CAT and ACCA e-learning

Although the internet and new media hasn’t given us the brave new world that many of us thought we would get, there is little doubt that digital technology has effected the way that most of us live our lives. From communicating at work to surfing the aisles of virtual supermarkets, almost all of us use this technology in some form or another.

Many people are realising how new technology can be used as a means to assist or further their education. Significantly, the UK Government recently announced a new task force to explore the opportunities presented by e-learning. The task force will bring together representatives from industry and education and will consider:

• ways of increasing participation through the use of learning;
• the potential for a personalised e-learning curriculum;
• flexible access and delivery to reflect individual choices and diverse patterns of learning;
• progression routes to further study and lifelong learning skills and attainment;
• training and development for tutors.

This demonstrates how seriously new technology is being considered. Estelle Morris, the UK’s Education and Skills Secretary said:
"The potential for e-learning is enormous, and we are already seeing the many benefits in our schools. It is equally important that we explore the opportunities that ICT (Information and Communications Technology) offers for those young people in colleges and lifelong learning."

ACCA have recognised the potential of e-learning for some time. Early in 2001 ACCA and BPP embarked on a joint project to bring e-learning to the accountancy training market. The outcome was the web-based Virtual Campus and the CD-based BPP i-Learn and BPP i-Pass products. The Accounting Technician Scheme version has been available for a year whilst the Professional Scheme version has been available since September 2001 (Parts 1 and 2 only). Additionally, ACCA and the Oxford Institute of International Finance (OXIIF) have developed an MBA offered to professional accountants that is fully supported through a Virtual Campus developed by BPP (www.oxfordinstitute.org).

E-learning is certainly here to stay. With students becoming increasingly familiar with the benefits of digital technology, many are considering these products as a means to supplement traditional learning methods. Let’s take a look at what BPP has to offer:

Virtual Campus
The Virtual Campus is available for the Professional Scheme Parts 1 and 2 and the Accounting Technician Scheme. The Virtual Campus is accessed via the internet and includes:

• Study resource The study resource gives the insight and expertise of ACCA and BPP staff. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions give advice on how students should prepare for the exam and how best to study. Exam Tips indicate the type of areas that are likely to appear in the exam. The Health Check helps ascertain how much more study is needed for students to have a good chance at passing. The Revision area explains the best way to prepare for exams and gives tips on time management and setting realistic goals.
• Full tutor support Although the advantages of e-learning are many, we recognise that there will be times when assistance or advice is needed. Tutors can be contacted using the Mailbox facility where they will endeavour to reply to queries within one working day. All tutor correspondence is stored in the Mailbox so that it can be referenced as required.
• Study modules Fully interactive study modules based on the BPP i-Learn product explain the core syllabus areas and supply invaluable feedback. Progress is recorded at the end of each study session so that lessons can be easily picked up the next time the system is used.
• Practice modules Based on the BPP i-Pass product, the practice modules test what was learnt in the study modules and give regular feedback with progress reporting. The modules include multiple choice and data entry questions.

The Virtual Campus can be sampled for free before registering for the full service. Visit www.bpp.com/virtualcampus/acca or www.bpp.com/virtualcampus/cat for more details.

BPP i-Learn
BPP i-Learn is a computer-based product that has been designed to teach the key areas of the syllabus in an interesting and engaging manner. Delivered by CD-ROM, each BPP i-Learn disk features step-by-step topic coverage to ensure that each subject is fully understood, interactive animation sequences to aid recollection, question practice to test what has been learnt and computer-based assessments to see where improvement may be needed.

The Professional Scheme versions include a Study Guide that features an introduction to using BPP i-Learn and additional learning material and question practice. A separate Workbook is offered for the Accounting Technician versions.

BPP i-Pass
The BPP i-Pass CD-ROM has been designed to test knowledge that has been gained whilst studying and to perfect exam technique. Students that are taking exams via computer-based examinations will find BPP i-Pass invaluable as each CD mirrors the real exam environment. Students taking paper examinations will also find BPP i-Pass extremely useful, with students being tested against the clock with approximately 300 randomly generated questions (per paper), ensuring their technical knowledge is excellent.

Two modes are available; Test as you learn where specific syllabus areas can be tested, or Exam practice where whole or part exams can be attempted over all syllabus areas. Feedback is available for each question attempted and a performance rating given for each syllabus area.

Which option is best for me?
Consideration needs to be given to a number of areas if students are to embark on an e-learning course.

The first question students should ask themselves is ‘Is e-learning appropriate for me?’ These products will not replace face-to-face learning for exam subjects. A tutor is able to convey thoughts and ideas in a way that a computer could never do. If students can afford the time and money to get to a classroom course then they should. However, not all students can get to classroom courses or feel that supplementary material may be required. If this is the case e-learning is an option worth considering.

The second question should be ‘Do I have the technology to use e-learning?’ Consistent study is required to pass any exam. If students do not have regular access to a PC then e-learning is out of the question. If regular access is available then the Virtual Campus or BPP i-Learn and i-Pass are possibilities.

The next question should be ‘Do I have cheap or unmetered internet access?’ If students do not or if their connection is slow then the Virtual Campus may be an unwise choice. The Virtual Campus can be used over a standard internet connection. However, some connections are more reliable than others. If students prefer to study from a disk rather than via the internet and are happy not to have tutor support then BPP i-Learn and BPP i-Pass may be the best choice.

More and more students are choosing e-learning as an option. Early indicators suggest 2002 will be a bumper year for these products. BPP put this down to the flexibility that these products offer – the flexibility to learn at your own pace, the flexibility to study at any time and the flexibility to learn in a style that is appropriate to you.

Details of Professional Scheme products can be found at www.bpp.com/acca. Details of the Accounting Technician Scheme products can be found at www.bpp.com/cat. Alternatively, tel: +44 (0)20 8740 2211.

Neil Biddlecombe, BPP Business Education