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AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION DIGEST

Volume 3 Number 7, 10 March 2009

MATHEMATICS EDUCATION: (5 items)
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION: (2 items)
RESEARCH: Keep kids at school longer for core skills
TERTIARY EDUCATION: (5 items)
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION: 336 More Schools to Benefit from Trades Training Centres
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: $955 million for preschool services
PRIZES & AWARDS: Inspirational teaching for head start
AROUND THE STATES & TERRITORIES: (5 items)
CONFERENCES & EVENTS: (2 items)
REMINDERS
ACSSO EMAIL NEWSLETTERS

MATHEMATICS EDUCATION

A New World Champion

World Maths Day, 4 March 2009

Kaya G The World Maths Day Team is happy to announce a new world champion for 2009! Congratulations Kaya G representing Team Australia.

We also have a new class of champions! Congratulations to F2 Team A from the Cempaka Schools in Malaysia who hit the million points mark, a phenomenal effort. Even more impressive is the top 3 classes are from the Cempaka Schools.

The top 3 in the overall Hall of Fames are listed below...

1st: Kaya G - Team Australia - 129,106
2nd: David M - Aloha College, Spain - 119,843
3rd: David A - Fraser Coast Anglican College, Australia - 115,571

Read more at http://www.worldmathsday.com/

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Public school maths in crisis as teachers go private

Andrew Trounson, The Australian, March 04, 2009

ADVANCED mathematics is disappearing from public school classrooms, leaving students able to learn only basic maths, because the few qualified teachers are being snapped up by the private sector.

The shortage of maths teachers will become more acute as fewer students continue maths at university, undermining the nation's skills base in engineering, the sciences and technology, scientists warn.

"The inequitable access to quality mathematics education is a national disgrace," the National Committee for the Mathematical Sciences says in a report calling for a national strategy to boost the discipline.

Read entire article: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25136016-5013404,00.html

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Is mathematics becoming a dying art?

ABC News, Mar 4, 2009

Today is World Maths Day but mathematics, it seems, is a dying art.

University enrolments are falling, as is the number of high school teachers with a maths major.

The Australian Mathematical Society says many Australian school children are coming out of schools without knowing how to do a calculation with a pencil and paper.

Today, there is an effort to revive some of the interest in maths with a quarter of a million Australian school students taking part in a global maths competition.

The president of the Australian Mathematical Society, Nalini Joshi, believes maths is in dire straits.

Read entire article: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/04/2507361.htm?section=australia

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Maths competition highlights student enthusiasm

Tanya Chilcott, Courier Mail, March 04, 2009

In a week when mathematics has been declared to be "in serious trouble", nearly 25,000 Queensland students have proved just how gripping it can be.

Students from 191 countries yesterday went head-to-head in a web-based World Maths Day competition that saw them cheering in the classroom.

The scenes were in stark contrast to a report this week by the National Committee for the Mathematical Sciences, which said maths and maths education were in "dire straits".

The report estimates about 40 per cent of senior school mathematics teachers do not have a maths major and notes a 14 per cent drop in university maths major enrolments between 2001 and 2007.

Read entire article: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25139965-3102,00.html

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School Mathematics as a special kind of mathematics?

Anne Watson, "For the learning of Mathematics" Volume 28, No. 3 2008 (Abstract)

Most of the mathematics taught in schools does not accurately represent the practices of adult mathematicians.

Children are taught ‘the kind of mathematics that can be done by machines' instead of being given opportunities to explore, compare different types of argumentation, and devise effective representations of the concepts they learn.

At its worst, school mathematics can be ‘a form of cognitive bullying', since it imposes tasks that neglect to develop children's natural curiosity.

In school mathematics, authority comes from external sources such as teachers and textbooks, rather than springing from the internal validity of mathematical argument as a system of thought.

