The Federal Government has sought assistance from the IT sector after announcing the formation of a new expert advisory group for digital education.
Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Peter Garrett, said the group will provide a segue between technology and teaching, continuing the work of the government’s Digital Education Revolution.
Speaking at the Australasian Association of Distance Education Schools National Conference in Hobart, Garrett divulged the names of those in the group, with an e-learning professor named as chair.
“The new advisory group will be chaired by the highly respected e-learning expert and vice-chancellor for teaching, learning and equity at the University of Technology Sydney, Professor Shirley Alexander,” Garrett said.
“I am pleased that Professor Alexander has agreed to take on this key advisory role, with a particular focus on how best to support the new Australian curriculum online.”
Garrett said the support of industry experts will enable the education sector to take advantage of the latest technological advances; a view that echoes claims that the National Broadband Network will revolutionise the education sector.
Other group members include representatives from the Queensland Department of Education and Training, the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership and Education Services Australia.
Garrett drew criticism earlier this year when the Gillard government re-lauched the My School website despite private schools maintaining their entries were wrong in version 2.0.
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