EDNA

As increasing numbers of children worldwide enjoy the benefits of the Internet, they also face a spectrum of risks to which they are more vulnerable than adults. This report examines these risks as well as the policy responses of governments and other stakeholders to improve the protection of children online.

Currently there is no published curriculum documentation for ICT Competence as a GC. Rather its place in the Australian Curriculum is recognised within each of the four published learning areas through embedding in content descriptions and/or achievement standards. As a learning area, work is just beginning on determining ICT's 'conceptual' home and its content. This paper discusses four key concerns about this current situation and proposes and justifies a solution whereby ICT would be a learning area in its own right, either within the framework of the Technologies or as a new learning area. Structurally this learning area would document the student learning expectations and standards for ICT as a GC as well as a discipline.

Skype in the classroom is a free directory for teachers who want to use Skype to bring education to life in their classrooms. Join today to share resources, chat with teachers and even pair classes.

Each year, the Horizon Report describes six areas of emerging technology that will have significant impact on higher education and creative expression over the next one to five years. The areas of emerging technology cited for 2011 are: Time to adoption: One Year or Less - Electronic Books and Mobiles; Time to adoption: Two to Three Years - Augmented Reality and Game-based Learning; Time to adoption: Four to Five Years - Gesture-based Computing and Learning Analytics.

In this TED Talks video Diana Laufenberg shares 3 surprising things she has learned about teaching - including a key insight about learning from mistakes.

At 74, and coming the end of his scientific and broadcasting career, Suzuki mused on the notion: 'If I had one last lecture to give, what would I say?' The result is a very special talk full of humour, warmth, insight and passion. At a packed house at the Perth Convention Centre, Suzuki voiced his long-time frustration at the obsession for economic growth at the sacrifice of nature, while urging us all to strive for a sustainable future.

This report extends Becta's enquiries into the ways in which digital technologies are supporting learning. It looks in detail at the learning practices mediated by ICT in nine secondary schools in which ICT for learning is well embedded. The study reports an analysis of 85 lesson logs, in which teachers recorded their use of space, digital technology and student outcomes in relation to student engagement and learning.

The site contains video and PDF professional development resources, or 'episodes'. The content can also be viewed on iPods, and smartphones or iPads. The project is designed as a free professional development resource for teachers from any discipline worldwide. It aims to help them better understand online learning and teaching, and to help them get starting in developing their own online teaching practices - a necessary skill in today's changing society. Episodes contain a video to introduce and discuss issues and ideas, and a PDF that people can download to read about the issues in more depth. The episodes contain interviews with academics from many different disciplines and institutions around Australia and the UK. There are contextual videos discussing topics related to online pedagogy and practice, case studies that feature specific examples of best practice, and technical 'how to' style videos to help teachers get starting themselves.

Teacher education is offered by universities and accredited non-government colleges. Teacher education programs lead to Bachelor Degree or postgraduate professional qualifications.

Education Network Australia (edna) was a collaborative project between all Australian governments, states and territories and sectors of education and training. The project was partly funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Initiated in 1994 as a means to facilitate access to the internet for schools and vocational education providers, edna developed as a national framework for all levels and sectors of education. Technical development began in earnest in 1996 with an online directory being created. It was considered to be amongst the first database driven website of its kind in Australia and considered to be very much ‘state-of-the-art.’ edna underpinned key government strategies and policies of national and jurisdictional governments in Australia by providing infrastructure, resources and support in a cost-effective model of service delivery. Over its life edna has historically played an important strategic role in supporting the uptake of ICT in education and training, supporting practitioners in implementing current technologies and showing leadership and best practice in addressing emerging needs that come with advancement in technology. Today marks the end of an era. Education Services Australia would like to acknowledge all those innovative, Information Management and Education professionals who have worked on edna over the years and wish them well for the future.

The decommissioning of edna will commence on 30 June 2011, and be completed on 30 September 2011. This decision is the outcome of a recent review. For further information on which services will be affected, please visit the site.

Southern Cross University's School of Education has partnered with the Coffs Harbour Senior College in the Centre for Excellence project, which aims to develop high quality teaching and improve teacher training. CSU News, 24 May 2011

Will the National Broadband Network change the face of education in Australia? This article is part of Computerworld Australia's NBN 101 series, which take a look at aspects of Australia's fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network. The articles are meant to be an overview of the debates surrounding the National Broadband Network (NBN). Computerworld, 26 May 2011

The lives of 5000 students in remote Australia have been turned around during the past 12 months, courtesy of a small green and white laptop. Over the next three years that story will be writ large across the country, with the One Laptop Per Child scheme aiming to provide the computers to 400,000 children aged 4-15 in remote and regional Australia by 2014. The Australian, 27 May 2011

Whether you want an impressive verse for a speech, the ideal poem to declare undying love or simply to improve your knowledge and appreciation of Australian poetry, there is now the perfect website to assist you. The University of Sydney News, 25 May 2011

A report tabled in the Federal Parliament that highlights the importance of teacher librarians and school libraries in education has won support at Charles Sturt University (CSU). CSU News, 26 May 2011

The My University website is expected to be ready for user testing in July and to go live to the public by the end of the year. The aim is for the site to be ready for use by those considering study next year. The Australian, 25 May 2011

GRADE 3-4 teacher Rhianon Laidlaw knows all too well teachers cannot always teach subjects they are passionate about, but says she is better at her job as a result. Adelaide Now, 24 May 2011

In this update you will find: The Arts, and General capabilities in the Australian Curriculum.