We wanted to talk about 21st century education.
We are living through an educational revolution.
The pace of change is staggering.
Schools, regions, entire countries are turning education on its head
and redefining the experiences of students and of teachers.
The impact is felt by millions of children and their families around the world.
Let's consider for a moment the world in which they live.
In a world with so much knowledge it's hard to grasp.
People are creating 2,000 new websites every hour.
They are uploading 35 hours of video every minute.
And watching 2 billion YouTube videos every day.
By the time they leave, school teenagers average nearly 1,000 Facebook friends.
They connect with people thousands of miles away as if they were in the same room.
They consume, produce and communicate information in previously unimaginable ways.
They truly are the children of a globalized world.
And where are they heading as they grow up?
To a hyper-connected world with more people and fewer resources.
A busy and competitive world full of uncertainties.
A workforce that is more mobile and better qualified than ever before
and careers that span multiple jobs, positions and skill sets, some of which haven't been invented yet.
In response, education leaders are making big changes, building 21st century skills,
using enabling technologies and personalizing running to engage students in diverse and creative ways.
In South Korea schools are switching to digital textbooks so students can study anytime and anywhere
with online hours recognized as school attendance.
In Denmark, students are using the internet while taking exams.
They can access any site they like, even Facebook, as long as they don't message each other or use email.
In the USA, ultra-personalized learning approaches allows students to create their own individual schedules.
Their interest and performance are logged daily to generate playlists of learning options.
With teachers time freed up to mentor and supervise students.
Learning can happen anywhere and everywhere.
That's why some Australian schools are pushing learning beyond school walls
where internships with local organizations are a fundamental part of each student's learning plan.
Distance learning programs are connecting seriously disengaged students
with online learning communities and personal mentors to help them rediscover their love for learning.
The opportunities for 21st century education are immense.
These examples point the way to ensuring that tomorrow's workers, parents and citizens
and more creative problem solvers, better communicators and lifelong learners.
To make sure that change happens on a massive scale we need to make big changes.
That's why we have designed the new Australian curriculum online
supported by interactive, constantly updated digital resources
structured around students and teacher's needs.
And it's why we now have national professional standards for teachers and principals that make sure they meet the needs and 21st century learners
but that's just the beginning. Join us as we broaden this debate and connect educational pioneers
and thought leaders across Australia and the world.