University changed modules

rasheed

Not sure if this is the correct section to post this but I need some advice.

I'm in the 3rd year of my university course and they've basically removed and replaced what I think was a key module. When I applied for the top up year I had to sign a form/invoice which showed the modules we were going to be studying, on this we were told to cross out ecommerce and leave advanced forensics (on a Networking & Forensics course) as these were optional modules.

About half way through the year our tutor informs us that we were going to be doing ecommerce instead as they didn't have the resources for the advanced forensics? If I had known that we were going to study ecommerce I wouldn't have bothered signing up as I have no interest in this. Can the university do this? Offer something and then half way through the year when the students are already on the course change it?

Fire_Fox

They can because they can't magic up staff or other resources, but the affected students could all get together and lodge a formal complaint if you feel it will affect your employment prospects. Do you know who your student reps are? Could you do a supervised 'independent study' module that is basically the same as the advanced forensics syllabus? Or a module from a different life sciences pathway?

rasheed

Fire_Fox wrote: »

They can because they can't magic up staff or other resources, but the affected students could all get together and lodge a formal complaint if you feel it will affect your employment prospects. Do you know who your student reps are? Could you do a supervised 'independent study' module that is basically the same as the advanced forensics syllabus? Or a module from a different life sciences pathway?

I understand that they can't simply pull staff or resources out of thin air but I feel that we should've been told about this at the beginning of the year so we would have had the opportunity to leave the course without paying any fees.

Ecommerce isn't even comparable to Advanced Forensics, it's far too easy, other students on a slightly different course (Software Dev) did this in the 2nd year.

The entire class isn't happy with this change so I'll look into making a formal complaint, what are the chances of getting a refund? They've never mentioned independent study or something similar so don't think it's possible.

agrinnall

Surely you'll have to study something or you won't get the credits that you'll need to graduate? Would it be better to make the protest but still do the Ecommerce module as a better than nothing option?

rasheed

agrinnall wrote: »

Surely you'll have to study something or you won't get the credits that you'll need to graduate? Would it be better to make the protest but still do the Ecommerce module as a better than nothing option?

Yes it would be better than nothing, but it's just a huge waste of time and money. The point is that the piece of paper at the end saying I earned whatever grade wasn't the main reason I applied for uni, it was to learn all about Networking & Forensics and then be tested on what I've learned. In 3 years we've done about 4 months of forensics and for about 2 of those months our tutor was some guy on youtube videos our real tutor gave us to watch.

amiehall

You need to get more involved with the "politics" at your university. I am a course rep and I sit on panels with other reps and the head academics at my school. That kind of meeting is the place to raise concerns about things like this. Find out who your reps are and make sure they've actually brought this up as an issue.

Sadly, universities do have to change modules sometimes. Often when experienced staff leave and the uni are left with no staff with relevant interests or expertise to continue that module. I don't think that they would consider having to change 1 module in 3 years as extreme or having moved the course particularly far away from what was originally advertised.

rasheed

amiehall wrote: »

You need to get more involved with the "politics" at your university. I am a course rep and I sit on panels with other reps and the head academics at my school. That kind of meeting is the place to raise concerns about things like this. Find out who your reps are and make sure they've actually brought this up as an issue.

Sadly, universities do have to change modules sometimes. Often when experienced staff leave and the uni are left with no staff with relevant interests or expertise to continue that module. I don't think that they would consider having to change 1 module in 3 years as extreme or having moved the course particularly far away from what was originally advertised.

They basically removed the forensics from 'Networking & Forensics'. The tutor we had for forensics in the 2nd year is still here, he's our course leader or w.e now.

What I find funny is that the tutor we have right now for ecommerce doesn't have a clue about the technical aspect, just goes through some presentations stating the obvious, gives us tasks to do such as "critically evaluating" a website which we've already done in the 1st and 2nd year. We even get asked what we want adding to the assignment to make it more security orientated (or actually course related). Is this normal? Shouldn't the tutor know what to include?

Unrelated question: Can somebody tell me how 'Work-Based Learning' is suppose to work. Does the student get a placement or is one provided by the university?

Fire_Fox

rasheed wrote: »

I understand that they can't simply pull staff or resources out of thin air but I feel that we should've been told about this at the beginning of the year so we would have had the opportunity to leave the course without paying any fees.

Ecommerce isn't even comparable to Advanced Forensics, it's far too easy, other students on a slightly different course (Software Dev) did this in the 2nd year.

The entire class isn't happy with this change so I'll look into making a formal complaint, what are the chances of getting a refund? They've never mentioned independent study or something similar so don't think it's possible.

You don't think or you know it's not possible? They may not mention it, it could end up a PITA for them to administrate especially if all the students want to do independent study in forensics and they all need supervising.

Whilst I can totally understand why you are annoyed, you are coming over as whinging about eCommerce (it's not relevant to the thread, you don't want to do it you want to do forensics end of). Also lacking in research skills which you really should have at this point in your course. Go away and find out about independent study and work-based learning modules: look on your university website and Google them and ask the course tutor. It doesn't help you if we spoon feed information.

rasheed

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You don't think or you know it's not possible? They may not mention it, it could end up a PITA for them to administrate especially if all the students want to do independent study in forensics and they all need supervising.

Whilst I can totally understand why you are annoyed, you are coming over as whinging about eCommerce (it's not relevant to the thread, you don't want to do it you want to do forensics end of). Also lacking in research skills which you really should have at this point in your course. Go away and find out about independent study and work-based learning modules: look on your university website and Google them and ask the course tutor. It doesn't help you if we spoon feed information.

The work based learning was last year and if I remember correctly the student handbook just mentioned how it will benefit all parties involved, this isn't important but just wanted to know how it's done elsewhere. I'll ask about the independent study, if my course tutor does say that it's possible I'll be even more annoyed as he clearly knew nobody liked the change.

I also found out that the students going onto the 3rd year next year will be doing advanced forensics as the university now has the expensive equipment it needed for the module. Oh well, doesn't matter anymore.