Education Today Education Today Magazine
Teaching is a complex craft, blending various strategies and approaches to help students master content and build skills. This is especially true in online education, where engagement and interaction play a pivotal role in a student’s success. Online teaching shares similarities with traditional classroom settings but also presents unique challenges and opportunities.
As the leading online alternative provision specialist, Academy21 is committed to providing flexible, tailored online education that supports every student in reigniting their love for learning. Our approach is centred on understanding each student’s unique needs and ensuring they are fully supported throughout their learning journey. With this goal in mind, here are some of the approaches we adopt to ensure our students learn effectively and, importantly, are engaged in lessons:
1. Inclusive and Accessible Learning
Academy21 ensures that all students, regardless of their circumstances or learning requirements, have access to the resources and support necessary for academic progress. Our courses are designed to be easily accessible, with learning materials that students can use at their own pace, enabling them to engage with the content in a way that suits them.
Through personalised learning pathways, scaffolded resources, and an intuitive platform with everything students need to navigate live lessons and schoolwork, we ensure every student can engage in their studies. We also have an expert SEN team on hand to answer any query or offer additional support.
2. Flexibility to Meet Every Student’s Needs
Flexibility is at the heart of Academy21. We recognise that each student has different schedules and learning preferences, which is why our online platform allows them to learn at their own pace. Students can revisit lessons and access resources on-demand, taking the time they need to master each topic before progressing. This flexibility also supports students in balancing their education with other commitments, such as family responsibilities or medical appointments.
Plus, our online environment is ideal for a gradual reintegration into mainstream schooling, as it enables hybrid learning set-ups where some lessons are taken online and others in the physical school environment. This means students get the support they need but can still keep in touch with teachers and friends in their traditional school setting, making it easier to reintegrate fully when the time comes.
3. Data-Driven Decisions
At Academy21, we use data to create personalised learning experiences for each student. Regular assessments and real-time feedback enable us to identify areas where students may need additional support, ensuring teachers can provide targeted assistance and prioritise areas that need more work.
By monitoring progress and adjusting lesson plans as needed, we ensure students are on track to achieve the best academic outcomes for them. All of this data is also shared with the school so they can monitor their student’s progress carefully and share key milestones with parents as well.
4. Engaging and Interactive Learning
Engagement is key to success, especially in an online environment. Academy21 uses a variety of interactive tools and teaching methods to make learning engaging and collaborative. Interactivity is achieved through highquality audiovisual content, multimedia resources, augmented reality content, and collaborative planning tools. There are also various chat pods and polls that enable group work and encourage active participation.
Our vast net of interactive elements is fully controlled by our expert teachers, who are well versed in adaptive teaching and tailor each lesson to support every student’s need.
Personalised Support for Every Student
Every Academy21 student receives personalised support tailored to their specific needs. Whether they require assistance with a particular subject, emotional support, or help managing learning challenges, our team is committed to providing the necessary guidance and resources. Aside from our broad curriculum for Key Stages 3 and 4, we also provide a range of dedicated solutions to support unique use cases, such as GCSE resits and early intervention, as well as academic and wellbeing support courses as part of our Enhanced Services offer.
We understand that education is not a one-size-fits-all approach. That’s why we aim to support students academically, emotionally, and personally, helping them overcome challenges and achieve the best outcomes for them.
