USQ shows leadership in digital education and e-research

USQ has once again proven itself as a leader in the area of technology in education following an Interoperability Demonstration Event Australia 2010 (IDEA10) forum last month.

Several USQ academics took centre stage in leading discussions on national directions for digital education and e-research during the IDEA10 Technology in Education Open Forum in Melbourne.

The forum was part of a series of events focusing on current and emerging technologies that support learning, which addressed opportunities and challenges for the infrastructure necessary to support digital education.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Learning) at USQ Professor Philip Candy, who attended the event, emphasised the importance of using technology to enhance the learning process, while also focusing on the increased attention towards informal learning processes.

'Technology is helping enduring pedagogical problems by allowing us to go places where we were unable to go before,' Professor Candy said.

'It was clearly important for USQ to be seen leading such a national and cross-sectoral event and I think there is potential for us to capitalise on our leadership positioning, not just in higher education, but in VET, school-based and even informal and community learning as well, which occur outside corporate or formal learning environments such as the classroom, universities and TAFE.'

Meanwhile Executive Director of the Division of Academic Information Services (DAIS) at USQ Professor Alan Smith chaired a discussion on emerging technologies to address the information generation and led a session highlighting the importance of using standards and technologies to connect sectors within a learning environment.

'IDEA10 provided a unique opportunity for both technical specialists and those with pedagogical expertise the chance to share experience and good practice as evidenced throughout the higher education, VET and school sectors across Australia.

'It also provided access to a number of international experts who can inform participants on latest trends in areas of technical standards and interoperability.'

USQ Senior Lecturer Dr Shirley Reushle also took part in the forum, representing the high-education sector, in discussions centred on what technology teachers want.

'The event provided an excellent snapshot across the sectors of school, VET and higher education,' she said.

'When you see what is happening in the school and VET sectors, it highlights the critical role higher education has in moving students forward in the lifelong-learning continuum.'

Dr Peter Evans and Dr Birgit Loch were also honoured during the forum receiving Encouragement Awards as part of the Australian Regional Finals of the Learning Impact Awards which were held in conjunction with the IDEA10 event.