Teachers want more classroom laptops

A survey of more than 2 700 teachers in 15 countries worldwide has shown that while 70% of educators believe their students should have access to a laptop computer in class, only 3% of their students currently have such a computer, states Computing.co.uk.

The survey, conducted by Intel and presented at the Bett education technology show in London, also found that 76% of teachers surveyed in Europe think their governments should be doing more to support computer access for students.

Just under a third of those questioned said that a lack of funding was preventing the required investment in computers.

The Supreme Council of ICT (ictQatar) has unveiled its revamped Qatar National e-Learning Portal, according to The Gulf Times.

A platform for all government employees to achieve personal growth through a massive list of 2 500 online, asynchronous courses, elearning.ictqatar.qa is part of an initiative of the telecoms regulator that goes back to May 2007, say officials.

“This (launch) is a third pilot and is streamlined according to international standards,” said ictQatar e-inclusion manager, Reem al-Mansouri. “Through the initiative we have been examining the prevailing environment in Qatar. The challenge we have is not in the availability of technology but of adoption,” al-Mansouri pointed out.

Today's school students are downloading homework on iTunes, listening to lessons via podcasts, communicating with other students all over the world through social networking sites, and even video conferencing with leaders of business and industry, writes the Sydney Morning Herald.

And it's not just high-school kids who are making good use of the fast-moving technology; Australia's primary school students are now being equipped with the skills needed for the digital age.

Public schools throughout Australia are benefiting from the federal government's $2.2-billion Digital Education Revolution initiative, which aims to prepare students for further education and training, jobs of the future and to live and work in a digital world.