SUNSHINE COAST COLLEGE INVITED TO JOIN ELITE MICROSOFT PROGRAM

A Sunshine Coast state school is the only Australian school to be included as a leader in an elite international information technology program for schools.

Education and Training Minister, Rod Welford, announced today that Chancellor State College, at Sippy Downs, is one of six schools worldwide invited to be mentors and showcase schools in Microsoft’s Innovative Schools Program.

“This is recognition of the Beattie Government’s farsightedness in bringing technology into the classroom through digital teaching and learning initiatives,” Mr Welford said.

“The Innovative Schools Program aims to develop a small group of ‘schools of the future’ around the world which are leaders in education research and development through the use of technology.

“Chancellor State College will join five others in Singapore, the United States, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and Canada as mentors and showcase schools.

“Microsoft’s invitation shows the College has raised the bar in integrating ICT into everyday teaching and learning.”

Chancellor College works in a partnership with Education Queensland’s ICT Learning Innovation Centre, on the SunshineCoast, to test new technologies for the classroom.

The school’s approach of weaving IT into all aspects of teaching and learning from Prep to Year 12, and its role as one of six Queensland ICT Gateway Schools working with industry to prepare students for careers in ICT were also factors that led to Chancellor being chosen.

“The college will mentor other schools in the program that want to develop into innovative schools, sharing advice, experience and guidance,” Mr Welford said.

“For example, Chancellor will participate in meetings, forums and summits and in web link-ups with these schools.

“It will also act as a role model, sharing ideas with other schools in Australia and the rest of the world that want to incorporate ICT into everyday teaching and learning.”

College representatives are this week attending the first Innovative Schools meeting at Microsoft headquarters at Redmond, Washington, in the United States.

Media contact: Greg Milne or Marnie Stitz on 32371000