The vibrant mathematical community at Cambridge University, where students congregate in the faculty cafeteria to discuss and argue over their ideas, is a type of environment that could be replicated to some degree in a classroom. Virtually all children are able to generate mathematical ideas, describe and categorise relationships, and develop mathematical algorithms and methods.

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INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

Support for school students with autism

Hon Julia Gillard MP, Minister for Education & Hon Bill Shorten MP, Parlt Sec. 9 March 2009

The Australian Government will fund support for teachers, parents and carers of school students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through the education component of the $190 million Helping Children with Autism package.

The Helping Children with Autism package strongly reflects the Government's commitment to inclusive education and to improving the education opportunities for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Almost 100 workshops will be held around the country for parents and carers of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and teachers and school staff.

These workshops' aim is to build strong and effective partnerships between parents and carers of children with autism and their schools so that each student's school years are as productive and supportive as possible.

Further information is available at: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/HelpingChildrenwithAutism

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Australian of the Year Mick Dodson to tour Australian schools

The Australian, March 04, 2009 (AAP)

Prof Mick Dodson AUSTRALIAN of the Year Mick Dodson has made the first of many school visits in an effort to realise his dream of having every child enrolled by 2010.

The indigenous leader and academic plans to use his increased profile as Australian of the Year to focus on education. At a speech to the National Press Club earlier this month, Prof Dodson said he wanted every Australian child - indigenous and non-indigenous - ready for the start of the 2010 school year.

At Wanniassa School in south Canberra on Wednesday, he said he'd already received "dozens and dozens" of invitations to visit schools and was planning a national three-month tour mid-year.

A number of state and territory governments had been in touch regarding his project, Prof Dodson said.

"The Northern Territory Chief Minister (Paul Henderson) is keen for me to visit there," he said. "I'm going to try and get a visit in. Probably June, July, August we'll do a series of school trips around the country and talk to people."

Prof Dodson said he wanted to learn how some communities were succeeding "and how we might adapt those (programs) for other places where we aren't doing so well".

Early feedback indicated the key to success was getting communities behind schools.

Read entire article: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25138522-26103,00.html

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RESEARCH

Keep kids at school longer for core skills

Nicola Berkovic, The Australian, March 10, 2009

THE OECD has called on Australian education authorities to consider raising the school leaving age to ensure children have core reading and maths skills.

A report on Australian education performance also calls for more to be spent on early childhood education, noting the nation "lags far behind" other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

Read entire article: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25163892-13881,00.html

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TERTIARY EDUCATION

Towards a new approach to higher education

Hon Julia Gillard MP, Minister for Education - speech given 4 March 2009

With the Bradley Review of Australian Higher Education now released, read and thoroughly debated we can begin the process of change.

This is an important moment, not only for our students, academics and higher education institutions, but for the entire nation because our future prosperity depends in large part upon our success.

This isn't the first time in our modern history that Australia has had to radically improve its performance in higher education. The Menzies, Whitlam and Dawkins eras transformed a tiny, boutique higher education system into first an elite, then a popular, and finally a mass system.

These were big changes — even revolutionary at times — that spoke well of the resilience and capacity for innovation of our higher education sector. But as necessary as those changes were, the task today is far greater and more urgent. Events are forcing us to make new calls on our higher education system. We must have new and greater expectations.

Read the entire text at: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Gillard/Pages/default.aspx

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Next Steps for the Bradley Review

Hon Julia Gillard MP, Minister for Education — media release 4 March 2009

The Rudd Government received the final report of the Bradley Review of Higher Education from Emeritus Professor Denise Bradley on 17 December 2008.

The Bradley Review comprises a rigorous examination of higher education in Australia and proposes a comprehensive package of recommendations for reforming Australia's tertiary education system.

A series of six roundtable discussions are being conducted by the Minister over the coming weeks to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to respond candidly to the specific recommendations of the Bradley Review in a confidential forum.

