More teachers recognised for Smart Classrooms

Queensland state school teachers using innovative Information Communication Technology (ICT) teaching practices were recognised tonight.

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the number and quality of nominations in this year’s Smart Classrooms Teacher Awards reflected a significant step up in ICT practice.

“There were 172 nominations, resulting in 92 applications, with 12 teachers selected from throughout the state to share $60,000 in industry-sponsored professional development,” Mr Welford said.

“Nominated teachers had to apply for the award through a digital portfolio demonstrating how they made ICT integral to the classroom to improve student learning.

“The winning entries include individualised digital content for disabled students, soundscapes embedded in art imagery, a statewide online poetry competition, virtual performance for drama students and development of a software-based recording studio.

“The winning teachers work across all school levels from Prep to special and vocational education and in locations from south-east Queensland’s new academies to Indigenous communities in far-north Queensland.

“The entries demonstrate the use of eLearning spaces to give students access anywhere, any time to classroom learning and opportunities to use new web technologies to communicate and collaborate locally, nationally and globally.”

Mr Welford said the State Government was a recognised world leader in digital education through its support for teachers to help them integrate technology into the curriculum.

“In the 2008-09 State Budget more than $100 million was allocated for further Smart Classrooms initiatives,” he said.

Award winners will attend the eLearning Innovation Expo tomorrow (19 August) and specifically tailored professional development Master Classes on 20 and 21 August.

The winning teachers each receive professional development in their field. The industry sponsors are Adobe, Blackboard, Cisco, Citec, Computer Corp, Data 3, Direct National, IBM, Microsoft, Oakton, Videopro and WebCentral.

A list of award winners follows.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000

18 August 2008

Smart Classroom Teacher Award Winners

Central Queensland:
Leanne Paxton, Gracemere State School

Darling Downs:
Kay Denning, Hannaford State School and Heather Thomson, Wilsonton State School

Far North Queensland:
Philip Van Heusden, Northern Peninsula Area College Bamaga Campus

Greater Brisbane:
Glenda Hobdell, Queensland Academy for Creative Industries and Katherine Johns, Redland District Special School

Mackay Whitsunday:
Susan Cumming, Victoria Park State School

South Coast:
David Green, Arundel State School and Rosalie Everest, Queensland Academy for Health Sciences

Sunshine Coast:
Nicole Mobbs, Chancellor State College and Linda Pilkington, Sunshine Beach State School

Wide Bay Burnett:
Jesseca Oram, Aldridge State High School