CHECK OUT . . .

Professional associations, online courses and other professional development opportunities.



Health and wellbeing for learning with samples low in salt, sugar and fat.



Books, intelligent toys and catalogues.



Lifelong leaning with the University of the Third Age (U3A)


Excursions, incursions and educational tours.



Innovations in learning technologies.



Teaching awards - grab a nomination form.



The many aspects of the creative arts represented at the expo



Publishers with trial books and magazines to give away.

and MUCH MORE . . .






Photos by Lynette Eggins Design

 

A SMORGASBORD OF IDEAS

from a report in Education Today

“I had no idea the expo was so big,” said principal Julie Sykes after her family spent three hours looking at hundreds of booths at last year's Education Expo. She pointed to a bag full of brochures and notes she was taking away to show her staff.  

Experienced educators, as well as beginning teachers, were everywhere, collecting handouts and talking with learning specialists on topics as diverse as dyslexia, brain function, self-esteem, study skills, leadership programs, computer software, juvenile diabetes, asthma, new media, literacy, numeracy and resources for young people with learning difficulties.

Educators looking to advance their careers were gathering information on postgraduate courses from the university education faculties. Teachers were talking to professional associations and picking up nomination forms for awards.

"I love all the new technology," said a teacher from Clarence Valley Anglican School in Grafton who allotted much of her time to listening to lectures on topics such as new media in schools, video streaming and internet security. "There are a lot of resources here we don't get to see in the country."

Employment agencies talked non-stop about staffing requirements and job opportunities for teachers here and overseas. Many were offering attractive incentives.

A wide range of e-learning specialists from Australia, New Zealand and the USA talked about future trends in learning including the demise of the text book.

“The demise of the textbook has taken hold very quickly,” said Annique Boulton, marketing manager of Mathletics which has penetrated the Australian market in a strong way. More than 700 schools have purchased their Mathletics program. Soon to follow is Spelladrome.

With such a torrent of information on the internet people can feel overwhelmed, and that’s where Robin Clark, a former superintendent of schools in Western Australia, steps in. He told teachers how he sifts for information on curriculum-based topics that saves teachers from the laborious task of researching material.  

“Whereas teaching used to be an isolating profession whereby a teacher prepared a lesson and delivered it to one class, our software system now enables teachers to store and share their planning and resources with colleagues across Australia and between countries. This ads enormous value to the profession,” said Robin.

But will online learning stifle creativity? Not according to Rachel Mustovic who had 16 titles on show at the expo designed for children 2 to 14 years old. Her 2Simple Software helps children create their own talking books using animations, pictures, images from a webcam and their own sounds. “Creativity and imagination have never been easier,” she said as she demonstrated her products.
 
And while all this was going on, Reengineering Australia was launching their Blobs Factory to show 3D graphics software in action.

On the visitor evaluation form, an enrolment officer expressed particular interest in the new communication systems coming onto the market for sending SMS messages to parents when children are absent. The technology also enables a school to remind parents about functions coming up or sporting cancellations. “We constantly grapple with these communication problems,” she said.

Many educators attended the expo to see how other educational organisations and associations marketed themselves. Networking was alive and well as visitors connected with their counterparts in other schools and collected a host of promotional and fundraising ideas to take home.

School administrators were interested in a range of products, from new electronic ways to track visitors who enter the school, to the latest in non-slip floor coverings and academic furniture.

Principal Peter Bernezz described the expo as a peak event on the education calendar, not to be missed. "There are just so many exciting things to see and interesting people to talk to," he said.

 

 

Professional Associations



Postgraduate Courses



Teaching Resources



New Technologies



Excursions & Incursions



Learning Support Services



Classroom Equipment



Awards for Teachers



Promotional Products & Services



Community Services



Special Needs Resources




Educational Magazines




Health & Wellbeing







See also For Parents

See also For Students

CHECK OUT . . .

Original resources that have just come on to the market. Talk to the designers.


New products such as this display of rust and graffiti resistant lockers.



Teaching jobs overseas and interstate, plus employment agencies looking for teachers.


New tools for school administrators.


Financial assistance, study grants, protection of intellectual property, write your own book.


Furniture, sunshades, floor coverings, first aid training, OH&S advice, and more


Outdoor activity programs, fitness and sports camps, gap year options, exchange programs.


3D technology, software, digital curriculum organisation, bookless learning, cosmic blobs.


Educational specialists with products to make learning easier.


New products, technical support, internet security and demonstrations of interactive whiteboards.

and MUCH MORE . . .

Photos by Lynette Eggins Design