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Gillard reveals massive shake-up of higher education funding for places

Andrew Trounson, The Australian, March 04, 2009

IN what would be the biggest structural shake-up of the university sector since the Dawkins reforms of the late 1980s, the federal Government is planning to link funding for tertiary places to student demand.

The reform, aimed at significantly boosting participation rates in higher education, would scrap the current practice where the Government allocates commonwealth-supported places.

Canberra has set a target of increasing the proportion of 25-34-year-olds with a bachelor-level qualification or above from 32 per cent to 40 per cent by 2025.

Addressing the Universities Australia conference in Canberra this morning, Education Minister Julia Gillard said the changes would create a "new student-centred, demand-driven higher education system".

While the move would free up student demand, Ms Gillard ruled out deregulating fees by lifting the cap on HECS. "We have no plans to lift these caps at the very time we are seeking to grow participation," she said.

Read entire article: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25137334-12332,00.html

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Proposed uni funding overhaul under fire from opposition and student union

ABC News, Mar 4, 2009

The Federal Opposition's education spokesman, Christopher Pyne, has criticised the Government's proposed changes to higher education in Australia.

Education Minister Julia Gillard says by 2025, the Government wants 40 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds to have obtained a bachelors degree.

She also says by 2012, universities will be funded on a demand-driven model, where universities receive funding for each student in an accredited course.

Mr Pyne says the Government will not be able to fund the plan because it has spent tens of billions of dollars on cash handouts in recent months.

Read entire article: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/04/2507396.htm

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Group of Eight unis welcomes changes

ABC News, Mar 5, 2009

A group representing the top eight Australian research universities says the Federal Government's proposed changes to the higher education system are a step in the right direction.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced a number of changes to the tertiary education system, including a shake-up of university funding.

From 2012, universities will be funded according to the number of students.

But the National Union of Students is concerned that the plan will impact negatively on rural and regional universities.

Chairman of the Group of Eight and University of Western Australia vice chancellor Professor Alan Robson says he does not think that is likely to happen.

"It may, but I think that there are a lot of people who choose to study at a regional university because it's more convenient or it offers programs that they wish to undertake," he said.

"No-one can tell what is going to be the impact of allowing the students to choose, but I think it's just fair that students should choose."

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/05/2507888.htm

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VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

336 More Schools to Benefit from Trades Training Centres

Hon Julia Gillard MP, Minister for Education, 5 March 2009

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today announced that over $335 million will be allocated to 336 successful secondary schools under Phase Two of the Trade Training Centres in Schools program.

The Trade Training Centres in Schools program provides $2.5 billion dollars over 10 years to address skill shortages in traditional trades and emerging industries by giving secondary students access to high-quality relevant trade training opportunities.

Secondary schools can apply for funding of between $500 000 and $1.5 million for Trade Training Centres to construct new, or upgrade, existing trade or vocational education and training facilities.

For further information on the program and to see a list of successful projects please visit: http://www.tradetrainingcentres.deewr.gov.au

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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

$955 million for preschool services

Hon Maxine McKew MP, Parlt Sec. For Early Childhood Education 10 March 2009

Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Maxine McKew, today announced details of the National Partnership with all States and Territories on Early Childhood Education.

Queensland will receive $252 million over the next five years to help ensure every Queensland child can access early childhood education in the year before school.
New South Wales will receive $279 million over the next five years to help ensure every New South Wales child can access early childhood education in the year before school.
Victoria will receive $211 million over the next five years to help ensure every Victorian child can access early childhood education in the year before school.
Western Australia will receive $98 million over the next five years to help ensure every Western Australian child can access early childhood education in the year before school.
South Australia will receive $65 million over the next five years to help ensure every South Australian child can access early childhood education in the year before school.
The Northern Territory will receive $16 million over the next five years to help ensure every child in the Territory can access early childhood education in the year before school. This includes the Territory's Indigenous children living in remote communities.
Tasmania will receive $20 million over the next five years to help ensure every Tasmanian child can access early childhood education in the year before school.
The Australian Capital Territory will receive $13 million over the next five years to help ensure every child in the ACT can access early childhood education in the year before school.

