Mobile phones boost e-learning

The roles being played by communication tools, in particular mobile phones, in imparting learning lessons to communities across the world were highlighted by speakers at a session of the World Innovation Summit on Education, notes Gulf Times.

Recounting their experiences on how mobile phones have revolutionised lives of people in different parts of the world, each of the four panellists said the communities that they served stood to gain considerably from the mobile e-learning programmes in which they were involved in their respective territories.

The session was moderated by the director of Research and Development of the Cambridge Foundation Dan Buckley, and featured, among others, former prime minister of Finland and executive vice-president of Corporate Relations and Responsibility of Nokia, Esko Aho, as well as the head of programmes for Asia of the BBC World Service Trust David Prosser.

An online training academy for travel agents, home workers and tour operators has been restarted by the UK chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), says Travel Weekly.

The revamped PATA Academy Web site is split into four regions - South Asia, South East Asia, North East Asia and the Pacific. Within each region, each participating country has a bite-sized module that takes between 15 and 20 minutes to complete.

Each country module includes essential information to help sell destinations from Sydney to Shanghai, Bangkok to Bali and Mumbai to Moorea. Slide shows, videos, fast facts and downloadable information are included.

Staff and students at Campbelltown Performing Arts High School were thrilled when Premier Kristina Kenneally revealed that their school will be one of four in NSW and 20 nationally to participate in the 2011 Microsoft Partners in Learning Innovative Schools Initiative, reports Macarther Chronicle.

This is the second year that Microsoft's $500 million initiative has been extended to Australia. The programme gives innovative schools the chance to access early pilots of pre-release Microsoft programs, share world-class digital teaching practices and receive e-learning training for staff.

“To be one of only 20 Australian schools is amazing and extremely exciting before you even consider that we are now part of a global network of schools with access to world experts in this field,” principal Robyn Pulbrook says.