Media Release: $1.8M COMPUTER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM BOOTS UP

FROM THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION

DATE: Sunday, January 23, 2005

$1.8M COMPUTER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM BOOTS UP

Thousands of students across Victoria are set to benefit from a new initiative to boost teacher skills in advanced information and communication technology (ICT) skills.

The acting Minister for Education and Training, Jacinta Allan, said a $1.8 million state-wide project, Creating eLearning Leaders (CeLL), would start this year.

The project is a joint initiative with Microsoft’s Partners in Learning Program, which operates in 71 countries worldwide to support the use of ICT in education.

Ms Allan said 28 schools or groups of schools across Victoria would become local or regional centres of ICT expertise, innovation and support through this initiative (see attached list).

The 28 schools and groups of schools cover a mixture of primary, secondary and special schools in metropolitan and regional areas across Victoria.

Under the program, teachers who receive the ICT training will then share their skills with teachers in their own and neighbouring schools, improving the computer skills and understanding of ICT among students across Victoria.

“This is an extremely important step in enhancing the already high level of ICT knowledge and expertise in government schools across Victoria,” Ms Allan said.

“Strong ICT skills and understandings are critical for students to achieve their goals, both in work and in life, and the CeLL program reflects the Bracks Government commitment to keep students up to date,” Ms Allan said.

Selected schools will receive up to $45,000 over three years to carry out the program.

The participating schools were chosen according to criteria that included a high level of ICT practice throughout the school and a potential team of skilled teachers willing to become mentors.

Programs offered by the CeLL schools to other schools will include maximising the potential of ICT in the curriculum and using new online digital resources. Schools will also build on their expertise to develop specialised ICT programs

Ms Allan said there were 137,000 computers – or one computer for every 3.9 students - in Victorian government schools.

“That’s the best rate in Australia,” Ms Allan said.

The Microsoft Partners in Learning Program, with an investment of more than $US200 million worldwide, is designed to support the efforts of governments and educational leaders to give students necessary ICT skills.

“The Creating eLearning Leadership program is an exciting initiative that further enhances the relationship between Microsoft and the Victorian Department of Education & Training,” said Steve Vamos, Managing Director, Microsoft Australia.

“CeLL will improve teacher skills, and engage and motivate students, by providing a structure to share ICT best practice with other schools through the creation of professional learning communities.

“Microsoft's Partners in Learning will help bridge the gap between how students live and how they learn. It will make technology more accessible and relevant in the classroom and will develop the professional capacities, skill and understanding of teachers,” he said.

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL CLUSTERS TAKING PART IN THE CeLL INITIATIVE