Delivering on our election commitment, the Rudd Government is investing in early childhood education for all Australian children.

Under the Early Childhood Education National Partnership, $955 million will go towards achieving universal access to quality early childhood education in the year before school by 2013.

Read entire release: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/McKew/Pages/default.aspx

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PRIZES & AWARDS

Inspirational teaching for head start

The Australian, March 10, 2009

At Drummond Memorial Public School in Armidale, NSW, teacher Michael Wilson has created a virtual community of learners that helps to keep students focused on kicking their literacy goals.

Winner of Microsoft's annual Innovative Teachers Award in 2008, Michael created a connected learning environment for regional and rural indigenous students using Web 2.0 tools like wikis, blogs and podcasts to create genuine social interaction online.

"My students collaborate on wiki-driven stories and are creating an online TV station. They communicate with their peers, sharing feelings, opinions and writing, as well as film and voice recordings online. I encourage my students to use different technologies to research, publish, celebrate and share their learnings," Michael said.

The program's success in improving attendance and literacy has seen the techniques being used in five other regional and remote schools.

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AROUND THE STATES & TERRITORIES

SA: Introducing OPAL — a lifestyle revolution for students and their families

Hon Jane Lomax-Smith, SA Minister for Education, 4 March 2009

The State Government's announced details of a push to improve the health of young South Australians - helping mums, dads and families to eat well, move more and live longer.

The new five-year, $22.3m Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle (OPAL) program is aimed at tackling chronic disease in the community by starting at the beginning — with our children.

Health Minister John Hill says OPAL will help give young South Australians the best possible start.

"We want to help create healthy lifestyles for children and their families by galvanising support across the whole community and getting everyone singing from the same hymn sheet.

"One in every four children is in the unhealthy weight range, which places them at increased risk of health, emotional and social problems.

"If we're to really make a difference to the future of these children, we need a concerted effort across the whole community." Minister Hill says.

Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the program complements physical activity programs already in schools and the Government's ban on junk food sales in school canteens.

Read entire release at: http://www.ministers.sa.gov.au/news.php?id=4438

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SA: $1.2 million to trial proposed compulsory Year 12 research based subject

Hon Jane Lomax-Smith, SA Education Minister, 5 March 2009

Preparations for a compulsory new Year 12 subject — where students will undertake a major research project on a topic of interest — are now in full swing.

While the subject won't formally start until 2011, a draft subject outline has been prepared and Government, Catholic and Independent high schools will start trialling the subject this year.
Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith today announced $1.2m will be offered to 240 schools to support this year's school-based trials.

The new Research Project subject is one of two compulsory new subjects in the new SACE. The other is the Personal Learning Plan, introduced for all Year 10 students from this year.

These new subjects are an integral part of the new South Australian Certificate of Education for all senior secondary students in Government, Catholic and Independent schools.

Dr Lomax-Smith says the Research Project is an opportunity for students to explore in-depth an area of personal interest. "Our young people are creative and many crave the opportunity to explore something they are passionate about," she says. "By matching this desire with strategies to enhance their research and analytical skills, we have an excellent recipe for success."

Read entire release: http://www.ministers.sa.gov.au/news.php?id=4443

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TAS: Liberals' plan for a Smarter Tasmania

