Teacher experience of rurality
Community
Schools
Classroom
Preparing for a rural career
Module 1: Understanding rurality
Module 2: Understanding place
Module 3: Understanding rural teacher identity
Module 4: Working with communities
Module 5: Getting to know rural students' lives
Module 6: Professional experience
menu 4.4.1
menu 4.4.2
menu 4.4.3
menu 4.4.4
Module 7: Advice in getting a job

Online communications

Whilst it is not always possible to visit schools in rural and regional areas, connection directly to classrooms can be made through the variety of communication technologies. These tools can be introduced to pre-service teachers for observation of teaching practices and to communicate with individual teachers online. 
Teacher educators can develop a relationship with a particular school or group of schools (perhaps through programs such as Priority Country Area Program) to facilitate this process.

It is also possible to use social networking spaces, blogs and nings to communicate with schools and communities outside the university.

Including:
Digital Learning
New Online Practicum Project
Blogs

      1. Teaching through technology
      2. Teaching with technology
      3. Virtual teaching
      4. Teaching farms

Resources:

Shirley Richards, University of the Sunshine Coast – Using a wiki to mentor pre-service teachers

Key readings and resources

Country Education Project (Victoria). (2011). Home. Available from: http://cep.org.au/

Devlin, B., Feraud, P. & Anderson, A. (2008). Interactive Distance Learning Technology and Connectedness, Education in Rural Australia, 18(2): 53-62.

Gibson, I. W. & Gibson. K. L. (1995). A Window into the Rural Classroom: interactive television and problem-based activity in Australian pre-service teacher education. Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 4(2): 217-226. Available from: http://www.informaworld.com/10.1080/0962029950040208

Matters, P. N. (2001). Beginning Teacher Internships, Telementoring and ICT - newfangled or new ways? Journeys of discovery. Paper presented at AARE Annual Conference. Available from: http://www.aare.edu.au/01pap/mat01077.htm

Mitchell, J., Hunter, J. & Mockler, N. (2010). Connecting Classrooms in Rural Communities through Interactive Whiteboards. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 26(4 spec iss): 464-476. Available from: http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet26/mitchell.pdf

Trinidad, S. & Broadley, T. (2008). Using Web2.0 Applications to Close the Digital Divide in Western Australia. Education in Rural Australia, 18(1): 3-11. http://www.spera.asn.au/articles.php?req=read&article_id=66

Yates, R. (2007). Local Solutions for Local Problems: Addressing teacher supply in rural communities, Education in Rural Australia, 17(1): 49-58.