Assuring Coherence in Individual Learning Programmes. FEDA Paper.

The structures/systems required to ensure the quality of individual learning programs in further education (FE) in Britain and the coherence of learner achievement were examined through a study in which data were obtained from a survey of students in individual learning programs at two FE colleges and a literature review. At both colleges, personal tutors played the key role in ensuring ongoing guidance/support and access to central college services for all students. Neither college allocated personal tutors to part-time students, however. The subject tutors who acted as personal tutors for part-time students did not necessarily know about possible progression routes or central services within their college. Existing systems for part-time students did not systematically collect information about student purpose, and there was no central system for ensuring coherence for students studying units from different courses or across qualification routes. Most students considered the help they received in choosing their courses adequate; however, only 55% considered the various parts of their program to be linked together properly. (Concluding this document are checklists for evaluating coherence of student purpose, program design, and the learning experience and assessment. Appended are the student questionnaire and a summary of questionnaire responses.) (MN)