Distance Learning
On this page is full information about our new Distance Learning program. Please take some time to read it as there’s quite a lot to digest. (Or you can print it out - it prints without the header and footer.)
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About Distance Learning
This year’s course is fully booked. The next intake will be in October 2009.
You will be able to choose from nine modules which will be available to study from a location that suits you. All you need is access to the internet and the ability to take part in two practical experience days per module - one in the spring and one in the summer - which will be held at the college in Dromcollogher, County Limerick. The modules are nationally certified by FETAC and count towards a certificate in Organic Horticulture.
Modules
The modules that are available for study include:
- Organic Production Principles
- Organic Food Crops
- Soil Science and Growing Media
- Plant Science
- Plant Identification
- Sustainable Development
- Alternative Enterprises (Sustainable Woodland and Forestry, Organic Poultry and Organic Food Processing)
- Communications
- Work Placement (10 days if completing full certificate)
You can read full details about about each of the modules on the Distance Learning website
For 2009/10 our courses run from October 2009 until September 2010. Each module will require about 1 to 2 hours study per week to cover the basic syllabus. There are long holidays at Christmas, Easter and in the Summer. We recommend a maximum of four modules per year. This would allow you to complete a full FETAC Level 5 certificate over two years.
How much does it cost?
We have not confirmed prices for 2009 yet - the information below shows how much the courses were in 2008.
The costs for 2008 / 2009 are shown below. These are all inclusive and include practical days at the college, visits to farms and gardens and exam entry fees. These courses run for about 45 weeks (including holidays) and if you pass you’ll have NVC Level 5 certificates. Optional visits and workshops are also included in the price.
We are delighted to announce that this year all students will be eligible for a 50% grant. This is from the National Organic Training Skillnet. So the price you will pay is the lower number in the right column making the courses a real bargain.
|
Number of modules |
Price |
Price with Grant |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
€450 |
€225 |
|
2 |
€850 |
€425 |
|
3 |
€1,200 |
€600 |
|
4 |
€1,500` |
€750 |
|
More than 4 modules |
See below. |
See below |
We do not recommend that you take more than four modules per year as this would take a lot of time per week. If you are able to study full time you might like to consider being a day student at the college and complete 8 modules in one year. If you think you have the time to complete more than four modules in a year, contact us and we can discuss your requirements and a price.
If you’re going on to study a second year (having successfully completed four modules in your first year) we can negotiate a reduced price per module to help you complete the full certificate.
Even just studying one module is valuable. These are all FETAC NVC Level 5 modules that can be used as credits for different courses around the country. You can build them up slowly as part of lifelong learning. They all count as credits no matter how long ago you did them. When you have 8 appropriate modules you will have an NVC Level 5 certificate. You don’t have to do all the modules with us! You will receive an official certificate for any modules you complete.
In previous years most students did between 1 and 4 modules.
How do I pay and get on the course?
The first step is to register your interest. We will then send you more information and if you’re still interested we’ll phone for an informal telephone interview.
If you are accepted onto the course you need to send a cheque for the full amount made payable to “County Limerick VEC” to the college in Dromcollogher. Places are limited - so register your interest now! (If the course is full we will keep you on a reserve list and if anyone drops out in the first few weeks then we will offer you their place.)
Money back guarantee
We offer a money back guarantee whereby if you’re not happy within the first four weeks of the course we will refund you the full amount you paid (less €50 for administration costs). After the first four weeks there will be no refunds.
What format will the courses take?
Each of the modules available by Distance Learning covers the same syllabus as students attending the college for lectures. The only difference is that the course material will be delivered to you through the internet. The courses run from mid September to mid August (about 45 weeks including holidays).
Instead of going to lectures you will log onto our website and work through the course material each week. You will be set coursework exactly as residential students. In addition to using the internet to work through the material you will also be able to use the website to discuss things with other students and teachers.
Grow your own!
As well as just learning we also hope that you’ll do some “doing”! A major part of the courses is that by the end you will have grown your own fruit or vegetable crop. This can be in your garden, on a nearby piece of land - or even in a window box / roof garden. If you don’t have a garden you can still do the courses! We’ll give guidance and get you to report back how you’re getting on. We recommend using a camera to record you progress and even upload photos of how you’re getting on to the website.
Practical experience at the college
Twice during the year you will need to come to the college in Dromcollogher to complete the ‘practical experience’ part of the module. One session will be in the spring and one will be in the summer. There will also be an introductory day at the beginning of October at the college where we can all meet each other and find out more about how the courses will work.
At the practical sessions you will get to see the college gardens and complete the practical elements that are required to pass the modules (e.g perform soil tests).
There will also be optional visits and workshops throughout the year.
How is Distance Learning assessed?
If you want to pass a module you will need to complete some coursework (projects / practicals) and (for some modules) an exam which will be held in May. The exams aren’t too hard and we provide lots of help and revision. For modules with projects, these are quite short - often 1,000 worlds will do - they’re usually a write up of something practical you’ve done (e.g. how you set up a compost system). Coursework is completed throughout the year to give you something practical to do and to spread the load.
But I don’t want to take exams / assessments!
You don’t have to take the exams and hand in projects if you don’t want to be assessed. Some people choose to study the courses for their own experience but have no interest in the certification - this is fine and you will be very welcome on the course.
What will I need?
All you will need to take part in the Distance Learning courses is regular access to a computer with an internet connection. This could be in your own home, or in a library or internet cafe. It might also be useful to have a printer so that you can print material out for reference at a later date.
You won’t need to be a computer expert, and training will be available if you need to learn any new computer skills. However you should be familiar with using the internet or at least be prepared to learn as the course is dependent on the internet for delivery of materials. If you don’t get on with using a computer this course might not be for you.
You will also need to be able to come to Dromcollogher, Co. Limerick in the spring and summer for the practical parts of the courses (if you want to gain a certificate). The practical days are held on week days so you may need to take a day off work. Most of the modules only require a half day and we try to schedule similar modules together. We will also try to hold a weekend session for anyone who cannot get time of work to attend a week day session.
Will there be support from real people?
You will have access to telephone and email support so you will never feel that you are studying alone. You will communicate with the staff at the Organic College who teach the modules there so you will have direct personal contact with the course tutor. We will specify a regular day each week (Monday afternoons / evening) when tutors will be available to offer support, reply to emails and talk on the phone.
You will also be part of a community of people studying with the college and you’ll be able to share experiences with fellow learners using the internet discussion groups, chat facilities and by meeting face to face on the practical experience days.
How do I apply?
You can register your interest here
I’ve got some more questions…
Please contact us and we’ll do our best to answer any questions.
Why we’ve launched Distance Learning
We found that we were getting a lot of enquiries from people who had work or family ties and were unable to attend the college full-time. Now you can learn about organic growing and sustainability without giving up your existing commitments. Experience shows that distance learning courses build community spirit across large geographical areas as people share their experiences with fellow students using the discussion groups and by meeting each other on the practical parts of the courses. This ‘community building’ and ‘knowledge sharing’ complements our work on sustainability and helps to bring people together who may otherwise feel isolated by their location. We’re very excited about the potential for distance learning in the organic sector and look forward to giving many more people the chance to gain the qualifications they want.
