You are currently browsing the monthly Archive for November, 2007.
In our system of Catholic Schools, we have found a solution to the problem of providing on-site technical support to schools. The Catholic Education Office set itself up several years ago now to provide IT traineeships to young adults at the end of Year 12. In addition to centralised training sessions, they are allocated to schools to provide technical support. Our trainees have been an invaluable asset to our school, and our second trainee is now at the end of his two-year term.
This week, a new cohort of trainees begins shadowing the existing team in preparation for their start next year. Being at a fairly nearby school today, our current trainee, Nathan brought the new trainee who’s shadowing him around to meet everyone.
So Nathan walks him into my classroom - meet the learning technology coordinator. By absolute fluke, here were thirteen computers in my room, with pairs of students at each one, completing their slide shows to communicate their knowledge of simple machines. Every computer was functioning. Every student was working. Our new trainee (at least for the rest of the year) got a very quick idea of how we like to put the system he’ll maintain and manage into action.
And they say that first impressions…?
“My fellow Australians” would already know that this weekend we elected a new federal government. The Labor party has swept to power, bringing to an end 11 years of the Liberal-National Coalition government. In fact, this is proving to be quite an historic election, because for the second time ever in our 106 years of federal government, the Prime Minister could possibly lose his own seat.
Of course, this means our new government, lead by PM-elect Kevin Rudd will look towards implementing its policies. One of these is its “Education Revolution“, which includes funding a year of pre-school for every child, and a computer for every student in years 9 to 12 of school. Aligned with this strategy as well is an investment in improving Australia’s broadband Internet coverage and speed.
So, let the revolution begin! Let’s see what forward directions education can take for the future, and let’s hope that future is bright.
Of course, I could offer several far more revolutionary suggestions for education if the new government would like to hear them…
