NSW Department of Education & Training Sydney Region NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way Schools, Technology and the Internet

NSW Department of Education & TrainingSydney Region

NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way www.sydneyr.det.nsw.edu.au

Schools, Technology and the Internet

Sylvania HS P & C, Term 1 2009



Greg Sharkey

Technology AdviserSydney Region

NSW DET



Digital Education Revolution• The Digital Education Revolution, a major part of

the Australian Government's Education Revolution, is a vital step in creating a world-class education system for Australia.

• The aim of the program is to contribute sustainable and meaningful change to teaching and learning in Australian schools that will prepare students for further education, training and to live and work in a digital world.

http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/DigitalEducationRevolution/FAQs/Pages/DERFrequentlyAskedQuestions.aspx



Digital Education Revolution• The Australian Government is investing funding of $2

billion to provide for: – Access to Computers for all students in Yr 9-12 (

National Secondary School Computer Fund).– Up to a 100mb fibre connection for Schools.– Teacher training in the use of ICT in the classroom.– Online curriculum tools and resources.– Support structures to support technology

http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/DigitalEducationRevolution/ComputerFund/Pages/NationalSecondarySchoolComputerFundOverview.aspx



Laptops 4 Learning• NSW DET has determined that the National

Secondary School Computer Fund will provide Netbook style devices to all Yr 9-12 students over 4 years.– 1st rollout to Yr 9 Students in Semester 2 2009– All permanent high school teachers to receive the

same laptop this year– Managed Wireless infrastructure to be installed in

every high school in NSW in two stages:– Teaching and Learning Resources to be provided



Why Laptops?

Desktops have been discounted because they require major infrastructure upgrades for which there are no funds:

◦ Network outlets◦ Power upgrades◦ Furniture / Available

space◦ Extra security

Laptops can be totally “untethered”

◦ Battery operated◦ Wireless Network

Connections◦ Dedicated desk space

is not required.◦ More flexible usage

Anywhere, anytime.



Laptops 4 Learning Device• Lenovo s10e IdeaPad

– 160GB HDD– 2GB RAM– Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth– 2 x USB 2.0 ports– VGA port – Audio in & out ports – Memory card reader – Wireless LAN & WAN – Inbuilt webcam – 10.2” WSVGA LCD screen



Laptops 4 Learning Device• Software:

– Windows XP– MS Office Pro 2007 (Word,

Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, Access, OneNote

– Adobe Photoshop Elements, Premier Elements, Flash Presenter, Captivate CS4



Laptops 4 Learning Device• Content Filtering: strong, hack resistant network locking or policy

based network filtering is included. • System Identification: the IdeaPad S10e includes Radio

Frequency Identification and Electronic call-home. • Theft Protection and Deterrence: the Lenovo IdeaPad S10e

features hack-resistant hardware level technologies to track and render stolen notebooks useless.

• Physical Security: physical security of the device is supported by tamper-proof screws and a Kensington lock slot on the device enables the option of security cables to secure the entire device.

• Secure Passwords: BIOS passwords help protect the system from changes which could impair the security of the device.



Digital Education Revolution• The official (rough) timeline is as follows:

May 09 - Rollout of wireless commencesMay 09 - Teacher professional learning startsMay 09 - Laptop devices trialledJun 09 - Stage 1 rollout of teacher laptopsAug 09 - Round 1 and Year 9 laptop rollout startsApr 10- Stage 2 of wireless completed

• 471 new support positions across NSW based in high schools expected to start in July 2009.



Students and the Internet



Students – Digital Natives• Today’s students have grown up not

knowing a world without the Internet.• Their world is always connected, ubiquitous,

instantaneous and multidirectional.• Today’s youth do not consume information

– they create it.• Technology is not PART of their world

– IT IS THEIR WORLD



Digital Natives• “These teens were born into a digital world

where they expect to be able to create, consume, re-mix, and share material with each other”– Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Internet and American Life Project

• “Digital Learners have sent and received over 200 000 emails or instant messages by the time they graduate from College.”• Prensky, M (2001) Digital Natives, Digital immigrants



The Internet has Changed



What was Web 1.0?

