Multimedia Victoria - Innovation brings NGV treasures to the classroom

Innovation brings NGV treasures to the classroom

News - Wednesday, 15 July 2009

Victorian teachers and students will have interactive access to two of the National Gallery of Victoria’s superb collections thanks to a unique Brumby Labor Government initiative.

Two dedicated websites titled Tradition and Transformation, featuring the NGV’s Indigenous collection and Floating World featuring the NGV’s Japanese woodblock collection, will see the NGV make its collections available for the first time for a range of interactive activities for schools.

“This important resource is part of the Brumby Labor Government’s commitment to ensuring Victoria continues to be a leader in using new technologies in the classroom to give our students every opportunity to shine in the 21st Century,” Ms Pike said.

“Education is the Brumby Labor Government’s number one priority and this new resource will help teachers and students gain access to new artistic information straight from the NGV’s own collections.”

Aimed at students aged nine to 15, the websites have been specifically designed for an education audience with rich digital content that is easy to use. They provide educators with valuable curriculum packages designed to be used on a range of technologies, including interactive whiteboards, in the classroom.

Arts Minister Lynne Kosky said the NGV has worked with students, teachers and schools to provide high quality, locally produced and interactive content which encourages young Victorians to think, create and communicate.

“This is the first time Victorian students, including those in remote and rural areas will be able to access the splendour and diversity of some of the NGV’s collections in such an interactive and innovative way,” Ms Kosky said.

Tradition and Transformation uses new technologies to help teachers and students explore, understand, teach and learn about Indigenous art and culture. It includes video and audio of artists, their stories and histories, and plots language groups and locations on an interactive map of Australia.

The wealth and breadth of information on Indigenous art and culture, in context with the teaching and learning activities of the resource, is not available anywhere else in the world.

Floating World features extraordinary Japanese wood block prints from the 17th – 19th centuries, and combines information about Japanese culture, theatre and society.

A unique feature of Floating World allows students to create their own animated digital story using characters, backdrops, props and actions from the artworks which can then be set to traditional Japanese music, also available on the website.

Minister for Information and Communication Technology John Lenders said the Brumby Government supported the project through the Broadband Innovation Fund, providing $250,000.

“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to develop Victoria’s ICT capabilities to ensure all Victorians have access to this kind of innovative technology,” Mr Lenders said.

“This project is another example of the success of our Broadband Innovation Fund, which provided $15 million towards new uses of broadband technology by Victorian Government agencies in health, education and environmental management.”

The two websites are now available for use at no cost to schools.

The websites can be accessed at::

Tradition and Transformation

www.ngv.vic.gov.au/ngvschools/traditionandtransformation

Floating World