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Wednesday, 7 August 2013

School teachers from regional Western Australia are urged to attend a conference focusing on education futures to be held in Albany in October.

Western Australia's Chief Scientist Professor Lyn Beazley will lead a lineup of experts including Professor Barry McGaw, Chairman of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, and UWA's Winthrop Professor Stephen Hopper and Professor Neville Bruce.

The Education Futures - Great Southern 2013 Conference aims to provide professional support to early childhood, primary and secondary teachers in implementing the futures perspective of the new Australian Curriculum.

Conference convenor Mark Paynter said educators were set to experience massive transitions in technology, society, human wellbeing, values and the world ecosystem as the 21 st century progressed.

"These transitions will not only have implications internationally but will provide opportunities for regional areas such as the Great Southern.  Education has a crucial role to play in preparing young people to contribute to our emerging future," he said.

The inaugural conference is a school and university initiative supported by the Great Southern Employment Development Committee and will provide a comprehensive regional context for teachers by addressing key questions such as:

  • why is the inclusion of a futures perspective in the curriculum of value?
  • what possible futures lay ahead both globally and for the Great Southern as we move towards 2050?
  • what challenges will that present in terms of sustainability from an economics, ecological and community perspective?
  • how will we ensure delivery of the Australian Curriculum prepares regional students for these possible futures - specifically, general capabilities of literacy, numeracy, critical and creative thinking, ICT capacity, ethical behaviour, as well as incorporating the curriculum priority of sustainability?

For more details or to register, visit Education for World Futures .  Registrations close on August 31.

Media references

Mark Paynter (UWA Integrated Human Studies)  (+61 8)  9842 0839  /  (+61 4) 29 216 453
Aleta Johnston (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 7797  /  (+61 4) 31 514 677

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