http://www.deet.gov.au/edna/aiiaspch.htm

[Eric Wainwright]

> TOWARDS A NATIONAL EDUCATION NETWORK
> 
> ADDRESS TO AIIA CANBERRA MANAGERS FORUM - 14 JUNE 1995
> 
> WAYNE GIBBONS
> 
> DEPUTY SECRETARY
> 
> DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING
> 
> THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TO ADDRESS
> THIS MEETING OF THE AIIA CANBERRA MANAGERS FORUM
> 
> THE MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING, THE HON SIMON
> CREAN, RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A MAJOR INITIATIVE IN THE USE OF INFORMATION
> TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION - THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL EDUCATION
> NETWORK, TO BE KNOWN AS EDUCATION NETWORK AUSTRALIA.
> 
> SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR MR CREAN SPEAKING
> ABOUT THE EDNA INITIATIVE AT THE CONFERENCE ON 'THE INFORMATION
> SUPERHIGHWAY AND THE NATION'S SCHOOLS' HELD IN SYDNEY LAST FRIDAY.
> MOST WILL HAVE SEEN AT LEAST SOME COMMENTARY IN BOTH THE GENERAL AND
> THE SPECIALIST PRESS.
> 
> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO TODAY IS TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND
> INFORMATION ON THE EDNA INITIATIVE WHICH WILL, I HOPE, GIVE YOU A
> CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT THE INITIATIVE IS AND IS NOT ABOUT - AND THE KEY
> ROLE WHICH YOUR INDUSTRY CAN PLAY IN THE INITIATIVE.
> 
> FIRST IT MAY BE USEFUL TO PLACE THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF WIDER
> GOVERNMENT POLICY ON THE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
> 
> THERE IS NO DOUBTING THE CENTRAL IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
> ISSUES. INFORMATION WILL FORM THE BASIS OF THE GROWTH INDUSTRIES OF
> THE FUTURE - THE SO CALLED KNOWLEDGE BASED INDUSTRIES WHICH WILL
> PROVIDE MOST OF THE EMPLOYMENT AND GENERATE MUCH OF THE WEALTH IN OUR
> SOCIETY. AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS, BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE, MUST ADOPT
> POLICIES WHICH ENSURE THAT AUSTRALIA IS ABLE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF
> THE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY THE KNOWLEDGE REVOLUTION.
> 
> THE REPORT COMMISSIONED BY THE MINISTER FOR FINANCE, CLIENTS FIRST ,
> SETS OUT SOME KEY ELEMENTS OF THE APPROACH WHICH GOVERNMENT
> DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS DEET SHOULD ADOPT IN DEALING WITH INFORMATION
> POLICY.
> 
> IN PARTICULAR THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED TO ADOPT A STRATEGIC
> APPROACH TO THE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO ACHIEVE GOVERNMENT
> OBJECTIVES. IT ALSO STRESSES THE NEED TO STRUCTURE INITIATIVES SO THAT
> THE PRINCIPLES OF CONTESTABILITY AND OUTSOURCING CAN BE EFFICIENTLY
> APPLIED TO ENSURE THAT SOLUTIONS REFLECT THE BEST ADVICE AND INPUT
> FROM INDUSTRY SOURCES.
> 
> THE EDNA INITIATIVE REPRESENTS, IN MANY WAYS, A PRACTICAL APPLICATION
> OF THESE PRINCIPLES TO A SPECIFIC POLICY ISSUE - PROMOTING THE
> EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION. IN
> PARTICULAR WE ARE SEEKING TO DEVELOP A COOPERATIVE STRUCTURE WHERE THE
> ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IS LIMITED TO SETTING GENERAL POLICY PARAMETERS
> WITHIN WHICH INDUSTRY CAN INNOVATE AND OFFER COMPETITIVE AND EFFECTIVE
> SOLUTIONS TO THE NEEDS OF AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION SYSTEMS.
