Inspirational Teaching Gives the Next Generation of Australians a Head Start

At Drummond Memorial Public School in Armidale, NSW, teacher Michael Wilson has created a virtual community of learners that helps to keep students focused on kicking their literacy goals.

Winner of Microsoft’s annual Innovative Teachers Award in 2008, Michael created a connected learning environment for regional and rural indigenous students using Web 2.0 tools like wikis, blogs and podcasts to create genuine social interaction online.

"My students collaborate on wiki-driven stories and are creating an online TV station. They communicate with their peers, sharing feelings, opinions and writing, as well as film and voice recordings online. I encourage my students to use different technologies to research, publish, celebrate and share their learnings," Michael says.

The program’s success in improving attendance and literacy has seen the techniques being used in five other regional and remote schools.

Michael’s program also encourages participation from the wider Indigenous community. A series of videos investigating aspects of New England Aboriginal life were created. This involved elders retelling their experiences as members of the Stolen Generation, which were then shared online with other schools.

The Innovative Teachers Award is part of Microsoft’s Partners in Learning program, a $10 million initiative designed to deliver IT skills, training initiatives and dedicated program support for students and teachers to help enhance learning.

"Perhaps my most satisfying, powerful story comes from some Indigenous Year Six girls who were always reluctant users of technology. These girls have been part of the Partners in Learning project at my school for two years. Over the course of the project a transformation has taken place in their expressive language, learning and their attitudes to education in general, Michael says.