Australia’s Digital Future—a nation of users or leaders?

Australia risks becoming a laggard among the world’s top technologically driven nations without a stronger investment in digital technology-based research, innovation and workers, according to a new summary for policymakers published today.

<https://www.science.org.au/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/australias-digital-future-nation-users-or-leaders>

Australia's chief scientist urges for diversity in STEM to help fill the country's skills shortage

Australia's chief scientist Cathy Foley has highlighted that an important part of solving the country's skills shortage in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) sectors is embracing a diverse workforce.

<https://www.zdnet.com/article/australias-chief-scientist-urges-for-diversity-in-stem-to-help-fill-the-countrys-skills-shortage/>

<https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/australias-chief-scientist-urges-for-diversity-in-stem-to-help-fill-the-countrys-skills-shortage/ar-AAOWiIb>

'Teach NSW' calling for the world’s best teachers

Overseas and interstate STEM teachers will be the target of a new campaign to boost teacher numbers in NSW public schools.

<https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/teach-nsw-calling-for-the-world-s-best-teachers>

$13.5m plan to poach 500 overseas teachers to NSW [subscription]

The $13.5 million education plan is aimed at addressing an “urgent shortage” of teachers in science, technology, engineering and maths.

<https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/coronavirus/nsw-education-plans-to-bring-in-over-500-stem-teachers-from-across-the-globe/news-story/f8b66c8b4af2da9a2504306528c1ac19>

EDISON Alliance Members Commit to Improving 1 Billion Lives Through Affordable Digital Access to Healthcare, Finance and Education by 2025

The EDISON Alliance aims to improve the lives of 1 billion people through the 1 Billion Lives Challenge by increasing affordable digital access to healthcare, finance and education by 2025. Although 85% of the world’s population lives in areas covered by 4G, only half are online. Cost, not coverage, is the critical barrier to connectivity. In low-income countries, home to 650 million people, mobile broadband is 18 times more expensive than in developed countries, as a proportion of average income.

<https://www.weforum.org/press/2021/09/edison-alliance-members-commit-to-improving-1-billion-lives-through-affordable-digital-access-to-healthcare-finance-and-education-by-2025>

Spotlight on social emotional skills: Results of OECD’s global survey

The past year and a half has highlighted that disruptive events affect communities very differently. Students in lower income areas and those who are traditionally underserved face challenges that those in higher income areas don’t, such as heightened anxiety about graduating, increased loneliness, and difficulty feeling connected to peers. Education experts are already seeing an increase in mental health issues as a direct result of COVID-19 and advise placing focus on students’ social and emotional skills. This may minimize the severity of psychological damage and help students feel calmer, more confident, and most importantly, provide a sense of control in a world which can feel largely out of control.

<https://www.bettshow.com/bett-articles/spotlight-on-social-emotional-skills-results-of-oecds-global-survey>

Unlimited learning. From anywhere.

Imagine a future in which everyone, everywhere, has access to the world ’s best education. Imagine no limits, no exclusions: old, young, rich, poor, from the mega-cities to remote hillside villages - fully connected schools to fully connected students learning from anywhere. A future of connectivity bringing complete equity and inclusivity to universal learning. It sounds like a dream, but in a world where digital innovation will complement and evolve classroom learning, it ’s possible.

<https://www.ericsson.com/en/about-us/new-world-of-possibilities/unlimited-learning-from-anywhere>

Global Media and Information Literacy Youth Hackathon

The UNESCO annual Global Media and Information Literacy Week is a major occasion for stakeholders to review and celebrate the progress achieved towards “Media and Information Literacy for All” and a UN international Day.

<https://en.unesco.org/news/global-media-and-information-literacy-youth-hackathon>

EdTech is at a crossroads: Why evidence is needed, standards must be set, and regulation should be implemented

As a result the many pandemic-related lockdowns around the world, many children have been spending more time online than ever before, and schools have been forced to teach online using various digital platforms and tools. But are there risks inherent in this shift towards digital education? In this post, LSE Visiting Fellow Ioanna Noula argues that start-ups focusing on education technology, or EdTech, need more regulation and must provide more evidence of their impact.

<https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2021/09/22/edtech-is-at-a-crossroads-why-evidence-is-needed-standards-must-be-set-and-regulation-should-be-implemented/>

Is Remote Learning the Future of Education?

The world has been moving toward remote learning models since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world. Especially when it comes to educational institutes, educators are finding new ways to leverage and execute educational programs efficiently and effectively.

<https://news.elearninginside.com/is-remote-learning-the-future-of-education/>

We’ve seen how remote learning works. Now, let’s get ready for hybrid learning

It’s fair to say that many more people have experience of the benefits and challenges of online education today than did two years ago.

