Northern Territory Distance Learning Service
Current Update
The NT Distance Learning Service (NTDLS) began in February 2007 with the formation of the Materials and ICT Development Unit and the Virtual School Unit.
The NT Open Education Centre (NTOEC) has appointed four Regional Learning Agents (RLAs) based at Alice Springs and Katherine and two temporary RLA positions at NTOEC. A further five RLAs will be located in regional areas in 2008.
Additional Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) sites are being installed and all eligible students have access to IDL.
Katherine School of the Air trialled Midde Years in 2007 for students wishing to continue post primary education. The trial will progress to include Year 9 students for 2008. Alice Springs School of the Air will commence a Middle Schooling trial during 2008.
New NTDLS
The establishment of the Northern Territory Distance Learning Service (NTDLS) was announced on 24 May 2006 by the Minister for Employment, Education and Training, Hon Syd Stirling.
The NT Distance Learning Service (NTDLS) Director commenced in September 2006. Andrew Street joined DEET with a wealth of experience as an educator in Western Australia and the United Kingdom.
The new service will improve the quality and effectiveness of distance education and will see improvements in technology and interactive learning, in sourcing and developing teaching and learning materials, and most importantly, in the delivery of service to our students - no matter where they live.
The new $12 million per year NT Distance Learning Service will be ready for the start of the 2007 school year.
Six major changes will occur. The new NT Distance Learning Service will:
- Bring three schools together – the Alice Springs School of the Air, the Katherine School of the Air, the Northern Territory Open Education Centre – under one framework, allowing each school to retain its own status.
- Place into remote communities 10 new Regional Learning Agents who will work to provide schools and students with increased distance learning support.
- Trial a ‘virtual school’ at an urban or regional high school or secondary college to allow specialist teachers to deliver lessons across the Territory, not just in their own school.
- Trial the extension of education services to the end of Year 9 by the Katherine School of the Air. This will allow remote parents to keep their children at home longer.
- Provide 60 new computers and replace existing Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) computers to all home based learners.
- Create a new Distance Learning Materials and ICT Innovation Unit to develop or refine teaching and learning materials tailored for the Territory and relevant to Indigenous students.
Links to Further Information
Consultant's Report
Parents and Students - Your Questions Answered
Staff - Your Questions
Answered
Contact
Northern Territory Open Education Centre, Ph 8922 2292
Alice Springs School of the Air, Ph 8951 6800
Katherine School of the Air, Ph 8972 1833
Building Better Schools, Ph 1800 722 030
This is a Distance Education initiative. |
