Clever pickle: the YouTubing Sydney teacher in the running for $1.3m global prize

Everyone remembers their favourite teacher. Rebecca West still can’t bring herself to call hers by his first name, even though, 20 years on, she’s friends with Paul on Facebook. But she’ll never forget the example that her geography and legal studies teacher Mr Fields set her as a student, before teaching was even on her radar as a career. ... But West has also been recognised for her creative approach to teaching (for example, turning writing tasks into role-playing exercises based on the game Dungeons and Dragons), and her inexhaustible desire to support students and colleagues – and not just her own. In 2017, long before teachers were dragged in front of the camera during the pandemic, West started making instructional videos and posting them on YouTube, at first as a teaching aid for her own students.

<https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/30/clever-pickle-the-youtubing-sydney-teacher-in-the-running-for-13m-global-prize>

Three-to-four-year-olds to learn about digital safety in Australian trial

QUT researchers are leading an Australian-first study to teach young children, including those aged three to four, about digital citizenship.

<https://www.qut.edu.au/news?id=178928>

Minecraft: Education Edition Across the Australian Curriculum

We have published a series of videos for teachers to demonstrate how Minecraft: Education Edition can be used across all learning areas in the Australian Curriculum. Created by Steven Payne and Meg Pusey from Standout Education, these videos aim to inspire you to take and adapt these Minecraft ideas, lessons, and resources to use in your classroom. We have also included interviews with teachers from across Australia who are enthusiastically using Minecraft for learning and teaching.

<https://edublog.microsoft.com/en-au/2021/11/minecraft-education-edition-across-the-australian-curriculum/>

Science teachers recognised with Prime Ministers’ Prize

A primary teacher from Queensland and a secondary teacher from Sydney were last night recognised for their contribution to STEM and agricultural science education by being named winners of the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching. Here, we share details of the work they’re doing in their schools.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/science-teachers-recognised-with-prime-ministers-prize>

Curriculum considerations for ADHD

... Science and technology: Students may remember and engage in lessons better if they can see it in real life. Consider excursions to see science in action.

<https://education.nsw.gov.au/campaigns/inclusive-practice-hub/all-resources/primary-resources/understanding-disability/adhd/curriculum-considerations>

Kindergarten orientation moves from zoom to reality

One fully vaccinated parent or carer per child will be allowed on school sites to support their pre-schooler as they start Kindergarten orientation, under new COVID-safe guidelines announced today.

<https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/kindergarten-orientation-moves-from-zoom-to-reality>

Esports 101 - An introduction to the industry

It is different from standard video gaming in that esports is competitive (human-vs-human) and usually involves an interactive audience element, similar to traditional sports.

<https://www.bettshow.com/bett-articles/esports-101-an-introduction-to-the-industry>

The 2 Platforms You Need to Transform Digital Learning and Assessments

The challenges for schools and universities have been exacerbated amidst the extended global pandemic to the point where even managing fundamental school operations like online classes and exams are difficult.

<https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/the-2-platforms-you-need-to-transform-digital-learning-and-assessments/279040>

Parents, Educators, and Caregivers Cybersecurity and Privacy Concerns for Remote Learning during COVID-19 [In Proceedings of the International Conference of the Greece ACM SIGCHI Chapter (CHIGreece 2021)]

Abstract: In 2020, there was a sudden and internationally widespread shift towards remote learning, primarily stemming from a need to facilitate learning while also maintaining the physical safety of students and community members. While there are benefits to remote learning, increased integration and use of Internet Communication Technology (ICT) has the potential to create opportunities for cyber threats that exist within the digital environment. These threats can range from unauthorized use of webcam, an increased risk for phishing, to increased time spent online and risk of cyberbullying as well. To this aid, our goal is to seek to understand the users' privacy concerns and security risks related to the remote learning process. For this, we conducted a survey-based study with 520 participants. Through thematic analysis we obtained an understanding of the perceptions of parents, teachers, and caregivers of children attending online educational institutions. We found that most participants have experienced a cybersecurity or privacy-related incident pertaining to remote learning. We conclude by providing suggestions based on our findings to create a more secure and privacy-preserving online education experience for the users.

<https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3947273>

Connect All Students: Understanding the K–12 Digital Divide

The gap between students with high-speed internet and adequate devices at home and those without is perpetuating educational and economic inequality. We explore the scale and scope of the digital divide in the United States, and suggest ways to close it for good.

<https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/connect-all-students-understanding-the-k-12-digital-divide>

International day against violence and bullying at school including cyberbullying

4 November 2020 will mark the second edition of the new International Day against Violence and Bullying at School including Cyberbullying, under the theme “Tackling cyberbullying and other forms of online violence involving children and young people.”

<https://en.unesco.org/news/international-day-against-violence-and-bullying-school-including-cyberbullying>

Afghan girls learning to code 'underground' to bypass Taliban curbs on education

Cooped up at home in Herat, Afghanistan, Zainab Muhammadi reminisces about hanging out with her friends in the cafeteria after coding class.

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-31/afghan-girls-learn-code-underground-to-bypass-taliban-curbs/100581408>