CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE VIRTUAL KIND

IN NEW YORK THERE ARE SCHOOLS WHERE THE STUDENTS DON'T ACTUALLY ATTEND ... WELL NOT IN PERSON ANYWAY. YOU SEE, THEY LOG ON TO GET TO CLASS. THE FUTURISTIC DAYS OF VIRTUAL LEARNING ARE HERE.
By Jeska Innes

No more bus rides, packed lunches or school uniforms? The New Zealand Education Review reports that around one million American children and teenagers are already being taught online and numbers are growing by 50% each year. The concept of a virtual education kind of feels like science fiction, but in reality this may well be the future of schooling.

Just because we're a little country on a big world stage doesn't mean we'll miss out. In fact our first completely virtual school is underway right here at home. It's called ‘The New Zealand Virtual School' and will be a national trade academy that delivers vocational training online. Classes will officially start in 2011. This exciting project is being led by The Catlins Area School, which serves a small rural community in South Otago. 

Actv8 called on Allan Asbjorn Jon, deputy principal of The Catlins Area School and project manager of The New Zealand Virtual School:

What are some of the trades the NZ Virtual School will offer?

It will offer a very wide range. Everything from the skills and training required to work on cargo ships to joinery, tourism, automotive trades, oil drilling, agriculture and forestry.

Wow. You can learn all that online?

There's nothing to stop you. We're actually going to have a Foundation Studies Department that will deliver NCEA English, Maths, and Social Sciences. People can opt to go to the virtual school for their whole educational package.

Maybe Aucklanders should attend? It would save so much traffic time

They're more than welcome! Because of the delivery format we can be a little more flexible with part time jobs and things like that.

Anything else kids should know?

When you think about a traditional school, it is using a model that is 300 years old. When we think about the New Zealand Virtual School, we're going to be operating off a completely new model that's embracing the digital technology kids are growing up with today.

What will it be like?

Well kind of like the Second Life website. The New Zealand Virtual School's online campus will exist within ‘SmallWorlds', a kiwi-designed and run virtual world platform. There'll even be an e-library where you can check out electronic learning resources.

You'll still have teachers. In fact eTutors will guide your studies and you'll use video conferencing, podcasts, 3D visualisation tools and even mobile phones.

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

Seventeen-year-old Nicole Ford, a Year 13 student at The Catlins Area School shared her thoughts.

Do you think one day all students will study at home via virtual school?

Yes I do. There are lots of opportunities through the New Zealand Virtual School with people having busier lives and technology improving. As time goes on it will be more convenient for students..

What will The New Zealand Virtual School mean for kiwi kids?

More subject choices and also catching up with the rest of the world. As a student that has lots of classes by myself, I would enjoy this school because I would feel like I was in a class and able to talk to students and ask for their opinion on assignments. Being able to work from home ... and being able to send them [work] in on weekends or after school hours would also be cool.