• When the Web started in the early 90’s only a select few could produce content for it:–People who could code in HTML–People who knew how to FTP–People who had access to (usually

paid for) webserver space• Many sites were produced full of static

content: one-way information• Known as the Information Super-Highway





What is Web 2.0?

• The term was first used late-2004:– A new wave of dynamic and totally interactive

websites – anyone can publish – the previous travellers of the information super-

highway could all suddenly become consultants to and constructors of it

– Web 2.0 sites and services are increasing the generation of content on the web exponentially, because everyone the ability to easily contribute, almost always for free.



What is Web 2.0?

With Web 2.0,not only can you create aprofessional-

looking websitewithout any

knowledge ofHTML, FTP,

Dreamweaver, FrontPage etc,

but…

…visitors to yoursite can add

their comments,links and can

also linkback toyour posts – making yourblog totallyinteractive.

You also havefull control overcomments that

are posted.



“YouTube and other video sharing sites have 100,000 new videos uploaded…every day.”

As atDecember 2006

source: http://web2.wsj2.com

Web 2.0

“myspace and other social blogging sites have 900,000 new blog posts

uploaded…every day.”

As atDecember 2006


“del.icio.us, digg and other social bookmark

sites have millions of new sites and tags

uploaded…every day.”

As atDecember 2006


Flickr

• Social Photo Sharing• Tag your photos• Discuss your photos• Blog your photos

Last.fm

• Tracks music you listen to

• Recommends other music based on your listening choices

• Connects you to other

people with similar tastes in music

• Blog about your musical tastes

See why students might find it all so attractive?

It gives them a

voice. An identity.

They are no longer just consumers.



Web 2.0: How the Internet Changed

Mitch OlsonOutsmart Labs



The Trouble With Web 2.0• Web 2.0 is outpacing (by far):

– Governments– Privacy and Copyright laws– Schools, Teachers and Parents

• Without any guidance, students are:– Publishing videos and photos– Writing articles on anonymous and identified blogs– Communicating with friends and strangers– Commenting on “Rate Your Teachers”– Changing Wikipedia entries



Anonymous Publishing Leads to:

• Cyber Bullying:– Bullying carried out through an Internet or Phone service

• Cyber Stalking:– Stalking or harassment by one person to another using Internet and

phone technologies

• Cyber Defamation:– Defamation which takes place with the help of the Internet. eg.

someone publishes defamatory material about someone else on a website, or sends e-mails containing defamatory notes to all of that person's friends.



Web 2.0 Issues in the Media

Source: SMH





Your Digital Footprint• Access to everything you’ve ever posted can

be just a Google search away• Content authored by people who post under

their real name are easily found• Content authored by people who post under a

pseudonym can also be easily found• Employers, police and others regularly search

for people’s “digital footprints” – think about what you post – it’s often a permanent record



Identity Theft• Identity crime is one of the fastest growing crimes

and has been referred to as “the crime of the new millennium”

• It is the crime of obtaining the personal or financial information of another person for the purpose of assuming a new identity

• It is an enabler for major crime including:– people smuggling, drug trafficking, terrorism and money laundering

• Mainly used for fraud and illegal financial gain• ID Fraud cost Australians $4 billion in 2001*

* Source: Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department



Internet Stranger Danger• When we were children, we were told about

“stranger danger” when outside• E-mail, instant messaging, social networking &

chat rooms brings “stranger danger” inside– only it’s capable of being a lot more sinister

• Hidden behind children’s language, a 50 year- old man can appear to be a 14 year-old girl

• In a recent study*, 40% of children who chat on-line said they were contacted by a stranger

* Wallis Consulting Group – July 2007



Internet Stranger Danger• An online-groomer is a person who hides

behind the anonymity of the Internet to contact a child with the intent to establish a sexual relationship:– Either cybersex or physical sex

• Children need to be educated about the methods used by groomers

• Parents need to build the confidence in students to speak up if they are uncomfortable with something they encounter on the Internet



Issues Children Faced Online

Research indicates that the likelihood of children having negative online experiences increases

with their age



Internet Access DifferencesSchool

• Internet Acceptable Use Policy– Student Welfare and Discipline

• Student Supervision by staff

• Teaching Internet Awareness• Providing a Safer Environment

– Authenticated Internet Access– Website access Logs / Reporting– Age-appropriate Website Filtering– Global Website Filtering– Anti-virus / Anti-Spyware– No unauthorised Instant Messaging– Email Filter for inappropriate

language

Home

• Are there Home use guidelines?– What are they?

