What's newNew Directions in Australian Art EducationThe Australian Institute of Art Education is seeking art educators to present ideas at their national conference, New Directions in Australian Art Education. Opportunities exist for a range of workshops, paper presentations and forums. Interested contributors are called to explore the notion of ‘new directions’ in Australian art education, with topics including: advocacy for the arts; new technologies; new pedagogies; quality art education; and assessment in the arts. Visit the AIAE Professional Development page for more details. National Symposium: Backing Our CreativityThe Australia Council for the Arts is now seeking presenters for Backing Our Creativity, a National Education and the Arts symposium to be held in Melbourne 12–14 September 2005. The symposium is one of several regional preparatory events taking place around world in the lead up to UNESCO's World Conference on Arts Education in Lisbon in March 2006. For further information, contact Gillian Gardiner on 02 9215 9095. Open source software could halve school IT bills, says UK agencyTthe British Educational Communications and Technology Association (BECTA) has concluded that primary schools could cut computer costs by nearly half if they stopped buying, operating and supporting products from software vendors such as Microsoft. See report from ZDNet Australia, 10 May 2005. New laws stop commercial operators profiting from taxpayer funds to non-state schools in QueenslandNew laws in Queensland will ensure taxpayer funds to non-state schools benefit students not commercial operators. Education Minister Anna Bligh said the laws responded to the possibility of profit-making corporations being able to establish non-state schools and pass on public funding as profits to shareholders. The new legislation operates by regulating the eligibility for Government funding. See Ministerial media statement, 10 May 2005. Tasmanian Government allocates $200 000 to students at riskThe Tasmanian Government has announced that $200 000 will be allocated to provide more flexible learning options for students in the North and North West who are at risk of dropping out of school. The new funding will be used to establish programs similar to the sucessful 'Ed Zone' scheme. See Ministerial media statement, 9 May 2005. WA unis support new Years 11 and 12 curriculumChanges in Western Australia’s Years 11 and 12 curriculum have been endorsed by Western Australia's five universities. The changes are based on a review undertaken between 1998 to 2002 that involved more than 10,000 people. Following the changes, examinations will be conducted by the Curriculum Council. Professional development for teachers on the new courses began at the end of last year and a communications strategy for parents and the community will begin this month. See Ministerial media statement from The Hon. Ljiljanna Ravlich MLC, 3 May 2005. New electronic enrolment system for New ZealandNew Zealand school enrolment records, school transfers and leave notifications will soon be done within schools via the web, with the introduction of a new, time-effective enrolment management system. Information sharing between corresponding schools will benefit from the system, easing the arrangement of student transitions. Following system testing, the rollout will begin across intermediate and secondary schools in November 2005. School girls catching up in many countriesA UNICEF report coverinmg school education in 25 countries describes the success of the organisations' strategy for lifting girls’ enrolment levels, which have risen over the last three years. See Progress for Children, 2004. AUSTAFE 2005 Excellence in VET practicesWith a focus on Australia's contribution to VET delivery at a national and international level, the AUSTAFE 2005 conference encourages Australia's VET sector to learn from the practices of other countries, with conference speakers highlighting good delivery practices to date. Held over two days beginning 28 July 2005, the conference follows strands including Community, Industry, Teaching and Learning, and International. Designing Careers in New ZealandYear 10 students in New Zealand are being targeted by a Ministry of Education pilot program designed to help students make informed choices about their tertiary study and careers. Designing Careers offers tailored learning and career plans to each student, raising awareness in skill sets, values and interests. A total of 75 secondary schools are currently using the hard copy and electronic transitional tool, with positive results. Australian Certificate of EducationThe Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) has been selected to develop options for an Australian Certificate of Education. The study, to be led by Professor Geoff Masters, CEO of ACER, will analyse and report on existing arrangements for the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education in all Australian states and territories, overseas examples of Senior Secondary Certificate of Education systems, the International Baccalaureate Programme. It will also examine the use of general aptitude tests in senior secondary schools. See Australian Government Ministerial media release, 13 May 2005. |