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ASC Connect Creating connections and delivering opportunities
by PMACS
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ASC Connect Creating connections and delivering opportunities
The following information describes an exciting initiative developed by the Anglican Schools Commission Schools for students within our ASC community. The options offered below would apply to students who are eligible to take the English course EAL/D.
ASC Connect is a centralised remote or virtual learning hub that delivers programs across Anglican Schools Commission schools, within a virtual classroom environment. It provides students with the opportunity to engage in ATAR courses not currently available at their own school.
ASC Connect ensures students can undertake ATAR courses, in offered learning areas, uninhibited by lack of availability, illness or location. All courses are taught by experienced and qualified ASC teachers, within a virtual classroom environment.
ASC Connect fosters a safe, engaging and inclusive learning environment by coupling stateof-the-art technology with innovative and adaptive teaching practices. Upon satisfactory completion of our ASC Connect courses, students gain course recognition from SCSA and credit towards their WACE.
ASC Connect deliberately uses the term remote learning and virtual classroom, rather than technology specific labels such as e-learning or online learning, because effective and meaningful student learning, in this environment, can take many forms.
ASC Connect helps to prepare students for life beyond the school classroom, as an increasing number of tertiary education providers and workplaces rely on digital technology for the delivery of learning content and professional practices.
Key reasons for students to become a part of ASC Connect: • Students can select subjects that are not on offer at their school. • Students gain the advantage of building networks and friendships across different ASC schools. • Students are provided with training in the use of relevant technology. • Students enhance their preparedness for online learning beyond school.
The aim of ASC Connect is to facilitate a student’s connection to a learning community which delivers greater opportunities for success.
Students will complete at least 55 hours of teaching time per unit. ATAR subjects are 4 units with 2 units generally completed each calendar year during Year 11 and 12. This requires students to participate in a minimum of 110 hours of teaching time in Year 11 and Year 12. All courses run within ASC Connect will follow a hybrid teaching model. This provides an environment similar to that which a student would experience in a tertiary environment and enables a ‘soft’ introduction and familiarisation to this style of engagement. Class structure in ASC Connect will consist of the lessons below: • 2 x 50-minute tutorial • 1-2 x 50 minute prerecord lessons • 1-2 x 50-minute independent work on set tasks All teachers delivering ASC Connect courses will be fully registered and qualified teachers employed within one of our Anglican Schools Commission schools. Teachers have been specially selected to participate based on their expertise in the assigned learning area, and their experience using technology as an effective tool for learning.
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ASC Connect courses will be delivered via key Microsoft learning platforms. Specifically, this will entail Microsoft Teams and Class Notebook. Other remote learning platforms may be utilised for specific tasks in certain courses. This will be detailed in the Course Outline.
Students will be provided with an ASC Connect account (separate from their usual school account). The format of this account will be an @student.ascschools.edu.au email account. Students will use this account to log into the ASC Connect learning platforms for participation in ASC Connect classes.
Students participate in courses within ASC Connect at PMACS.
All students participating in ASC Connect courses will apply via their school as part of the Year 11 subject selection process. Courses offered through ASC Connect will be made available and identified on subject selection forms.
Students remain enrolled through their school with reporting and assessments being undertaken by their course teachers and delivered back via their school once per semester. Students in ASC Connect will receive a separate ASC Connect report detailing results of the course they have undertaken.
Course Offerings in 2022
The following courses will be available through ASC Connect in 2022 Year 11 • ATAR Business Management and Enterprise • ATAR Economics • ATAR and General English as an Additional Language and/or Dialect (EaL/D) • ATAR Mathematics Specialist • ATAR Religion and Life
Year 12 • ATAR English as an Additional Language and/or Dialect (EaL/D)
Student Orientation
All students participating in ASC Connect courses will be required to undertake a thorough (face to face) orientation session. Here, students will learn how to access and utilise the ASC Connect learning platforms, along with gain the opportunity to meet with their teachers and fellow classmates. Other opportunities to meet in person may also be required according to the requirements of the course and year group.
