A Melbourne Catholic all-girls school will offer students a hybrid model of teaching that includes an online component delivered by one of the largest state government schools. Source: The Age.
Genazzano FCJ College principal Loretta Wholley said the model would combine in-person learning delivered by staff of the Kew school, and screen-based learning via state-run Virtual Schools Victoria.
With university lectures and tutorials now largely conducted online, Ms Wholley said the change would enable the 135-year-old school to better prepare students for tertiary study.
“If we know that’s what’s ahead, then we have to prepare them for that,” she said. “This will give them the independent learning skills that they need to transfer into their tertiary studies.”
The virtual component will require students to be on campus at a dedicated learning hub where Genazzano support teachers will monitor students’ progress and set up exams and assessments.
Ms Wholley said the online and on-campus model was adopted because she believed it was important for students to maintain social connections and learn life skills – including how to manage people.
“These are really important skills for life,” she said. “Let’s be honest, we all work with people we don’t particularly like all the time, but we have to learn to get the best out of each other.”
The voluntary program for year 10 and 11 students will enable the school to increase the subjects offered from 30 to 46, with the potential for additional subjects to be added in 2026.
Monash University online teaching and learning professor Michael Phillips said while online learning didn’t suit all students, providing an option to learn virtually was important.
He said the approach was novel for a mainstream education provider, noting it marked an interesting union between the state sector, which runs Virtual Schools Victoria, and the Catholic education sector.
FULL STORY
Prestigious Kew private school adopts online learning to prepare students for university (By Bridie Smith, The Age)
