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Sixty Seconds of network news from
education.au |
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Volume:7
Issue:9
June
2008
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Latest from education.au
Professor Martin Westwell, Director of the Flinders Centre for Science Education in the 21st Century will be keynote presenter at our next seminar in Sydney, 26 August 2008. Professor Westwell will provide insights into how modern lifestyles and technologies are influencing the minds of the young and old.
This education.au seminar offers a unique opportunity to explore how technology is impacting on attention, motivation, multitasking, learning and work. The morning and afternoon sessions will explore recent research and how to capitalise on the opportunities offered by technology.
Further information and registration details are available from the seminar page. |
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Presentations and podcasts from the Digital Education Revolution symposium are now available from our website. The symposium series, organised by the Australian Council for Educational Research and education.au and supported by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), explored the possibilities and realities of implementing the digital revolution. One of the key presentations, ‘Those Wacky kids’, by Mark Pesce looks at the gap between how kids communicate today and how we are trying to educate them in the classroom. |
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Our latest blog posts include:
- Digital Education Revolution - Mark Pesce keynote
- Digital Education Revolution - Gerry White, Shelagh Whittlestone
- Have your say on the future of the Internet
- Participate in the National e-Portfolio Symposium
- Update on Standards Activity
- Digital Education Revolution - Day 4 - Melbourne
- Sharing events - lessons learned
- Social Media explained
Subscribe to our
blog RSS Feeds and receive the updates as soon as they are
published! See our RSS Feeds page on how to
subscribe. |
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One of inspirED’s aims is to encourage Australian educators to share their experiences with ICT so, to get the ball rolling, inspirED and Australian Teacher Magazine are running a competition to find the best and most innovative uses of technology in teaching. Just make a short video or photo story (5 minutes or less) describing how you have used any type of ICT in the classroom to enhance teaching and learning. There are prizes for the two best digital stories.
Entries are due by 20 June, and you can get all the information you need from the inspirED digital story competition - Entry kit. |
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Australian educators will have their own specialised professional ‘Facebook’ site with the recent launch of me.edu.au, a new site designed to get the country’s educators talking and sharing online. me.edu.au provides all Australian education and training professionals with an online profile, blog and a professional network. We invite educators to use their edna login or register to access me.edu.au, create their educational profile, set up a blog, connect with educators who have similar interests and share links, news, photos, ideas and opinions. |
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The Career Services team from education.au will be at the Canberra Expo on 21 June 2008. Come and visit us and find out how myfuture can assist with career development and planning. We will be happy to provide information to students, parents and jobseekers, as well as answer questions from career practitioners and teachers who want to find out more about using myfuture as a resource. |
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 myfuture update
The Industry profiles in myfuture are currently being revised to realign with the Australian New Zealand Standard Industry Classification (ANZSIC) 2006 version. The revised classifications provide information across all industry sectors at 4 levels: Industry Divisions, Subdivisions, Groups and Classes.
This is a very important project as ANZSIC 2006 is now the measure that is being used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in all its future industry data gathering and analysis.
During April the number of alternative systems accessing myfuture continued to increase. These included systems like Web TV, play stations and mobile phones. Users are also accessing the refreshed 'search' function of the site and new features like the footers. The most frequently visited occupations included medical imaging technologist, air traffic controller and architect, whereas previously flight attendant and electrician topped the list. |
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Policy and Research
The Review Expert Panel has released a Discussion Paper to seek views on the key issues identified by the terms of reference. The issues outlined in the discussion paper have been informed by the preliminary input received.
The discussion paper provides an opportunity for stakeholders from all sectors—business, industry, community groups, education and individuals — to comment on the role of higher education and how it can best meet the future needs of the Australian community and economy.
Submissions close 31 July 2008. Further information and the discussion paper is available at www.dest.gov.au\HEreview. All submissions will be posted on the review’s web site. |
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Interested stakeholders are being encouraged to assist in the development of the Government’s new Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative.
A consultation paper has been released and feedback is sought on a range of issues including the attribution of publications and other indicators of research, which will be crucial to ERA’s shape and utility.
The closing date for responses is Monday, 30 June 2008. For more information, including the consultation paper, see www.arc.gov.au/era |
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The Higher Education Endowment Fund (HEEF) will provide funding to Australian higher education institutions for capital expenditure and research facilities. The 2009 round of HEEF Funding Round is now open, with expressions of Interest closing on 14 August 2008.
Further information and submission details are available from Higher Education Endowment Fund page. |
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The Government has released the final report of the Australia 2020 Summit on 31 May 2008. This report is intended to provide a record of the Australia 2020 Summit and recommendations on each of the discussion areas for consideration by the Australian Government. It is based on ideas put forward by participants during the Summit discussion sessions, outcomes from preliminary Summit events and ideas generated from public submissions received prior to the Summit.
