We’ve noticed a few types of online CIPD courses out there in an exciting and often bewildering array of options. And we’ve also seen lots of CIPD students commenting online about the lack of support with their CIPD provider. We thought we’d try to explain the different online CIPD courses options. Not all online CIPD courses are the same! We’ve put them into 4 categories: Online, Online Plus, Online Live and Online Live Plus. Here’s what we’ve found out:
Online
There are many online, clickthrough kind of programmes where you study mostly alone with a messaging facility if you need support. The centres are generally offering many different kinds of online courses and they have generally invested heavily in technology to do this. This business model is generally focussed on very high volumes of learners.
Online Plus – CIPD Light
Self paced, on demand but with some 121 coaching
Our CIPD Light package falls into this online plus group. It’s a budget version of our popular online live + option. Some 121 support is built into your self study programme so you can book coaching sessions. You are welcome to join live webinars especially on your first unit if you wish rather than just watching back recordings. The materials are the same as on the virtual classroom programmes but you don’t get the formative support included in your fees. Get started anytime and follow the group timetable if you wish. If you are starting at a different time to the small virtual classroom groups book a 121 induction session with your Programme Leader. Watch the recording of the previous induction to help you to get started too. We also offer free live webinars so you can follow the group along on your first unit.
Career development and pay as you go support if you need it
Your programme also includes a career development session at the end of your programme. If you need additional guidance during your programme beyond what your package includes you can upgrade. Just topup your support anytime – book indivdual coaching sessions if you find you need a little more support. This is a great option if you are an experienced student who has studied recently. You may have lots of relevant experience at the level you are studying but be on a very tight budget. To achieve success you will be a very disciplined learner who can work alone. Great if you are confident you will make progress but would like the reassurance of a timetable to follow if you want to. You are the kind of person who values the opportunity to network and likes to know you can upgrade or buy additional coaching support if you want to.
Online Live
This is an online course with some live support built in. Some of these courses will include live webinars to explain assignments. It may just be a Q&A session. There’s generally just a message option to ask questions. 121 coaching sessions and practise questions with feedback and group work is not generally built into these kind of programmes. You may have to request additional support – it may not be readily offered. The live webinars may be with large groups and a chat box rather. You won’t have small groups with discussions and breakout rooms. We’ve heard of groups of over 50 on some of these live webinars which you may find wtih the mass market providers.
Online Live Plus – CIPD Boost
Supported timetabled approach – small virtual classroom groups
For example this includes our most popular CIPD Boost package. These are online virtual classroom courses that replicate a physical classroom with small groups of students via a structured timetabled approach. Numbers are capped to ensure you get the chance to get involved. There are lots of opportunities during your programme to discuss the topics. You will learn how other organisations are tackling the various topics you will cover on your course. Build your network as you get to know other learners. Work with other people professionals and support each other as you learn. Your study buddy or buddies will likely be there in the future too. Well after your online CIPD course finishes.
Formative development, assignment practice and personalised coaching support
You will practise your writing in advance of the assignment (formative development). This helps you to embed your learning and gather research and references together before you are assessed. You will get feedback from your coach on your formative development work. This helps you know if you are on track and what to do if you’re not. Practise work before you tackle the assignment will help you to improve your grades and add value to your learning.
You will attend several small group webinars on each unit. There’s an introduction, two discussion sessions and an assignment briefing for every unit. Sometimes we run extra webinars on topics such as writing skills. Weekday evening webinars after work for an hour or two seem to suit our busy full time working learners. On every unit you will apply your learning in a real life work scenario to enhance your development.
Shared learning, networking and 121 coaching and career development support
When you get to your assignment time you will have tried and tested examples to draw on for your assessment. Just follow our guidance and connect with your group and you will succeed. We also encourage you to book 121 sessions with your coach at least once a unit to ensure you maximise your results.
This kind of programme is designed to help you to build on your learning and experience. Together with other learners’ input you gain a wider view of the topic. This shared learning develops your knowledge, skills and behaviours. We believe it’s better than working completely alone. This option tends to be offered by the smaller CIPD Study Centres who focus on smaller numbers of learners. For example at AheadHR we want to maximise the learning opportunities available to learners. Smaller centres may just focus on online CIPD courses or may have some live classroom options. They may offer other accredited course options such as ILM or CMI.
Added value – coaching support is built into your programme
The additional support on these programmes is often difficult to quantify when reviewing options. And it’s often not that costly compared to other support packages. Check carefully the amount of coaching time that’s included and the added value you will gain in terms of your career. Companies also like this option when they fund courses for their learners because of the external perspective and ideas their employees can bring back into the organisation.
Online Premium Plus – CIPD Turbo
There are also online premium packages available. For example our CIPD Turbo package is designed to give you extra support to make faster progress or for a more personalised programme with extra coaching. You may sign up for CIPD Boost and find you would like to take the ‘Turbo’ option on one or more units. You may enjoy extra support at a particularly busy time so you keep making progress. Or perhaps you are less confident on the topic or you haven’t studied for a while. You may need lots of additional guidance on academic writing on your first unit. This package gives you around double the support of our CIPD Boost programme. You can use this option to fasttrack and study multiple units or work faster with a personalised approach.
You may also want to take advantage of the competence assessed approach we are approved for ie the CIPD Tailored option.
Take a pick and mix approach to our support packages depending on your needs – decide what support you need as you go.
What are you trying to achieve? What online CIPD course would suit you best?
We’ll help you to explore your options on your free CIPD call which is available to you whichever CIPD centre you choose.
Email info@aheadhr.co.uk or Book A Call to find out more.
