Studying with AniEd!


We have delivered and developed educational courses and resources in all sorts of educational systems. But, we recognise that more traditional educational structures don't work for everyone, and can be exclusionary for many, and for this industry. Our students are individuals and we are constantly striving to develop the most inclusive and accessible routes to education with us, in this industry.


Right now, we are offering all-online courses but backing that with tons of support. We hope to be able to offer more in-person work soon, but that may also reduce accessibility and flexibility. It's a tough balance!


Course participation is flexible at every level and we strive for improved accessibility: 

  • flexible start dates 
    With online course work you can start any time! For most of our courses, applications open on a specified date, but you can apply and get started at any time once places are available. Making the decision to take a course can take some mental and lifestyle preparation; when you are ready, you can apply to start. 

  • modular courses
    Build, little by little, to create your own programs and design your own journey. Add more courses when you are able to and your motivation is higher, and dial it back to just one at a time when things are more challenging.
    Even on our set program, CBTT, you will have lots of flexibility in planning your studies and lots of guidance in the best order to work on different topics, according to your individual needs, availability and the level of challenge. 

  • flexible, understanding & accommodating deadlines
    Almost everybody finds looming deadlines stressful and anxiety inducing! For some, a definite deadline date can drive your performance, provide motivation and keep you on track, but for many, deadlines can be debilitating, freezing your progress. 
    Most courses will have some sort of assessment requirements. These courses will be accompanied by a specified timeline, such as three, four or six months to complete, as a guide. Other than for those on the CBTT program, assessment submission is optional; you might decide that you don't want to actually submit assessment work, which is fine, although it's recommended that you complete assessments as they are designed to guide your learning. 
    You, as an individual, will be considered when it comes to deadlines and assessment submission. We will discuss that with you, as you work through your course materials and we will remain open, accommodating and supportive to help you achieve your goals.

  • financial flexibility
    Times are tough for everyone right now, including for us in small business. We do our best to keep costs reasonable and generally provide all course materials or free to access resources to keep costs under control. Online work certainly helps to keep some costs down for you and AniEd, but increases hours in development so overall is just as costly for us. 
    We want to remove as many barriers as possible to the best education in our industry. As with our general approach, we take everyone as an individual and will discuss your needs with you. Payment plans are available and are structured to balance and accommodate. We are happy to discuss your individual needs, particularly if you feel that finances are a significant barrier; we want to help!    
     
  • online delivery & support and remotely available course materials & supporting resources
    When you start a course, you will be provided with access to your online course area. There you will find everything you need to work through your course work, and comment facilities so that you can interact with tutors and colleagues. You are encouraged to download all materials to your device so that they can be accessed even without an internet connection. 
    This presentation also means that you can work through course materials anywhere, any time. Travel and getting together in the same room offers some advantages but also adds expense, challenge, and may not always be safe for many. Next year, we are planning to add back in limited in-person work but hope to maintain as much remote and accessible delivery as possible.
    We take only small groups on each course. This is especially important for online learning as it's just easier for individuals to fall through the cracks. We don't want that to happen to anyone! 
     
  • positive, constructive & applicable feedback
    Regular and effective feedback is the key to learning, no matter the species. When we talk about teaching our animal learners, we often discuss the use of a high rate of reinforcement. For human learners, a lot of that will come from the individual's enjoyment in the subject matter - you are choosing coursework that appeals to you, that you want to become immersed in, that feeds you at several levels. But for learning to happen, you also need reinforcement in the form of feedback from us, as your supports and guides. We encourage you to submit rough assessment work and questions and posts in our groups and comment facilities, regularly; once a week, once every two weeks, as frequently as possible, is recommended. We will provide you with in-depth, constructive, and reinforcement-based feedback, letting you know where you've gone right, how to build on that, and how to progress and improve, as needed. 

  • regular remote meetings
    One problem with online education, and without the accountability associated with in-person work, is that it can be more challenging to maintain motivation. While it certainly sounds easier to do part-time courses, you can miss out on the structure of attending an institution each day, and the people around you might often underestimate the efforts required. There are certainly plenty of approaches to studying that can help, and we will be there with support every step of the way too.
    Within each course group we will arrange remote meetings on a schedule that works for the group. These will be held via MS Teams, which is similar to other video meeting platforms; you don't need to download anything, although that's helpful, and can participate via the meetings links that will be sent to you.
    The structure of these meetings will vary according to the groups needs and preferences but will provide you with regular opportunities to troubleshoot, share your experiences and discuss course related topics. 
    Remote meetings are not mandatory but are recommended. 

  • animal learners
    For some courses, animal learners will be required to participate so that your skills and knowledge can be assessed on video that you submit. This presented a real challenge for some without a companion animal of their own during lockdowns and we had to create alternatives. But for those who don't have their own animal learners, you are asked to source permission to include animals of friends or family. We try to keep animal learner requirements as general as possible, but often, dogs are the focus. It's a good idea to plan for animal learners before you start a course; ask us about requirements if you need guidance.
    We provide very strict guidance about the inclusion of animal learners. They didn't ask to participate so maximising choice and prioritising welfare is our main concern; we take this very seriously!  

