TL
Tristan L
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2020
15 Nov 2021, 15:42
Good, could be better.
First few years at IMM were great. Lecturers were lovely and made some cool friends along the way at night school. I took a break from studying and when i reregistered with IMM again, it just was not the same. Lectures are online and feel void of connection (not to the lecturers fault). They used to have great study guides for each subject, which has changed to online estudy guides only (which is funny in a 3rd world economy with intermitted power cuts) So you have to print out the estudy guide, which was designed for a website, so the format and paper efficiency is horrible when translated to paper, makes for a terrible learning base. So you're left with cold online lectures and a terrible study guide. If you don't study off of a PC screen, probably don't apply here.
Also, Covid seemed to have permanently change their business structure. EVERYTHING is online, from exams to lectures. There is no fun in IMM anymore and it has changed from an enjoyable journey to a formality for me to improve my career.
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Replies (3)0
Replies (3)
IMM Graduate School of Marketing's replyOfficial
16 Nov 2021, 08:22 Dear Tristan,
The IMM Graduate School strives to ensure that students enjoy their studies and engage with us throughout their study journey. We thank you for taking the time to provide your valuable feedback.
I can understand that you are frustrated and sympathise with you due to missing your MAR303B final assessment yesterday morning. It is imperative however to always raise any concerns you have via the appropriate channels, specifically via your ticket reference PNZ-***WM-342.
The IMM Graduate School is a distance education institution and students are therefore required to study independently and to pace and manage their studies. To assist our students to do so, we have put in place various measures to enhance your independent study. These include an ePacer, eDiscussion Forum, eMasterclasses and tutorials. It is hoped that students make full use of these measures to enhance their own studies.
The IMM Graduate School is one of only a few academic institutions in South Africa that did not lose a single academic week of the academic years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We were able to continue with the academic semesters by making use of our online platforms which have been in place well before COVID-19. We accommodated our students during the lockdown period by means of multiple strategies which amongst other things included being available online during lockdown levels 5, 4 and 3 through multiple communication platforms, including the Helpme email address which you have used.
While for most of 2020 and 2021, we have had to contest with the waves of COVID-19 infections, and to continue to protect and support not only our students, and their families, but the IMM Graduate School staff and their families, many of the support activities have had to, out of necessity, be moved to the online format. With a 4th wave predicted over the December period, we could not encourage contact between students, and staff members alike, and have maintained our availability and support wholly through this period. Saying that, we still offer face-to-face tutorials at regional offices (both daytime and evening tutorials) - the same ones you attended in 2016/2017, as well as students being permitted to access the regional offices (strict COVID Protocols app****) in instances such as:
1. Booking a place to write their Final Assessments;
2. Full use of the library and WiFi facilities;
In line with best practice in online instructional design, study material is provided in eStudy Guide format to enhance your understanding of the learning material through the inclusion of multimedia and continuous self assessments to create a meaningful context for learning material. The eStudy Guide allows for the provision of knowledge, demonstration of knowledge, for you to practice the application of knowledge and addresses the learning styles of ‘see, hear and do’.
You will note that your study guide has been separated into units, known as ‘content chunking’, in line with good instructional design and learning principles. The benefits of content chunking are that it facilitates memory, manages the cognitive load and helps you to organise knowledge.
To address ease of navigation through your learning material, at the start of each unit, you will find shortcut buttons which take you straight to the section you are studying. A short instructional video (on eLearn under Study Skills in My Academic Support) will show you how to print out the entire unit should you wish to do so. The instructional video also demonstrates how to annotate the pdf version of the eStudy guide, and why annotation is recommended.
You will note that your study guide has been separated into units, known as ‘content chunking’, in line with good instructional design and learning principles. The benefits of content chunking are that it facilitates memory, manages the cognitive load and helps you to organise knowledge.
To address ease of navigation through your learning material, at the start of each unit, you will find shortcut buttons which take you straight to the section you are studying. A short instructional video (on eLearn under Study Skills in My Academic Support) will show you how to print out the entire unit should you wish to do so. The instructional video also demonstrates how to annotate the pdf version of the eStudy guide, and why annotation is recommended.
The benefits to students of making eStudy Guides the central learning resource, is the following:
· Portable – students have access to their study guide on their computer, tablet/iPad and cell phones
· Bringing your learning content closer to the real world through the inclusion of multimedia
· You have the option to read the learning content or to listen to it or both
· Helping you to keep track of your progress through the learning content through the inclusion of mini assessment activities which give you immediate feedback
· Encourages you to engage actively with learning content, by downloading and annotating text so that if you prefer to print the pages you are working on, all your workable notes are in one place. So you have the option of both worlds – digital or hard copy.
All of these improvements, only strengthen the IMM Graduate Schools continuous academic and student support for all our distance students, and allow our students the flexibility of studying anywhere at any time.
We wish you all the best with the remainder of your Final Assessments.
