Remote learning is even harder when English isn’t students’ first language. Schools told us their priorities for supporting them

The COVID-19 pandemic has left large numbers of students, teachers and families grappling with the challenges of remote learning. Remote learning can be particularly challenging for students who are learning English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D students).

<https://theconversation.com/remote-learning-is-even-harder-when-english-isnt-students-first-language-schools-told-us-their-priorities-for-supporting-them-166957>

Flexible learning is a game changer for at-risk students

For young people put in the ‘too hard’ basket by mainstream schools, the ability to combine remote learning with classroom time is helping them reconnect with education.

<https://youthoffthestreets.com.au/2021/08/31/flexible-learning-is-a-game-changer-for-at-risk-students/>

Early NAPLAN results show promise, but we don’t know the full impact of COVID school closures yet

The early NAPLAN results for 2021 released today suggest the average impact of COVID school closures on literacy and numeracy in 2020 has been relatively small.

<https://grattan.edu.au/news/early-naplan-results-show-promise/>

We must improve remote learning to reduce school closure harm

Eighteen months into the pandemic, each shift to remote schooling still seems to take many of us by surprise. It shouldn’t. By now, it should be clear that stints of remote schooling are likely to occur well into 2022.

<https://grattan.edu.au/news/we-must-improve-remote-learning-to-reduce-school-closure-harm/>

Students who are more adaptable do best in remote learning – research

A study of more than 1,500 students at nine Australian high schools during 2020 has found strong links between their level of adaptability and how they fared with online learning.

<https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/students-who-are-more-adaptable-do-best-in-remote-learning--research/278641>

Curriculum must include a stronger emphasis on teaching data literacy – expert

In February, a report found that Australia requires 6.5 million additional digital workers by 2025 to keep pace with technological change – a massive 79% increase from today’s levels.

<http://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/curriculum-must-include-a-stronger-emphasis-on-teaching-data-literacy--expert/278642>

Families seek ways to overcome remote learning challenges during COVID lockdown

With COVID-19 lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne dragging on, many parents have felt anxious about the impact of remote learning on their children's education.

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-03/solutions-homeschooling-during-covid-lockdown/100418866>

Stakeholder kit for schools

We invite you to help us bust some myths about girls in STEM and share The GiST’s resources with your school community.

<https://www.thegist.edu.au/schools/engage-the-stem-community/stakeholder-kit-for-schools/>

AI in the classroom: Teaching about artificial intelligence

Discover free professional learning opportunities for teachers introducing the fundamentals of AI, as well as lesson ideas and other resources to engage your students.

<https://www.digitaltechnologieshub.edu.au/teachers/professional-learning/ai-professional-learning>

Dr Cathy Foley

The GiST team chats to Dr Cathy Foley about her vision for women in STEM and her life as Australia's Chief Scientist.

<https://www.thegist.edu.au/students/women-in-stem/qas/cathy-foley/>

Capital idea breaks online learning records

It’s a rite of passage parents will have experienced in their own school days – the Year 5 and 6 excursion to Canberra. But with COVID-19 lockdowns in place in the national capital and NSW, many students in their final year of primary school looked set to miss the important milestone.

<https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/capital-idea-breaks-online-learning-records>

‘We’re lucky to have help’: It takes a village to remote-school a child

Working parents trying to supervise remote learning are recruiting outside help because they are concerned about their children’s academic progress.

<https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/we-re-lucky-to-have-help-it-takes-a-village-to-remote-school-a-child-20210902-p58odl.html>

Why coders love the AI that could put them out of a job

"When you start coding, it makes you feel smart in itself, like you're in the Matrix [film]," says Janine Luk, a 26 year-old software engineer who works in London.

<https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57914432>

9 apps to help kids sharpen their coding skills

Coding is a skill that’s now part of just about every discipline — and what’s more, it’s fun for kids to learn, and easy for parents and teachers to add to lessons at home or school. As kids get ready to go back to school and Chromebooks are once again on desks at home and in the classroom, it’s a good time to boost students’ coding knowledge. At Google, we believe every student deserves the chance to explore, advance and succeed in computer science. Practical computer science skills can help students learn and create, and bring more relevance to nearly any subject, from history to literature to current events.

<https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/learning-to-code/>

A Qualitative Analysis of Using Games Learning Programs to Improve Elementary Teachers’ Application of STEM Capabilities

Abstract: This study used CodeMonkey, an online learning platform through which elementary teachers can learn programming while playing games and experience how to integrate STEM into their courses. The study analyzed and examined their experiences using a qualitative research method. According to the research results, learning programming while playing games can encourage beginners to go all in. There are also complete guidelines on the teaching platform, so beginning learners can quickly become familiar with the interactive model, which stimulates their curiosity and changes the traditional learning method of teaching by teachers and received by students. On the whole, learning programming itself is a rigid subject.

<https://www.asianinstituteofresearch.org/EQRarchives/A-Qualitative-Analysis-of-Using-Games-Learning-Programs-to-Improve-Elementary-Teachers’-Application-of-STEM-Capabilities>

A new model for inclusive computer science education

The lack of diversity in the computing education pipeline has been a remarkably persistent problem. Something that’s stalled progress in addressing disparities is that there’s largely been a focus on individuals, such as teachers and students, rather than on how equity plays out across multiple levels of the computer science (CS) education ecosystem. This is why our work at the University of Texas since 2014 focuses on understanding the root causes of inequities in the CS education pipeline and how every level of the system influences equity.

<https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/diversity/new-model-inclusive-cs-education/>