09 August 2017
Students from South Australia and beyond are set to benefit from a future-focused, high-tech teaching environment, thanks to a new partnership between Samsung Electronics Australia and the University of South Australia, which is designed to see a high-tech Samsung SMARTSchool built on the University’s Magill campus.
A key initiative in the development of UniSA’s education precinct at Magill campus - home to one of the largest cohorts of teaching students in the state - SMARTSchool will support advanced teacher education and research from reception through to secondary school, with a focus on STEM.
The new facility is designed to feature a suite of Samsung technology including visual display technology, smartphones, tablets, wearables and virtual reality headsets.
Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Samsung Australia, Tess Ariotti, says the school demonstrates co-creation at its finest; bringing together the best of Samsung digital technologies and the University’s innovative teacher training programs to enhance STEM practice and foster educators of the future.
“As Australia’s workforce continues to evolve, it is essential that educators are equipped with the tools and knowledge to support students develop the skills they will need to succeed,” Ariotti said.
“The SMARTSchool aims to be Australia’s most technologically advanced training facility; a significant milestone, not only for the education sector, but for our country’s progress in addressing Australia’s burgeoning STEM skills shortage.”
University of South Australia Vice Chancellor, Professor David Lloyd says the SMARTSchool will be a state-of-the-art, student-focused, learning facility; inspired by the award-winning Jeffrey Smart building at UniSA’s City West campus.
“The SMARTSchool will help transform the way in which we educate teachers. It will be a flexible and inclusive education space, designed to support our teaching students to become leaders in new technologies and enhance their application in teaching and learning,” said Prof Lloyd.
“We are delighted that this partnership with Samsung will deliver to South Australia one of the nation’s most advanced facilities for the development of best practice education, where technology not only enhances learning, but also informs the ‘what and how’ of what we teach.”
Visiting school students will be able to use the facilities for classes. Researchers will also be able to use the school for research projects designed to develop an evidence-base for teaching.
“Through the use and provision of technology, we hope to contribute to the professional development of teachers and advance creative and innovative learning opportunities for future generations,” said Ariotti.
The SMARTSchool is expected to open its doors in time for the 2018 teaching year.
About SMARTSchool
Samsung and the School of Education at the University of South Australia, which has a long-respected history in preparing dynamic, socially conscious educators for the future, are working in partnership to develop the SMARTSchool. The SMARTSchool will support teachers to master six essential attributes of effective modern teaching against a backdrop of innovative STEM teaching and learning opportunities for school age children. SMARTSchool activities will showcase the alignment of teacher education, engaging teaching practice and world-class educational research in bespoke facilities equipped with world-class technologies, in collaboration with Samsung Electronics Australia. A partnership agreement is being developed, which will spell out how Samsung and UniSA will work together on the SMARTSchool project.
Media Contacts:
Zoe Willox 0479 199 662 Samsung ; Michèle Nardelli 0418 823 673 UniSA
