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Open Access College
The Open Access College (Open Access College School of the Air, OAC) is a public provider located in the south of Australia.
The Open Access College is an innovative South Australian Government distance education school that provides interactive distance education to geographically remote and isolated students all accross Australia, who are unable to attend a local school or access curriculum in their own school, and admits students from Year 7. They consider themselves as leaders in flexible and online learning. OAC uses Moodle.
Over 2,500 students from reception to year 12, including adult re-entry, enrol with the Open Access College annually. Their flexible approach to teaching enables students to achieve their best while taking responsibility for their own learning. By studying with the Open Access College students develop the motivation and skills for lifelong learning.
They make use of broadband internet and a virtual classroom using a central software. Learning by distance at the Open Access College occurs in a variety of ways. They have developed and use a range of teaching and learning methods, including:
- Broadband internet virtual classrooms
- Telephone or online lessons in small groups
- Specialised course booklets
- Custom-designed support materials including DVDs, CDs and activity kits
- Face-to-face workshops, mini schools, camps and excursions
- Visits from teachers
Communication between students and teachers is via post, email, phone or fax.
The Open Access College caters for students unable to either attend a local school or access curriculum in their own school. The Port Augusta campus caters for reception to year 7 and the Marden campus for reception to year 12 students.
The Open Access College has its main campus at Port Augusta, commonly known as Campus of the Open Access College of Distance Education. It also has another campus at Marden in Adelaide.
The Open Access College's website is http://www.openaccess.edu.au/index.html
More Details
OAC was a case study for the publication: Perspectives on Distance Education: Open Schooling in the 21st Century, Dominique A.M.X. Abrioux and Frances Ferreira, Vancouver: Commonwealth of Learning, 2009, http://www.col.org/PublicationDocuments/pub_PS_OpenSchooling_web.pdf, August 2011.
References
- R-12 Curriculum Guide 2012, Open Access College, 10 September 2011, http://www.openaccess.edu.au/curriculum2012, April 2012.
- Perspectives on Distance Education: Open Schooling in the 21st Century, Dominique A.M.X. Abrioux and Frances Ferreira, Vancouver: Commonwealth of Learning, 2009, http://www.col.org/PublicationDocuments/pub_PS_OpenSchooling_web.pdf, August 2011.