IWBNet plans to showcase schools from around Australia, New Zealand and the rest of world who are operating in a predominantly digital environment.

School Leadership and ICT – Australian Study

Associate Professor Kathryn Moyle’s excellent analysis of the ICT understanding of Australia’s principals – Voices from the Profession - is now available on the Teaching Australia website.

In brief, the study highlights the recognition by school leaders of the need for them to play a far greater role in the wise use of ICT in the school, and their desire to enhance their macro understanding of the ICT available to schools.

In reality most existing, and soon to be, school principals have not been provided the opportunity to secure an up to date macro understanding of ICT and its implications. It is not provided in post-graduate programs or by systems.

Indeed one of the key reasons for the Leading a Digital School Conference mentioned above is to redress that shortcoming.

While Professor Moyle’s is an Australian study there are strong indications that the same situation applies globally.

New Zealand Provides Digital Schooling Lead

In line with IWBNet’s work on digital take off, embedding ICT in everyday teaching and the development of digital schools, the New Zealand Ministry of Education is providing excellent, on-going support and direction for its schools.

While covering far more than the wise use of IWBs its work is well worth checking out, both by schools and systems.

Of particular note is New Zealand’s efforts to ensure all schools have the requisite ICT infrastructure. The recently released Enabling the 21st Century Learner – e-Learning Action Plan for Schools 2006 – 2010 provides very valuable guidance to schools. The Plan can be found here.

What is of note is the Ministry’s realisation of the necessity of every school, including the many very small schools, having the requisite ICT infrastructure and high speed Internet access. As you’ll see New Zealand has provided the guidelines on the basics and has run since 2004 a program to ensure the small schools are up to standard.

The e-Learning Action Plan is an easy to digest plan, with sensible and realistic performance indicators. What is important is that it is part of a comprehensive national strategy.

If you would like to contribute to this Case Studies section by providing a case study about digital schooling please email info@iwb.net.au