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In<strong>format</strong>ion. The Internet resources <strong>in</strong>cluded an annotated list of Educational Internet Sites worth visit<strong>in</strong>g<br />

with URL locations such as: AskERIC Virtual Library, Children's Pages from Around the World, The Global<br />

Schoolhouse, and I*EARN (International Education and Resource Network). A hard copy of Frequently Asked<br />

Questions about Netscape Navigator provided an <strong>in</strong>valuable compilation of resources for the Web beg<strong>in</strong>ner.<br />

Promot<strong>in</strong>g skills needed for students to use <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion technology tools enables them to ga<strong>in</strong> more control<br />

over their own learn<strong>in</strong>g. Therefore, the unit materials <strong>in</strong>troduce some Internet resources to facilitate learn<strong>in</strong>g<br />

processes which also help students prepare their assignments. The assignments require students to: use the<br />

Internet as a source of <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion, <strong>in</strong>crease their personal <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion technology skills, use criteria for<br />

software evaluation, and develop <strong>in</strong>tegrated curriculum frameworks which compliment language and literacy<br />

skills.<br />

Ultimately, teachers must decide which educational tool is best for a particular task and if some form of<br />

technology can be effectively <strong>in</strong>tegrated <strong>in</strong>to an exist<strong>in</strong>g curriculum. "These decisions are based on personal<br />

beliefs or views about learn<strong>in</strong>g processes. If teachers believe that all knowledge is constructed, <strong>in</strong>struction is a<br />

nurtur<strong>in</strong>g of these processes, and if they accept that literacy development is a social event, then their<br />

classrooms should provide experiences to facilitate this construction process” (Watson, K.K. 1993). Central to<br />

this view of constructivism is the notion of the learner as 'active' not just respond<strong>in</strong>g to stimuli, as <strong>in</strong> the<br />

behaviourist rubric, but engag<strong>in</strong>g, grappl<strong>in</strong>g, and seek<strong>in</strong>g to make sense of th<strong>in</strong>gs Perk<strong>in</strong>s, ( D.N. 1991).<br />

Prepar<strong>in</strong>g Today for Tomorrow’s Opportunities<br />

"S<strong>in</strong>ce Marshall McLuhan co<strong>in</strong>ed the term <strong>in</strong> the 1960's, few of us have truly understood what the term "global<br />

village" means... Yet today, grow<strong>in</strong>g thousands of [people] <strong>in</strong> dozens of countries around the world are liv<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the reality of the global village <strong>in</strong> personal, hands-on, <strong>in</strong>teractive ways. Through the medium of network<strong>in</strong>g<br />

and telecommunications technologies these students are for the first time learn<strong>in</strong>g to th<strong>in</strong>k of themselves as<br />

global citizens, see<strong>in</strong>g the world, and their place <strong>in</strong> the world, <strong>in</strong> ways much different that their parents"<br />

(Rogers, A. 1995)<br />

As government and professional relationships <strong>in</strong> Asia and Pacific Rim expand dur<strong>in</strong>g the next 5 years,<br />

Australian Universities must provide <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g technological opportunities for students study<strong>in</strong>g at a distance.<br />

Distance Education today is the bus<strong>in</strong>ess of bridg<strong>in</strong>g language and cultural understand<strong>in</strong>g through the use of<br />

technological tools. The use of <strong>in</strong>teractive tools on the Web is one answer for overcom<strong>in</strong>g distance, time and<br />

space <strong>in</strong> an ever shr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g world of academic resources.<br />

Educational <strong>in</strong>stitutions need to prepare today for tomorrow’s opportunities and part of that preparation is<br />

wak<strong>in</strong>g up to the fact that the way we communicate with each other is chang<strong>in</strong>g. The global village concept is<br />

becom<strong>in</strong>g more and more a reality every day with a “global classroom” be<strong>in</strong>g virtually <strong>in</strong> the next room on a<br />

screen and half a world away. The Web is the <strong>in</strong>teractive activity of the 90’s and good AV materials<br />

<strong>in</strong>corporated for enterta<strong>in</strong>ment and teach<strong>in</strong>g can br<strong>in</strong>g it to life. If educational <strong>in</strong>stitutions and educators want<br />

to survive <strong>in</strong> the 90’s and beyond, we need to get on the Web - AV - Internet tra<strong>in</strong>.<br />

References<br />

Book References:<br />

(NBEET. 1996) National Board of Employment Education and Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g (NBEET) (1996). Education and Technology<br />

Convergence. A survey of technological <strong>in</strong>frastructure <strong>in</strong> Education and the Professional development and Support of<br />

Educators and Tra<strong>in</strong>ers <strong>in</strong> In<strong>format</strong>ion and Communication Technologies. Commissioned Report No. 43. p. 94<br />

Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs references:<br />

(Watson, D. M. 1995) Watson, D. M., (1995). “The Impact of Live Audio Visuals on the WEB and Bus<strong>in</strong>ess” <strong>in</strong> R.<br />

Debreceny & A. Ellis (ed.) AusWeb 95 - Innovation and Diversity The World Wide Web <strong>in</strong> Australia, Norsearch Ltd.,<br />

Lismore, NSW, p. 271-275<br />

(Watson, D. M. 1996) Watson, D. M. (1996). Mak<strong>in</strong>g IT Happen <strong>in</strong> Real Time: A review of audio technologies for<br />

teach<strong>in</strong>g health management topics via the Internet. Health In<strong>format</strong>ics Conference Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs, HIC 96, Melbourne,<br />

VIC. Australia (<strong>in</strong> press)

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