACE administrators/curriculum writers said they would look through the materials and revise them.
Note that these are formatting errors which block information or make it difficult to understand, ie:
- opaque boxes that block important text
- diagrams that get cut off
I’m not looking at grammatical or spelling errors, of which they are plenty, but it is easily decipherable/remedied. Formatting errors are not easily rectified, especially when you don’t have the source document.
The DACE Programme Management & Customer Support Manager agreed that 3 errors would be the acceptable limit, and said she would keep to that for the next module (CM3).
Unfortunately, even after they supposedly revised the materials… there are still errors. I’m not entirely sure if the DACE Programme Management & Customer Support Manager took it seriously, since she couldn’t stop laughing about it during our phone conversation… but here are the errors which made me stop and go back and check the previous versions of the documents.
So yes, it has gotten to the point where I am obliged to download multiple versions of the same textbook just to be able to read it properly. Here they are. This is from the revised versions as of 11 Dec.
Error 1: Wrongly bulleted information
Highlighted in red. The bullet points don’t make sense.
So I went to check a previous version… and those bullet points were originally one bullet point.
It is weird that new errors are introduced when one is revising materials, especially when no new content is added.
Error 2: Missing attribution
Highlighted in red.
You know, the teachers do emphasise the importance of referencing and attribution in our assignments, so… it is weird that there is explicitly a “Extracted from:” phrase, but no attribution.
Error 3: More wrongly bulleted information
Highlighted in red.
I kind of gave up after this one, because I am not the Institute of Adult Learning’s proofreader, and this is obviously a gap in their curriculum development team, and their DACE Programme Management & Customer Support Manager doesn’t seem to take this seriously.
Error 4: Outdated link
Above, you can see what the e-learning platform that IAL uses looks like. Yes, this is literally how it is designed.
Aesthetics aside, take a look at the link provided for the writing guide.
When you click on it…
Nope, it doesn’t work.
This is a common error in their e-learning platform across all the modules – links that just plain don’t work.
While I understand that links expire, what makes this particular error so egregious is that they claimed they updated it on Nov 26, but when I went through the materials on 11 Dec, this was the error.
I’m really not sure what to make of it. I mean, yes the link works, in the sense that a broken car with wheels that still turn “works” because it can move.
Reflections
Honestly, I’m frustrated. Every module has had so many errors in the learning materials. It impedes learning when you’re like “eh, what?” and you realise oh the information is missing/badly presented/blocked.
I’m not one of the curriculum writers, but it certainly feels like I am. And I’m not paid for pointing out all these errors (which are later rectified, but how about my time spent?).
I guess it’s a good reminder to be more conscientious about my own learning materials (the ones I write), and not to be so sloppy and slip-shod about written materials that go out to learners.
I really hope this doesn’t happen again.
How do I get them to take their materials seriously?
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I’m an independent scriptwriter who’s written for popular shows like Lion Mums, Crimewatch, Police & Thief, and Incredible Tales. I’m also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find me on social media as Optimarcus and on my site.
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Thank you for all your [Adult Learning] posts. I’m half way through ACLP. In the words of my classmate: “the coursework is unnecessarily tedious”. And I’m not so sure how much of what I am learning will be actively applied in future and if how we are learning is a good way. But I know one thing. I won’t be progressing to do DACE; life is short. All the best with your course.
Well, the trainers are good, just that you need to know who to talk to in the administration.