If you’re considering taking an RICS distance learning course, but still unsure if the format is right for you, these are the answers to some common questions regularly asked by professionals before they’ve booked.
What exactly do you mean when you say this course uses a blended style of learning?
“Blended learning” is a learner-centred approach, where different teaching methodologies are integrated to create a training programme.
You learn via eLearning, recommend reading materials, and through independently applying your own knowledge via case studies. For each module, your trainer will post a question, designed to get you thinking about the topic being covered and you get an opportunity to discuss this with other learners. We also have live online sessions, giving you a chance to interact with your course tutor in “real” time. You will also complete a short quiz for each module, so you can keep track of your learning.
Remember we also provide free access to iSurv, our industry-leading online library, so you can access all the essential reading material, as well as any additional reading you may want to do.
I’m very busy with my day job at the moment, therefore what happens if I miss one of the live sessions?
Don’t worry if you a miss a live session – all our sessions are recorded and placed online with the rest of the course materials for you to watch later. And of course if you have any questions that haven’t been addressed, you can still post questions for the trainer to answer in our discussion forums.
How often will I hear from the course trainer?
Our trainers try to answer most queries within 48 hours of them being posted.
How do these courses support me in my day-to-day role?
You get to put all the theory you will learn into practice by independently completing case study work. Our courses are designed for you to feel confident and capable when you are faced with the same scenario at work. And remember, you will get the opportunity to engage with other learners, who are also professionals working in the same industry. Lots can be learned through sharing experiences and challenges faced in your day-to-day role.
How will I be assessed at the end of the course?
Our exams consist of a multiple-choice quiz. The duration depends on the length of your course, but a six-month programme will have 50 questions and you will have an hour to answer them all. Our exam windows open for a month – you will be provided with the dates via a course calendar made available to you at the beginning of the programme.
What do I need to get started?
You will need a device with internet access to study as a web browser is needed to access learning materials and activities. Any other computer-based activities you will need to undertake (such as word processing, using spreadsheets, or taking part in online forums), are specified in the module materials.
A netbook, tablet, smartphone or Linux computer may be suitable for some tasks, however we recommend you still have access to a suitable desktop or laptop device that uses the Windows or OS X operating system just to be on the safe side.
If you have any other questions please give us a call on +44 (0)24 7686 8584 or send us an email to training@rics.org The team will be happy to assist you.
Browse all RICS distance learning courses here.