Northern Territory Open Education Centre

The Northern Territory Open Education Centre (NTOEC) in Australia supports Interactive Distance Learning.

It was established by the Northern Territory Department of Education in 1980 to provide secondary and/or professional education for students in isolated and remote locations throughout the Northern Territory of Australia. Today they provide a fully accredited Year 8 to 12 program as well as an increasing level of vocational training to a wide range of school aged and adult students using distance education and open learning strategies. They are one of the best in the country, a succinct example of a virtual school initiative in Australia.

The School's motto is “Education Wherever You Are.”

NTOEC make the use of Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) which involves the use of computers and satellite and/or internet connection to communicate using two way audio and video.

NTOEC have multiple IDL studios and broadcast regular lessons. IDL enables the NTOEC teacher to provide audio and visual contact and to share computer applications.

IDL transmission of lessons is used extensively for delivery to Community Schools and for a large number of Senior Secondary courses.

NTOEC enrolls students who are studying Senior Secondary subjects (Years 10, 11 & 12). NTOEC students come from a range of backgrounds including:

• students living in isolated areas without access to a Senior Secondary School
• students travelling (Australia or International)
• adults wishing to upgrade their Senior Secondary education
• students who have medical, social or behavioural conditions which prevent attendance at a local school
• students who are in jail or a remand centre
• students attending urban NT or SA Senior Secondary Schools who enrol for one or two subjects with NTOEC because they cannot access these subjects at their own school (dual enrolment and/or Holiday School)
• Senior Secondary students attending remote community schools (dual Community enrolment)
• students enrolled with the Alice Outcomes and Alternative Education Programs
• Senior Secondary students who attend an Area School (Jabiru, Batchelor, Alyangula) (dual Area School enrolment)

The school's main office is in Casuarina in the Northern Territory of Australia.

The NTOEC's website is http://www.ntoec.nt.edu.au/site/

References

1. Enrolment Eligibility Document "Northern Territory Open Education Centre - eligibility to enrol" (PDF)
2. Policy Document "Northern Territory Open Education Centre - students based in other schools" (PDF)

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