Issues Facing Rural and Regional Australia.

Reading, C. et. al (2006). Focusing on ICT in Rural and Regional Education in Australia. Australian Educational Computing. 21(2). 20-24.

I read an interesting article about the issues which schools in rural and regional Australia are faced with in terms of technology.  In todays ever changing, technological world, all schools in Australia are being faced with the challenge of being able to provide students with up to date pieces of tecnology and technology which allows students to connect with each other and others in the outside world.  Schools also have to ensure that their students are not disadvantage to other students in other schools who may have access to better, more up dated technology.

The Australian ICT taskforce has set up national priorities in order to help such schools who are faced with the difficult of updating to newer technologies.  The two most important priorities are:

1. The promotion of pedagogic leadership, an

2. Helping to create new learning environments.

The article also discusses information gained from a national survey administered by SiMERR, which stands for the Centre of Science, Information and Communication Technology and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia.  Some of the key issues which were identified across Australia were:

1. State of ICT equipment in schools : Some states reported a lack of equipment and unreliable equipment and slow internet access was also a big problem.  On top of this the remoteness meant a lack of technical support.

2. Differences between home and school experience of ICT: More community resources are needed to improve access and ICT areas need to be improved in schools.

3. More suitable ICT curriculum and more integration to allow students to develop their skills.

4. Lack of teachers trained specifically in ICT: High turnover rate in remote areas.

5. More professional development in ICT for teachers to be up to date.

6. Leadership by teachers confident in ICT: Those confident, lead the school in ICT endevours.

Overall I can see how important it is that all schools are looked after and no school is left behind when it comes to up dating from old to new technology and it is important that the government continues to work together with schools in improving the infrastructure.

« How NOT to use PowerPoint!