Embrace technology and boost education outcomes

There’s no doubt that education lays the foundation for a child’s future success, but as teaching technologies continue to inundate classrooms – especially amid COVID-19 – educators at all levels are grappling to keep up with the latest demands and expectations.

At the University of South Australia’s first International Conference on Change and Complexity in Learning, educators will learn how educational technologies (EdTech) can maximise outcomes for both students and teachers, paving the way for improved understanding and application of EdTech in class.

Hosted by UniSA’s Centre for Change and Complexity in Learning (C3L) – the top EdTech research centre in Australia – the two-day conference* on July 19 and 20 will feature engaging panels and world-renowned keynote addresses on the most urgent challenges and opportunities facing the education system.

Global EdTech expert and Director of C3L , Professor George Siemens, says the conference will deliver the vital insights and understandings of technology in learning environments.

“Education currently sits on the precipice of a new age of innovation, where technology is broadening access and growing opportunities for learning,” Prof Siemens says.

“But as these new technologies explode across the sector, knowing how to maximise their benefits in schools and universities is an ongoing challenge.

“Throughout the pandemic, educational technologies have been instrumental for schools and universities. But it’s vital that educators develop a deeper understanding of how they affect learning and how they can help navigate our increasingly complex environment.

“Whether it’s a highly conceptual notion, or the most practical application for the classroom, this conference presents leading thinkers and world-class practitioners who will explore and decipher the most pressing issues in the education sector today.”

UniSA’s Professor Shane Dawson says the C3L team is at the cutting edge of educational technology research.

“From real-time classroom analytics that can help educators make better informed decisions about their students’ performance, to innovative approaches that can curb maths anxiety, our team is focused on delivering real solutions for the education sector,” Prof Dawson says.

“We know teachers have a very full plate. Amid curriculum requirements and expectations from a range of stakeholders, taking on technology as part of their regular classroom can seem overwhelming.

“We’re trying to make it easier for our teachers at all levels. Our research is one way that we’re achieving this, but a broader understanding of the sector’s challenges is also important. 

“At this conference, we’re hoping to deliver a nexus of both so that anyone within education sector has an opportunity to embrace technologies and thrive in this new EdTech world.”

Notes to Editors

• Tickets cost $150 for the two days and can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1st-international-conference-on-change-and-complexity-in-learning-tickets-313247169717
• *The conference runs over three days, with the first day being a Doctoral Consortium for C3L higher degree students only. The public conference is run over two days.
• More information, including presenters’ bios can be found here: https://www.unisa.edu.au/calendar/the-centre-for-change-and-complexity-in-learning/

Contacts for interview:   Professor George Siemens E: [email protected] Professor Shane Dawson E: [email protected]

Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 417 717 504 E: [email protected]