Now and the Future

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Created on Friday, 17 December 2010

Last Updated on Thursday, 14 June 2012

SIDE has made the transition from a correspondence education school to an online, flexible learning institution, utilising 90 years of experience with current pedagogical and technical know-how.

All upper secondary courses have been re-written to reflect the new WACE Courses and designed for online delivery. Importantly, teachers are now given the flexibility to edit and redevelop materials to suit the needs of their students.

Teachers use multiple sources for their curriculum materials, a blend of self written, commercial or resources developed by WestOne Services. Depending on their cohort, teachers use a variety of strategies to connect with their students:

• live, online classes using SABA Centra, the Department of Education's web conferencing solution
• Moodle, online courses available 24/7
• traditional video conferencing
• face to face teaching either on site in Leederville or school/regional visits
• print and telephone, the old model for students without Internet access.

SIDE regularly hosts intrastate, interstate and international visitors interested in learning more about the successful model used by teachers and students.

A continuing focus of the School is to ensure high quality teaching and learning in the new online world. The School has on-site Online Teaching and Learning Team consisting of practicing teachers who support other teachers and students to use the new technologies in the most effective manner.

There are plenty of challenges and opportunities for the School. Mobile technologies offer potentially greater flexibility and access, the Australian Curriculum and the national agenda require examination in the distance education context and the natural world presents age-old challenges with fires, floods and storms. 

Experienced teachers and administrators with a clear and strong focus on student achievement means the School is well equipped to move forward.