Next generation of teachers gather for EdFest

More than 400 Education students gathered at the University of Western Sydney Parramatta Campus last Friday to take the first step in their career by meeting with education employers at the annual EdFest exhibition.

EdFest gives UWS students the chance to meet with education employers, including the Department of Education and Community (DEC) and the Catholic Education sector. The students were also given tips on the best way to get a job and advance their careers by the Deputy Dean of the UWS School of Education Mary Mooney, as well as the NSW Teachers Federation, ASPECT and other education providers.

The highlight of the day was a keynote presentation from Paul Fuller, a pioneer of Apple Education in the Classroom. Mr Fuller won the National Excellence in Teaching Award in 2009, and was named Educator of the Year in 2010 by the Australian Council for Computers in Education.

Mr Fuller’s presentation told the students that “there is no better time to be a teacher.” Students and teachers now have more access to information and technology in their pockets and backpacks than ever before, he said, with endless possibilities to enhance the learning experience.

Mr Fuller told the students the only limit was their imagination, and he encouraged them to utilise these new technologies in the digital classroom.

To mark this year’s focus on technology and its applications, students participated in a twitter competition, with the lucky winners taking home Apple and other digital prizes.

Ends

15 March 2012

Contact: Mark Smith, Media Officer