What is Distance Learning?

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Distance learning provides an avenue for parents and students who want a home-based education that is lead and managed by the school.

Unlike home-schooling, the teaching responsibilities sit with the school’s distance learning teachers and support staff. Parental involvement is still an essential aspect; however, the day-to-day monitoring, management and teaching is carried out by the school, just as it would if you sent your children to a regular class.

Just as in regular school, students are in a class, have a teacher and classmates. Local/regional hubs and activities are encouraged and incorporated into school life as are the enriched educational activities such as music, sport, art, etc.

Amana’s approach to Distance Learning provides a structured school day, week, and term in which the student, teacher and support staff work through the curriculum. Work is carried out using workbooks and online using one-on-one, small groups and whole of class meetings and activities.

Having a dedicated teacher and support staff means your child gets direct individualised and objective feedback. Amana’s Distance Learning model supports parents who wish to or need to educate in the home.

Advantages of Amana’s Distance Learning

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Amana’s distance learning is unique and advantageous in several ways:

Classrooms, Teachers and support staff

• Some Distance Learning and home-schooling options do not have a dedicated teacher, meaning parents must carry the full load of educating their child. The Amana Distance Learning approach is similar to a regular class. The teacher is responsible for the class and the education, support staff assist with marking and the enrichment aspects of the distance learning (parents will still need to ensure appropriate supervision is available).

It is structured. This means:

• Students and parents can rely on the daily schedule. The school day will be the same in lockdown or under open conditions. A dependable and consistent schedule is an important aspect of children’s feeling of security and safety.
• Parents can make plans around their own unique work situation to fulfil other family requirements.

It is not all online all of the time

• This is an important aspect of the Amana Distance Learning approach. Online and screen time is kept in the context of the overall education.
• A large portion of the curriculum is workbook, paper and activity based. Additional outdoor and other learning opportunities are provided and encouraged.
• A dedicated work area is important, again to support routine and consistency.

It considers and works with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health boundaries relating to education and provides parents and teachers with a choice in respect to their personal medical decisions.

This means:

Education is in the home.

• Teacher/student contact is online and therefore qualified teachers have the opportunity to continue to do what they are trained for and love doing which is teaching children.

It uses an Enriched ACE Curriculum

• ACE is an internationally recognised curriculum (https://www.aceministries.com/about-ace).
• Just as a regular school includes art, music and other activities, Amana enriches the ACE curriculum with these essential elements of your child’s education.

Community

• You are not alone!
• Amana’s Distance Learning model has been developed as a direct response to requests from parents who want to be more involved in the direction of their child’s education.
• The development of family led local community HUBs is encouraged and supported.
• Parents choosing Distance Learning generally share similar concerns:

1. Seeking an education which offers traditional Judeo-Christian values and an unashamed Biblical world view.
2. Seeking an education which allows parents to emphasis their own views regarding social and political ideologies.
3. Respects the rights and responsibility of parents to educate their children regarding sexuality, sexual health and other personal and religious matters.
4. Respects and defends an individual’s right to choose!
5. Respects a parent’s right to be informed.

How Does it Work?

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It works a lot like a regular school and classroom:

The classroom:

• The teacher is responsible for the students and the class.
• The class is not a room or a virtual room, it is the teacher and the students.
• Assigned work is either completed individually or with classmates.
• Students are encouraged to participate and support each other just as in a regular class.

School Work

• Students have a daily plan and work at their own pace through the assigned work.
• Work is primarily carried out using workbooks.
• New works books are sent out at regular intervals, in time to coincide with completion of the current workbook.
• Both the teacher and their support person review work and provide feedback to the student. This includes individual, small group and class.
• The schoolwork covers a range of teaching methods, including; directed learning, lectures/presentations, self-managed learning, assignments, projects, activities.
• The programme is structured around regular marking, follow-up teaching, revision and testing.
• Increasingly Students take ownership of their own learning by setting daily, weekly and term and yearly goals.

School Life

Each day and week are structured. This typically means:

• Morning get together – devotion, prayer, activities for the day.
• Work time.
• Recess, Lunch, morning tea, etc.
• Fun time.
• Enrichment activities: art, music, drama, etc.

School year includes the same things regular school includes:

• Prize givings, recognition, encouragement.
• Localised community events are encouraged.
• Localised participation in sport is encouraged.
• Seasonal themes and activities.

Parental Involvement

Parental involvement is essential and includes:

• Establishing a work area.
• Age appropriate supervision – helping the child get set for the day, managing the work schedule, etc.
• Supporting the teaching routine.
• Providing feedback to the school and teachers.
• Engaging with your local community is strongly encouraged.

Be a participant

• Parents have skills; cooking, art, music, etc. Parental involvement is a great way to support the education of your own and other children.
• Making a short ‘how to’ video or being willing to read a story, explain or support a child’s ‘show and tell’. Is a great way to be involved.

Support the Amana community

• We are all part of the community and we all need help from time to time, particularly in these challenging times.
• Feedback, encouragement and other forms of support are always welcome.
• Being active in a local community hub or connecting with other parents is all encouraged.
• Partner with, support the school or sponsor a teacher.
• Support each other; encourage, pray, perhaps even arrange local meet-up and joint activities such as sport or outings. 

Sample Timetable

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The following is an indicative timetable for the 2022 school year.

Detailed weekly timetables are prepared before each term. High degree of consultation between teachers, teacher support and families.