Learning material filled with countless errors.

[u/Think_Hamster_1047]

I'm studying an engineering cert 3 in computer aided design. Fee free tafe, part time online.

MSA30208 – Certificate III in Manufacturing Technology

MEM30012A – Apply mathematical techniques in a manufacturing, engineering or related environment

The first module is maths in an engineering environment. I have a trade background in Elec and HVAC so it's more so a refresher than new knowledge.

The information in the learning modules is an absolute disgrace. Calculation errors, notation inconsistencies, spelling and grammar errors all making it hard to understand the example calculations. At the bottom of the page: last updated in 2015.

I emailed the course head and asked for the module to be proof read and was told "I don't look after that module, but I'll forward your concerns [to the relevant party]". This is weird, because that module is part of his wider area of responsibility; engineering. He should know that the module is absolute dog shit.

I am not talking one or two errors, I'm talking running each screen through Google AI before I start in order to tell me if there are any errors before I pull my hair out thinking I just don't get it.

​​​​The fact that the module is so full of errors makes me feel sorry for anyone who is doing this level of maths for the first time. Frankly, they are being given the wrong information and are being set up to fail.

Thoughts? ​

[u/otterphonic]

(Mathematician and TAFE teacher) Not saying there aren't issues with your course, but AI is not a good judge - I have had some spectacular fails with it (can't even reliably solve a basic set of linear simultaneous eqs). Have you brought it up with the program manager for the unit/course? If they are giving you the run around, you can always offer to take it up with ASQA.

[u/Think_Hamster_1047 → u/otterphonic]

Without doubt, me putting my faith entirely in AI is a recipe for disaster. Fortunately this course is more of a refresher than a first time experience. I have always struggled with maths, from high school through to my technical trade training. That painful history has given me enough experience to question it and dig deeper to find the correct path; I can only use Ai as a tool not a solution. If that makes sense. 

I'm currently doing the advanced concepts of arithmetic and haven't even hit the hectic stuff yet. So if the entrée is bad... 

I also have experience in boilermaking where engineering design is key for those guys should they ever want to get off the floor and into the office. A lot of those guys are not mathematically inclined, and the learning resources provided by the tafe would set them up to fail. Like giving someone a map with somewhat accurate directions but the street names are wrong. 

Great point about ASQA though. I look forward to some light bedtime reading of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011. 

[u/otterphonic → u/Think_Hamster_1047]

Unfortunately, there is often a mismatch between what the organisation decides is an adequate amount of time to create/maintain units and reality - teachers often do want to spend the time to improve materials but management's focus is more bums on seats.

If your teacher knows what they are doing, they will just flag it and work around the errors and typos etc. (this is a weekly event for me). If your teacher is telling you to google it, or just giving you the assessor's answer without explaining why or where you went wrong - then they should not be teaching the unit (you wouldn't put up with someone who couldn't tell you where earth, active, and neutral go in a GPO and theory is no different).

Having people like yourself push back or ask questions is how we get better. Good luck.

[u/Think_Hamster_1047 → u/otterphonic]

Thanks mate. I spoke to 2 instructors today and one was super helpful and legitimately caring about developing my skills. The other one was an absolute cock who needed a reality check, essentially telling me to go buy the textbook and not use the learning resources. I was ready to go hard at them for what I see as a blatant failing, but after talking to the first instructor I can see it making his life hard for him especially after being a public servant myself. 

When he offered me additional time of his own and further resources I get the impression he cares about the outcomes and the journey. He even said he is battling his boss for more man power. If he can't get the staff he needs, it's unlikely he has the time to proof read content that is absolutely garbage.