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A pioneering collaboration between The Catlins Area School, ATTTO (the Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation), and the graphical communication software specialists Nextspace, has resulted in the development of a unique eLearning programme in Aviation Studies for NCEA learners.

Borne out of concern about the shortage of young people considering aviation as a career pathway, the development of the programme was an initiative of The Catlins Area School Deputy Principal Allan Jon, teacher and technology specialist Jon Bird, and ATTTO Aviation Industry Training Advisor Dave Evans. Completing the partnership is Air Fiordland, on board to help maintain industry perspective and currency for teaching staff.

As a starting point, The Catlins Area School and ATTTO worked together to extend the school’s academic accreditation to include Aviation Studies, which meant that learning about aviation at a young age was now possible for these students. The school set up a total of four separate Aviation Studies programmes, which were first offered at the beginning of the 2008 school year.

A range of topics are covered in the programmes, from the theory of flight and aviation terminology, to an introduction to Aviation Industry law and an exploration of career opportunities within the Aviation Industry. Subjects are delivered by Jon Bird, who joined The Catlins Area School following 25 years as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

The Catlins Area School has a substantial amount of eLearning experience as one of the foundation member schools of OtagoNet, and has been able to extend the delivery of these programmes to schools across the nation using a uniquely blended eLearning platform. This includes video conferencing, free-call 0800 audio conferences, an online learning environment and a range of other learning tools.

This type of eLearning enables a wider range of students to gain access to this introduction to the industry, an innovation that ATTTO Chief Executive Elizabeth Valentine believes is invaluable in getting the next generation of students interested in the aviation industry.

“This collaboration is a great example of technology-assisted learning, and partner collaboration can make best use of expert skills that not every school has. It’s also an important contribution to the Aviation industry, where there are global shortages of people across most sectors, particularly aviation engineering and airline pilots.”

Elizabeth has a strong eLearning background, having completed a number of major research projects for the Ministry of Education and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, and her MBA dissertation in the field.

“The potential for eLearning in schools is huge, however it must be of very high quality. This partnership gives teachers and students access to world-class 3D animations and digital images that come straight from major aircraft manufacturers, and as far as we know, this is a first,” she says.

The initiative was formally launched to industry at the recent Aviation Industry Association (AIA) Conference in Tauranga, where The Catlins Area School and ATTTO presented on ‘New Delivery Methods for Aviation Training’.

“In many ways, the development of eLearning programmes such as these can be seen as a natural extension of the fact industry has used simulators in aviation since the 1940’s to train pilots. Now we can do the same with engineers, flight attendants and ground crew – through the types of advances in technology that are being used for this programme,” explains Jon.

The presentations were well received by industry and have facilitated the development of a number of new working relationships, as evidenced by the donation of aircraft parts from industry to The Catlins Area School to be used as teaching aids.

Teaching is also facilitated by the use of cutting edge software tools provided by Nextspace.

Nextspace is a 3D visualisation industry catalyst and consultancy, with the goal of building a $1 billion visual communications industry in New Zealand which makes complex 3D data accessible, easy-to-use and interactive in a range of applications.

Nextspace provides technological expertise and software tools such as Deep View and Deep Explorer, which enable students to manipulate light-weight files, much like PDFs, which are interactive computer assisted design (CAD) quality 3D models. The models can be rotated, moved, and even pulled apart and re-assembled by students – as well as viewed in different formats including solid 3D models, transparencies, shaded illustrations, wireframes and line drawings.

The files can also include animations, allowing students to view and interact with the processes involved with practical industry based tasks in detailed 3D – such as removing a wheel from landing gear – without requiring any downtime on actual aircraft for the learning to take place.


An example of NextSpace technology

“Along with these types of aviation applications, there is a range of surprisingly simple ways that 3D and 3D media literacy can support eLearning and the curriculum,” says Brenda Frisk, Business Development Director at Nextspace.

The Catlins Area School intends to expand the range of courses available using this delivery format in 2009. In the meantime, the nature of the ‘virtual school classroom’ will be taken a step further in October 2008 when the school runs an Aviation ‘eLearning School Camp’, taking students from schools across the South Island to Blenheim to spend time at the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) facilities and explore a number of other Aviation related activities.

“The Aviation Studies programmes provide real and relevant educational opportunities for students that are interested in working in the industry. The programmes are directly related to industry needs and make smart use of the advances that we are seeing in technology which help to provide more engaging learning tools for students. eLearning allows us to really break down the distance and isolation barriers that some students face, by making access to industry specialists and cutting edge tools available to them within their home environments,” says Allan Jon.

In order to keep the programme highly accessible, course fees are able to be paid through either STAR or Gateway funding – with the programmes meeting all Ministry of Education and TEC requirements for both categories. ATTTO is working closely with students and industry to facilitate more Gateway placements, meaning students can learn about aviation in the classroom and then get on-the-job, practical experience, bringing the learning process full circle.

Principal Gavin Kidd explains, “Our vision is to not only cater for international and domestic students on our school campus, but to also make our courses accessible from anywhere in the world – virtual learning is the future for so many areas of study and training.”

Making this even more timely is the release of the new New Zealand Curriculum – which for the first time includes a specific section on eLearning pedagogy, and highlights the needs for schools to develop opportunities for students to ‘enter and explore new learning environments, overcoming barriers of distance,’ and to ‘facilitate shared learning by enabling students to join […] communities of learners that extend well beyond the classroom.’

“It is an exciting privilege to be in a learning institution that is committed to using new technologies and employing innovative solutions to meet the learning needs of individual students; eLearning is now being imbedded in so many areas of everyday teaching and learning. The application of interactive learning and 3-D modelling to Aviation Studies is unique among New Zealand schools, and its implementation at The Catlins Area School is a testament to all partners involved in its development,” says Gavin.

Elizabeth Valentine adds, “That fact that the Catlins Area School is in a relatively isolated area is no longer a barrier to schools having access to a world-class programme. All it takes is vision and commitment, and the technical skills to deliver high quality outcomes for learners. ATTTO is delighted to support and encourage innovation and the smart use of technology that this project represents."