Transcript Slide 1

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Through the Digital Education Revolution the Australian
Government aims to bring substantial and meaningful change to
teaching and learning in Australian schools. It will prepare
students for further education and training, jobs of the future and
to live and work in a digital world.
The Australian Government is committing new funding of $1.2
billion over five years to provide:
◦ through the National Secondary School Computer Fund, grants of up to
$1 million for schools to assist them to provide for new or upgraded
information and communications technology (ICT) for secondary
students in Years 9 to 12; and
◦ through the Fibre Connections to Schools initiative, a contribution of
up to $100 million to support the development of fibre-to-thepremises (FTTP) broadband connections to Australian schools.
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$32.6 million over two years to supply students and teachers
across Australia with online curriculum tools and resources to
support the national curriculum and conferencing facilities for
specialist subjects such as languages.
Working with States and Territories and the Deans of
Education to ensure that new and continuing teachers have
access to training in the use of ICT that enables them to
enrich student learning.
The development of online learning and access which will
enable parents to participate in their child’s education.
$10 million over three years to develop support mechanisms
to provide vital assistance for schools in the deployment of
ICT provided through the National Secondary School
Computer Fund.
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A Labor government would ensure that every student in Years
9-12 had access to their own computer at school, with the $1
billion spent over four years, Mr Rudd said.
The government would pay for the systems to be replaced and
schools with enough computers already could use the funding to
upgrade, he said. The plan would apply to government and
independent schools.
"I want to turn every secondary school in Australia into a
digital school," Mr Rudd said."I want to provide every secondary
school student with the foundations to move into the digital economy
of the future."
Australia's more than 9,000 primary and secondary schools
would be connected to a broadband network with speeds of up
to 100 megabits per second, he said.
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February 2008 - audit of current numbers
available for yrs 9-12.
3 March 2008 – Selected Schools invited to apply
for funding
◦ Nearly 300 NSW DET schools, 35 in Sydney Region.
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Schools selected based on audit.
The results identified that the national average
computer to student ratio is currently 1:5.
Targeted at schools with computer to student
ratio of 1:8 or worse.
Aim (for Round 1) – 1:2 for Yrs 9-12
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Applications closed 4 April.
Funding is for specified number of computers.
Allocated $1000 per Computer unit.
Any remaining funds could be available to
purchase other ICT equipment.
June2008 – Funding for Stage 1 paid to
NSWDET
Round 1 Funds need to be spent by June 2010,
with 40% in first 6 months. Reports required
every 6 months
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Effective implementation of the Digital Education
Revolution will be achieved through cooperation
with all states and territories. In particular, the
Australian Government will work with state and
territory governments, Catholic and independent
school systems to make a sustainable and
meaningful change in the way teaching and
learning are delivered in Australian schools.
To realise economies of scale and administrative
efficiencies, it is preferred that purchasing of
ICT through the Fund take place at a state or
sectoral level.
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The Australian Government will be discussing with states, territory and
non-government education authorities how they will support the Australian
Government’s $1 billion investment, including such measures as:
◦ ensuring the maintenance of existing and planned expenditure on ICT for their
sector;
◦ maintaining and supporting their existing and planned infrastructure in the school
(including security);
◦ providing accurate and timely information regarding a school’s need and
readiness to apply for funding including evidence of ongoing support for the
additional equipment provided under the Fund;
◦ ensuring the roll-out of school computers and faster broadband is sustainable at
the school level through technical training and infrastructure support;
◦ ensuring all teachers have access to professional development to ensure a
increased capabilities to use ICT effectively;
◦ undertaking centralised purchasing processes for their schools as appropriate to
ensure value for money; and
◦ agreeing on assessment and reporting criteria for the success of the investment to
be measured.
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Education authorities and schools, as appropriate, will also need to take
into account costs associated with connecting ICT equipment to the
internet (eg, ISP costs) including costs of internet filtering.
