Wired
This Cooperative seeks to examine how new technologies are changing Australia and the implications of this change for government-provided education and social policy. In broader social terms, ICT has contributed to the space-time compression of everyday time: distance is no longer so great, while the instantaneous nature of email, instant messaging or SMS undermines the temporal delay between sending and receiving messages. In schools, ICT has revolutionised pedeagogical practice and ways of disseminating, storing and obtaining information. While ICT for some has opened up new worlds, it has also been termed a “digital hemlock” (Tara Brabazon, 2002).
The Queensland Government recognises ICTs as improving efficienty in a large state with a highly dispersed population. For Queensland, Australia more generally and the OECD, ICTs are an important component of a creative or innovation economy. While ICTs can provide access to resources and knowledge, the challenge is to ensure access and proficiency with such technologies. The potentially limitless dissemination of information by information technology also raises issues about intellectual property. ICTs are also playing an increasing important role in the Arts – infotainment, electronic music and visual arts. The Department of Education and the Arts is particularly interested in exploring the interfaces between ICTs and the arts.
Eidos’ Wired Co-Operative is dedicated to investigating the impact of ICTs on pedagogy, learning practices and new forms of social interaction. More generally, how does ICT impact upon education and social policy in Queensland (the use of e-democracy approaches for example). And can ICT contribute to the sustainability and economic viability of regional and rural communities?
