Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Media Release –  

From the Minister for Information and Communication:

The Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson, today launched a $12.7 million project for 7 secondary and 40 primary schools in the Yarra Valley, aimed at creating an innovative, technology-rich learning environment.

"The Yarra Valley eRich Learning Environment Project will exemplify Victoria's continued world class practices of using ICT to enhance teaching and learning," Minister Thomson said, launching the project at the Upper Yarra Secondary College today.

"Research has shown that improving technology in the classroom can positively improve school and student performance - and this project will embed technology in teaching and learning in the Yarra Valley."

"Teachers can work together, anywhere any time, to assemble the best learning materials from digital resources around the world. Similarly students, working together and on their own, will use these online resources to create their own portfolio of e-learning projects, ranging from webpages, to animated presentations containing electronic charts, graphs and databases," said Minister Thomson.

"These e-learning projects, stored electronically, will become a record of the students' learning progress and achievements throughout their schooling years and will be accessible 24/7 at school and at home.

"Through the smart use of the technology, students will be more engaged in learning and need not fall through the cracks as the learning journey is more visible to both schools and parents," Minister Thomson said.

Using the latest broadband infrastructure, the project will deliver a fully integrated laptop program whereby all Year 7 students in 2005 and 2006 will have shared laptops with a partner, and keep them for up to three years. This provides opportunities for continuous learning outside of the classroom and increases student, teacher and parent collaboration.

The funding will establish innovative services for seven secondary colleges, 40 primary schools and one special school in the region - that provides 13,000 students, 700 teachers and 48 surrounding school communities with access to cutting-edge broadband technology.

"Through the Broadband Innovation Fund, the Yarra Valley cluster of schools will have ICT integrated into every aspect of teaching and learning, making schooling a more exciting and rewarding experience," Minister for Education Services, Jacinta Allan, said.  

"The provision of broad band and related technology to schools is enabling the curriculum to move forward into the digital age, equipping students with the skills they require for their future work and life.

"Not only will the broadband network facilitate collaboration between teachers within the cluster on such things as curriculum development and lesson plans, but student learning outcomes will be enhanced through opportunities for on-line discussion groups with neighbouring schools, and unconstrained opportunity for collaboration, research, independent learning and skills development," said Ms Allan.

Secondary schools in the Yarra Valley cluster to directly receive funding and support are:

-         Mooroolbark College

-         Upper Yarra Secondary College

-         Lilydale High School

-         Lilydale Heights College

-         Healesville High School

-         Pembroke Secondary College

-         Croydon Secondary College

Forty primary schools and one special school in the region will also be connected to the project's broadband network benefiting from the enhanced programs and services offered by the secondary schools.

The network linking each school’s technology resources will be established using products and services secured through the Government's Telecommunications Procurement and Management Strategy (TPAMS).

Ms Allan said the implementation of the network comes on the back of the $89 million SmartOne initiative to rollout broadband fibre optic to all schools announced in the Victorian Budget.

"This will make the Victorian Government education system a world leader.  Within four years every government school will be connected to four megabyte fibre optic bandwidth, the best possible broadband available in terms of capacity and speed.

"Schools will enjoy improved dialup and download speeds.  They will spend less time waiting for information to download and more time learning."

Media contact:  Licardo Prince on 96515799 or 0439 333 153   www.vic.gov.au