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Category Archives: digital education revolution


21st century Learning Spaces

May 22, 2009 – 1:05 pm

Some time ago, in Redesigning our Physical Spaces, I blogged about how to get full benefit of the Digital Education Rollout (DER), we couldn’t just take the computers on offer and plug them into our conventional classrooms.
I asked Have Australian schools had to alter the layout of their classrooms to accommodate the DER? […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, learning environments, future schooling | Comments (0)

DER progress report

April 8, 2009 – 11:57 am

A preliminary survey of the Australian Government’s Digital Education Revolution (DER) rollout in February 2008 contains two interesting graphics.
Chart 1 shows the computer to student ratio for Schools, Years 9 to 12 before the commencement of the fund. The first survey was conducted in January 2008.
Hard as it is to believe, it shows that there […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, future schooling | Comments (2)

Collaboration in Teaching and Learning - SICTAS REPORT

March 31, 2009 – 8:00 am

Education.au’s Strategic ICT Advisory Service (SICTAS) recent investigation looked at the implementation of collaborative methodologies in education and training. Collaborative tools are widely available to support teaching and learning in the education sector. Technologies such as virtual worlds and serious games, and web2.0 collaborative environments are crossing over from entertainment into education.
Read about it […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, teaching and learning, Australian education, collaboration | Comments (1)

Will the DER give students more reasons to come to school?

March 12, 2009 – 8:00 am

If the experience of a New Zealand school is anything to go by, then rolling out computers into secondary schools in the Digital Education revolution might just reduce the truancy rates.
But then again, perhaps with the current emphasis of the rollout into secondary schools, it may be just a touch too late. The anecdotal evidence […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, notschool | Comments (0)

Building the Education Revolution Guidelines available

February 27, 2009 – 8:00 am

On Tuesday 24 Feb, the Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, released guidelines that will assist schools around the nation to be part of the Rudd Government’s $14.7 billion Building the Education Revolution.
Building the Education Revolution is a key element of the Rudd Government’s $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan to support jobs, stimulate local […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, Australian education | Comments (0)

A new digital divide yawns?

February 23, 2009 – 9:00 am

Following on the heels of my post on Friday about Australian internet access, an article published last week in Crikey.com titled The digital divide holding back disadvantaged kids, makes interesting and relevant reading. What Patricia and Don Edgar are saying in that article, echoes what Professor Alan Hayes said last year in a speech, Divided […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, digital divide | Comments (0)

Are you an agent for change?

October 31, 2008 – 8:54 am

I came across a challenge laid down at NECC in June this year where ISTE President Trina J. Davis challenged attendees to really transform education through the use of technology, not just implement small changes. It was a message repeated at ACEC2008 and which I blogged about earlier but I think today, on World Teachers’ […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, online technologies, lifelong learning, professional development, professional learning, innovation | Comments (0)

ISTE NETS for Teachers

October 31, 2008 – 7:59 am

At NECC in June, ISTE, the International Society for Technology in Education, released the next generation of NETS for Teachers which focuses on ”using technology to learn and teach.”
“Teachers must become comfortable as co-learners with their students and with colleagues around the world. Today it is less about staying ahead and more about moving ahead as members […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, teaching and learning, professional development, professional learning | Comments (2)

The State of the Revolution

October 29, 2008 – 8:37 am

28 October, ABC’s Australia Talks, Education Revolution. - podcast of the programme available.
The preamble:
The Rudd government says it’s committed to establishing Australia as one of the world’s most highly educated and skilled nations. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the promised education revolution marks the first time all states and territories have committed to a national […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, Australian education, future schooling, changes in education | Comments (0)

Heralding a new era of reform

September 2, 2008 – 11:23 am

Julia Gillard, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education opened the ACPET (Australian Council for Private Education and Training) 2008 conference on Friday 29 August.
The speech that she gave is available here.
The focus of her speech was “the need to modernize, expand and strengthen Australia’s vocational education and training industry.” It really ties in well […]

By Kerrie Smith | Also posted in Educationau, Australian education | Comments (2)