 

Which course for me?

Take the guesswork out of education in the training/behaviour industries and study with AniEd! Our courses are challenging, in-depth and engrossing so we want to make sure that you consider starting a course carefully. 

Knowing where to start can be tricky, but don't worry, we are here to help. We have courses for pet owners and pros, for those starting out and for those seasoned in animal care.

We will guide you through your choices, making sure to help you understand the workings of the animal care, training & behaviour industries. This in itself is difficult, given the lack of regulation and best practice.

If you want immediate help, use the form here to send an email directly to us and we will discuss your goals and options with you, helping you to develop an individualised plan.

  • Start by considering your current experience and knowledge. 
  • Be realistic about the time and resources available to you. Most shorter courses will require a couple of hours per week, with Deep Dive courses requiring several hours per week.
  • Plan your studies now! Roughly sketch out your week - how many hours do you have available for course work?
  • What do you want to achieve from doing this course? You might want to boost your knowledge or skills, you might want to enhance you understanding of complex topics, you might want to further your understanding of the application of science in animal care, you might want to build a new career, or, something else entirely! 
We are here to help and will steer you in the right direction!

 
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Doing a course with AniEd

 


The application procedure will take a couple of days because we want you to be sure about your course, paying and participating. We will guide you each step of the way. Once enrolment is completed, we will send you access to your online course area. This might be a link and password or instructions to sign-up to your course website. You are asked to never share these access details or any course materials with anyone else; this is a requirement for your participation on your course. 

We are certainly not trying to turn you off starting a course (!) but do want you to consider embarking on a course carefully so that you get the most from it.   While online learning is more flexible, it can be more challenging to self-motivate and maintain your energy and interest, especially toward the middle of the course duration. Knowing to expect that can be helpful in understanding that there will be dips in your progress and motivation over the course duration, and that's normal! 
Seek help and we will provide you with guidance so that you can pick up and get going again.


You will be expected to complete the reading, studying and assessment on a homestudy basis and while all course materials are provided, it's recommended that you organise them carefully and plan your studies. It's best to take the first week of a new course to familiarise your self with the online course area, download & organise your course materials and plan your studies (roughly!).


Our courses are challenging and are pitched at least at equivalent to Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications. We are here to help and guide you, but please recognise that your understanding and what you think you already know will be challenged. Indeed, many of the staples shared throughout our industry will be challenged through our course work and you will learn how to critically evaluate the fads and topics discussed regularly in our industry, particularly online. 

We don't apologise for presenting these challenges but instead want to support you in developing a well-rounded understanding. It's so worthwhile and is such an achievement when you reach your interim goals, set along your journey. 


Your course materials will be constantly updated and adjusted based on feedback from you, from many and varied colleagues and as evidence adapts, adjusts and updates. 

Terms associated with studying with AniEd:


Make sure you know exactly what you are getting into before you pay. Once payment has been received, you will be provided with course access. There are no refunds, whole or partial, available for any reason for course fees once you have accessed the online course area.

By continuing and participating in a course with AniEd you agree to these terms and you will be asked to review more in-depth terms before you enroll. Follows an abridged version of terms associated with studying with AniEd.

  • AniEd is an adult education institution. You must be 18 years old or older to participate in AniEd courses.
  • Upon application, you will be asked to review all course information and review all terms before paying course fees and by continuing with your application, we understand that you have reviewed and agreed to all this information. 
  • Course fees must be paid in full or in accordance with an agreed payment plan before access to course areas will be provided.
  • Once access to the online course area is provided, no refunds, for any reason, will be available.
  • You will have access to the online course area, and related resources, for the specified duration of the course and extensions are available on an individual basis.
  • Assessment submission is optional and details of extensions and deadline accommodation will be available at application. We encourage you to discuss your needs with us and we will accommodate your needs as best we can. 
  • All course materials are presented in English and as such a good literacy and comprehension level are required. You must be able to communicate and complete assessment work in English. Technological aids, such as readers, are available and you are encouraged to utilise aids in any way that help you. We are always happy to discuss your needs with you to make sure each individual can participate to the fullest.

To participate, you will need: 


  • Email address/account, a suitable device and internet access; course materials are presented in MS Word, PDF and links for downloading. You should not have difficulty on most devices and OS.
  • Stationary for note-taking (if that’s the way you work).
  • You need to be able to use the internet, blogs, Facebook groups and if you wish to participate to the fullest, be able to record and upload short demonstration clips, complete assessment work in Word documents, PDFs and other basic computer skills.
  • To complete some assessment work, and get the most out of most of our courses, you will need access to at least one dog, or on some courses, an animal learner, with whom to work.
  • Means to video yourself and upload your clips for guidance and feedback and to submit assessment work. You will be required to upload video assessment work, according to assessment guidelines, to a video sharing site, such as YouTube. 
  • Access to social media such as Facebook (for groups) and MS Teams (we will send you a link, you don’t even need an account, just an email address), and a device that allows you to participate in online video meetings.
  • There may be specific requirements associated with individual courses and this information will be made available to you when you apply.