Co-designing a virtual teaching and learning model for language education
Description
Funded by the Victorian Department of Education, this project brings together researchers, teachers, and students to co-design a new virtual teaching and learning model for the Victorian School of Languages (VSL). Drawing on a Design Thinking approach, the project seeks to better understand the experiences, challenges, and needs of teachers and students engaged in VSL’s distance language education program and to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.
The VSL is a unique educational provider, offering more than 45 languages to approximately 16,000 students across Victoria and online language programs to around 1,700 students. As one of the few specialist language schools in Australia and a key provider of language education for students whose mainstream schools do not offer particular languages, the VSL plays a critical role in expanding access to language learning opportunities, particularly for regional and rural students.
Through interviews, workshops, and collaborative consultation with teachers and students, the project will co-design a contemporary virtual teaching and learning model for the VSL. The project is led by Dr Gary Bonar, an expert in language education and pedagogy. The team includes Dr Homa Babai, Professor Michael Henderson, and Professor Mike Phillips - experts in virtual learning design and innovation. Together, the team is working towards developing a model that is pedagogically robust, technologically adaptable, and aligned with curriculum and assessment requirements across Years 7–10 and VCE language programs. The resulting framework will support high-quality, engaging, and accessible language learning experiences for students across Victoria.
