I enjoy volunteering so much that I decided I’d like to study for a qualification in Animal Care. I spent weeks researching distance learning courses. At 27 and with a mortgage to pay, I can’t quit my job and flounce off to college. I’ve also already put myself through four years at university so I can’t get any help with funding from the government, such as ILA support. This has meant that the course has to fit around my job and it has to be affordable. I also wanted to do a “real” course. I have signed up for distance learning courses before in French and Dressmaking and they have been really naff and didn’t result in an actual qualification of any sort.
Barony Collegein Scotland is a very well respected college which specialises in Land Work and Animal Care qualifications. In an ideal world, I would go to this college and study for an HND in Animal Care but, due to the aforementioned restrictions (I am old and skint) this just isn’t possible. So imagine my delight when I realised that they offer an affordable, distance learning qualification in Animal Care!
This is offered through distance learning providers DCL ,but the materials are prepared by Barony. The qualification you get at the end of it is a Certificate in Animal Care and it is the equivalent of the theoretical portion of an SVQ Level 2 in Animal Care. This means that should I ever become employed in animal care, I can complete the practical requirements of the SVQ separately.
So far I am loving my course. It is genuinely challenging (many distance learning courses simply aren’t), and the study materials I have been sent are fantastic. I have an actual textbook for a start! I also have Barony College workbooks to work through which is so much better than just reading page after page of text for a book.
The assessments are interactive, varied and difficult. I’ve completed multiple choice questions, essay style questions and labelled diagrams to name a few. Some are completed online and some you complete and post to the college for marking.
If you are thinking about distance learning I highly recommend DCL. I am paying for my course using interest free monthly payments and my deposit was only £20!
Is anyone else doing any distance learning? What do you think of it? It can be really hard to study by yourself at home rather than attending classes, but I’m not struggling too much because I love the subject I’m learning about.
Lisa x
