Classes through XAMK Open Learn

[wow]

Has anyone else taken free ECTS-credit classes through XAMK Open Learn (https://open-learn.xamk.fi/)? I signed up for their rehabilitation diploma track, since it's an area I'm very interested in, but I'm a little lost as to how the two courses that have started actually work. E.g., lots of assigned readings, little guidance as to what is important to pay attention to, and class length (in weeks) seems to have little relation to the amount of material covered. Are all XAMK courses designed this way—basically self-study with a chance to earn credit by passing quizzes or writing assignments? Are we expected to be communicating with professors regularly in order to get the guidance that a syllabus or lesson structure would provide?

[rachel83az]

With the video games one, there's a discord if you have any questions about the course. It's mostly self study, though, yes.

[nomaduser]

I decided to not take their course. The school is not very popular.... and I don't think employers in English speaking countries will take this diploma seriously.

[wow]

I decided to not take their course. The school is not very popular.... and I don't think employers in English speaking countries will take this diploma seriously.

This underscores that we all take classes for different reasons. For me, I'm not sure what popularity has to do with it. In my case, neither do employers—I run my own business.

Since these are ECTS from an accredited college, I do think someone looking for U.S. undergrad credits should have a decent chance of getting credit for XAMK courses from American colleges that regularly give transfer credits for ECTS, if—and it's a big if—the course subjects fit the degree plan. But if transferring is the main goal, that hypothetical someone would be better off with  the normal suggestions on this site. XAMK is a better fit when the main goal is to learn the material and, only as a bonus, possibly be able to get undergrad credit.

---

With the video games one, there's a discord if you have any questions about the course. It's mostly self study, though, yes.

Thanks, Rachel. I thought with the video games one, there should be a lot of programming exercises. Is that not the case? Is it more theoretical?

[nomaduser]

This underscores that we all take classes for different reasons. For me, I'm not sure what popularity has to do with it. In my case, neither do employers—I run my own business.

Since these are ECTS from an accredited college, I do think someone looking for U.S. undergrad credits should have a decent chance of getting credit for XAMK courses from American colleges that regularly give transfer credits for ECTS, if—and it's a big if—the course subjects fit the degree plan. But if transferring is the main goal, that hypothetical someone would be better off with  the normal suggestions on this site. XAMK is a better fit when the main goal is to learn the material and, only as a bonus, possibly be able to get undergrad credit.

---

Yeah, they may transfer as RA credits but chances are not too high.
I realized I'd have a better luck with straighterline.com

[rachel83az]

Thanks, Rachel. I thought with the video games one, there should be a lot of programming exercises. Is that not the case? Is it more theoretical?

The first assignments are theoretical - what makes a good game, games you've played, etc. Later modules do not really have intermediate coding steps. You watch a half dozen videos and then you're expected to make a text adventure or a digital card game or something like that from a specification document. What you get is sufficient to do the assignments but, at the same time, it also feels like nowhere near enough. You have to be highly motivated to finish everything.