BDC Horizon Online: The Best of Both Worlds
By Craig Verbruggen, Head of School, BDC Horizon Online
As BDC Horizon Online prepares to welcome its first Year 11 and 12 students, many parents have asked what learning actually looks like in an online environment.
Will students still connect with teachers? How much flexibility is there? Will they develop the skills needed for university, further training and the workplace?
The answer lies in a combination of two complementary approaches: synchronous learning and asynchronous learning.
For our Year 11 and 12 students at BDC Horizon Online, we believe students benefit most when they experience both in relatively equal parts. As our online school offers distance education down to Years 7-10 in the coming years, the model intentionally starts from more synchronous learning (with the teacher, together online) through to a healthier mix of the two in Years 11 and 12 as we support them in the final step of preparing them for the world after BDC.
Learning Together
Synchronous learning occurs when students and teachers connect live through videoconference tutorials.
These sessions provide opportunities to ask questions, discuss ideas, collaborate with peers and receive immediate feedback from teachers.
There is something special about learning together.
A challenging concept can suddenly click because a teacher explains it in a different way. A student's confidence can grow when they contribute to a discussion. Friendships and connections develop through shared experiences and common goals.
For senior students, these live sessions also help build communication skills, confidence and the ability to engage professionally with others, all skills that are increasingly important beyond school.
Learning at Your Own Pace
At the same time, every learner is different.
Some students like to pause a lesson video and take notes. Others prefer to revisit explanations before attempting activities. Some are balancing school with elite sport, performing arts, employment, travel or family commitments.
This is where asynchronous learning becomes incredibly valuable.
Students can access lesson materials, videos and learning activities at a time that suits them. They can work at a pace that supports their understanding and revisit concepts whenever needed.
Importantly, they also begin developing the habits of independent learners.
They learn how to manage their time, organise priorities, meet deadlines and take responsibility for their progress. These skills are often just as important as the course content itself.
Preparing for Life Beyond School
Years 11 and 12 are a significant step towards adulthood.
Whether students are planning for university, TAFE, apprenticeships, traineeships or employment, they will enter environments that require both collaboration and independence.
University students attend tutorials and lectures, but they are also expected to manage their own study schedules.
Employees work with teams, attend meetings and communicate with colleagues, but they are also trusted to manage projects and responsibilities independently.
The most successful people learn how to do both.
That is why the Horizon Online model has been intentionally designed around a balance of live learning and self-paced learning.
The Horizon Online Difference
At BDC Horizon Online, we do not see synchronous and asynchronous learning as competing approaches.
We see them as partners.
One builds connection, communication and belonging.
The other develops independence, responsibility and self-management.
Together, they create a learning experience that reflects the realities of life after school while ensuring students remain supported by expert teachers and a connected learning community.
As we prepare to launch our Year 11 and 12 offerings, we are excited about the opportunities this model creates for students and families across New South Wales. For some learners, Horizon Online provides greater flexibility to balance significant commitments such as elite sport, performing arts, travel or rural living, allowing them to access a quality BDC education from wherever they are.
For our existing BDC Coffs Harbour students, Horizon Online creates a different set of opportunities. It can help students access subject combinations that may otherwise be difficult due to timetable clashes, while also opening pathways for acceleration and extension for gifted and high potential learners. It provides additional flexibility for students in our High Performance Program, led by Ms Nat Titcume, who are balancing school alongside significant training and competition commitments.
Importantly, Horizon Online is not simply about flexibility. It is also about preparing students for the realities of life after school. Universities, TAFE courses and modern workplaces increasingly expect young people to manage their time, work independently, collaborate online and engage confidently in digital environments. By blending synchronous and asynchronous learning, students develop these skills while still benefiting from the support of expert teachers and a connected learning community.
Many of our senior students already value the opportunities this model provides. In 2026, more than 70 single-course enrolments across Year 11 and 12 Horizon Online subjects will be utilised by students from our Coffs Harbour campus. This gives BDC students access to an extraordinary breadth of subject choice and flexibility, representing a significant added-value opportunity for families and a point of difference that is unique among Anglican schools in New South Wales.
Most importantly, it helps young people develop the confidence, capability and independence to thrive long after their school years have ended.
Because education is about more than completing lessons and assessments.
It is about helping young people discover who they are, how they learn best and how they can confidently step into whatever future awaits them.
As we all gather and stand upon Country, may we acknowledge and respect Gumbaynggirr Land and the thousands of years’ worth of both physical and spiritual connection to Country, culture and teachings embedded forever within these Lands.