What's newLocal Schools, Local Decisions initiative NSWNSW Premier, Barry O'Farrell, and Minister for Education, Adrian Piccoli, have announced the introduction of the Local Schools, Local Decisions initiative, which provides for substantial devolution of responsibility for school budgets and staffing. See their joint statement 11 March 2012. See statements 11, 12 and 14 March 2012 by Australian Minister for Education, Peter Garrett. See also ABC News report and ABC PM report both 12 March; comment in The Daily Telegraph 14 March, and report 13 March and comment 15 March 2012 in The Sydney Morning Herald. New Ministerial Schools Funding Reference Group formedAustralian Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett, has announced that a new Ministerial Schools Funding Reference Group has been established to provide advice to the Australian Government on the next stages of school funding reform. See statement, related statement and interview all 9 March 2012. Further support offered to new teachers in VictoriaVictoria's Supporting New Teacher's Practice program gives first-year teachers the opportunity to improve their skills and confidence in the classroom. The program, funded through Smarter Schools National Partnerships, combines traditional face-to-face workshops with online activities such as webinars, discussion boards, polls, emails and announcements. Applications close 26 March 2012. Islamic school at Camden abandoned after local campaign against itAn article in The Daily Telegraph 12 March 2012 describes the abandonment of plans for an Islamic school at Camden, NSW, following vigorous local opposition. Ways to help kids self-regulate learning through ICTStrategies and resources exist to help young students regulate their own technology-mediated learning. See article in MindShift 8 February 2012. Arts and cultural organisations use ICT for learningA range of organisations in NSW, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Opera House, Musica Viva and Bell Shakespeare, have begun using interactive whiteboards and video conferencing to 'spread the cultural word in classrooms'. See article in The Sydney Morning Herald 12 March 2012. Using the arts for learningThe value of the arts for school learning is discussed by a US coach and former teacher, in an article on Edutopia 15 February 2012. |