Leading the way with technology in schools
Published on 12 November, 2003
CQU Bundaberg is undertaking a district-wide program to assist in the development of the new technology curriculum for schools (grades 1-10).
The Executive Director Schools (BUNDABERG) Mr Denis James believes this model of curriculum leadership has application at a state and district level as districts explore new models of professional development for their workforces. The program, which started with a two-day workshop at CQU Bundaberg in October, will include staff from over twenty schools (a total of 43 teachers) across the district. Staff involved from the university’s Faculty of Education and Creative Arts include Associate Professors Ken Appleton (now retired) and Allan Harrison, from the Rockhampton Campus as well as John Hunt, Science & Technology Lecturer at the Bundaberg Campus.
The program will be carried out over two years with three days of workshops this year, two days next year, plus an additional 10-12 days of intensive mentoring in the schools.
One of the initiators, Jeff Hay, Principal of Avoca State School is extremely excited about the program. “This is the first foray into this type of professional development and implementation of a key learning area that has ever been tried in the Bundaberg district,” he stated. Mr Hay believes that the program will result in a group of highly trained teachers in a well-developed network that will be able to bring a coordinated approach to the Technology Key Learning Area (KLA).
As the syllabus only arrived in October , staff at Education Queensland are certainly not resting on their laurels.
“The hope is that if successful, we may be able to apply this format to two further KLA’s that are currently in draft form – Mathematics and English. Certainly we would then hope to see a further development of this partnership between Education Queensland and Central Queensland University,” Mr Hay added.
Staff at CQU are also excited with the opportunity to work closer with the Bundaberg district teachers. “We have already had an interest expressed by teachers in the Gladstone district to run a similar program,” said John Hunt, lecturer.
The program has been funded under the Commonwealth Quality Teaching Program with a $52,000 grant received by Education Queensland.
For more information, please contact John Hunt, Science & Technology Lecturer on 4150 7111, e-mail j.hunt@cqu.edu.au or Jeff Hay, Principal on 4153 1316, e-mail jhay142@eq.edu.au.