Wyong High School students can now securely access lessons and submit assignments electronically from home through the education department’s portal.

The development of an online learning tool gives students and teachers the ability to complete and develop lessons around the clock and is expected to deliver greater flexibility to students enrolled in aged care, health services and electrotechnology courses at the nearby Wyong Trade School.

Wyong High School principal Lynne Rumley said teachers at the school (the educational partner of the trade school located at Hunter Institute of TAFE Wyong campus) can use the tool to deliver curriculum online to students.

“When students are only attending mainstream school for three days a week, TAFE one day a week and industry another day we need to have that flexibility to package the learning materials online for them to access at a time that works for them,” she said.

Wyong High’s technology head teacher Scott Paterson said the online learning project allows teachers to deliver significant components of maths, English and science online.

Every student and teacher at Wyong High can access the system and those students who do not have a home computer can use the school’s computer labs before and after school.

Year 12 student Jessica C, who hopes to secure a hospitality apprenticeship after completing school, said being able to submit assignments from home was “a lot less stressful”.

Wyong High administrative coordinator Andrew Blackwell said the tool also centralised and collated data “which assists in outcomes-based reporting”.

The provision of flexible access follows the school’s participation in a regional online learning trial supported by the Centre for Learning Innovation (CLI).

A dozen high schools, in the Hunter and Central Coast region, have used the Microsoft learning management software, Class Server, to deliver online learning to students over the past two years.

The region’s technology adviser, Wayne Matsen, said participating schools have developed online units of work in specific key learning areas which incorporate digital resources available through CLI’s Teaching and Learning exchange website.

The units of work are stored on a designated server, located at Newcastle, for participating schools and students to log into.

Students work through the activities and assignments at their own pace and gain feedback online from their teachers.

Mr Matsen said findings from the trial had indicated “big increases in enthusiasm, interest and understanding” among students.

“The parents have reported being happier because they have felt their kids are getting better outcomes,” he said.

Mr Paterson said the online learning environment would give Wyong High a platform to launch expanded learning opportunities through the State Government’s Connected Classroom Project, which will link classrooms around the state through interactive whiteboards and videoconferencing facilities.

The manager of schools at CLI, Bill Spence, said the regional online learning project was allowing teachers to add “another string to their bow of strategies and resources”.

“There’s a world of digital content out there that can enrich the material they’re already using,” he said.