COSN VIP Delegation to Australia, 2004: Information Communications Technologies (ICT) in Education

	Post Trip Follow-Up COSN VIP Delegation to Australia, 2004: ICT in Education The CoSN VIP Delegation to Australia Understanding the Australian Education System: An Overview Addressing the Challenges Establishing a Supportive Public Policy Framework Innovative Examples, Models and Leaders A Vision for the Future Trip Background and Reports Agenda Trip Blog Delegation Members Background Materials Sponsor Background Information

Common Challenges/Unique Solutions: Australian School Experiences

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Realizing the transformative potential of technology to customize and personalize the learning experience for all students is the difficult part in Australia as it is in other countries. The set of challenges facing educators in Australia is a familiar one:

• Offering compelling content and services;
• Strengthening human capacity of teachers, administrators and education leaders;
• Providing the necessary infrastructure; and
• Establishing a supportive and appropriate regulatory and policy framework.

What is unique, however, are some of the solutions that the Australians have utilized in meeting these challenges. Of particular interest is the way in which Australia has embraced Open Source as a mechanism for addressing the challenges of providing content to students and teachers throughout the country.

As I have listened to my Australian colleagues the past few days it continues to strike me how similar the education challenges and issues are between Australia and the U.S. One striking difference though is the fact that while we in the U.S. are typically fractured when tackling some of these tough issues, the Australians seem to be attempting nationwide, systemic solutions. Of course, that is my view after only a couple of days here.

Bob Moore
Chair, CoSN, Board of Directors and Executive Director
Information Technology Services, Blue Valley USD 229
Overland Park, KS

ICT and education issues in the UK, Australia and US have significant overlap and there is much to be gained by sharing and interacting. The challenges as well as the potential were clear to everyone present. There is a need to engage a broader education audience, going beyond the people devoted to ICT.

Kurt Steinhaus
Deputy Cabinet Secretary of Education
Learning and Accountability, NM Public Education Department and Chair-elect, ISTE