Sliced Bread

“Government Wastes Money on Digital Revolution” states Professor Michael Gaffney, of the Australian Catholic University and joint editor of a recently released book, “Leading A Digital School”

Mal Lee, his offsider and co-editor, goes on to say;

Only when the vast majority of Australia’s teachers are using the appropriate digital tools as a normal part of their everyday teaching, and are provided all the requisite development and support from the school and system leaders can Australian education begin to assist enhanced national productivity

Other comments on the book include

Leading a Digital School provides a wake up call that every federal and State Government Minister and every educator should read. The time to change is nearly beyond us” Daniel Petre – Executive Chairman, Netus.

I support John Travers when he says in his evaluation of the book at me.ed.au,

 ICT can help achieve more open learning but the technology itself will not make it happen. That makes me a Realistic Reformist I guess.

On Tuesday 19th August, Leading a Digital School, edited by Mal Lee and Michael Gaffney, was launched in Canberra by Cheryl O’Connor, CEO of Australian College of Educators.

Now I know the context and origins of this great video I originally found on teachertube. A thought provoker, use it in staff developments.

This public service campaign video was filmed at the CoSN (Consortium for School Networking) annual conference. The wisdom with which educational leaders like Alan November, Greg Whitby, and Stephen Heppell explicate the urgency of giving teachers the tools to connect with 21C learning and their students is poignant in this video. The massive task of making schooling relevant for today’s learners is communicated with precision. These international educators recognise the need to shift our thinking at all levels by being innovative, thinking creatively and developing 21st century pedagogies that will inspire this generation of learners.

Added to this video I reflected on Michelle Baldwin’s direct questions in ‘A Call to Act Now’.

I’m posing these questions to YOU– is it educational malpractice to exclude digital literacy as part of the curriculum? Is blocking Web 2.0 tools from kids during the school day a necessary measure to protect them? or is it actually educational malpractice? Is ignoring the wealth of information and knowledge available on the web justified because of all the garbage on the web? Or is it educational malpractice?

A very happy teacher this morning. I was sent a link to the TaLe Share site this morning. Thanks Maree.

Many excellent resources for the implementation of the CCP at DET site as well.

The DET powerpoint will be useful for staff information.

DET NSW Connected Classrooms Program – An Introduction

Most links shown on the PP will be also useful as Public Schools introduce these technologies.

I even found the brouchure for the CCP conference at Brighton on 24th June 2008. I’m hoping this conference will be repeated (or web posted) as more schools get connected. Looks to be a comprehensive and worthwhile program.

NSW DET CCP FAQ\’s If you need to know more.

Elaine sent me this draft DET policy for blog and wiki use. Blogs and wikis are allowed in DET classrooms after a filter/unblock request is sent (and all relevant policies followed of course). Laborious but I can see why it has to be this way. (band width, appropriatness, follow all web safety policies etc etc)

I found it to be enligtening as well. draft_guidelines_blog_and_wiki_sites1

Thank you to all the helpful people at DET, TaLe and North Coast Regional ICT who have responded to my requests for more information. You help is much appreciated Maree, Elaine and Phillip.

I feel my winter holidays have been well spent on something I am enthusiatic about. More questions have been answered that will now lead to the next ones. Great stuff.

(footnote: I sort of still wish DET was open apps without the need for a Portal, but at least now I can now start to see what their philospohy is, “Build it and they will come” and ”Not let the inmates run the asylum”.