Associate Professor Mike Phillips
- A new Victorian Government online program is helping bridge the education gap between regional and metro students
- The program will boost the ability of VCE teachers to deliver best practice virtual learning and teaching
- Post-COVID schools and students are more reliant on virtual learning so this program will assist teachers advance online education and learning
Students with special needs, who are geographically remote, or have other factors limiting their ability to attend face-to-face schooling will benefit from a new virtual online learning program developed by Monash University.
"David" suffers from chronic fatigue. He quickly becomes overwhelmed by the huge variety of inputs in traditional classrooms over which he has little control. "Tayla" is suffering from trauma caused by recent family violence. She is reluctant to leave her mother or her family home for extended periods of time. "Greg" is an elite athlete who has an incredibly busy training schedule as he hopes to represent Australia at the Olympic Games later this year and "Anne" is living in regional Victoria and she is the only student in her local community who wants to study Japanese at VCE.
For these students, attending classes in a face-to-face setting is not an option. They represent thousands of young Victorians who rely on virtual schooling to enable them to achieve their educational aspirations.
"In the past, many young people have not been able to study in ways that allow them to fully participate. Our research and the experiences of many during remote and distance learning has shown an education system, we can tailor an education system, we can tailor online programs, according to specific student needs - this new program is literally about giving all kids a go," according to Associate Professor Mike Phillips, an expert in digital transformation in the Faculty of Education at Monash University.
Virtual online teaching will be given a significant financial boost under a new Victorian Government investment designed to help bridge the education gap between regional and metropolitan students.
"Post-COVID we've recognised that virtual learning can play an important and ongoing part of our education system, but who educates online teachers about best online teaching practices? Our new program does this," says Associate Professor Phillips.
One hundred teachers across the state are being offered the six-week Leading Virtual Learning Teacher course.
The program will enhance state-wide capacity to lead the delivery of VCE subjects virtually, supporting rural and regional students to reach their educational goals.
Co-designed between the Department of Education and Training and Monash University, the program will further develop the capability of VCE students to deliver best practice virtual learning and teaching.
Through this program, teachers will learn how to best design, facilitate and assess in an online environment, through exploration of theories, models, practical strategies and experience.
Choice of subjects at schools is a key driver for student retention and for VCE completion. Yet students in rural and regional Victoria generally have fewer VCE subjects to choose from than their metropolitan counterparts.
The course is a funded initiative under the $22.65m VCE Expansion project to help rural and regional students engage in VCE subjects of their choice through virtual and blended modes.
"Providing teachers with access to findings from cutting edge research provides them with ideas and strategies that allow them to engage VCE students in exciting teaching and learning opportunities that sometimes are not possible in face to face classrooms," says Associate Professor Phillips.
The importance of developing and maintaining student rapport in a virtual environment is a key feature woven throughout each module of the course. This course will allow participants a great deal of flexibility to engage with the learning according to their geographic location, experience in teaching in virtual settings, professional learning needs and responsibilities in their school.
Teachers will also be suitably prepared to support other learning professionals in their home schools to develop quality teaching in a virtual environment, broadening the number of subjects available to students.
"Without the option of online teaching and learning as a component of our educational system, some students in Victoria would simply miss out. As a comprehensive education system, we are driven to ensure that online teaching and learning is equitable and provides all students with opportunities to succeed," says Associate Professor Phillips.
