Victorian eLearning Companies On Centre Stage In Japan
Victorian eLearning Companies On Centre Stage In Japan |
| Media release - 20 June 2005 |
| An ICT trade mission to Japan will give Victoria's eLearning companies the chance to showcase their sophisticated products to a global market, the Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson, said from Tokyo. Ms Thomson has arrived in Japan to lead a delegation of 32 Victorian ICT companies and organisations to promote the strengths of Victoria as an investment location and an internationally competitive source for innovative products and services. Of the 32 organisations attending, there are six companies in the eLearning field, including Etech Group, Australian Children's Television Foundation, Kilbaha Multimedia Publishing, Zoos Victoria and the Accelerated Language Learning Centre. Ms Thomson said the eLearning delegates would benefit from the opportunity to participate in a specially tailored program of business development activities and site visits to relevant business establishments and schools. There will also be a number of networking functions. "Victoria's eLearning industry is continually growing. As a State, we are leaders in the areas of education and ICT innovation," Ms Thomson said. "The two combined provide a very fertile environment for exciting new product development. This alone, is helping to create a world-class eLearning industry in Victoria. "Increasingly eLearning technologies are being used to offer students more flexible ways to learn. They are revolutionising distance education and off-campus study and also enriching traditional teaching with online activities and resources. "For this reason, the Bracks Government is supporting the eLearning industry to take their products to a global market - making Japan the perfect entree for some of the companies attending the trade mission." The Australian Children's Television Foundation (ACTF), which has brought its product, Kahootz, to Japan, is a prime example of the type of innovative eLearning tool that is being produced in Victoria. Kahootz is a software package that encompasses a powerful set of 3D multimedia tools that allow students and teachers to be creators, designers, inventors and storytellers. Kahootz can be used in all curriculum areas and operates as an active, online community so students and teachers can publish their work and share, collaborate, and exchange with other schools in the Kahootz community. Jenny Buckland, CEO of ACTF, said the trip to Japan was an opportunity to learn how ICT interacts with education in Japan and to explore the potential possibilities there might be for the company to find Japanese partners. "We are keen to expand the current Kahootz community of over 2,200 to include schools around the world," Ms Buckland said. "Australian schools using Kahootz would be very excited to welcome Japanese schools for the global, cultural and learning opportunities that would inevitably arise for students in both countries." Bill Healy, CEO of Kilbaha Multimedia Publishing (KMP), has taken its product, Flying with Shapes, with the intention of consulting with the Japanese education sector. Mr Healy said there were no products on the market that systematically taught all the concepts of the mathematics of shape for primary and junior secondary students. "Our product is unique because it provides both mathematics and English education for Japanese students,"Mr Healy said. "We plan to get feedback from Japanese Mathematics and English teachers about the potential of this product in Japanese schools. We also hope to find a distributor for the product to Japanese schools and the home education market." One of the more diverse delegates, Zoos Victoria, will be pushing to attract an international audience with its new on-site multimedia and website for Healesville Sanctuary's Australian Wildlife Centre. The new Healesville Sanctuary's Australian Wildlife veterinary database will be an essential component of the centre, which is due for completion later this year. The cutting-edge multimedia system will allow visitors and the world community to learn more about the Australian Wildlife Centre, follow the progress of an individual animal's well being and engage with veterinary specialists through online chat. Jen Aughtersen, Learning Technologies Co-ordinator of Zoos Victoria said that as a result of the trip to Japan, Zoos Australia will be able to showcase the new multimedia development at Healesville Sanctuary to a world audience, promote it as a destination and inspire learning opportunities and connections with the international community through access to the Australian Wildlife Centre Website. Ms Thomson said the companies involved in the mission were participating through Multimedia Victoria's Trade Fairs and Mission program, which provides financial assistance for Victorian ICT companies with less than 200 employees to attend recognised overseas trade fairs and missions. The program was established by the Bracks Government to encourage Victorian companies to take their products to the world. The Aichi World Expo - 'Exposition of Global Harmony' began in March and will run until September with more than 120 countries participating. The Expo is expected to attract 15 million visitors. |
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