The document discusses the use of technology in Australian schools. It outlines several benefits of incorporating technology into learning and teaching, including increased student motivation, improved knowledge as concepts can be explained through visual aids, convenience as students can learn both inside and outside the classroom, and greater availability of information and resources for both students and teachers. It also provides examples of specific technologies used in Australian classrooms like electronic whiteboards, video conferencing for virtual classes, and online assessment programs implemented by the Australian government.

2.  Capital : CANBERRA
 Symbol: EMU AND KANGAROO
 National Flag : which includes the UNION FLAG, SOUTHERN
CROSS, and the COMMONWEALTH STAR
 Coat of Arms: that includes the EMU and KANGAROO
 National Anthem: ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR
 Biggest City: SYDNEY

9.  The aboriginals of Australia
came to the land in early 50,000
YEARS ago as gatherers and
hunters.
 They settle in the different area
of the land with different
cultures but they share one belief
which is what they called
DREAMTIMES.

10.  In ancient times geographers guessed the
existence of a continent in the Southern
Hemisphere. On several medieval maps this
continent is named Terra Australis. But then no
European mariner actually saw it.
 In 1606 Luiz Vaez de Torres, Portugues
navigator in Spain’s service, sailed through the
narrow strait between Australia and New
Guinae.
 In the same year Wiiliam Janzoon, Dutch
navigator, discovered the north coast of
Australia.
 In 1642 another Dutch navigator, Abel Tasman
discover Tasmania.

11.  It was left for Captain James Cook (1728-79) to find
the best portion of Australia; which gave him
renown as the discoverer of Australia. On April 20,
1770 he took possession of the continent in the name
of Great Britain.

12. FIRST BRITISH SETTLEMENT
 The American War of Independence turned England’s
eyes to Australia as the new penal colony. Captain
Arthur Phillip, a naval officer, was appointed Governor
of New South Wales and commander of the FIRST
FLEET to transport the first settlers to Australia
On January 26, 1788, Captain Phillip, with 11 ships and
1,487persons including 759 convicts, landed at Sydney
Cove and unfurled the British Flag. This date is
celebrated as “Australia Day”. Phillip founded the first
settlement, which is now Sydney, Australia’s largest city.

14.  The Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland
in northeastern Australia, is the largest living thing
on Earth, and even visible from outer space. The
2,300km-long ecosystem comprises thousands of
reefs and hundreds of islands made of over 600
types of hard and soft coral. It's home to countless
species of colourful fish, mollusks and starfish,
plus turtles, dolphins and sharks.
 Area: 344,400 km²
 UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription: 1981

15.  Fraser Island, off Australia’s eastern Queensland coast, is
the world's largest sand island, stretching over 120km.
Panoramic viewpoints include Indian Head, a rocky outcrop
on the island's easternmost tip, and the Cathedrals, a cliff
famous for sculpted ribbons of coloured sand. It's a camping
and ecotourism destination, with popular beaches and
swimming sites at Lake McKenzie, Lake Wabby and other
freshwater pools.
 Area: 1,840 km²
 Elevation: 244 m
 UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription: 1992
 Starts: Inskip Point, Rainbow Beach, Noosa, River Heads

16.  The Sydney Opera House is Australia's most recognizable
building and is an icon of Australia's creative and technical
achievement. Since its completion in 1973 it has attracted
worldwide acclaim for its design and construction,
enhanced by its location on Bennelong Point within a superb
harbor setting.
 The design of the building, with its soaring white roof shell
shaped sails atop a massive red granite platform, has been
internationally acclaimed as an architectural icon of the 20th
century. As a dominant sculptural building that can be seen
and experienced from all sides, it is the focal point of
Sydney Harbour and a reflection of its character.
 It took 16 years to build. Constructed between 1957 and
1973, is a masterpiece of modern architectural design,
engineering and construction technology in Australia.

17.  The Great Ocean Road is an Australian
National Heritage listed 243 kilometres stretch
of road along the south-eastern coast of
Australia between the Victorian cities of
Torquay and Allansford.
 Length: 243 km

18.  Australia’s most famous beach
 7 kilometres east of Sydney CBD
 Bondi = Aboriginal word = water breaking over rocks or noise of water breaking over rocks
 Became a public beach 9 June 1882
 Added to the Australian National Heritage List in 2008
 Beach Facts:
 Length = One kilometre long
 Width:
 50m wide (north end)
 100m wide (south end)
 Widest beach in the Sydney region
 Water temperature:
 Dec/Jan/Feb = 21 degrees
 September/October = 16 degrees
 Shark net laid about 150m off the beach

19.  South end:
 Famous for its rip current known as the "Backpackers' Express”
 Generally reserved for surfboard riding
 Bondi Baths over 100 years old
 North end:
 Safest for swimming (as is the centre)
 Children’s Wading Pool
 Wally Weekes Pool
 Swimming is permitted between the designated red and yellow flags.
 End point of the City to Surf 14km fun run – from Sydney’s Hyde
Park through the suburbs of Kings Cross, Rushcutters Bay, Double
Bay, Rose Bay, Vaucluse, Dover Heights and to Bondi Beach –
held 2nd Sunday in August each year.
 Bondi also features numerous cafes, seafood restaurants, bars &
clubs and a range of accommodation.

