DISTANCE LEARNING
(a)A variety of methods is open to ATOs to present course material. It is, however, necessary for ATOs to maintain comprehensive records in order to ensure that students make satisfactory academic progress and meet the time constraints laid down in Part-FCL for the completion of modular courses.
(b)The following are given as planning guidelines for ATOs developing the distance learning element of modular courses:
(1)an assumption that a student will study for at least 15 hours per week;
(2)an indication throughout the course material of what constitutes a week’s study;
(3)a recommended course structure and order of teaching;
(4)one progress test for each subject for every 15 hours of study, which should be submitted to the ATO for assessment. Additional self-assessed progress tests should be completed at intervals of five to 10 study hours;
(5)appropriate contact times throughout the course when a student can have access to an instructor by telephone, fax, email or the Internet;
(6)measurement criteria to determine whether a student has satisfactorily completed the appropriate elements of the course to a standard that, in the judgement of the HT, or CTKI, will enable them to be entered for the Part-FCL theoretical examinations with a good prospect of success;
(7)if the ATO provides the distance learning by help of IT solutions, for example the Internet, instructors should monitor students’ progress by appropriate means.
(c)Where an assessment (e.g. planning, written, scenario or practical exercise, or other assessment) is conducted outside the classroom via distance learning, the ATO should have a procedure or process in place to establish that the student themselves have completed the assessment and that the assessment method(s) for that particular exercise has (have) been effective.