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ACS
Distance Education |
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NEWSLETTER
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Successful Entrepreneurial Spirit Alive in ACS |
Jamie Speeding, an ACS alumni, speaks on studying at ACS, his industry
knowledge and experience which lead him to success.
 After being employed in various
local horticultural businesses and becoming frustrated at the lack of quality
and knowledge displayed by many landscape orientated businesses in the area,
Jamie decided to go it alone and formed Greenhort Design which is now entering
its fifth year of existence.
During the early years of Greenhort, Jamie was busily gaining further knowledge
by achieving formal qualifications at Australian Correspondence Schools. He was
encouraged to join key industry organisations as a part of his studies.
A year later, Jamie became a member of The Australian Institute Of Horticulture
(AIH) and was elected inaugural Chair of the Gold Coast branch, a position he
held for three consecutive terms. Jamie's dedication to the industry saw him
appointed on various industry advisory committees, form strong ties between the
local nursery industry and help initiate the move to establish a botanic garden
on the Gold Coast.
Jamie has also spent time lecturing at TAFE, a local vocational college, and
spent several years hosting a radio show on the local ABC. Jamie has written
garden features for a local internet magazine and The Gold Coast Bulletin daily
newspaper where he is the current garden columnist. He served as the Gold Coast
selector for the Australian Open Garden Scheme for 5 years, and is tipped to
join the judging panel for the 2004 Gold Coast City Garden Competition.
These days, however, Jamie has turned his full attention to commercial design.
"For the past 18 months I have been mainly designing/drafting ACAD residential
development landscape plans and childcare centers nationwide for Council
submission. I now employ several full-time drafters and designers as the demand
for our services has increased ten-fold."
These days Jamie is still a member of the AIH as well as the Australian
Institute of Landscape Designers and Managers (AILDM), the Horticultural Media
Association of Queensland (HMAQ), and recently has joined the Nursery and
Garden Industry of Queensland (NGIQ).
Jamie believes that a lot of his success in the horticulture industry can be
attributed to ACS Principle John Mason and past tutor Paul Plant who both
encouraged and supported his directions.
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New Practical Horticulture Course
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Australian Correspondence schools has recently launched a new 'Practical
Horticulture' course for online delivery that answers the perennial question
associated with distance learning- How do I do the practical?
The course is made up of ten lessons that develop the student's skills in
performing very practical and useful horticultural tasks through easy to follow
step by step instructions, hands on activities, set tasks, and self assessment
tests.
For example, students learn to assess and name a range of soils through touch,
feel and simple experiments, to recognise plants through (colour) pictures and
the online plant encyclopedia, and to propagate plants using videos,
illustrations and practice.
Tutors are allocated on a one to one basis and a qualified horticulturist
practically assesses the student's skills after each lesson.
Practical Horticulture II follows soon. See Special Offer!
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| Photoshop Online Available now! |
In response to strong student demand ACS has developed an online Photoshop
course. This course will provide students with a basic working knowledge of
image editing, digital image files, and composite artwork. Some learning
outcomes will be how to process and enhance digital photos, as well as
preparing images for emailing, print, and the web. See Special Offer!
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May's Book Feature
Naomi's Pick.
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  Naomi is one of our academic officers specialising in
environmental studies and botany.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, 2ND EDITION
"I chose this book because it focuses on global issues, yet still provides down
to earth, practical advice to the farmer on the land."
The technological revolution in farming practices has allowed people to clear
and cultivate more land, grow plants and animals faster, and kill a greater
variety of pests and diseases than ever before. Unfortunately these
efficiencies are proving to be unsustainable in the long term and have created
problems such as soil structural decline, erosion, salinity, soil
acidification, loss of fertility, nutrient loading of waterways, dams and a
build up of chemical residues. Sustainable Agriculture is a book that
looks at a very broad range of issues - soils, water, agricultural management,
pest and disease control, and information about different products that can be
useful for sustainable agriculturalists. It covers low input farming,
biodynamic, hydroponics, genetic manipulation and information on how to move
from conventional farming practices to more sustainable methods.
Published by the CSIRO's Landlinks Press, the book retails for $49.95
(including Australian GST). Purchase book online and receive 25% off.
Expires 30 May, 2004
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| Student Opinions Matter. |
Did you receive good service from your tutor?
Course:
Introductory to Ecology
"The interaction between me and my tutor, Naomi Christian, was great. The
understanding was there and I really enjoyed having her as my tutor. Her
comments and encouragement was just great. Thank you so much, Naomi."
Thank you, Exon.
Did you like the way course was structured?
Course:
Conservations and Environmental Management
"The course was fairly well structured. Perhaps it should contain more diagrams
and pictures. It would have been easier to identify."
Thank you, Abhay. Your comment has been passed on to the Academic Staff.
Are there any other comments you would like to make?
Course: Certificate in Garden Design
"I have a university degree and feel that the ACS method is a very valid way to
study and learn. It is in no way inferior to face to face learning."
Thank you, Jonathan.
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| What is acsGarden.com? |
It is a FREE monthly gardening magazine distributed through the internet around
the world. It was named 'One of Five top gardening sites in Australia," by PC
User Magazine (September 2003). It will provide everything you find in any
other monthly gardening magazine but unlike many other gardening magazines, it
is read by people all around the world. It was developed by the staff at the
Australian Correspondence Schools.
 Log on to the website:
www.acsGarden.com
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| volume 1, issue 2 |
| may 2004 |
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This month I would like to recognise all students for striving to improve
yourselves, and working towards your goals. By your willingness to learn you
have already set yourselves ahead. Here at ACS we place great importance on
student feedback. Your ideas and comments are taken seriously. So much so that
we have decided to include them in the monthly newsletter. Thank you and we
will continue to support you.
John Mason, Principal
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| Month's Famous Quotation |
| " Always bear in mind that your own resolution
to succeed is more important than any one thing."
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Abraham Lincoln
(1809-1865) |
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| ACS Online Library Service
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New Service offered by the school
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It is available to you
free for a limited time.
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Outstanding Student Articles and Assignments are published in the Online
Library.
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Easy access to relevant articles and books to your course of study.
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All students have immediate access.
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| Marketing News
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| ACS is globally expanding. We are looking for students
around the world to distribute ACS posters. If you are interested, please
email: marketing@acs.edu.au and ask
about benefits. |
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Practical
Horticulture