Should you have any further queries, we will continue to assist you via ticket reference PNZ-***WM-342
Kind Regards,
Lauren Schultz
Head: Student Support
Kind Regards,
Lauren Schultz
Head: Student Support
IMM Graduate School of Marketing's reply16 Nov 2021, 08:22
Official
Dear Tristan,
The IMM Graduate School strives to ensure that students enjoy their studies and engage with us throughout their study journey. We thank you for taking the time to provide your valuable feedback.
I can understand that you are frustrated and sympathise with you due to missing your MAR303B final assessment yesterday morning. It is imperative however to always raise any concerns you have via the appropriate channels, specifically via your ticket reference PNZ-***WM-342.
The IMM Graduate School is a distance education institution and students are therefore required to study independently and to pace and manage their studies. To assist our students to do so, we have put in place various measures to enhance your independent study. These include an ePacer, eDiscussion Forum, eMasterclasses and tutorials. It is hoped that students make full use of these measures to enhance their own studies.
The IMM Graduate School is one of only a few academic institutions in South Africa that did not lose a single academic week of the academic years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We were able to continue with the academic semesters by making use of our online platforms which have been in place well before COVID-19. We accommodated our students during the lockdown period by means of multiple strategies which amongst other things included being available online during lockdown levels 5, 4 and 3 through multiple communication platforms, including the Helpme email address which you have used.
While for most of 2020 and 2021, we have had to contest with the waves of COVID-19 infections, and to continue to protect and support not only our students, and their families, but the IMM Graduate School staff and their families, many of the support activities have had to, out of necessity, be moved to the online format. With a 4th wave predicted over the December period, we could not encourage contact between students, and staff members alike, and have maintained our availability and support wholly through this period. Saying that, we still offer face-to-face tutorials at regional offices (both daytime and evening tutorials) - the same ones you attended in 2016/2017, as well as students being permitted to access the regional offices (strict COVID Protocols app****) in instances such as:
1. Booking a place to write their Final Assessments;
2. Full use of the library and WiFi facilities;
In line with best practice in online instructional design, study material is provided in eStudy Guide format to enhance your understanding of the learning material through the inclusion of multimedia and continuous self assessments to create a meaningful context for learning material. The eStudy Guide allows for the provision of knowledge, demonstration of knowledge, for you to practice the application of knowledge and addresses the learning styles of ‘see, hear and do’.
You will note that your study guide has been separated into units, known as ‘content chunking’, in line with good instructional design and learning principles. The benefits of content chunking are that it facilitates memory, manages the cognitive load and helps you to organise knowledge.
To address ease of navigation through your learning material, at the start of each unit, you will find shortcut buttons which take you straight to the section you are studying. A short instructional video (on eLearn under Study Skills in My Academic Support) will show you how to print out the entire unit should you wish to do so. The instructional video also demonstrates how to annotate the pdf version of the eStudy guide, and why annotation is recommended.
You will note that your study guide has been separated into units, known as ‘content chunking’, in line with good instructional design and learning principles. The benefits of content chunking are that it facilitates memory, manages the cognitive load and helps you to organise knowledge.
To address ease of navigation through your learning material, at the start of each unit, you will find shortcut buttons which take you straight to the section you are studying. A short instructional video (on eLearn under Study Skills in My Academic Support) will show you how to print out the entire unit should you wish to do so. The instructional video also demonstrates how to annotate the pdf version of the eStudy guide, and why annotation is recommended.
The benefits to students of making eStudy Guides the central learning resource, is the following:
· Portable – students have access to their study guide on their computer, tablet/iPad and cell phones
· Bringing your learning content closer to the real world through the inclusion of multimedia
· You have the option to read the learning content or to listen to it or both
· Helping you to keep track of your progress through the learning content through the inclusion of mini assessment activities which give you immediate feedback
· Encourages you to engage actively with learning content, by downloading and annotating text so that if you prefer to print the pages you are working on, all your workable notes are in one place. So you have the option of both worlds – digital or hard copy.
All of these improvements, only strengthen the IMM Graduate Schools continuous academic and student support for all our distance students, and allow our students the flexibility of studying anywhere at any time.
We wish you all the best with the remainder of your Final Assessments.
Should you have any further queries, we will continue to assist you via ticket reference PNZ-***WM-342
Kind Regards,
Lauren Schultz
Head: Student Support
Kind Regards,
Lauren Schultz
Head: Student Support
TL
Tristan L's updateReviewer Update
22 Nov 2021, 14:10Hi
My frustrations on missing my assessment is on myself and not IMM. It was not mentioned in the review but instead, brought up by you and used as a deflection of my review as if I am writing the review out of spite.
This is not the case.
