South Australian Teacher Recognised Internationally for Excellence in Education Collaboration

Mark Sparvell of Kadina Primary School wins Worldwide Innovative Teachers Award for Innovation in Collaboration at Microsoft’s Worldwide Innovative Education Forum in Salvador, Brazil

SYDNEY, Australia – 12 November, 2009 — Microsoft Australia today congratulates South Australian Teacher, Mark Sparvell who has won the Worldwide Innovative Teachers Award for ‘Innovation in Collaboration’ at the Worldwide Innovative Education Forum held in Salvador, Brazil last week.

The Innovative Education Forum offers more than 250 teachers from more than 60 countries around the world an opportunity to collaborate with their peers to exchange, share and understand best practices in twenty-first Century teaching and learning.

Mark, currently the Principal of Kadina Primary School in South Australia, was recognised for innovative teaching excellence from his previous role at Victor Harbor R7 School in South Australia.

“We are thrilled that Mark has gone on to win this global award against some very stiff competition,” said Jane Mackarell, Microsoft Australia's Academic Programs Manager. “This award also celebrates how hard working and innovative Australian teachers are.”

Just over a year ago Mark was announced as the joint-South Australian winner for Microsoft Australia’s 2008 Innovative Teachers Award. Mark then went onto represent South Australia in June of this year at the Asia Pacific Innovative Teachers forum in Kuala Lumpur where he was named Australia’s most Innovative Teacher for 2008.

Last week, Mark went onto represent Australia at Microsoft’s Worldwide Innovative Education Forum in Brazil – for which he was recognised as the world’s most innovative teacher in collaboration.

Mark’s work has involved creating a virtual classroom and community where students and teachers can brainstorm on a virtual whiteboard, ask questions via webcam and debate classroom topics.

“Microsoft’s Innovative Teachers Award really challenges the idea people have about children being passive recipients of knowledge. This award represents an unbelievably powerful educational outcome for the students,” said Mark Sparvell.

One of Mark’s classes involved connecting students and teachers on boats near Kangaroo Island via a video link-up to experts on the mainland. Students at more than 20 remote locations joined in, asking questions about dolphins and whales that were answered on the spot.

“Whether it’s on the back of a boat or in a remote community, my classroom is wherever my laptop is,” continued Sparvell.

“Mark's project brings to life the idea that you can break down traditional classroom barriers using innovative technologies to help enhance students' performance through better engagement and richer, more immersive learning experiences. His work is truly inspiring,” said Mackarell.

“The annual Innovative Teachers Award encourages teachers to make learning more exciting and gives students the digital skills they need to succeed at school and in the workforce. This award not only gives recognition to the teachers, but provides them with a platform to share their visionary teaching practices with peers at a local, national and international level,” said Mackarell. The Award is an initiative under Microsoft Australia's Partners in Learning program.

Partners in Learning, in partnership with State governments, aims to increase Information and Communications Technology skills in teachers and improve educational outcomes for Australian students. Between 2004 and 2009 the Partners in Learning program has reached 114,893 Australian teachers and 6,739,772 teachers globally.

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