The final report includes an introductory section and ten chapters which can be viewed and/or downloaded separately. |
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Submissions on regulatory issues associated with the National Broadband Network (NBN) close on 25 June 2008. Submissions on broadband solutions for remote areas close on 30 June 2008. Submissions on regulatory issues associated with the NBN will be available to proponents to help them shape their regulatory proposals. They will also be considered by the Panel of Experts that will consider proposals to rollout and maintain the NBN.
More information on the National Broadband Network and the submissions process can be found on the Department's website, www.dbcde.gov.au/nationalbroadbandnetwork |
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Funding has been allocated for Australian teachers to develop their proficiency in using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning.
The Minister for Education committed $650,000 to initiate and fund professional development activities over the next 12 months, including:
- Two day workshops on using ICT in maths, English and the sciences in 50 urban, rural and remote locations;
- Creating on-line professional learning resources for teachers; and
- Leveraging the experience of people to support ICT-related master classes to be run by present and past national award winning teachers.
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New members have been appointed to the National Archives of Australia’s Advisory Council.
The new Advisory Council members are Mr David Irvine AO, Associate Professor Dr Helen Irving, Dr Dianne Snowden and Professor John Williams.
Dr Irving was previously a member of the Advisory Council from 1997-2003. Other members of the National Archives of Australia's Advisory Council include Mr Paul Santamaria SC (Chairman) Mr Peter Grant, Senator Kate Lundy, the Hon Mr Alex Somlyay MP, Dr Jane Wilson, Mr Ian Hancock, Mr Roland Perry, and Mr Aladin Rahemtula.
The role of the Advisory Council is to provide advice to the Minister and the Director-General about functions of the National Archives, either on request or of its own accord. |
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Australian universities are teaming up with Apple to make their teaching and research available for free to a global audience.
Swinburne is one of seven universities in Australia and New Zealand to begin using Apple’s content distribution system, iTunes U on the iTunes Store.
The seven Australasian universities now on iTunes U in the iTunes Store are the Australian National University, Griffith University, Swinburne University of Technology, University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales, and the University of Western Australia along with Otago University in New Zealand. |
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The Minister for Education, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, announced winners of the 2008 National Awards for Quality Schooling at a ceremony in the Great Hall of Parliament House.
A list of the winners is available from the media release. |
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Online voting has commenced in the 2008 Youth Week talent competition to find the best creative work from young Australian writers, film makers, photographers, designers and unsigned musicians. For more information on the People’s Choice Awards and voting visit: www.youthweek.com.
A full list of 2008 Youth Week talent competition finalists is also available from this page. |
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Plans are in place to support the evolution of the australia.gov.au website. Funded under the Australian Government Online Service Point (AGOSP) Program and managed by the Department of Finance and Deregulation, the new australia.gov.au will provide users of Australian Government services with an improved ability to find information and online services, and carry out transactions with multiple agencies from one location.
The first release of the technology infrastructure supporting the new australia.gov.au website will be delivered in the first quarter of 2009, with a second release scheduled for late 2010. |
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Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is encouraging all students to take part in its 2008 CensusAtSchool project. This is the last opportunity for students to make their data count and be a part of building an engaging statistical resource. The CensusAtSchool questionnaire collects information on students' lifestyle, personal characteristics and opinions on topical social and environmental issues. For more information on how to get students involved, visit the ABS CensusAtSchool website. |
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This study considers the diverse nature of older workers in the labour force and their learning preferences. It suggests that some changes to skill development activities are required to accommodate the motivations, objectives and ways of learning of older workers. |
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This study shows how a group of employers understand the provision of literacy, numeracy and employability skills and the continuing development of these skills in their workplaces. It demonstrates that some employers accept that it is both necessary and the employer's responsibility to provide learning and development opportunities for these skills. |
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This paper highlights the importance of using quality survey instruments to collect data about student satisfaction. It discusses the challenges involved in collecting quality student satisfaction data and describes a structural equation model as a possible means of designing and collecting this data. |
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Feedback from teachers and students has been a prime focus for The Le@rning Federation (TLF). Focus group discussions and in-school evaluations with teachers and students have been undertaken to obtain feedback and work towards developing quality online curriculum content for schools. During in-school evaluations, teachers and students evaluate learning objects for educational soundness, functionality, instructional design and the overall fit to the educational purpose for which they were designed. Learning object prototypes are then modified in response to student and teacher feedback.
You as teachers are invited to express interest, on behalf of your school, by registering to participate as a user focus group (UFG) member. In recognition of the time involved, TLF provides casual teacher relief to participating schools.
Visit TLF website to read more about the in-school evaluation process. |
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