Dear Nick
I got the books on Monday so have now had a few days to access FI material via all different forms, i.e. the paper folder, laptop, iPad and android, as I use all for studying.
FI Online portal
- The first two words that instantly came to mind when first accessing the My FI portal were: ‘modern’ and ‘clean’. With the latter I mean uncluttered.
- The dashboard overview is very user-friendly, with just a one-click link to each Level 4; (at my previous provider I would land first on a welcome page, would be shown what the weather is like in my area, and that I gained ‘badges’ for having passed my first assignment, achieved a merit assignment pass, etc and other non-essential items. Then I would have to scroll down past many other headings until I got to the module I wanted, then within that module scroll down to the chapter that I had last finished at.) With the FI user interface, I can quickly get to where I want.
- I can access the FI portal on my MacBook and in Windows and the format has held; at my previous provider the formatting of the web pages went out of the window unless Google Chrome was downloaded. Unfortunately it wasn’t something I knew about before signing up for the course.
Paper
- It is obvious the structure of the folder has really been thoroughly thought about in terms of content.
- I appreciated the option of wire bound or lever arch file notes – I’ve only ever had wire bound before which tend to break because of the bulk. Now I can take a chapter or topic out and about with me and I can annotate them on the move.
- I particularly like the clear layout, followed by an illustration of a topic but then watching lectures and trying an example out for yourself before looking at the answers is ideal for me.
iPad
- I have downloaded a copy of the course notes and questions onto my iPad and the formatting has held. In normal times I like to read in the car, or go over and practice questions in a library without having to carry the entire syllabus with me.
- Watching the lectures on the iPad is just brilliant: I really like the way the tutors highlight salient points as they talk and there is no problem in following what they are doing.
Android
- I very much like the online lectures, they are such a useful aid to learning, or giving a brief overview to a subject. Makes such a refreshing change to simply reading everything.
- The FI portal seems to be correctly formatted for a smartphone, although I wouldn’t want to use it for any length of time to read from.
- I am so delighted that I can listen to these lectures on my phone so that my hands are free to do (eg the washing up) or walk somewhere!!
FI
The tutors teach in a such chatty, interesting way, bringing the subject alive, that I feel I am almost in the classroom. I rather regret not to have used FI for all of my AAT with at least all my level 4 where I might have got better pass marks than simply reading rather dry, uninspiring text book material. The benefit of hindsight!
Thank you
Again, I would like to thank you also on behalf of others for offering these generous revision sessions to all non-FI students too in lockdown, where I first got to know First Intuition. It has been really useful to interact with the tutor and other students via an initial fun quiz before being talked through useful tips on how to tackle exam questions or what the AAT exam is looking for, etc. It is through these sessions that I have realised that I have some larger gaps in my knowledge which haven’t been covered in the text books from my current provider. (Shockingly in at least two instances the text book has taught us an incorrect method of calculating something!!). Although I wasn’t expecting it, I am very grateful to Rebecca for contacting you about me.
I am now starting to work my way methodically through the course notes and question material with much greater confidence – which will hopefully be reflected in assignments.
I look forward to working with you.
Thank you once again, and kind regards
Alex
