What will it feel like to study online?

As an IDI student you will find that every aspect of your innovative learning and teaching experience is delivered through our bespoke online study environment, IDI Study. Our study environment is carefully designed to be not only user friendly but also secure and reliable. All IDI students have access to a secure, personal online studio. This is where all of your module learning materials are stored and where you communicate with your tutors and fellow students.

Our learning materials are carefully structured to enable you to acquire the knowledge and understanding required to fulfil the course learning outcomes. Effective course delivery is our priority and is carried out through project based work, where you will learn through engagement in a variety of set activities. Support materials that supplement this project based work are provided throughout your learning experience. 

As a student, you will be asked to record your work in a variety of ways; these can include photographs, scanned images, screen grabs, word documents and pdfs. As you progress through the activities, you will be prompted to upload examples of your work to named folders within your ‘my work’ area, notifying your tutor by posting a message in the module discussion each time you upload.

As an IDI student, you will develop confidence and communication skills through participation in self and peer based evaluation of your work and the work of your fellow students within structured online forum activities. This is where you can compare notes, share ideas and resources and discuss your creative work on an informal basis. Within the forums you can explore a range of issues which may include, communication, design aesthetics, user needs and aspirations, employability, sustainability, materials and processes, human factors, and issues surrounding preparation for the world of work.

Your tutors will provide you with individual critical advice and feedback within separate module discussions. Your learning experience is further enhanced through a series of Critical and Cultural Studies modules, which are closely linked to your practical studies and provide a context for your research and practice.

The Interactive Design Institute offers you the opportunity to choose the mode of study that best suits your individual circumstances.
You can study with IDI by choosing *one of three models:

• part time
• full time
• full time fast track

Additionally, you can choose to study up to the following levels of qualification across a set number of semesters. IDI deliver three semester per year:

• For a BA programme, the full time route consists of 6 semesters and the part time route consists of 12 semesters
• For a Dip HE, the full time route consists of 4 semesters and the part time route consists of 8 semesters

The recommended time commitment for part time study is a minimum of 15 hours per week and full time study means a minimum commitment of 30 hours per week.
Each semester is 16 weeks duration, consisting of 12 weeks of learning followed by 4 weeks for assessment and moderation. No teaching takes place during these 4 weeks.

* dependent on minimum cohort numbers being reached

As a student, you will be formatively assessed through a combination of activities designed to help to develop and consolidate your learning. There are also set summative assessment tasks which contribute to your module grades.

You will be informed of your summative assessments submission dates at the start of the semester. On or before the submission date you will be required to complete a 500 word self-evaluation section on the module assessment form and submit this along with a selection of work as appropriate to cover the learning outcomes of the module.

All of your work selected for assessment will be uploaded into named folders within an assessment folder. Where practical modules are concerned, this work would normally cover research, development and outcome.

IDI tutors assess the work submitted and inform the University of Hertfordshire Link Tutors, who moderate the assessments, assessment feedback and grades awarded, to ensure parity. External Examiners then sample the assessments to ensure parity across the sector.

Following scheduled Module or Programme Boards results are confirmed and are formally released on StudyNet which is the University of Hertfordshire’s intranet.

At all stages of the assessment process, IDI Tutors, Course Managers and Student Support staff are available to provide guidance and support to any students requiring assistance with the assessment process.

As an IDI student you will have the freedom to manage your own learning within fixed semester start dates and summative assessment submission dates.

You will work to a 'Module Guide' for each module, which indicates approximately where you should be within each module learning path at any given point. All activities and briefs within the learning paths contain clearly stated aims and objectives and suggested durations. You will be able to discuss your progress in relation to your Module Guides with your tutors, who offer advice and support relating to time management.

As an IDI student, you  can study at home and in your own time, with help and support available from fully qualified, experienced tutors. The tutor’s role is to guide you throughout your studies and provide critical advice and feedback in order to assist with the development of your work. This support can happen on a daily basis. Tutors are in turn supported by IDI Course Managers who liaise with University of Hertfordshire staff to ensure the quality of the student experience.

As a student you can communicate with your tutors at any time and as often as you feel you need to. IDI tutors are your main point of contact throughout your learning experience. However, you may also contact your Course Manager regarding any other issues.

IDI’s course materials are made available to you in several formats. They can include flat pages of text, visual step-by-step guides, movies, documents, pdfs, links to online resources including galleries, journals and other relevant publications as well as links to artist’s and designer’s websites.

Within your online studio, you have:
•    access to academic year schedules and module guides, which includes the delivery plan
•    access to the IDI student handbook
•    access to comprehensive learning materials

Your online studio will also enable you to:
•    receive announcements from your tutors or IDI staff tutors which include timetable and assessment reminders
•    communicate with your tutors and fellow students
•    access your personal assessment documentation and complete self evaluations for submission to tutors prior to assessment
•    receive formative assessment feedback prior to exam boards and confirmation of results within StudyNet
•    access all appropriate University of Hertfordshire documentation

StudyNet
In addition to the comprehensive support provided throughout the IDI study site, you have a direct link to StudyNet, which is the University of Hertfordshire’s intranet. Within StudyNet, you are able to access digital resources specific to your subject specialism. This is also where you will receive your module results.

As an IDI student, you are encouraged to interact within our group forums. These forums can also involve guest lecturers and industry specialists and take place within a password protected, online environment.

There is at least one forum attached to each module. These module forums are open for general discussion throughout the semester and provide a useful opportunity for students to introduce each other, get to know your fellow students and communicate informally as your studies progress.

There are also forums relating to the module learning materials. Tutors monitor this activity and contribute as and when appropriate.