Government creates advisory group on IT in education

Stuart Corner
Monday, 18 July 2011 15:01

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

The Federal Government has created an advisory group of education and IT experts to provide it with advice how best to deploy IT in education and support the new Australian Curriculum.

School education minister, Peter Garrett, announced the move at the 2011 Australasian Association of Distance Education Schools National Conference in Hobart, saying: "The group will be chaired by the highly respected eLearning expert and Vice-chancellor for teaching, learning and equity at the University of Technology Sydney, professor Shirley Alexander."

According to Garrett, "Professor Alexander is a senior academic widely respected for her expertise in ICT, eLearning and the use of multimedia in teaching and learning. I am pleased that Professor Alexander has agreed to take on this key advisory role, with a particular focus on how best to support the new Australian Curriculum online."

Other group members are David Barnett, CEO of Pearson Australia; Dr Richard Eden, associate director-general of the Queensland Department of Education and Training; Tony Mackay, chair of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership and deputy chair of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority; Susan Mann, CEO of Education Services Australia; Dr Michelle Selinger, director of the education practice, Cisco Systems; and Greg Whitby, executive director for schools in the Diocese of Parramatta. An Australian Government representative will also be appointed.

Garrett said: "As well as providing computers for Australian schools, the Australian Government is delivering digital learning resources, online diagnostic tools and professional development for teachers to support the new Australian Curriculum'¦[The National Secondary School Computer Fund] is a major part of this Australian Government funding commitment. The fund is providing new computers and other ICT devices for all students in Years 9 to 12 across Australia, as well as the infrastructure necessary to achieve a computer to student ration of 1:1 for students in these years by the end of 2011."