> 
> THE EDNA INITIATIVE IS NOT ABOUT GOVERNMENTS BUILDING AND OPERATING
> COMPUTER NETWORKS. NOR IS IT ABOUT THE COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT
> DEVELOPING SOME MASTER PLAN FOR THE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN
> EDUCATION AND IMPOSING ITS VISION ON OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND ON THE
> INDUSTRY.
> 
> WHAT THIS INITIATIVE IS ABOUT IS COOPERATION. IT IS ABOUT DEVELOPING A
> SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, PARTICULARLY
> INTERACTIVE COMPUTER NETWORKING, CAN OFFER EDUCATION, WHAT THE VARIOUS
> EDUCATION SECTORS NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BENEFITS OFFERED BY THIS
> TECHNOLOGY AND HOW THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY CAN MOST
> EFFICIENTLY MEET THOSE NEEDS.
> 
> AT PRESENT EDUCATIONAL USE OF INTERACTIVE COMPUTER NETWORKING IS
> RELATIVELY LIMITED. THE HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR MAKES THE MOST
> EXTENSIVE USE OF THE TECHNOLOGY. COMPUTERS WITHIN AUSTRALIAN
> UNIVERSITIES ARE LINKED TO EACH OTHER THROUGH LOCAL NETWORKS AND TO
> NETWORKS IN OTHER INSTITUTIONS THROUGH THE AUSTRALIAN ACADEMIC AND
> RESEARCH NETWORK (AARNET). THEY ARE FURTHER LINKED TO NETWORKS IN
> OTHER COUNTRIES THROUGH THE INTERNET.
> 
> USE OF INTERACTIVE NETWORKING IS MUCH LESS EXTENSIVE OUTSIDE
> UNIVERSITIES. SOME TAFE SYSTEMS ARE BEGINNING TO MAKE USE OF THE
> TECHNOLOGY FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION. SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE IN
> THE EARLY STAGES OF EXPERIMENTING WITH THE POSSIBILITIES OFFERED BY
> NETWORKING.
> 
> EVEN IN UNIVERSITIES RELATIVELY LITTLE USE IS MADE OF INTERACTIVE
> NETWORKS AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL RATHER THAN AS A RESEARCH TOOL.
> 
> A CHARACTERISTIC WHICH IS COMMON TO MANY CURRENT INITIATIVES IN
> APPLYING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO EDUCATION IS THEIR ISOLATION FROM
> EACH OTHER. AROUND AUSTRALIA, A WIDE RANGE OF GROUPS ARE CONFRONTING
> EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUES -GETTING ADEQUATE COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS,
> NEGOTIATING COMMUNICATIONS TARIFFS, DESIGNING CONTENT AND PURCHASING
> COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE.
> 
> THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT MANY BENEFITS WILL FLOW FROM THE CURRENT
> FERMENT OF ACTIVITY, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF THE CREATIVITY AND
> INNOVATION WHICH HAS BEEN UNLEASHED. HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO CLEAR THAT
> THERE IS ALSO A GREAT DEAL OF DUPLICATION OF EFFORT AND REINVENTION OF
> THE WHEEL GOING ON. DOWN THE TRACK THERE ARE RISKS THAT KEY PLAYERS
> WILL BEGIN TO LOCK THEMSELVES INTO MUTUALLY INCOMPATIBLE APPROACHES.
> 
> THERE IS ALSO THE ISSUE OF COST. MOST OF THE ACTIVITIES BEING
> UNDERTAKEN ARE, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, PUBLICLY FUNDED. THE TAXPAYER
> IS UNLIKELY TO GET GOOD VALUE FOR HIS OR HER DOLLAR WHEN, FOR EXAMPLE,
> INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS ARE BUYING COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AT RETAIL PRICES AND
> PAYING FOR STUDENTS' NETWORK ACCESS ON A INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIBER BASIS.
> 
> WHAT THE COMMONWEALTH IS PROPOSING IS AN APPROACH WHICH WILL OFFER
> BETTER OVERALL NATIONAL COORDINATION OF EFFORT, WITHOUT LOSING THE
> BENEFITS OF LOCAL INNOVATION.
