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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect better service than this

108 replies

friedafinn · 22/01/2021 16:27

I started a post graduate qualification, taught online, on Monday. I completed the first two activities by 10am (short ones) and posted the required entry in my online journal.

It's still not been looked at by my tutor let alone commented on. AIBU to expect better service than this for the high fees that I am paying?

OP posts:
Letshavesometea · 22/01/2021 16:33

What date were the activities to be completed by?

Original poster
friedafinn · 22/01/2021 16:56

There wasn't a specific date but the whole module has to be completed in six weeks.

OP posts:
luxxlisbon · 22/01/2021 16:59

Monday to Friday seems like a pretty short turn around time for work to be commented on.
Do you understand the structure of the course? Is work supposed to be graded, commented and returned or is feedback saved for tutorials?

CuriousaboutSamphire · 22/01/2021 17:07

YABVVU

You aren't the only person on the course.

You say tutor? Is this a graded assignment or a settling in activity?

If part of a graded assignemnt the tutor / lecturer will read all of the assignments at the same time and has probably set aside a block of time towards the end of whatever time period is usual

You say activities and notes in a journal - so not an actual assignment, more reading, activities leading up to one? In which case the tutor / lecturer may not look until the whole journal has been completed, the assignment turned in.

You are an adult. This won't be weekly homework with detailed feedback!

Teaseller · 22/01/2021 17:12

On my postgrad they let us know when we could expectarks back for assignments. Did they say it would be marked quickly or by a certain time? They can't just mark things instantly...

Teaseller · 22/01/2021 17:12

Sorry for typo that joined up word should say ' expect marks'

user1496262496 · 22/01/2021 17:13

In the last 6 years I have completed an MSc and an MA at different UK universities. These were by distance learning. Both institutions stated in the course hand books that work would be marked within 28 days of it's deadline. May be your course handbook has a similar statement. If work was formative, i.e., not counting towards your final grade, it would sometimes not be marked, but be a discussion point in a seminar or tutorial.

suspiria777 · 22/01/2021 18:01

at my university we have a four-week feedback turnaround timetable. This is pretty standard for UK FE.
It sounds like perhaps you are not mature enough for the amount of independence a PG qualification requires; you shouldn't need this level of handholding/reassurance for presumably very simple tasks, if you were able to complete both of them before 10am on day one...

Original poster
friedafinn · 22/01/2021 20:11

I'm happy with the quality of my work but when I'm paying £2k for a 6 week long course then I expect things to be looked at within a working week. It would take the tutor maybe 15 minutes and there are only 10 of us in his tutor group.

OP posts:
FellowFlipFlop · 22/01/2021 20:13

Do you get extra marks for turning things in quickly?

Ileflottante · 22/01/2021 20:14

When I did my MA we had monthly submissions and assignments and we would receive grades around 2 weeks later.

What is the qualification? And what type of educational establishment is providing it?

GirlCrush · 22/01/2021 20:15

maybe the tutor works only part time....or uses weekends!!

raspberrysundaes · 22/01/2021 20:15

If you have six weeks to complete everything, surely they'll just mark it all at the end?

Mrstwiddle · 22/01/2021 20:42

There may only be 10 of you in the group but you don’t know how many groups the instructor has. I run four online courses, the marking is typically done within 2 days of the deadline. When was the deadline for this work?

suspiria777 · 22/01/2021 20:43

It would take the tutor maybe 15 minutes and there are only 10 of us in his tutor group.

In reality your tutor is probably paid hourly at a rate that assumes marking takes only a fraction of the length of time it really does. For instance, at my uni hourly paid lecturers are expected to mark 4x1,000 word essays per hour and are paid accordingly, as if each essay only takes 15 mins. How long does it actually take to read, assess, annotate and write feedback for one postgraduate-level essay? Usually more like 30-45 minutes, depending on how many mistakes/areas for improvement there might be.

If you're only writing a short assessment, your tutor may not get paid at all for marking/providing feedback. In any case, expecting feedback so quickly is very unreasonable. If a month passes and you still haven't heard anything, ask.

AStudyinPink · 22/01/2021 20:44

I expect things to be looked at within a working week

You can expect what you like. Unless it was in the paperwork you haven’t paid for any particular turnaround time. You sound very entitled.

Ameliablue · 22/01/2021 20:50

If you allow 5 working days for feedback, that still wouldn't be up until Monday. There may only be 10 people in your group but that won't be the only thing the tutor is working on through the week.

foxhat · 22/01/2021 21:10

Why do you expect things to be looked at within the working week? Is this something the course offer or just something you decided should happen? if it's breaching a contract you have you can explore avenues for complaint. If it's just an idea you made up then perhaps you have misunderstood how things work and need to adjust your expectations accordingly.

Original poster
friedafinn · 22/01/2021 21:14

@FellowFlipFlop

Do you get extra marks for turning things in quickly?
It's not a graded piece but we are told to submit our response online for comment. It's only 1/2 an A4 page x2

If a month passes and you still haven't heard anything, ask.

I am not prepared to wait a month, there are about 15 of these short pieces we have to upload and if I wait a month then it will be 2 weeks from the end of the module and well into the time I am doing my research and essay for the final submission.

OP posts:
AStudyinPink · 22/01/2021 21:15

I am not prepared to wait a month

What’s your plan, then?

TheCanyon · 22/01/2021 21:18

@friedafinn

I'm happy with the quality of my work but when I'm paying £2k for a 6 week long course then I expect things to be looked at within a working week. It would take the tutor maybe 15 minutes and there are only 10 of us in his tutor group.
Really? 10 in your tutor group and how many else in their other tutor groups? I have had tutors take the absolute cunt in terms of marking or even replying but 5 days? You're being utterly ridiculous
GirlCrush · 22/01/2021 21:21

sounds to me like you are impatient...you want the little ego boost

you sound very pleased with your work and are clearly of the opinion you will be marked high for your submission. you just cant wait for that bit of approval

SueEllenMishke · 22/01/2021 21:22

Sorry but you're being ridiculous.
You should find out what the marking policy is - I'm pretty sure if will be longer than you're expecting.

There might be only 10 people in your group but how many other groups is he teaching?

lidoshuffle · 22/01/2021 21:27

What type of post-grad qualification do you get in six weeks (genuine question)?

Pukkatea · 22/01/2021 21:35

I got longer than that to mark one word answer quizzes for a group of 10 undergrads when I was a postgraduate laboratory demonstrator.

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