A new advisory group of leading education and IT experts has been established to provide the Australian Government with advice on the next steps towards transforming teaching and learning through technology, School Education Minister Peter Garrett said today.

Speaking at the 2011 Australasian Association of Distance Education Schools National Conference in Hobart, Mr Garrett said the Digital Education Advisory Group will be a valuable source of advice on the latest ICT developments and their use in the schoolroom.

The group will help build on the Australian Government’s achievements in digital education through the $2.4 billion Digital Education Revolution.

“The new advisory group will be chaired by the highly respected eLearning expert and Vice-Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Equity at the University of Technology Sydney, Professor Shirley Alexander,” Mr Garrett said.

“Professor Alexander is a senior academic widely respected for her expertise in ICT, eLearning and the use of multimedia in teaching and learning.

“I am pleased that Professor Alexander has agreed to take on this key advisory role, with a particular focus on how best to support the new Australian Curriculum online.

“Other members of the group are education and industry experts with strong records in the innovative, world-class use of ICT in education and I am looking forward to the first meeting next month.

“The Gillard Government’s record investment in school education has a strong focus on using the latest technology to make sure that all students, no matter where they live, get the best education possible.

“Digital education is particularly important for remote schools and so I was particularly pleased to be make this announcement at the distance education conference in Hobart today.”

As well as providing computers for Australian schools, the Australian Government is delivering digital learning resources, online diagnostic tools and professional development for teachers to support the new Australian Curriculum.

Mr Garrett said the National Secondary School Computer Fund is a major part of this Australian Government funding commitment.

The fund is providing new computers and other ICT devices for all students in Years 9 to 12 across Australia, as well as the infrastructure necessary to achieve a computer to student ration of 1:1 for students in these years by the end of 2011.

The members of the Digital Education Advisory Group are listed below.

Membership - Digital Education Advisory Group

• Chair: Professor Shirley Alexander, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Technology Sydney
• Mr David Barnett, Chief Executive Officer, Pearson Australia
• Dr Richard Eden, Associate Director-General, Department of Education and Training, Queensland
• Mr Tony Mackay, Chair, Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, and Deputy Chair, Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
• Ms Susan Mann, Chief Executive Officer, Education Services Australia
• Dr Michelle Selinger, Director, Education Practice, Cisco Systems
• Mr Greg Whitby, Executive Director, Schools, Diocese of Parramatta, and
• An Australian Government representative, to be determined.