• Do you Supervise access?– Where is the Internet accessible?

• Do you discuss Internet Safety?• What is accessible from Home?

– Do you know what your children use the Internet for?

– Does your ISP offer filtered access?– Do you use a local content filter?– Do you have up to date Anti-virus

and Anti-spyware software?– Do you know who your children

communicate with?



The Trouble with Web 2.0 and Schools

• Most high-school students have a mobile phone with a camera

• It takes minutes to upload videos taken in the playground and in class

• YouTube has minefields of:– Teenagers damaging property and themselves (Jackass-

style)– Playing pranks and bullying– Schoolyard fights– Teachers out of control (all PhoneCams)



What Authorities Should Do

• Governments and Laws are ill-equipped to manage the problems of Web 2.0:– What if the poster is a minor? – What if the service is hosted in another country? – What lesson will be learnt by the poster if the only

repercussions are that the offending post will be removed - sometime after it has been found and reported?

• Appropriate, enforceable guidelines and laws are needed



What Carers Should Do

• Avoid placing Internet-access computers in child bedrooms or private spaces

• Set acceptable-use guidelines for all at home• Reinforce the core family values of respect, sharing,

communication• Take an interest in what they do and get them to talk

about their on-line “friends”• Find the right balance between caring and being

over-bearing



What Students Should Do

• It’s GREAT to have an on-line identity–BUT:– You have to be aware of the risks– It’s safer to keep your MySpace/Blog set as Private

(invitation only) rather than Public (globally visible)

• Carefully consider WHAT you publish on-line. – What may look and sound hilarious now may not in years

to come

• Prospective employers now regularly check for employee “on-line lives”



What Everyone Should Do

• Keep your private stuff private• Keep all your passwords secure

– No-one should know your passwords

• Think about possible repercussions BEFORE posting anything on the Internet

• Read the screen before you agree to something by clicking OK

• The Internet is a fact of life now. At least try to keep up with it



Internet Safety Resources

• NetAlert – Australian Government– http://www.netalert.gov.au– Free filter software and advice (highly recommended)

• NSW DET Sydney Region Internet Safety– http://www.sydneyr.det.nsw.edu.au/internetsafety– Access this presentation and links to other sites

• Cyber Smart Kids– http://cybersmartkids.com.au – Smart net surfing for kids and their grown-ups

http://www.netalert.gov.au/

http://www.sydneyr.det.nsw.edu.au/internetsafety

http://cybersmartkids.com.au/



School 1.0 : What Schools Currently Do

• The traditional classroom operates around anchors:– Desks anchor students– the front of the classroom anchors the teacher– Textbooks anchor the content– the walls anchor the relics of what was learned and is to

be learned – Grades anchor our children’s attention– Teaching the same thing, the same way, year after year

anchors our understanding of being a teacher.

education technology pioneer, David Warlick



Let’s Shed the Anchors

• “Today’s children, the Millennials, enjoy and flourish in an information landscape that would have been unimaginable when most of us were in school. And it dwarfs, by comparison the experiences they have in their classrooms. Their information experience puts them in control, gives them information that becomes a raw material for new information experiences. It connects them to wings instead of to anchors.”




The Difference with School 2.0

• “The education that we received was defined by limits. Its rules and roles were confined to what could happen inside the four walls of a classroom and the two covers of a text book.

The education that our children and our future deserve, must be defined by its lack of limits.”




Thank you

Any Questions?

Documents

NSW Department of Education & Training Sydney Region NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way Schools, Technology and the Internet