Future school on the net
The software developer Future School has created an online learning system that is tailored to the curriculum of each Australian state, with a database to keep students’ results so parents can watch their progress.
Students can study mathematics, English grammar and English as a second language on the web at home, with each subject related to what they are learning in class. Future School is also negotiating with TAFE Global to provide vocational learning online. But the big advantages of online learning are its flexibility and reach. Students must download a Future School programme before being able to access lessons on the website (www.futureschool.com.au). The lessons include video tutorials and animation to help them understand
topic areas. The students can then test themselves with online quizzes and get their marks immediately, letting them and their parents know how well they grasp the concepts. The project would be implemented promptly on the finalisation of the ICT system under establishment at woreda levels. The college has also been working with the Britishbased Open University to standardise its diploma programmes in the fields of law, accounting and administration during the past three years.
US president says learn math, else Indians will take the job
Learn your math or watch your job go to China or India. With this modern US version of the Indian parents’ nighttime admonition to sleepless kids about Gabbar Singh, president Bush cranked up a new math initiative in US schools to try and retain US leadership in science and technology. The US president has increasingly invoked competition from India and China to bestir the American public on issues ranging from energy to education. Urging students to study
math and science because they were “cool subjects”, Bush announced the etting up of a National Math Panel which would determine best practices for teaching math in the nation’s schools. He also proposed to double federal spending on basic research, piquing student interest by pointing out that both the Internet and iPod were products of government investment in research. Bush’s
Demand for computer skills drives low-cost blended
learning solutions Today’s businesses need their staff to be IT literate to compete effectively. This pressing need has led to increased demand by companies for IT competency standards such as ECDL (the European Computer
Driving Licence), which tests allround IT knowledge for business applications. This drive for IT standards has prompted gtslearning to develop a complete blendedlearning solution for its ECDL portfolio. This new initiative has been
conceived to help educators costeffectively deliver large scale training programmes. Gtslearning, a London-based education solutions provider, has announced the launch of a new blended-learning solution for ECDL study using Microsoft Office 2003, XP or 2000.
Distance education through video conferencing in Ethiopia
The Ethiopian Civil Service College of Ethiopia is working with the World Bank and other relevant international institutions to upgrade the distance education
with the help of video conferencing and Internet, besides the traditional means of utilising books and papers. initiatives stems from recent studies that paint a grim picture of declining US competitiveness in the face of the rising number of science and engineering graduates from China and India.
South Africa: Primary school learners get technologically wise Mindset
Cabanga (Cabanga is the isiZulu word for “think”) is launched by education minister Naledi Pandor, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Mindset Network in Diepsloot, Johannesburg. Through this project, each school will receive a computer, television set and a satellite dish so that they can access the curriculum-aligned lessons and educator support content. The equipment allows the content to be used on-demand at the educator’s convenience and the various lessons, videos and print content can be replenished and remotely updated via satellite. Mindset Network is a satellite television network that tackles key educational and healthcare challenges. It broadcasts at various times to suit schools and allows for home viewing. It targets grades 10-12 learners and teachers, and places an emphasis on Maths, Science and English.
Global Gateway portal
Qatar’s Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) and the British Council have kicked off the Global Gateway Project (GGP) with local schools. GGP, described as a one-stop free-ofcharge shop for international educational activities, aims to develop and strengthen international educational partnerships between educational organisations around the world. The Global Gateway portal is developed, funded, and directed by the British Department for Education and Skills and operated worldwide by the British Council. In collaboration with ictQATAR, British Council is to hold workshops, in Doha for teachers from Independent Schools,
covering all the available tools within the GGP.
Learning Danish online
Denmark’s Ministry of Refugees, Immigration and Integration Affairs has developed and launched a comprehensive online Danish course. In cooperation with the Dansk e-Learning Center, Denmark’s Ministry of Refugees, Immigration and Integration Affairs has developed and launched a comprehensive online Danish course at http://www. danskabc.dk. DanskABC is an online language learning tool for students worldwide and besides Danish language schools, many companies, private individuals, elementary schools and prisons are already using DanskABC.dk.
DAA launches new online learning programme
Dubai American Academy has launched a new online learning program through Virtual High School. DAA will expand the student’s 21st century learning skills by offering their studentsaccess to over 200 online courses to obtain credits, to get ahead or simply to learn about a subject that interests them. This new programme is made possible by a partnership with Virtual High School (www.goVHS.org), the pioneer of online learning for high school students and online course design and instruction for teachers. Students can access the courses from the school terminals or from any other Internet connection at their convenience, and a dedicated site coordinator, Amy Smith – also the IT Director, will act as a liaison between students, teachers and VHS assuming the position of VHS Coordinator.
New Spanish localisation portal for English / Spanish translators
Spanish localisation leader, Trusted Translations, Inc., announced the launch of a new portal for English – Spanish translators containing free English – Spanish localisation resources, including accounting and financial English / Spanish dictionaries and other critical translation tools. First South African schools get connected to a new world of learning Two secondary schools have become the first in South Africa to join an electronic network of 24
African schools with access to worldclass learning material.
Ipetleng Secondary School in Free State and Thozamisa Secondary School in Eastern Cape have been connected by the Oracle Consortium under the e-Schools initiative, supported by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad). The initiative is designed to upgrade all of Africa’s secondary schools over the next 10 years by providing them with information and communications technology hardware, software and content, and by training teachers to use the new facilities
