[LINK] Reading Blitz Proposal Needs Update for Gen WiFi

Tom Worthington tom.worthington at tomw.net.au
Mon Feb 25 08:43:08 AEDT 2013


The Prime Minister and the Minister for School Education announced a 
"National 'Reading Blitz' for All Young Australians": 
http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/national-reading-blitz-all-young-australians

 From 2014, the Federal Government will ask schools to sign up to a 
three-year program for Foundation to Year 3 students, to help with the 
basics of reading. The program would emphasize teaching methods with a 
reading plan for each school, specialist teacher skills and records of 
student progress. These elements also appear in US President George W. 
Bush's "No Child Left Behind Act" (NCLB) and it appears the Australian 
announcement is based on the US policy from a decade ago: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Child_Left_Behind_Act

Unfortunately, the Australian government proposals do not appear to take 
into account recent research and experience on what makes for effective 
education. More training for teachers has been found to be effective, as 
is student centered learning with on-line and classroom support.

The RAND Corporation has carried out several studies of the US NCLB, 
with the latest commentary stating: "While NCLB has produced some 
positive effects, the bill has not produced enough improvement to reach 
its goal of all students meeting proficiency standards by 2014 and has 
numerous flaws that policymakers should address." (Brian M. Stecher, 
January 14, 2013): http://www.rand.org/commentary/2013/01/14/PI.html

A study of implementation of NCLB in Florida (Zeig J. L., 2007) found 
that the Act was implemented, with changed teaching practice and 
reporting of results. However, that study did not determine if NCLB 
improved student outcomes: http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/UFE0021432

Before implementing the US policy, it would be prudent for the 
Australian Government to assess the US experience and correct any flaws 
found. The cost of the policy implementation for Australia and the 
estimated benefits would then need to be detailed, before a decision was 
made.

In "Educating Gen Wi-Fi: How We Can Make Schools Relevant for 21st 
Century Learners" (ABC Books, 2013) Australian educator Greg Whitby 
provides a practical prescription for better education. Whitby suggests 
teachers need to be "... supported in the ongoing professional learning 
by close and regular collaboration with their colleagues". His proposals 
are based on practical experience in the Australian school system: 
http://blog.tomw.net.au/2013/02/making-schools-relevant-for-next.html

James Barber Vice-Chancellor of the University of New England
In "E-learning: Supplementary or disruptive?" (Telecommunications 
Journal of Australia, February 2013), James Barber Vice-Chancellor of 
the University of New England, reviews progress with electronic learning 
over the last two decades and its effectiveness: 
http://tja.org.au/index.php/tja/article/view/421/844

He concludes that blended learning, combining the classroom and on-line 
is most effective and that mobile devices will have a large impact. It 
seem likely this will not be confided to the tertiary sector and the 
Australian Government need to take this into account in its reading policy.

More in my blog at: 
http://blog.tomw.net.au/2013/02/australian-government-proposes-bush.html



-- 
Tom Worthington FACS CP, TomW Communications Pty Ltd. t: 0419496150
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australia  http://www.tomw.net.au
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards
Legislation

Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Research School of Computer Science,
Australian National University http://cs.anu.edu.au/courses/COMP7310/



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