Culture

Improved child protection measures
The Australian Government has appointed a specialist in child protection to investigate ways to improve information sharing within and between jurisdictions as part of its National Child Protection Framework. Ms Mary Ann O'Loughlin, who has extensive experience in the reform of child protection systems, will work with the states and territories to identify existing barriers to information sharing and ways these barriers can be overcome. Australian Labor Party, 19 August 2008.

Work life balance now an issue for students
High schools must offer flexible timetables allowing students to study part-time and allowing them more than two years to finish their Year 12 studies, to help students juggling work and study, an academic says. University of Western Sydney education professor Margaret Vickers will tell a national forum today that schools must throw out their old notions of study habits and recognise that two in three of their students also work. The Australian, 21 August 2008.

Online access in exams up to schools: Gillard
Individual schools should be allowed to decide whether internet access or other communication tools are appropriate for use by students during exams, federal Education Minister Julia Gillard said. Ms Gillard was responding to media reports that Sydney's Presbyterian Ladies' College was encouraging students to gather information from the internet, call a friend or access podcasts in exams. Australian IT, 20 August 2008.

School takes modern approach to student exams
Not long ago it would have been called cheating, but students at a Sydney girls' school are now being encouraged to take their phones, laptops and MP3s into exams and even phone a friend if they want help with a question. ABC News, 20 August 2008.

The web still nets a zero in HSC
Students in all schools should be taught and examined on how to identify credible sources on the internet, the national parents association said yesterday, amid debate over a trial at one Sydney girls' school of the use of mobile phones and the internet during examinations. Terry Aulich, the executive officer for the Australian Council of State School Organisations, said teaching students how to use the internet effectively should be included as a specific subject in the national curriculum. Sydney Morning Herald, 21 August 2008.

Language no barrier to counting
A new study suggests children do not need to know the words for numbers in order to be able to count, and that basic mathematical ability is hardwired in the human genome. ABC Science, 19 August 2008.

School teacher takes out Eureka prize
A Melbourne school teacher has taken out one of the major sections of the Australian Museum's Eureka prizes. ABC News, 19 August 2008.

More teachers recognised for Smart Classrooms
Queensland 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. Queensland Minister for Education and Training, 18 August 2008.

Children's Book of the Year Awards 2008: Winners announced
The winners of the 2008 Children's Book of the Year Awards have been announced. Children's Book Council of Australia, 15 August 2008.

Literacy, numeracy and now 'visuacy' for schools
A federal government report argues for visual education, or 'visuacy', to take its place alongside literacy and numeracy as a foundation skill in compulsory schooling. The Australian, 15 August 2008.