Sun Microsystems, Com Tech Communications and Cisco Systems have introduced an innovative schools grant which will donate AU$1.6 million in computers and support to four Australian schools.
Over 600 schools across Australia entered a competition to win AU$400,000 in computer equipment. The schools submitted entries showing how technology plays an increasingly important role in education and the wider community.
Beenleigh State Primary School in Queensland, Bendigo Senior Secondary College in Victoria, Truscott Street Public School in NSW, and the Western Australian Hospital School Service were the winners of the technology grants.
"To see so many students engaging with and understanding the technology is a positive reflection on how computers and the Internet are being integrated into the education system," Sun Microsystems Australasia Managing Director Jim Hassell said.
As part of the grant, Sun Microsystems is providing servers along with 100 Sun Ray desktop computers to each school using Smart Card technology. It will also provide training and support over a three-year period.
Beenleigh State Primary School's winning application - "Webbed Educators' - depicted how teachers with the right IT skills can help close the digital divide.
"We have been driving the information and communication technology component of our curriculum for several years now, but we are always held back by the number of computers we have and the age of some of out machines," Beenleigh Principal Dr. Allan Weston said.
Bendigo Senior Secondary College (BSSC) improves the student's computer and Internet knowledge base by sending staff overseas to research technology best practice in education institutions. The school has published 20,000 pages of curriculum on its Intranet.
"The smart card technology creates opportunities to integrate systems - we could use them in the library, even in vending machines, effectively using the cards in all aspects of school life. The possibilities are endless," Principal at BSSC Ron Lake said.
A student will be able to use a Sun Ray computer located from anywhere in the school vicinity by using Smart Card Technology. The student inserts the card and the computer automatically detects the user's preferences on a Local Area Network (LAN).
Furthermore, if a student has specific needs, such as requiring higher resolution for eyesight requirements, the computer will automatically adjust its settings.
Truscott Street Public School submitted an application which discussed new technologies to create critical and creative thinking skills among students.
Students will be using the new computers to communicate with other mentors across the globe using the Internet and videoconferencing.
"We are very conscious of not creating a technology underclass at Truscott," Truscott Street Public School Principal Greg Jones said.
WA Hospital School Service (HSS) provides teaching to home-bound children across the state. Its submission focused on using the Internet to create a group learning environment for students which are often isolated.
"So often it is the business community and not the education sector that reap the benefit of innovation," HSS Deputy Principal Liz Hughes said.
"Most importantly, Sun's grant will benefit students who are already disadvantaged through health reasons and who have had many long or repeated interruptions in schooling. Technology enables them to stay connected to a normal life and normal studies, and contributes to their wellbeing."
Com Tech is supporting the technology grant by supplying installation and integration services. Cisco is supplying the network switching products to build the data networks.
The grants will help the schools build upon existing infrastructure and radically improve their current technologies, to facilitate the development of computing skills across the board.
