Clutha gets first fully virtual school

VIRTUAL CAMPUS: A screen shot from the Small World computer program shows what the New Zealand Virtual School campus will look like.

Australasia's first completely virtual school will be established in the Clutha district.

Education Minister Anne Tolley said yesterday a consortium of southern secondary schools and polytechnics, led by Catlins Area School at Owaka, was one of five applicants chosen to open trades academies in 2011.

The New Zealand Virtual School was the only South Island proposal chosen, following 113 expressions of interest from education providers throughout New Zealand.

Catlins Area School deputy principal and project manager Allan Jon said the ministry would indicate soon how much funding the virtual school would receive and the number of students it was expected to take in its first year.

Despite being a popular concept overseas, Mr Jon said there was no fully virtual school in either Australia or New Zealand and he was proud to be part of the first.

"We now have the opportunity, here in Southland and Otago, to be at the forefront of the virtual movement in New Zealand."

Mr Jon could not predict how popular the virtual school might be.

But, should it take off, it could rival enrolments at some of New Zealand's larger secondary schools, which boast about 3500 students, he said.

The New Zealand Virtual School will operate out of a virtual campus similar to institutions in the popular Second Life website, Mr Jon said.

Students will be guided through their online learning by virtual tutors and supported by video conferences with real-life academics.

The campus will also feature an e-library. and students will be able to utilise podcasts, 3D visualisation tools and mobile phones as learning tools.

A work placement programme, similar to Gateway, will be integrated into the school's curriculum.Courses are for students from year 9 to 13, offering both NCEA credits and a tertiary qualification.

Mr Jon expected many adults without a secondary school eduction would enrol, especially given the $13 million funding cut to adult education classes the Government announced earlier this year.

He also predicted several highly skilled academics would be drawn to Southland and Otago, given it was the only South Island-based academy.

He said potential oil drilling in the Great South Basin also provided the virtual school a chance to capitalise on the service industry training that would be required.

"One of our partners is EXITO, who provide industry training for drilling and mining, so we're already thinking along those lines."

Other schools involved in the initiative are South Otago High School, Blue Mountain College, Tokomairiro High School and Telford Rural Polytechnic.

Ms Tolley said the school would be a pilot for the delivery of industry-related education.michael.forbes@stl.co.nz

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