> 
> A KEY ELEMENT IN THE COMMONWEALTH'S THINKING ON THIS ISSUE IS THAT
> GOVERNMENTS DO NOT NEED TO OWN OR OPERATE THE NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE
> WHICH DELIVERS INTERACTIVE SERVICES TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
> GOVERNMENT INTERESTS ARE BETTER SERVED BY ENSURING THAT THERE IS A
> COMPETITIVE MARKET PLACE FOR THE PROVISION OF NETWORK SERVICES AND BY
> BUYING THE SERVICES WHICH IT NEEDS IN THAT MARKETPLACE.
> 
> THE EDNA INITIATIVE IS ABOUT GOVERNMENTS COOPERATING IN THOSE AREAS
> WHERE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THROUGH EDNA, THE COMMONWEALTH WANTS
> TO FOCUS THE ATTENTION OF ALL EDUCATION SECTORS, IN ALL STATES AND
> TERRITORIES, ON THE IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION NETWORKING IN EDUCATION
> 
> - AND ON THE BENEFITS WHICH CAN FLOW FROM A COORDINATED APPROACH TO
> THE ISSUE.
> 
> THE EDNA INITIATIVE WAS CONSIDERED BY ALL STATE AND TERRITORY
> MINISTERS FOR EDUCATION AT THE MEETING OF THE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL ON
> EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND YOUTH AFFAIRS HELD ON 26 MAY 1995.
> 
> MINISTERS ENDORSED THE PROPOSAL FOR A NATIONAL EDUCATION NETWORK AND
> AGREED ON CONSULTATIVE PROCESSES TO DEVELOP A COMMON APPROACH TO THREE
> KEY ISSUES OF:
> 
>      REDUCING THE COST OF ACCESSING INFORMATION NETWORK SERVICES AND
>      ACHIEVING EQUAL ACCESS ACROSS AUSTRALIA
>      CREATING STRUCTURES WHICH WILL COORDINATE AND ENCOURAGE THE
>      DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF AUSTRALIAN EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTS
>      AND SERVICES
>      MAKING THE MOST EFFICIENT USE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY WHEN PURCHASING
>      COMPUTER EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
> 
> I WOULD LIKE TO SET OUT HOW THESE CONSULTATIVE PROCESSES WILL WORK AND
> OUTLINE THE KEY ISSUES THEY WILL ADDRESS.
> 
> IN THE AREA OF NETWORK SERVICES IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT THE
> COMMONWEALTH WILL NEGOTIATE WITH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS AND WITH
> COMPUTER NETWORK PROVIDERS TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR
> EDUCATION SERVICES.
> 
> IN ORDER TO UNDERTAKE NEGOTIATIONS WITH POTENTIAL SUPPLIERS, THE
> COMMONWEALTH WILL NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS AND PRIORITIES OF THE
> EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS WHICH WILL USE A NATIONAL EDUCATION NETWORK
> SERVICE.
> 
> IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT, OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS THE COMMONWEALTH
> SHOULD CONSULT WITH ALL EDUCATION SYSTEMS, IN ALL EDUCATION SECTORS,
> TO DETERMINE AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE WHAT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THEY
> NEED FROM AN EDUCATION NETWORK, INCLUDING WHAT KINDS OF FUNCTIONS THEY
> WOULD WANT TO SEE IN A NETWORK SERVICE
> 
> ISSUES WHICH WILL COME ARE LIKELY TO INCLUDE WHETHER OR NOT SERVICES
> SUCH AS CONTROL OF INDIVIDUAL ACCESS TO PARTICULAR SUBJECT MATTER
> GROUPINGS OR SECURE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN USERS ARE IMPORTANT TO A
> PARTICULAR SYSTEMS.