<https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/29/remote_learning_lenovo/>

Why lockdown learning loss shouldn't cloud the gains

An over-emphasis on 'lost learning' does a disservice to teachers' work during Covid, say these researchers

<https://www.tes.com/news/why-lockdown-learning-loss-shouldnt-cloud-gains>

Distance learning & initial teacher education: Making connections in a virtual world

The peaks and troughs of the Covid-19 pandemic continue to impact on almost every aspect of our daily lives, and initial teacher education (ITE) is by no means an exception. Reflecting on changes to our delivery of education gives us an opportunity to consider possibilities and limitations, while also focusing on what is important.

<https://www.bera.ac.uk/blog/distance-learning-initial-teacher-education-making-connections-in-a-virtual-world>

Giving time for students to think – using learning logs to guide student reflection

In high school, the curriculum often feels overcrowded and rushed. There are just too many things to cover and not enough time. However, it is important to give students the time to stop and think about what they are learning and how they are learning, which are important for becoming self-regulated learners. Students need to be supported to set goals, monitor their progress towards their goals, identify areas for improvement and evaluate the usefulness of different learning strategies.

<https://aliceleung.net/2021/09/27/giving-time-for-students-to-think/>

New Research Warns of Risks to K-12 Students Due to Monitoring Software

Today, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) released a pair of research reports detailing the concerning use of online monitoring software that can track student activity on devices like laptops or tablets—even outside of school hours. With 81% of teachers reporting the use of such software in their schools, the reports cite community concerns regarding disciplinary actions, potential outing of LGBTQ+ students, and chilling effects on students’ expression as some of the privacy and equity issues surrounding their use.

<https://cdt.org/press/new-research-warns-of-risks-to-k-12-students-due-to-monitoring-software/>

Report – Online and Observed: Student Privacy Implications of School-Issued Devices and Student Activity Monitoring Software

Many school districts across the nation expanded efforts to provide devices like laptops and tablets to students during the global pandemic in an effort to close the homework gap and address inequities in technology access. Part of this shift included the introduction of student activity monitoring software and other digital tools aimed in part at facilitating remote classroom management and driving student engagement.

<https://cdt.org/insights/report-online-and-observed-student-privacy-implications-of-school-issued-devices-and-student-activity-monitoring-software/>

Student Activity Monitoring Software: Research Insights and Recommendations

The past few years have seen widespread adoption of software that monitors students in K-12 schools across the country. These tools provide teachers and schools with the ability to filter web content, monitor students’ search engine queries and browsing history, view students’ email, messaging, and social media content, view the contents of their screens in real time, and other monitoring functionality.

<https://cdt.org/insights/student-activity-monitoring-software-research-insights-and-recommendations/>

CDT Original Research Examines Privacy Implications of School-Issued Devices and Student Activity Monitoring Software

During the global pandemic, at a time when remote learning was the only educational option available, K-12 schools across the nation moved quickly to provide devices like laptops and tablets to students to address inequities in technology access.

<https://cdt.org/insights/cdt-original-research-examines-privacy-implications-of-school-issued-devices-and-student-activity-monitoring-software/>

Emerging Safety Technologies in Schools: Addressing Privacy and Equity Concerns to Ensure a Safe In-Person School

Schools that have resumed in-person classes are trying to ensure a safe environment for students and school staff, a challenge that’s been exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic. In addition to protecting against threats such as weapons and unauthorized visitors, there is currently a need to enforce health guidelines, like requiring students to wear a face covering. Some schools are employing emerging AI-driven systems with the goal of enforcing school safety protocols and protecting those attending schools in-person.

<https://cdt.org/insights/emerging-safety-technologies-in-schools-addressing-privacy-and-equity-concerns-to-ensure-a-safe-in-person-school/>

What coding can teach you!

In the digital age, coding is basic literacy. We’re only at the beginning of a technological revolution, with the world as we know it evolving at an unprecedented pace. As we step into a future more digitally connected than ever, we must be able to understand and communicate with the technology around us.

<https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/schools/what-coding-can-teach-you-316920>

Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Awards

The Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Awards honor and recognize 10 all-star teachers working diligently to help students in underserved and underrepresented communities pursue futures in computer science and robotics.

<https://www.amazonfutureengineer.com/teacheroftheyear>

Amazon launches computer science education program Future Engineer in India

Amazon is extending its computer science program, Future Engineer, to India, making the world’s second-largest internet market the fifth market where the firm offers the childhood-to-career community program.

<https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/27/amazon-launches-computer-science-education-program-future-engineer-in-india/>