Roger Blamire demonstrated a number of existing international approaches for partnership, focusing particularly on those which have a clear evaluation aspect to identify impact of ICT implemented. He covered a number of specific examples:

• STEPS: a comparative research study evaluating use of ICT in primary schools


• P2V: a peer-learning framework for exchange of best practice in ICT in education between inspectorates and schools


• Insafe: a network of national and European nodes to raise awareness of critical and safe use of ICT

Miao Feng-Chun showed the diverse challenge of partnership in Asia-Pacific: countries range from very developed, highly ICT-oriented societies (S. Korea, Japan), to much lesser developed countries (Afghanistan, Tajikstan). They therefore focus on strategic priorities, particularly:

• education of policy makers on appropriate, evidence-based strategies for implementation of ICT in education systems


• acting as a clearinghouse for ICT in education in the region


• identifying good practice and awarding teachers, teacher trainers, etc. for use of ICT in education


• networking teacher training institutions to upgrade pre-service ICT in education courses.

Laurent Odic, eInstruction demonstrated some new tools for innovative classroom approaches, which permit teachers to move away from 'front of the class' teaching and more interaction from students. Currently eInstruction is cooperating with many governments across EU, Asia and Central/Latin America - in both 'rich' ICT in education contexts as well as more marginal areas with satellite connections.

Rhyan Bloor gave us a clear overview of the situation in Australia. There is more need to use ICT in Australia than in other countries, due to the huge size of the country combined with a sparsely distributed population. Priorities for cooperation are ones where we can find common policy areas and shared problems between countries, particularly those that permit interoperability between states/countries/regions and facilitate cooperation between pupils. Events such as this conference are valuable for this process.

Elisabetta Mughini replaced Giovanni Biondi in this session, and pointed out that international cooperation is key for developing and inspiring new policy approaches at national level. It's clear that many countries already share common problems, and we have a shared vocabulary for this: collaboration, communication, comparison and so on. Creativity is also important: we need to help our pupils have a creative and innovative experience at school. Through some existing projects schools are already cooperating at grassroots level, and get engaged in social networks. One interesting approach that could be developed is an international curriculum for ICT in education, taking account of the new developments of ICT.