In the lead up to Catholic Education Week, students and staff from Hervey Bay to Bracken Ridge, South Brisbane to Kingaroy and Merrimac came together to take part in the first online lesson this week.
FisherOne Head of Campus, Megan Pidskalny, said it was a milestone moment, showcasing the power of connected Catholic online learning.
“Offering the Short Course in Numeracy highlights our commitment to access, equity and inclusion for all learners,” Megan said.
The course is designed to help students develop essential numeracy skills for everyday life and work-related tasks, contributing one credit towards their QCE.
“The initiative has been a great success in reaching students across Queensland and giving every student, regardless of their location, the opportunity to thrive,” Megan said.
“Our outstanding educators, Tayla-Jay Topp and Narelle Morris, have facilitated and delivered this vital subject with expertise, care and enthusiasm.”
Students take the course for a number of reasons, depending on their goals for Year 11 and 12 and their post-school aspirations.
For one parent, the Short Course in Numeracy has taken the pressure off their child and their family.
“We are not paying for extra tutoring for General Maths to push them through the subject, and our child isn’t suffering trying to complete it,” Liana said.
“Sometimes kids focus too much time and effort on subjects that they are struggling with to pass, while not giving the subjects they enjoy or are good at the attention they deserve.”
Megan said it is often only a small number of students who opt for the Short Course, making it unsustainable for each individual school to run the program.
For students such as Evie from St John Fisher College, who are not planning to do a maths subject in Year 11 or 12, the course was a good way to meet the requirement without going down that path.
“We are proud to support students on this journey and cannot wait to see the practical, real-world learning that unfolds throughout the course,” Megan said.
“During Catholic Education Week, when we celebrate what makes Catholic education so special, it is a privilege to be part of FisherOne Online Learning, providing high-quality, inclusive learning environments to students right across Queensland.”