Microsoft has selected four Expert Educators to represent Australia at the Global Educator Exchange
SYDNEY – 25 FEBRUARY 2016 – Microsoft has today announced the four Microsoft Innovator Educator Experts (MIE Experts) who have been selected to represent Australia at the Microsoft Global Educator Exchange (E2) in Budapest, Hungary on March 8, 9 and 10 2016.
E2 is an annual event where more than 300 of the most innovative educators and students gather from 17 countries around the world. The educators have been selected as exceptional thought leaders in creating and leading transformational learning environments through technology – to prepare students for today’s digital world.
“The Global Forum is an opportunity for us to celebrate renowned educators who are part of this community of leaders. The Expert Educators selected for 2016 are transforming learning as we know it, helping students to develop the skills they need in the workplace of tomorrow,” said Travis Smith, Teacher Engagement Manager, Microsoft Australia.
“The four teachers selected have shown innovative ways to create immersive and inclusive learning experiences that empower students, and they are truly committed to sharing these learnings with their peers.”
The educators selected to represent Australia at E2 are:
- Toby Trewin, Hale School, Western Australia
- Deanne Joosten, Phoenix P-12 Community College, Victoria
- Daren Mallet, Hillcrest Christian College, Queensland
- Lynette Barker, St Therese’s Primary School New Lambton, New South Wales
The Global Educator Exchange event is part of the Microsoft in Education initiative that offers a range of professional development programs to bridge the gap between technology skills and innovative teaching. There are 67 MIE Experts in total throughout Australia who form part of a global network of advocates, promoting ideas and sharing both learnings and challenges – to drive better teaching and learning.
As part of Microsoft’s commitment to drive innovative education technology solutions – nine Showcase Schools across Australia have also been selected as premier schools, where the school leader has demonstrated a strong vision for change. These leaders have created a whole-school innovative learning environment enabled by technology, where students participate in their own learning and achievements to make learning more exciting.
SPOTLIGHT ON AUSTRALIA’S EXPERT EDUCATORS
Toby Trewin – Education Technology Manager – Hale School (WA)
For Toby Trewin and the team at Hale School, maintaining a longer post-school vision for their students is critical for ensuring the skills learned in the classroom today are the skills that will set them up for success tomorrow and beyond.
“Whether it’s research and development or one-on-one ICT peer coaching with teachers, we’re always looking for better ways to empower our teachers through different technologies. To do this, we have to be quite robust in the way that we support teachers, providing a number of workshops and one-on-one training so they can get exposure both in and out of the classroom, to ensure they are confident using the technology.”
Deanne Joosten – Head of eLearning – Phoenix P-12 Community College (VIC)
Deanne Joosten, Head of eLearning at Phoenix P-12 Community College, is a ‘passionate drama teacher at heart’, but has recently discovered an equally strong passion for IT and enabling her peers to use technology in the classroom in more meaningful ways.
“Having the opportunity to go to E2 in Budapest will allow me to really build on my expertise and passion about teaching with technology. This year I’m presenting at various conferences in Australia, empowering teachers to confidently and efficiently embrace technology in the classroom. Budapest will provide me with the chance to meet educators from around the globe – and that’s a very exciting prospect, because who knows what doors that could open for me and my students.”
Daren Mallett – Digital Learning Co-ordinator – Hillcrest Christian College (QLD)
Daren believes that schools need to shift away from teacher-centred classrooms in favour of a more self-directed learner centred model – leveraging technology to make students more engaged by empowering them to learn at their own pace.
“At Hillcrest, we are working towards making the classroom experience more collegial and collaborative, engaging and relevant. Learning is no longer centred on the information delivered from an individual teacher, but rather a wealth of resources and experts using exciting technologies to transform students’ learning experience as we know it. We encourage students to use a range of sources in their work – so in a similar vein we should be using different sources to teach, and technology enables us to do this.”
Lynette Barker – Teacher Librarian – St Therese’s Primary School (NSW)
Despite children now having 24/7 access to information at their fingertips, Lynette believes information technology has made the school library more prevalent than ever before – with technology transforming the space from simply an information resource to a ‘makerspace’.
“I gained a new perspective around how librarianship and technology can better manage information to help both students and teachers find the answers they are looking for. During lunch the library was often used by students wanting to explore literature and by others looking for a quiet space away from the playground, but what’s really lovely is that the library is now being inundated by students for new reasons. Students are working closely together, and are forming meaningful social bonds in these makerspaces as they explore with technology.”
ENDS
For more information about the Expert Educators visit https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/education/educators/miee/default.aspx
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.
