[English] The Learning Federation

Sat Jun 7 12:53:48 EST 2008

What they produce in terms of Learning Objects and Digital Resources are excellent. I depend on them for my online teaching and also for F2F when sourcing authentic resources. 
The digital resources are gathered from a wide range of national and state museums, art galleries, CSIRO, etc etc meaning that any student anywhere can access these digitally.
I believe the money spent is definitely worth it. Their content repository is far more than just a website!
They also call on teachers to join focus groups and to contribute time and expertise to advising on educational content and usage in classrooms so that their materials are targeted to what is needed and well used. As teachers we have real input and should take every opportunity to offer this and to use the excellent resources available. If you haven't been involved maybe you haven't accepted the offer to be so? I have, and have found it mutually beneficial. 
All their studies etc are available online and worth reading.
I cannot speak highly enough of them and I would urge others on this distribution list to utilise the resources and support them if not already doing so.

Patricia Corby
 Tasmanian Online Network
c/- Geilston Bay High School
271 East Derwent Highway
Geilston Bay TAS 7015
Ph 03 62438633 fax 03 62439259

________________________________

From: english-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of stephen at melbpc.org.au
Sent: Sat 6/7/2008 12:57 AM
To: oz-teachers at rite.ed.qut.edu.au
Cc: yr7-10it at edulists.com.au; english at edulists.com.au; itapps at edulists.com.au
Subject: [English] The Learning Federation

Hi all,

Trying to be as fair as possible, on an important issue.

What are people's thoughts regarding The Le at rning Federation?

  http://www.thelearningfederation.edu.au <http://www.thelearningfederation.edu.au/> 

The group was set up in 2001, by all Ed Ministers for, "developing and
procuring online curriculum content specifically for Australian and New
Zealand curricula, and delivering it for free distribution to schools ..
The Initiative has delivered a valuable national asset that will directly
support the national curriculum and assessment agenda for decades to come."

Hmm .. sounds good. But, their funding runs out next year, by which time I
believe they were meant to be self-funding. But on their website they have
a plan for considerably more *government* funding.

Ok, so, a fair question is, what has been achieved? Are they worth it? The
answer to this question is crucial, because with a national curriculum,
the Learning Federation products may well be mandatory for we teachers (?)

According to my reading of their website they have received  $123 million
over the previous seven years. And, in terms of achievements, they write:

> By 31 December 2007 the project:
>
> * published over 6300 items of digital content ..

Hm, so .. that's $123 million .. divided by 6300 curriculum items.

That's close to $20,000 for each single (eg, Flash) TLF curriculum item.

> * developed a content repository to facilitate content development

Hm .. ok, a website ..

> * maintained extensive consultation networks and collaborative processes

Hm .. how many colleagues reading this have been 'extensively' consulted?

> * developed national standards and specifications ..

Hm .. there are already many standards eg, Dublin Core. We need another?

> * and systems to manage licensing and intellectual property for content.

Hm .. so the companies etc paid to produce items sign a release document.

Now, in March, the group put together a document "Sustaining supply of
content for the digital education revolution. This paper details the
sustainability of the Ministers' Le at rning Federation initiative beyond
2009 to provide content for the digital education revolution." In here
they put forward a number of options to the government for more funding.
These range from $5 million a year, for not very much at all, to over $16
million a year for presumably much of the same.

http://www.thelearningfederation.edu.au/for_jurisdictions/feasibility_and_p
lanning_reports/phase_three.html

Colleagues. Now would be a great time to let people know your opinions.

Our money, and profession, will be vitally involved  Is this good enough?

Speak up now, or it will assuredly be more of the same. Is it good enough?

Cheers people
Stephen Loosley
Member, Victorian
Institute of Teaching.

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