The newly appointed Dean of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU’s) Faculty of Education, Professor Toni Downes will speak at an Education Week forum in Wagga Wagga next week on the topical issue of how students use computers and the changing nature of learning. Professor Downes will be the inaugural speaker at the first CSU Edversations public forum on Thursday 18 May in the meeting room at Wagga Wagga City Council starting at  6pm. Professor Downes, who recently joined CSU as Professor of Education, has more than 25 years’ experience working with teachers to improve education through the creative use of new information and communication technologies (ICTs). She will speak on the topic Student Internet use at home and school in the first of a new series of professional forums on education, especially aimed at teachers in the Wagga region. “CSU is a leader in teacher education and we hope the Edversations series will strengthen the education community and provide a place for Faculty of Education staff to meet local teachers and build links with others interested in education,” said Dr Andrew Wallace, Senior Lecturer in Education at CSU. One of Professor Downes’ current research projects is looking at the gender gap in IT and communication technology subjects and why girls are failing to fully participate in IT, both in schools and in their career choices.