‘Connected classrooms’ create more issues for teachers

By Bob Lipscombe

The State Government's election commitment to the expenditure of an additional $158 million on technology in schools over the next four years, while welcome in many ways, nevertheless adds to the continuing concerns regarding the Department of Education and Training's (DET's) failure to effectively support the use of computer technology.

The election announcement, labelled "Connected Classrooms", provides funding for significant enhancements including a connected classrooms package of interactive whiteboard, camera and projector for every school to allow them to connect with other schools and experts, conduct on-line field trips, and access early intervention services for parents and communities in remote areas. Students will be able to access "cutting edge technology that allows individual students regardless of their location to view demonstrations by experts, work on projects together or attend specialist lessons, all from their computer". Parents will "access their kids' reports, reminders about key dates such as exams, parent teacher nights and excursions and [have] electronic contact with their child's teacher". To facilitate this, the current 2 megabit internet broadband bandwidth available to schools will be increased to 10 megabits where technically feasible. The announcement, however, left questions relating to technical support, professional development and teacher workload unanswered.

The only reference to technical support is that the Iemma Government will "continue to deliver, over the next four years...improved technical support to schools, teachers and students". As far as professional development of teachers is concerned, the only reference is to the new technology, "Allowing access to online professional learning and curriculum materials for teachers." The announcement also made no reference to any time allowance for teachers that may be needed to support the effective use of the technology.

The issues arising from the Government's election announcement, of course, add to those already occupying the time of teachers in schools and being actively pursued by the union. Federation acknowledges that there has been significant improvement in many of the problem areas identified in the November decision of the Federation Council on technology in schools. The DET's Authenticated Browsing and Email service has now been rolled out to almost all schools and that there has been significant improvement to the system in recent months. These improvements relate to access speed to the internet, password requirements, less-restrictive web filtering and access to curriculum-appropriate websites, access to Google Image Search, access for Macintosh computers and 24-hour access to the DET helpdesk. Nevertheless, difficulties with the existing system continue to be experienced in a significant number of schools and require action by both the Minister and the DET. These difficulties include:

• inequality of access to computers for staff and students, including appropriate access for particular courses of study
• the adequacy of school infrastructure such as cabling, capacity of the electricity supply and the provision of space to allow the use of computers in an effective and occupational health and safety (OH&S) compliant manner
• inadequate global budget funding for technology
• the inadequacy of school infrastructure such as cabling, electricity supply and the provision of space to allow the use of computers in an effective and OH&S compliant manner
• password difficulties, particularly for younger students
• appropriate and accessible professional development for teachers
• reliability of the service
• inadequate technical support.

Teachers and students are entitled to access up-to-date, efficient, reliable and effective computer software, technology, email and internet services, with proper technical support, appropriate professional development and time. These entitlements arise from the demands of modern pedagogy and curricula. Federation will continue to pursue these entitlements with the Minister and DET.

Bob Lipscombe is the Senior Vice President.

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Last Modified: 29 Mar 2007