en1996-2004 by Commonwealth of Australia. Permission is granted to copy and distribute this document in whole or in part, provided it is done for educational and non-commercial purposes only and that this entire copyright notice remains attached.askedna@edna.edu.auhttp://api.edna.edu.au/headline.rssNews feed for the education.au websitehttp://www.edna.edu.auhttp://www.edna.edu.au/images/edna_online_logo.gifhttp://www.pc.gov.au/gsp/reports/rogs/2010This Report compares the performance of Australian, State and Territory governments providing a range of services. It contains performance indicators of the equity, effectiveness and efficiency of: early childhood, education and training; justice; emergency services; health; community services; and housing services.http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Gillard/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_100201_153301.aspxWork is already underway to report on school income so parents will be able to see the resources that are going into both government and non-government schools and the difference this makes. If re-elected the Rudd Government will work with the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority to further empower parents by surveying their satisfaction with schools with the survey results to be disclosed on My School. The survey could: look at the issues of bullying and school safety - whether or not parents felt their child was safe at school, how teachers responded to concerns raised by parents and behaviour management strategies; look at how the school works with the community - the range of extra-curricular activities, P&C activities, accessibility to school facilities after hours, administration, the availability of information to parents, opportunities for parent and teachers to communicate; look at how the school approaches teaching and learning - look at whether teachers are helpful and easy to talk to, whether parents understand and are involved in the here opportunities to innovate in classrooms and strategies to improve performance;and, look at how the school manages transitions - the availability of information for students about subject selection, post school options and career information, access to guidance officers, support for students transitioning to high school.http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/global/led-by-facebook-twitter-global-time-spent-on-social-media-sites-up-82-year-over-year/According to The Nielsen Company, global consumers spent more than five and half hours on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter in December 2009, an 82% increase from the same time last year when users were spending just over three hours on social networking sites. In addition, the overall traffic to social networking sites has grown over the last three years. Globally, social networks and blogs are the most popular online category when ranked by average time spent in December, followed by online games and instant messaging. With 206.9 million unique visitors, Facebook was the No. 1 global social networking destination in December 2009 and 67% of global social media users visited the site during the month. Time on site for Facebook has also been on the rise, with global users spending nearly six hours per month on the site.http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Gillard/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_100121_073742.aspxAll Australian schools will receive a comprehensive support package from the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority in the lead-up to the launch of the My School website on 28 January 2010. Minister for Education, 21 January 2010.http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Gillard/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_100118_085945.aspxAustralian research on the 'Method of Shared Concern,' which seeks to resolve cases of bullying without the use of punishment, has been released. This approach seeks to empower students who have contributed to bullying or become aware of bullying to act. A copy of Applying the Method of Shared Concern in Australian Schools – an Evaluative Study is attached or will be available at: http://www.deewr.gov.au/schooling/nationalsafeschools Minister for Education, 17 January 2010.http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2010-Horizon-Report.pdfThe 2010 Horizon report describes six emerging technologies or practices that are likely to enter mainstream use on campuses within three adoption horizons spread over the next one to five years. The technologies to watch are mobile computing, open content, electronic books, gesture-based computing and visual data analysis.http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/content/7-million-e-learning-funding-and-support-rtosAustralian registered training organisations (RTOs), business and industry can apply for more than $7 million in funding and support to help embed e-learning as a key aspect of their business strategy and tailor their training to meet learners’ needs.http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/332005/macquarie_uni_completes_gmail_rollout/?fp=4194304&fpid=1Google is back in the race to provide email services to educational institutions across the country with NSW-based Macquarie University announcing it will begin rolling out Gmail accounts to its 6000 research, teaching and administrative staff.http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Gillard/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_091224_081035.aspxAn issues paper to encourage discussion within the Australian higher education sector about the best way to fund flexible and sustainable regional higher education has been released by the Government. 'The Review of Regional Loading – Issues for Regional Provision' is part of the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to Transforming Australia’s Higher Education System and response to the Bradley Review. DEEWR, 23 December 2009.http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Gillard/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_100107_084916.aspxA $168 million National Partnership, that includes funding for 112 schools across Tasmania to ensure that Tasmania’s most disadvantaged students aren’t left behind has been announced by the Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, and the Tasmanian Premier and Minister for Education and Skills, David Bartlett. The Smarter Schools National Partnerships between the Australian Government and Tasmanian education authorities will help the most disadvantaged students by targeting those from low socio-economic backgrounds, improving teacher quality and improving the literacy and numeracy for all children but most particularly those at risk of falling behind.