Leading Professor says ‘Government Wastes Money on Digital Revolution’
‘The Federal Government’s investment in ICT will not, in itself, bring about a digital educational revolution,’ says Professor Michael Gaffney from the Australian Catholic University, and joint editor of soon to be released publication, Leading a Digital School. ‘Unless the investment in the technology is accompanied by comprehensive and well resourced strategies that address the educational considerations needed to transform schooling and outcomes for students, the government is wasting their money.’
‘Education authorities and schools across Australia have an ideal opportunity, in fact a serious responsibility, to work with State/Territory and Federal Governments in making sure current investments in digital technologies are used to best effect’ says Professor Gaffney.
‘Now is the time for inspired educational leadership and informed strategic action to ensure students reap the benefits of new technologies. Australia’s teachers need access to appropriate and on-going development and support,’ says Professor Gaffney. ‘One or two day PD sessions, by themselves, will not enable today’s teachers get the most from emerging, more sophisticated digital technologies and networked teaching opportunities.’
‘While personal computers generate good political capital and profits for the computing companies they have never, and will never, bring about an educational revolution.’
Mal Lee, joint editor of Leading a Digital School states, ‘It is the teachers and not the technology that makes the difference. Only when the vast majority of Australia’s teachers are wisely 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.’
Mal Lee argues that, ‘Australia, in 2008, doesn’t even know what percentage of its classrooms have Internet access, let alone have in operation a national strategy to provide appropriate, inexpensive connectivity to all.’
Leading a Digital School, published by the Australian Council for Educational Research Press (ACER Press) is a timely resource for educational leaders who need to make sensible, informed and strategic decisions about how to implement digital solutions in their school. Twelve contributors including Allan Shaw, Chief Executive AHISA; Karen Bonanno, Executive Officer, ASLA; and other high profile educational leaders make outstanding comments on the best way to lead a digital school.
It is time for Australia, and in particular those education authorities that have failed for the past decade to provide the needed direction, infrastructure and investment to stop playing politics with the latest instructional technologies, and to put in place well reasoned strategies that will assist the development of digital schools, enhance teaching and learning and help to lift national productivity.
‘Australia’s future prosperity will be a function, not of the resources under ground, but the skills of our citizens. As countries such as India and China pour extraordinary funds into education and specifically the delivery of curriculum via the net, Australia continues to lag with regard to its investment in Education and we are Neanderthal in our approach to online education. While the rest of the world seems to be up skilling its population we continue to live in a dream state in the hope that all will be fine. This is not the case.
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
Book Launch: Tuesday 19th August, 2008, 10.00am, Rosary Primary School, Watson, ACT
Launched by: Cheryl O’Connor, CEO Australian College of Educators (ACE)
Guest Speaker: John Treloar, APAC Education Director, Adobe Systems
Media Welcome
Photo opportunities available
Media enquiries & Interviews:
Mandy Stephens ACER Press
Ph: (03) 9277 5413