On the point of following enquires in the proper channels, I did. Specifically with the horrible format of the estudy guides and the difficulties it poses as apposed to the former format of the study guides. I received a copy and pasted response, not offering any help nor sympathies but rather a "our way or the highway" attitude. I spent the rest of the day manually editing IMM study guides so that i could print them out in a flowing, efficient manner. This was tedious work that could of been avoided if IMM just provided the format that they have provided me for 3 years. Instead, IMM chooses to motivate to digital studying and does not accommodate for students who wish to not change their method of studying. I dont doubt some students feel the benefits of digital learning, but to offer no ease of use alternative really stunk when it has been provided all the way up to my final year.
My frustrations on missing my assessment is on myself and not IMM. It was not mentioned in the review but instead, brought up by you and used as a deflection of my review as if I am writing the review out of spite.
This is not the case.
On the point of following enquires in the proper channels, I did. Specifically with the horrible format of the estudy guides and the difficulties it poses as apposed to the former format of the study guides. I received a copy and pasted response, not offering any help nor sympathies but rather a "our way or the highway" attitude. I spent the rest of the day manually editing IMM study guides so that i could print them out in a flowing, efficient manner. This was tedious work that could of been avoided if IMM just provided the format that they have provided me for 3 years. Instead, IMM chooses to motivate to digital studying and does not accommodate for students who wish to not change their method of studying. I dont doubt some students feel the benefits of digital learning, but to offer no ease of use alternative really stunk when it has been provided all the way up to my final year.
TL
Tristan L's update22 Nov 2021, 14:10
Reviewer Update
Hi
My frustrations on missing my assessment is on myself and not IMM. It was not mentioned in the review but instead, brought up by you and used as a deflection of my review as if I am writing the review out of spite.
This is not the case.
On the point of following enquires in the proper channels, I did. Specifically with the horrible format of the estudy guides and the difficulties it poses as apposed to the former format of the study guides. I received a copy and pasted response, not offering any help nor sympathies but rather a "our way or the highway" attitude. I spent the rest of the day manually editing IMM study guides so that i could print them out in a flowing, efficient manner. This was tedious work that could of been avoided if IMM just provided the format that they have provided me for 3 years. Instead, IMM chooses to motivate to digital studying and does not accommodate for students who wish to not change their method of studying. I dont doubt some students feel the benefits of digital learning, but to offer no ease of use alternative really stunk when it has been provided all the way up to my final year.
My frustrations on missing my assessment is on myself and not IMM. It was not mentioned in the review but instead, brought up by you and used as a deflection of my review as if I am writing the review out of spite.
This is not the case.
On the point of following enquires in the proper channels, I did. Specifically with the horrible format of the estudy guides and the difficulties it poses as apposed to the former format of the study guides. I received a copy and pasted response, not offering any help nor sympathies but rather a "our way or the highway" attitude. I spent the rest of the day manually editing IMM study guides so that i could print them out in a flowing, efficient manner. This was tedious work that could of been avoided if IMM just provided the format that they have provided me for 3 years. Instead, IMM chooses to motivate to digital studying and does not accommodate for students who wish to not change their method of studying. I dont doubt some students feel the benefits of digital learning, but to offer no ease of use alternative really stunk when it has been provided all the way up to my final year.
IMM Graduate School of Marketing's replyOfficial
22 Nov 2021, 14:49Dear Tristan,
Many thanks for your response.
We are very much aware of the fact that the electronic format of the study guide requires some adaptation to have a print layout as per previous printed study guide. The academic team are working towards changing the layout for 2022 so that it is more printer friendly. This is an acknowledgement of the concern as raised by yourself and other students.
As per our response to your query received on 25th of August, we included an eLearn link to a tutorial video which was supp**** to assist students with navigating, and printing the updated eStudy Guides. While we understand that this change has taken getting used to, the implementation of the eStudy guide is strongly based on pedagogical principles, to improve the learning process and retention of information - which we have detailed to you in all communications.
Should you have any constructive feedback and suggestions, to improve the ease of use of eStudy guides, we would be happy to engage with you on this via ticket PNZ-***WM-342.
Kind Regards,
Lauren Schultz
Head: Student Support
Kind Regards,
Lauren Schultz
Head: Student Support
IMM Graduate School of Marketing's reply22 Nov 2021, 14:49
Official
Dear Tristan,
Many thanks for your response.
We are very much aware of the fact that the electronic format of the study guide requires some adaptation to have a print layout as per previous printed study guide. The academic team are working towards changing the layout for 2022 so that it is more printer friendly. This is an acknowledgement of the concern as raised by yourself and other students.
As per our response to your query received on 25th of August, we included an eLearn link to a tutorial video which was supp**** to assist students with navigating, and printing the updated eStudy Guides. While we understand that this change has taken getting used to, the implementation of the eStudy guide is strongly based on pedagogical principles, to improve the learning process and retention of information - which we have detailed to you in all communications.
Should you have any constructive feedback and suggestions, to improve the ease of use of eStudy guides, we would be happy to engage with you on this via ticket PNZ-***WM-342.
Kind Regards,
Lauren Schultz
Head: Student Support
Kind Regards,
Lauren Schultz
Head: Student Support