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Open Access CollegeFrom Researching Virtual Initiatives in EducationThe Open Access College (Open Access College School of the Air, OAC) is (still in 2020) a public provider located in the south of Australia. The Open Access College is an innovative South Australian Government distance education school that provides interactive distance education to geographically remote and isolated students all accross Australia, who are unable to attend a local school or access curriculum in their own school, and admits students from Year 7. They consider themselves as leaders in flexible and online learning. OAC uses Moodle and Centra (now called Saba). Over 2,500 students from reception to year 12, including adult re-entry, enrol with the Open Access College annually. Their flexible approach to teaching enables students to achieve their best while taking responsibility for their own learning. By studying with the Open Access College students develop the motivation and skills for lifelong learning. They make use of broadband internet and a virtual classroom using a central software. Learning by distance at the Open Access College occurs in a variety of ways. They have developed and use a range of teaching and learning methods, including:
Communication between students and teachers is via post, email, phone or fax. The Open Access College caters for students unable to either attend a local school or access curriculum in their own school. The Port Augusta campus caters for reception to year 7 and the Marden campus for reception to year 12 students. The Open Access College has its main campus at Port Augusta, commonly known as Campus of the Open Access College of Distance Education. It also has another campus at Marden in Adelaide. The Open Access College's website is http://www.openaccess.edu.au/index.html
More DetailsOAC was a case study for the publication: Perspectives on Distance Education: Open Schooling in the 21st Century, Dominique A.M.X. Abrioux and Frances Ferreira, Vancouver: Commonwealth of Learning, 2009, http://www.col.org/PublicationDocuments/pub_PS_OpenSchooling_web.pdf, August 2011.
Learners within the Middle School have contact during six half-hour periods weekly to engage in the curriculum, and an extra half-hour contact period for ‘home group’ activities related to student organisation and wellbeing. Contact is made in multi-age grouping of around 8 students studying at Year 7-9 level via Centra (online learning platform).
In the case of students based at other schools, their school is encouraged to provide a suitable learning space, including appropriate technology. They are also encouraged to appoint an Open Access Coordinator, a staff member whose role involves coordinating all Open Access learning within their site and acts as the key contact person between the college and the school.
The Open Access College is funded by the South Australian Government, similar to all other public schools, on the basis of student numbers from Reception to Year 12. The complexities of teaching students in settings off site are recognised by a reduction in class sizes by 25%. The South Australian Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS) also supports the development of learning materials by providing additional funding for staff. The Open Access College receives additional funding through its Rural Index score to provide programmes which encourage rural and remote students and their families to attend school community and face to face activities.
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Categories: Virtual schools | National schools-level initiatives | Virtual schools in Australia | Virtual schools in Australasia | Australia | Australasia | VISCED | 2020 Virtual schools | 2020 National schools-level initiatives | 2020 Virtual schools in Australia | 2020 Virtual schools in Australasia |