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Letter from DG – 5 March
◦ “Students and teachers must have more access to computers and
other Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) equipment
if our public schools are to continue to lead the way in education.
Of course, providing more computers or other ICT equipment has
significant ramifications for other areas – such as compatibility within
the system, software licensing, size, power supply, siting and storage.
I have asked Stephen Wilson, the Chief Information Officer, to
investigate a systemic approach that could be used by all schools to
deliver the best result for public schools in NSW.
For those reasons, please delay your submission until the week
commencing 31 March 2008, so that we can develop guidance to
ensure that public education and your school gets the maximum
benefits from this program.”
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Memo from DG – 28 March
◦ Stephen (Wilson) has met with delegates from the
Secondary Principals’ Council, Primary Principals’
Association, Federation of Parents and Citizens'
Associations of NSW, Office of Schools, Curriculum
Directorate, Centre for Learning Innovation, Regional IT
managers and computer industry representatives.
◦ I got very positive feedback when I met last week with
the Secondary Principals’ Council and Primary Principals’
Association delegates.
◦ This approach – choosing laptops not other equipment –
has the full support of the Secondary Principals’
Association, the Federation of Parents and Citizens’
Associations and the Primary Principals Association
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Memo from DG – 28 March (Cont)
◦ Our overall plan is to move over time to a 1:1 ratio of computers to
students in years 9 to 12, and use our combined buying power to buy a
specialised high-end educational laptop.
But this will only work if we all act together, so I ask schools that have been
invited to apply for round one funding to submit an application before the
due date based on the attached pro forma.
Please apply for laptop computers, and only for laptop computers.
The Commonwealth will give the department the funds associated with all
approved applications so we can arrange procurement and delivery.
We will only endorse applications for laptop computers in round one,
and cannot offer technical and other support to anything other than an
application for laptops.
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In the past schools have applied for funding
with no coordination.
If this continued we would have 800 different
revolutions, with no coordinated approach.
NSW Public Schools need ONE coordinated
and managed Statewide Digital Education
Revolution
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Desktops have been discounted because they require
major infrastructure upgrades for which there are no
funds:
◦ Network outlets
◦ Power upgrades
◦ Furniture / Available space
◦ Extra security
Laptops can be totally “untethered”
◦ Battery operated
◦ Wireless Network Connections
◦ Dedicated desk space is not required.
◦ More flexible usage
 Anywhere, anytime.
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What are the features likely to be included in a third generation
educational specific laptop?
◦ Work a full school day on battery / Start-up quickly
◦ Loaded with educational productivity software (presentation, word
processing, spreadsheet, database and multimedia creation software)
◦ Have a high quality display (WXGA 16:9, less than 10” wide) and a
near full size keyboard
◦ Be low weight - less than 1.5 Kg
◦ Capable of wireless access from within the school to the internet,
student e-backpack and the DET portal
◦ Be able to be connected to a home network or home
internet connection via wireless or an Ethernet lead but be
automatically routed back to the Department’s Internet Filtering, portal
and e-back pack
◦ Have Bluetooth built in to enable the transfer of pictures and files
between students’ laptops and their mobile phones
◦ Have an inbuilt camera, microphone and speakers
◦ Come with commonly used connectors like monitor out and USB
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Memo from DG – 3 April
◦ “The NSW and Commonwealth governments are negotiating funding of the costs of
implementing Commonwealth policy. When this agreement is in place, we will go to
market and seek expressions of interest for the supply of a specialist education laptop.
◦ In anticipation of an agreement, suppliers have started releasing new model laptops.
While many interesting new machines are now available, none fully satisfy our
requirements for a high-quality education laptop.
◦ Stephen Wilson and I continue to receive positive feedback on the broad concepts we
have been able to outline to date. Recapping briefly, these include:
 wirelessly enabling all schools with students in years 9 to 12
 moving, over time, to a 1:1 student to educational laptop ratio for years 9 to 12
 providing improved technical support on site at every secondary school
 implementing a professional development program around the use of the laptops in
classrooms, and
 developing customised online materials across curriculum areas.
