Monash Virtual School
The Organisation
The Monash Virtual School (MVS) was developed to address educational inequality and expand access to quality learning through free online programs. The MVS is based within the Faculty of Education and regularly works with Monash students to develop their online teaching capacity and ability to communicate complex ideas clearly. Locally, it offers VCE revision classes for Years 11 and 12 and bespoke STEM initiatives for primary schools, targeting gender inequities in STEM and barriers faced by students in remote areas.
MVS also collaborates internationally with Classrooms Without Walls to support the education of young people whose education has been affected by conflict overseas in Ukraine, Myanmar and Afghanistan.
Classrooms Without Walls empowers students worldwide through education, leadership, and support in crisis-affected communities. They oversee Teachers for Ukraine, Teachers for Afghanistan, Myanmar Education Program and the Winds of Change International Leadership Youth Group. Classrooms Without Walls will connect volunteers with students and attend lessons in a support capacity.
About the volunteering program
This opportunity is to contribute to the International work which the Monash Virtual School and Classrooms Without Walls provide together. MVS will train and support volunteers educationally and Classrooms Without Walls will connect our volunteers with young people overseas interested in attending their online classes.
This opportunity is ideal for students who want to better develop and evidence their capacity to communicate knowledge to those outside of their field. Volunteers will be trained by the Monash Virtual School from the Faculty of Education to better convey and communicate their chosen knowledge area (possibly from their degree or a personal area of interest). Training will include strategies for running an online class, instructional design, and adopting a trauma informed approach when working online with young people affected by conflict.
Monash student volunteers will nominate the topic or area they wish to teach, which can be drawn from their academic studies or any area of personal interest. Throughout the training process, they will be introduced to a range of teaching frameworks, examples, and strategies for online learning. However, it will ultimately be up to each volunteer (or teaching pair) to adapt and apply these frameworks to create the lessons and content they wish to deliver. Classrooms Without Walls will then match these teaching proposals with appropriate groups of learners, ensuring the opportunity is presented to students of a suitable age and background.
Who can participate?
This volunteering opportunity is open to all Monash University students who are in their second year of study or above.
Volunteers must have a current volunteer or employee Working With Children Check.
Time commitment
Volunteers are required to teach a sequence of 7 online lessons in partnership with another student. Each class will involve 1 hour of teaching and 2 hours of planning time.
Prior to teaching classes, volunteers undergo training. Training includes a 1 hour orientation session and 3 hours of self-paced training.
More information and applications
To apply to be a volunteer with Monash Virtual School, visit the volunteering page of their website.
Pre-Volunteering Module
All staff and students will need to complete a short module, Foundations of Volunteering before undertaking any volunteering activities. Get started here!
★ Can this count towards Volunteering in Practice (MON2000)?
Yes, volunteering with Monash Virtual School can count towards elective unit MON2000.
★ Can this count towards the volunteering digital badge?
Yes! Monash Virtual School volunteering can count towards the Impact through Ethical Volunteering badge.