21.  The Australian education system provides primary, secondary
and tertiary education.
School education (Primary and Secondary)
School education is similar across all of Australia with only
minor variations between states and territories. School
education (primary and secondary) is compulsory between the
ages of six and sixteen (Year 1 to Year 9 or 10). School
education is 13 years and divided into:
 Primary school - Runs for seven or eight years, starting at
Kindergarten/Preparatory through to Year 6 or 7.
 Secondary school - Runs for three or four years, from Years 7
to 10 or 8 to 10.
 Senior secondary school - Runs for two years, Years 11 and
12.
 Tertiary education
Tertiary education includes both higher education
(including universities) and vocational education and training
(VET).

23. Language of instruction
English is the official language of Australia and the main language of
instruction in the education system. Many schools offer bilingual programs or
programs in other languages.
Australian Qualifications Framework
 The Australian education system is distinguished from many other
countries by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The AQF
was established in 1995 and is a national policy that covers qualifications
from the tertiary education sector (higher education and vocational
education and training) in addition to the school-leaving certificate; the
Senior Secondary Certificate of Education.
 The AQF has 10 levels and links school, vocational and university
education qualifications into one national system. This allows you to move
easily from one level of study to the next, and from one institution to
another, as long as you satisfy student visa requirements. It allows for
choice and flexibility in career planning. All qualifications in the AQF help
prepare you for both further study and your working life.
 If you are studying an AQF qualification, you can be sure that your
institution is Government-authorized and nationally accredited, and that
your degree or other AQF qualification will be genuine.
 Our institutions are linked across the country and across the world, which
makes it easy to move throughout the education system between courses
or institutions and formal agreement and recognition frameworks mean
every step of the path will contribute to your future no matter what your
study or career goals.

26.  Several schools in Australia have spearheaded the use of technology in
their curriculum. This led to the selection of seven Australian schools to
participate in Microsoft’s Worldwide Innovative Schools program in
2011. Microsoft’s Worldwide Innovative Schools program involves
helping teachers and leader schools on the effective use of technology in
teaching and learning. Under Worldwide Innovative Schools program,
Different schools get different titles mirroring their contributions in using
technology in their curriculum. The title ‘Mentor school’ is for schools
that have an effective schools program which aids students in learning
and in demonstrating their technological knowledge. There is also the
‘Path finder’, which is for schools that have demonstrated peerless efforts
in coming up with innovative school programs. Some of the Australian
schools that have been crowned with the aforementioned titles include;
Varsity College and Hermit Park State school, Dallas Primary school,
Victoria and Taroona High School, Silverton Primary School, Newton
Moore Senior School, among many others.

27.  The Australian government and the Australian schools have
taken laudable steps in ensuring that the use of technology in
learning and teaching bears fruits. Despite the debates
elicited by the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy, its
benefits within the schools that have adopted it continue to
silence the naysayers. The National Assessment Program
(NAP) online is one of the move by the Australian
government to modernize the use of technology in schools.
This online assessment will have various merits like
increased accuracy in measuring student achievement,
quicker results and increased accessibility. Territory, State
and Federal Ministers for Education have initiated the
National Schools Interoperability Program (NSIP). This
program is aimed at improving the access of digital learning
system and information by improving on digital learning
infrastructure nationally. Via National Digital Learning
Resource Network, which is under the umbrella of National
Schools Interoperability Program, Australian Schools have
benefited from over 50, 000 high quality resources.

29.  Electronic Whiteboards, Cameras, Software
The use of technology in learning and teaching
accommodates the wide range of students, and presents
unparalleled opportunities for interaction with both the learning
devices and fellow students. A range of software and
photographic devices presents students with countless ways of
expressing their creativity and talents, and opportunities to
collaborate.
 Virtual classroom
The Victorian Education Department is championing
virtual classes in the use of technology in Australian schools.
With virtual classroom, the need for going to certain classes will
be a distance memory, as student and teacher are able to
communicate via use of electronic media such as chat and video
conferencing. Virtual classrooms not only enable real-time
communication but also facilitate the students taking the class at
different times.

31. Learning and teaching across Australia has changed significantly because of using technology in the
classroom. Below are some the benefits of technology in Australian Schools:
 Motivation
Teacher have reported and increased motivation in schools that have adopted
technology in their learning process. The use of technology expounds on some subject better.
For example is would be easier for a student to understand how muscles move on a video than
reading it in a textbook. This not only results in motivation but also vivid comprehension.
 Knowledge improvement
The use of technology has created the need for teachers to collaborate and sharpen
their skills and knowledge on how technology can best help then in their teaching.
 Convenience
Technology has brought convenience and flexibility second to none because
students can now use the technology to study within and outside classroom. Teachers also
enjoy the convenience of easy compilation of a student’s achievement profiles thanks to the
use of technology in Australian schools.
 Availability
Information is readily available for both students and teachers. There are tools and
resources to foster better usage of learning online. For example, The Australian
Communication and Media authority that is offering teacher, students and parents’ cyber
safety resources.