Australia's future using education technology

This review aims to take stock of the current users and providers of information and communications technology (ICT) in education and training in Australia.  It identifies emerging users, providers, educational approaches, and infrastructure and expertise required for effective use of ICT, with particular attention to: the education and training needs of Indigenous people; access for remote and regional Australians; and positioning Australians to access international markets in education and training including through private/public partnerships and other consortia.

Findings from the research revealed a great diversity of innovative initiatives as well as parallel and duplicated activity. Views about the future varied across education and training sectors, and there were great differences in perceptions and performance. The starkest differences were those between the high aspirations of central planners and the reality in the field, particularly in remote Australia and in Indigenous communities. There is a widespread receptiveness, energy and enthusiasm for national collaboration within and across the sectors to progress education and training issues. There is also agreement about the need for a national education and training e-learning framework, and the need for a national business framework for e-learning to enable Australian business to develop new learning applications and associated services. Other major issues for which whole-of-government collaborative solutions were sought were appropriate affordable bandwidth, copyright on publicly funded e-learning materials and standards to ensure that investment in online education and training could be widely used.

Recommendations centred around: mainstreaming digital technology into education policy; making the benefits of e-learning practically available to Indigenous students, New Apprentices and employees in remote Australia; and positioning Australia as a major player in the delivery of online learning.

Full report: download PDF    (3.6 MB, 357 pages)

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Executive summary: download RTF    (107.0 KB, 21 pages)

Executive summary: download PDF    (64.1 KB, 21 pages)

Part A: download PDF    (1.6 MB, 181 pages)

Part B: download PDF    (1.3 MB, 85 pages)

Part C: download PDF    (311.8 KB, 39 pages)

Appendices 1-6: download PDF    (435.4 KB, 46 pages)

Appendices 7-10: download PDF    (20.5 KB, 6 pages)