2006 Winner Announced
David Austin with Dr Bob Frater and Mrs Margaret Frater
The winner of the 2006 Bob & Margaret Frater Scholarship was announced at a Leadership Dinner hosted by ACU National's Flagship for Creative and Authentic Leadership, on 21 June 2006.
Mr David Austin, Principal of St Michael's Primary School in Kaleen in the ACT was presented with his scholarship by Dr Bob Frater AO and Mrs Margaret Frater DSG at the dinner where Professor Paul Begley from Penn State University, Pennsylvania, spoke on Exploring the Personal and Professional Tipping Point of Moral Leadership.
Ms Bea Brickhill, National Manager of Fundraising for the University, introduced the presentation by acknowledging the significant contribution made to the Australian Catholic University Foundation by Bob and Margaret Frater through the funding of this scholarship which encourages leadership by teachers in Catholic systemic primary schools in NSW or the ACT.
David was awarded the scholarship to attend the International Conference on Information Technology in Education, held in Rhodes, Greece in July 2006. He will also visit a number of schools in the UK which have been identified as centres of excellence in using, incorporating and integrating interactive whiteboard technology.
He is currently completing the final unit of his Master of Education (Information Communication Technology) degree at ACU National in Canberra. His interest in information communication technology has seen a practical application by the introduction of five Promethean Interactive Whiteboards or "ActivBoards" into St Michael's Kindergarten to Year 2 classes this year.
In his scholarship application David explained that an ActivBoard is a touch-sensitive whiteboard which allows teachers and children to participate interactively in activities projected onto it from a data projector connected to a computer. David said that interactive whiteboards could have a positive effect on teaching and learning in all Key Learning Areas and that the way in which these whiteboards are integrated into classroom practice is crucial.
Bob and Margaret Frater congratulated David on his successful application and expressed the view of the Selection Committee that the experiences gained overseas would enhance his leadership skills particularly in the area of information communication technology and this would be of benefit to both his primary school and the wider educational community.