> 
> A SMALL WORKING GROUP IS TO BE ESTABLISHED TO WORK WITH THE
> COMMONWEALTH IN THIS PROCESS OF CONSULTATION AND INVESTIGATION. THE
> WORKING GROUP WILL CONSIST OF FOUR PERSONS, AN EXPERT FROM THE STATE
> SCHOOLS SECTOR, AN EXPERT FROM THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING
> SECTOR, AN EXPERT FROM THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS SECTOR AND AN EXPERT
> FROM THE HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR.
> 
> THE CONSULTATION PROCESS WILL ALSO NEED TO ADDRESS ISSUES SUCH AS THE
> LEVEL OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS (INCLUDING BANDWIDTH) REQUIRED,
> BOTH FOR INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS, AND THE KINDS OF PRICING
> STRUCTURES CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO MAKE USAGE OF AN EDUCATIONAL
> NETWORK FEASIBLE AND ATTRACTIVE.
> 
> IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT AT LEAST ONE RESULT OF THIS PROCESS WILL BE A
> VERY STRONG INSISTENCE THAT ANY NATIONAL SERVICE MUST OFFER ACCESS TO
> AT LEAST ISDN BANDWIDTH TO INSTITUTIONAL USERS REGARDLESS OF
> GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION. IT IS ALSO VERY LIKELY THAT MANY SCHOOLS AND
> SCHOOL SYSTEMS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IF CURRENT ISDN USAGE
> CHARGING REGIMES REMAIN IN PLACE.
> 
> THE OBJECTIVE OF THE NETWORK CONSULTATION PROCESS WILL BE TO DEVELOP A
> FULL DEFINITION OF THE OVERALL 'BUSINESS REQUIREMENT' OF A NATIONAL
> EDUCATION NETWORK. THIS BUSINESS REQUIREMENT WILL FORM THE BASIS FOR A
> TENDER WHICH WILL INVITE THE COMMUNICATIONS AND COMPUTER SERVICE
> INDUSTRY TO INDICATE HOW IT COULD DELIVER THE SERVICES REQUIRED BY THE
> USERS OF A NATIONAL EDUCATION NETWORK.
> 
> IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THIS BUSINESS REQUIREMENT PROPERLY REFLECTS
> THE NEEDS OF EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS, A REFERENCE GROUP IS TO BE
> ESTABLISHED WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SCHOOLS AND VOCATIONAL
> EDUCATION AND TRAINING (VET) SECTORS IN ALL STATES AND TERRITORIES AND
> FROM THE HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR. THIS REFERENCE GROUP WILL BE
> RESPONSIBLE FOR CERTIFYING THAT THE DESCRIPTION OF THE NETWORK
> BUSINESS REQUIREMENT DEVELOPED BY THE COMMONWEALTH, PROPERLY REFLECTS
> SYSTEMS NEEDS.
> 
> ON THE ISSUE OF THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO BE CARRIED ON A NATIONAL
> EDUCATION NETWORK, IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT A GOVERNING BODY FOR EDNA
> SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED WITH THE FUNCTIONS OF:
> 
>      MANAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS
>      FOR THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES ON EDNA BY
>           SETTING GUIDELINES ON THE KINDS OF MATERIAL WHICH COULD BE
>           CARRIED ON THE NETWORK (FOR EXAMPLE, PROHIBITION OF
>           PORNOGRAPHY AND SETTING GENERAL QUALITY STANDARDS)
>           ESTABLISHING RULES ON CARRIAGE OF COMMERCIAL MATERIAL;
>           ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR ACCESS BY PRODUCT PROVIDERS;
>      ENCOURAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRODUCT AND SERVICES, TAKING INTO
>      ACCOUNT THE STANDARDS WHICH HAVE BEEN SET
>      DEFINING, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE EDUCATION SECTOR, THEIR
>      FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS FROM ANY ON-LINE SERVICE TO ENSURE THAT
>      THEIR REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING MET; AND
>      COMMUNICATING THESE USER NEEDS TO THE PROVIDER OR PROVIDERS OF
>      NETWORK SERVICES.
