a learning experience, but not as i expected

 i recently signed up for an online course with reasonably well-known UK textile artist - the course was one of a regular calendar of courses with known artists, you may be aware of the provider but i won’t name them

i have taken part in online courses since about 2011 and have experienced a wide range of delivery styles and platforms - i always pick courses which offer online communities and video input from tutors if possible, preferring live input with access to recordings afterwards and gradual release of materials over a period with the option to work at your own pace

i thought i had done “ due diligence” before committing to a three month course which was not cheap - i was given access to the course social network group and materials (a combination of short videos and short summarising PDFs, there were helpful tips and pointers on making best use of both, but there was immediate access to the whole course - then it was up to me to get on with it

the social network group included members from earlier issues of the course, some were repeating the course, others still working through it - members who had signed up earlier for the same course had already started - i found this made it less easy to integrate and develop a sense of fellowship with other “starters”

there were two live sessions with the tutor, but no live interaction as questions had to be entered via chat or Q&A - but the tutor did respond on the social network as well as the course providers

i felt rather disappointed and the experience came to an early end with an unsolicited refund - but i feel a need to write about this, not to put anyone off as i am sure plenty of others get a lot from these courses, but to urge any reader to do your own due diligence, be clear about what you expect and whether or not the course gives clear, unambiguous information about what is on offer

i was left feeling a bit bruised and saddened by this experience, as much with myself for not checking as thoroughly as maybe i should have, but also with what i felt was an unsympathetic response from the providers - clearly they can afford to lose potential customers, that says a lot to me!