Sue Napier MP, Shadow Minister for Education & Skills, 5 March 2009

Mrs. Napier tabled a Notice of Motion in State Parliament detailing the Tasmanian Liberals' policy for a Smarter Tasmania, which will:

ensure that within the first four years of a Hodgman Liberal Government, every Tasmanian child will be able to read and write in line with relevant national standards or benchmarks for their age, and at least to the national average;
deliver smaller class sizes by extending the cap of 25 students in Prep and Year One classes to Years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and reduce the current cap of 25 students in Prep and Year One from 25 students to 20 students;
provide more support for teachers by working with the University of Tasmania to ensure that the best undergraduate programs for training and developing teachers are provided and to establish a centre for the continuing education of teachers to help develop a program of ongoing professional development;
implement an appropriate professional/performance pay model for teachers and encourage teachers to achieve additional educational achievements including Masters Degrees in areas such as special education, talented and gifted and the teaching of maths, science and literacy;
broaden the definition of special education and provide more support for students who fall behind by providing one to one and small group assistance to students who are failing behind at any time to reduce the gap between high and low performing students; and extend the more able students;
expand the Launching into Learning program to enable more children and their families to access the best early learning, diagnosis and intervention support they need; and
remove impediments to children actually getting to school, such as the cost of their bus fares, by making bus travel to and from school free of charge for primary, secondary and college students up to the age of 18.

Read entire release: http://www.tas.liberal.org.au/default.cfm?action=news_detail&ID=9297

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VIC: Victoria Welcomes $70 Million Schools Boost

Education Minister Bronwyn Pike, Friday, 06 March 2009

The Victorian economy and families will be the big winners out of the Federal Labor Government’s announcement of $70.5 million for trade training centres across more than 60 Victorian schools.

Education Minister Bronwyn Pike has welcomed the funding for Victorian schools, saying it will be a boon for the Victorian economy and an outstanding initiative for the future of young Victorians, particularly in rural and regional Victoria.

"This initiative will help ensure the next generation of Australians are well prepared to go out and get 21st Century jobs," Ms Pike said today.

"Education is the Brumby Government’s number one priority and this is yet another example of a Labor government standing up for families and investing in the services that matter most."

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WA: Atwell community welcomes opening of state-of-the-art college

Elizabeth Constable, Minister for Education, 27 February 2009

Education Minister Liz Constable today officially opened the new $37.6million state-of-the-art Atwell College.

The new college caters for mainstream students from Years Seven to Nine and high needs education support students in the college’s Kim Beazley Learning Community.

Dr Constable said Atwell College was Western Australia’s first fully inclusive secondary school for both mainstream students and those with disabilities.

"This wonderful education facility is the culmination of the vision of the community and the active support of many, including the Atwell Community Association," she said.

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CONFERENCES & EVENTS

Harmony Day

21 March 2009

This year Harmony Day has a new logo and the theme of "Everyone Belongs".

Your school community is invited to bring the logo to life.

Download the new logo from http://www.harmony.gov.au and ask students to interpret what it means to them ... through photography, art, film or any other suitable medium.

Selected work will be posted to the official Harmony Day website so send your digital images to info@harmonyday.gov.au

Get your school community involved in Harmony Day 2009.

Visit http://www.harmony.gov.au for more information, to register your event and order free materials.

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National Walk Safely to School Day

15 May 2009

National Walk Safely to School Day is a health initiative for Primary School communities in all parts of the country, urging all parents and carers to include exercise in their young children's daily routines. Starting healthy habits from an early age is proven to reduce obesity and related health problems.

Walking is one of the best and easiest ways to exercise. And it's free. All parents and carers are asked to walk their children safely to school either all or part of the way, on National Walk Safely to School Day because "Active Kids are Healthy Kids".

In addition to promoting health and well-being, Walk Safely to School Day aims to raise awareness of pedestrian safety for children — and also promotes environmentally-friendly transport

2009 marks the tenth successful anniversary of Walk Safely to School Day. The event is coordinated by the Pedestrian Council of Australia.

Walk Safely to School Day is sponsored by the Australian Government and supported by all State, Territory and Local Governments. It is also supported by the Heart Foundation, Cancer Council, Diabetes Australia, BeyondBlue and Planet Ark. We are also working with NewsLtd (who support us every year), Woolworths and renowned nutritionist, Rosemary Stanton.