Schools affiliate to the Online Learning Community and provide a teacher to deliver a course online. Each course provided by an online teacher - an e-teacher - is designed in line with The New Zealand Curriculum. Students from other affiliated schools enrol into a course. Each class usually consists of around 15 - 20 students. The classes are run using an online class ‘space’. These class spaces include the use of a video conferencing platform and an area for curated coursework.
OLC e-teachers use ZOOM for their video conference meeting with their class. The related coursework is developed, stored and shared using an online tool, e.g Google Classroom, Google Sites.
For 1 hour every week, the e-teacher runs their face-to-face video conference with their class. Students join the class at the appropriate time from their home school, using an internet capable device and ZOOM, a free internet-based video conferencing application. During the conference, students see each other and their e-teacher, which provides an opportunity to build strong relationships, create a sense of community, while engaging in an environment conducive to quality learning.
Even though students only see their e-teacher and fellow students once a week, through the online environment and a range of different communication tools, students are able to make contact with their e-teacher as often as need be. Completed assignments, assessments and activities are shared with the e-teacher mainly through Google Docs and Google Drive so e-teachers are able to provide feedback in a timely way.
In addition, each affiliated school designates a teacher to provide in-school pastoral support - an e-dean - for students studying online. The e-dean is responsible for ensuring students meet their coursework obligations, attend their online meetings and communicate regularly with their e-teacher.