I’m Grace, a year 13 student at Katikati College based in the Bay of Plenty, Aotearoa. This year I am studying L3 Art History with NetNZ

As an artist I have always had an interest in art history, however, due to my school’s size it had never been offered as an in-person class. Last year I discovered I could take L3 Art History through NetNZ and immediately asked my school if I could enrol.

I was a little nervous at first as I had never taken an online class before, and I thought I might find it too hard without taking L2 Art History. Luckily, this wasn’t a problem at all! My teacher, Philippa Mallinson, made me feel very welcome and her passion for the subject soon rubbed off on me. Art history is now one of my favourite subjects and I have even entered for the scholarship exam.

One of the great advantages of online learning is being able to work at my own pace throughout the week as well as having a lot of flexibility with how I choose to complete the assignments. Each week my class receives an outline document with the work we are meant to complete, along with collaborative activities and plenty of educational resources. I’ve found this very helpful to check if I’m on track with my work or if I forget what I needed to do.

Our weekly hour-long video calls also provide a great opportunity to connect with other members of the class, as well as helpful lessons with Ms. Mallinson and a rundown of the weekly learning plan. Plus, it offers a perfect time to ask questions or for any advice. The class discussions really help me to feel connected and comfortable to share my ideas, which gives it a similar atmosphere to my usual in-person classes.

I am very grateful to my teacher, classmates, and NetNZ for providing me with such an amazing experience with online learning. I have already learnt so much from this class, and am very excited for what the rest of the year will bring.

I would highly recommend this course to anyone with an interest in art, culture, society, literature, history, or philosophy, or anyone with a passion to learn!

Photo by Renea Mackie: Artwork by Benozzo Gozzoli, Procession of the Youngest King at the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi in Firenze.

By Grace Rayner