I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND STADIO TO ANYONE!!!!!

I write this review with a heavy heart. I would like to put it out there that I would personally not recommend Stadio to anyone based on my unpleasant experience. There has been so many incidents where I felt like dropping out because of the treatment from the institution but I remembered that I am not the problem here. The venue based exam had been one issue that has been raised by different students but it seems nobody is taking it into consideration. While I understand that venue based exams are part of the program and this was communicated before I registered, the manner in which they are done is what I find to be unjust.

For EDSA700, this is a year module. It has only 2 major assignments, trackers, quizzes, and 1 online test. The first assignment was submitted during the 1st semester and the release of marks was delayed. The online test that we wrote was an unfair test where we had to write 2 essays (minimum 100 words each essay) and 2 long questions within 90 minutes. The test was during our teaching practice block (opened for 24 hours) where we were on national loadshedding stage 6. We found it hard to maneuver around this due to us having to come home late due to participating in extra curricular activities in host schools. Furthermore, I came home to no electricity, having to prepare for about 5 to 6 lessons the following day, while I also had STADIO assignments and trackers to complete.

Time management is not an issue here because nonmatter how well one manages their time, getting only 3 to 4 hours of sleep because of the workload is not right. Now back to EDSA 700, we submitted the last assignment on the 27th of September 2023 but it is still not marked. the online test that we wrote is still not marked. The venue based exam is on the 31/10/2023 but we still have no idea of our progress because of unmarked work. Even if marks are released now and I find out I failed or did not do as well as I wanted to, how do we then get time to rectify this while I have to study? What I am trying to say is that I do not have a clear indication of how I am doing with the module due to unmarked work and unclear guidelines.

The lecturer hosted a session where she said that STADIO does not provide scopes. She told us to study from unit 1-4 which is actually the whole year's work. These units have over 460 slides but nobody wants to at least help us with pointing out which areas to focus on. I have always been lost in this module due to the way it is carried out and, I do not have faith in regards to this exam.

During teaching practice, we were still expected to do assignments, tests and attend online classes while we had to also stress about preparing for lessons. Mind you, some of us are employed full-time in different sectors (otherwise, how would we pay for our fees?!). I studied with the University of North West and they made sure that during teaching practice, there are no classes, submissions or tests that would disturb our pracs. I believe that this is not about me being lazy but, it's about being realistic and providing a holistically supportive and smoother experience for us.

While I am highly upset, it's lecturers like Jenilyn Deyzel who make this worthwhile. Jen is my Creative Arts lecturer and if I could be half the teacher she is, I will know that I have won in life. This is one lecturer who takes care of our mental/psychological health by making sure that she knows where we are struggling and is there to support. I can take up the whole day talking about the amazing person she is.

Now back to the complaint; My main issue is the venue based exam and I plead that the institution does something about it. I do not mind a venue based exam but how do I study effectively when I do not know what to focus on for the exam. Its like teaching 500 slides for the whole year and comes exam time, you tell learners to study all 500 slides. The information is a lot and there is absolutely no way in hell STADIO can expect us to believe that this is ethical. It seems we are being set up for failure so that we can repeat these expensive modules. The empathy is also non-existent. How can an institution make us pay R 270 for an extension on assignments/tests even when we have valid reasons to miss the deadlines? I remember when I was admitted for an operation, I don't know how many R 270s I had to pay to extend assignments because I was not physically fit. If I knew this beforehand, I would have reconsidered. It is 00:30 and I am sitting here stressed about STADIO and exams, I cannot wait to finish.

Although I am not holding my breath, let's see if someone will do anything about this.

Regards, Your extremely frustrated student