◦ We've also had some concerns raised by schools, especially about managing laptops
within schools. Representatives of the Secondary Principals’ Council and the Primary
Principals’ Association continue to work through the issues as they flesh out the plans.
If you have some comments or feedback please do not hesitate to send Stephen a
quick email at [email protected] so that it can be included into the
plan.
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State:
No of Schools
302
No of Computers
56240
Max
474 (Cherrybrook THS)
Min
5 (Cameron Park School,
Para Meadows School)
Sydney Region:
No of Schools
34
No of Computers
6473
Max
352 ( GRC – Oatley Sen HS)
Min
9 (St George School)
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On 12 June, the Minister for Education, the Hon Julia Gillard MP
announced that Round Two of the National Secondary School
Computer Fund (the Fund) will open on 14 July 2008.
Round Two will focus on moving all secondary schools with Year
9 – 12 students, to a target computer to student ratio of
1:2. This is based on a national strategic understanding of the
information and communication technology (ICT) investment
needs of schools around Australia. By the end of 2008, funds
will be available for all secondary schools to be able to move to a
national benchmark computer to student ratio of 1:2.
Stakeholder consultations held in May 2008 across every capital
city showed general support for a move to a national computer
to student ratio of 1:2, particularly for those schools who were
not eligible to apply in Round One i.e those schools who had a
computer to student ratio between 1:3 and 1:7.
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All schools are eligible to apply for Round 2
funding.
Each secondary school, if eligible, may apply for
up to $1 million over the life of the Fund,
including funding to update existing technology
every three years. This will be based on the
school’s enrolment, need and capacity to use
the new ICT equipment effectively.
Will all schools that apply receive funding?
◦ This is a competitive process and applicants are advised
that funding is not guaranteed. Applications will be
assessed on a number of criteria, as outlined in the
National Secondary School Computer Fund Guidelines to
which your application relates.
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What help is available to schools to purchase
the equipment?
◦ State, Territory, Catholic and Independent education
authorities will be responsible for expending
funding on their school’s behalf. Schools are
encouraged to work closely with their education
authority to maximise the value for money and
access support services and advice.
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No NSW public school students to see computers until 2009
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Cost shock puts school PCs at risk
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School Computer plan ‘at risk’ –
◦ NSWTF, 12 June
◦ SMH, 22 June
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News.com.au, 29 June
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State may scuttle school computer deal
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'No error' in computer program
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How Costa put squeeze on Rudd
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State resists Rudd's revolution
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NSW Folds in computer Row
◦ Daily Telegraph, 29 June
◦ News.com.au, 30 June
◦ SMH, 30 June
◦ Australian, 30 June
◦ SMH, 1 july
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Access to reliable, affordable, high speed
broadband connections will strengthen the
capacity of students, parents, teachers and the
wider community to communicate, collaborate
and access resources across system,
State/Territory and national boundaries.
In recognition of this potential, the Government
has committed $100 million to the Fibre
Connections to Schools (FCS) initiative. The FCS
will contribute to the provision of fibre-to-thepremise (FTTP) broadband connections to
Australian schools to deliver speeds of up to
100 megabits per second.
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Phase 1 (May/June 2008) focussed on:
◦ baseline of school connectivity across jurisdictions and
schools sectors; and
◦ vision of national connectivity for Australian schools
 concepts including collaboration, affordability,
sustainability, scalability to be canvassed on one-on-one
meetings and in a discussion paper for stakeholder
comment to be developed by DEEWR.
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Phase 2 (August/September 2008), focussed on:
◦ High level strategies for realising the vision that are
informed by the particular circumstances of each
jurisdiction/sector;
◦ Investment principles to guide FCS investments that
reflect the agreed vision probably including criteria that
would promote collaboration across networks; and
◦ Priority areas of activity for FCS investment in 2008-09.
The Issues