> 
> THE GOVERNING BODY OF EDNA WILL BE BASED ON THE OPEN LEARNING
> TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION (OLTC).
> 
> OLTC IS A COMPANY OWNED BY COMMONWEALTH, STATE AND TERRITORY MINISTERS
> FOR EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, TRAINING AND YOUTH AFFAIRS. IT WAS
> ESTABLISHED IN 1991 TO PROMOTE COST EFFECTIVE, HIGH QUALITY AND
> EQUITABLE USES OF EDUCATION COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED OPEN LEARNING
> TECHNIQUES AMONGST ALL EDUCATION AND TRAINING SECTORS.
> 
> THE BOARD OF THE OLTC WILL BE COMMISSIONED TO DEVELOP DETAILED
> PROPOSALS FOR CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURE AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF
> THE COMPANY NECESSARY TO ENABLE TO UNDERTAKE THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNING
> BODY OF EDNA.
> 
> ON THE ISSUE OF PURCHASE OF WHAT MAY BE TERMED 'RECEPTION
> INFRASTRUCTURE', IT HAS BEEN AGREED THAT A JOINT COMMONWEALTH/STATE
> WORKING PARTY SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO DEVELOP SPECIFICATIONS FOR A
> COMBINED TENDER FOR PURCHASE OF RECEPTION INFRASTRUCTURE. THE WORKING
> PARTY IS EXPECTED TO COMPLETE ITS WORK BY SEPTEMBER 1995.
> 
> THE EDNA INITIATIVE OFFERS MAJOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE INFORMATION
> INDUSTRY. AS I HAVE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE LOOKING TO THE
> INDUSTRY TO COME UP WITH INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUES WHICH WILL
> BE IDENTIFIED IN THE NATIONAL EDUCATION NETWORK BUSINESS REQUIREMENT.
> 
> BUT THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE EDNA
> INITIATIVE IS TO PROMOTE THE USE OF INTERACTIVE COMPUTER NETWORKING IN
> ALL AREAS OF AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION. IT WILL ACHIEVE THIS BY IMPROVING
> COORDINATION OF EFFORT, ENGENDERING A SENSE OF SHARED DIRECTION AND
> CREATING A CLEARLY DEFINED MARKETING SPACE FOR QUALITY EDUCATIONAL
> PRODUCTS.
> 
> HOWEVER, THE FULL BENEFITS OF THE TECHNOLOGY WILL NOT BE REALISED
> UNLESS A RANGE OF COMPLEMENTARY ACTIVITIES ARE UNDERTAKEN. THESE
> INCLUDE:
> 
>      A MAJOR UPGRADING OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE IN
>      EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS, PARTICULARLY IN SCHOOLS
>      PRODUCTION OF SIGNIFICANT VOLUMES OF HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL
>      PRODUCT WHICH IS RELEVANT TO THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE AND WHICH
>      REFLECTS HIGH STANDARDS OF EDUCATIONAL EXPERTISE.
>      SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF
>      TEACHERS AND EDUCATION PRACTITIONERS GENERALLY, FIRST TO MAKE
>      THEM COMFORTABLE WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AND SECOND TO GET THEM TO
>      THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT HOW TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE THE
>      QUALITY OF THEIR TEACHING.
> 
> PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATORS IS PARTICULARLY CRUCIAL. THESE
> ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DO THE REAL WORK AND WHO WILL REALLY BE ABLE TO
> MAKE THE TECHNOLOGY WORK FOR THEIR STUDENTS. HOWEVER, THEY FIRST NEED
> TO UNDERSTAND CLEARLY WHAT THE TECHNOLOGY CAN DO.
> 
> IN ALL OF THESE AREAS, THERE WILL BE A MAJOR ROLE FOR AUSTRALIAN
> INDUSTRY. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE EDNA INITIATIVE WILL PROVE TO BE A
> HIGHLY POSITIVE FACTOR BOTH IN THE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN
> AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION AND IN THE GROWTH OF A VIBRANT AND DISTINCTLY
> AUSTRALIAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY.