April 2011     NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has announced the rollout of 4,300 new Interactive Whiteboards to classrooms in 1,000 NSW schools. Mr O’Farrell said the $23 million project would ensure more students and teachers had access to the state of the art whiteboards, which have been shown to make a significant difference to education outcomes.

Mr O’Farrell, Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli and Member for Menai Melanie Gibbons made the announcement.

Mr O’Farrell said “This major investment in NSW schools means we are giving our students and teachers the best facilities possible to create a great learning environment.  With this technology teachers can personalise lessons, use a variety of media and access information from online learning programs on sites such as NASA – all without leaving the classroom."

“We will prioritise this rollout to schools identified on the basis of student learning needs, where the use of Interactive Whiteboards has the capacity to significantly help education outcomes,” he said.

Mr Piccoli said Interactive Whiteboards allow NSW classrooms to make the best use of the digital revolution.
“Interactive Whiteboards transform the learning process and prepare students to work in a connected, digital world,” Mr Piccoli said. “Anything that can be done on a computer can be displayed through the Interactive Whiteboard.

“Interactive Whiteboards also enable teachers and students anywhere in the State toshare classes with children across the world. “The rollout will cover every new and refurbished classroom under the Primary
Schools for the 21st Century program.

The rollout is expected to be completed by the start of term one in 2012.

From a media release by the Premier of NSW, April 28, 2011.

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