Preparing+students+for+their+future

The Australian Federal Labor Government argues that the use of new ICT's (Information and Communication Technologies) in student learning and teaching to ‘prepare students for further education and to live and work in the digital world’. The government also argues that its Digital Education Revolution reforms will make this a reality, through changes such as:
 * High Speed Broadband to Schools (which they argue will address educational disadvantages within Australian schools)
 * IWB’s (Interactive White Boards) in classrooms
 * Notebooks
 * National Secondary School Computer Fund

//REFLECTION: The government has multiple interests here. Securing votes and alliances within the Australian community and the business sector is definitely a factor, as well as planning for the future needs of the Australian workforce. The// DER Strategic Plan //identifies the government’s focus on Australia’s position in global education standards as part of these reforms. This investment in education technology will need to be justified in the long term. This means evaluating the effectiveness of these reforms, which in turn means more student, teacher and school assessments in order to justify the substantial investment in education.// More...

Commonwealth education expenditure excluding student assistance (in 2008‑09 dollars) Source: []