Teaching Methods: Delivering PE online

In this episode of Teaching Methods we’ll be looking at how PE teachers adapted to online learning during the pandemic. My guest is Dr Vaughan Cruickshank and we’ll be discussing in this ‘emergency mode’ of teaching and learning, did PE happen at all? If it did, it more Physical Activity than Physical Education? And what lessons can we learn from this experience for the future?

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/teaching-methods-delivering-pe-online>

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>

‘It’s a fresh start’ – a return to classroom teaching and learning

The Student Wellbeing Hub team recently hosted a webinar to help educators support the transition back to in-person teaching and learning. Here are the key takeaways.

<https://www.esa.edu.au/resources/news-articles/article-detail/it-s-a-fresh-start-a-return-to-classroom-teaching-and-learning>

Families Digital Technologies: Explore, learn and be inspired

The following collection of activities have been designed for you to complete in your home or around your local community to assist in building your child’s knowledge of the Digital Technologies curriculum. These activities require minimal preparation from you and the knowledge required to enable you to complete the tasks with your children has been included.

<https://www.digitaltechnologieshub.edu.au/families/learning-at-home>

The Australian Education Awards: Recognising excellence in Australia's schools

On 3 December, hundreds of Australia’s education elite from across the country will converge virtually for the fourth annual Australian Education Awards.

<https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/the-australian-education-awards-recognising-excellence-in-australias-schools/279130>

Australia leads the world in helping kids stand up to online bullies

Australia’s world-first cyberbullying scheme is set to be significantly expanded to provide protection to children being bullied in online games and on private messaging platforms, according to new regulatory guidance released by the eSafety Commissioner.

<https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/newsroom/australia-leads-world-helping-kids-stand-online-bullies>

Australian young people learning to push back against online bullies

Australian children and young people are learning how to counter negative online experiences and are prepared to stand up to cyberbullies, early insights from research into young people’s online experiences by the eSafety Commissioner has shown.

<https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/newsroom/australian-young-people-learning-push-back-against-online-bullies>

Australian sporting organisations and eSafety to tackle online abuse

The eSafety Commissioner and Australia’s major sporting organisations have joined forces to address online abuse, including racism, sexism, and homophobia, targeted at athletes in a signed statement to manage the risk of online abuse in sport.

<https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/newsroom/australian-sporting-organisations-and-esafety-tackle-online-abuse>

Penrith home to Generation STEM

Penrith City Council and CSIRO are launching Generation STEM, an exciting new initiative aiming to attract, support, retain and train NSW students in STEM at school, into further education and into employment.

<https://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/news/904-penrith-home-to-generation-stem>

Eliza selected for rare STEM learning opportunity

Year 10 Narrabri High School student, Eliza Dampney, has been picked for a unique learning experience in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sector.

<https://narrabricourier.com.au/2021/11/10/eliza-selected-for-rare-stem-learning-opportunity/>

Disinformation and youth: how can we increase media literacy among young people?

A study conducted by researchers at Stanford shows that young people have difficulty judging the credibility of online information. As children of the internet and major media consumers, young people primarily get information and communicate online and through social media . Still, the speed with which they receive and come into contact with information does not give them the hindsight to judge its reliability. With the proliferation of fake news, schools have long-run educational programmes to teach children media literacy to decipher the content received.

<http://www.eun.org/news/detail?articleId=7365325>

Opening a global conversation about the gender digital divide

The COVID-19 pandemic showed how critical digital technologies are in today’s world — they kept businesses, education, government services, healthcare, and economies running despite the health crisis and global economic downturn.

<https://blogs.worldbank.org/digital-development/opening-global-conversation-about-gender-digital-divide>

Examination of Classroom Teacher’s Experiences Regarding Mathematics Courses Taught through Distance Education throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic Period

Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the experiences of teachers regarding online primary school mathematics courses throughout the pandemic period. In this respect, the teachers were examined about the efficiency of distance education during the course sessions, the activities that involve the student, its positive and negative aspects, the utilized materials, portals, websites, the situation of students embodying the concepts, the extent to which they maintained the assessment, the difficulties they encountered within the process, as well as their suggestions. In the study, it was seen that teachers had both positive and negative views on distance education. The participant teachers in the study utilized different portals and websites throughout the distance education process. The majority of those teachers had the opinion that the methods used in mathematics courses through distance education assisted students in learning the concrete concepts. In the study, suggestions were made to enhance the efficiency of the mathematics courses along with distance education.

<https://www.asianinstituteofresearch.org/EQRarchives/Examination-of-Classroom-Teacher’s-Experiences-Regarding-Mathematics-Courses-Taught-through-Distance-Education-throughout-the-COVID-19-Pandemic-Period->

How Schools Surveil Your Kids

A startup named GoGuardian is changing the way teachers monitor their students online.

<https://slate.com/podcasts/what-next-tbd/2021/11/goguardian-and-school-surveillance-software-on-what-next-tbd>

School connectivity equips learners for education, work, and life

New research by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and ITU identifies sustainable funding models that could cover the bulk of investments to connect every school worldwide.

<https://www.itu.int/en/myitu/News/2021/11/01/09/53/School-connectivity-Giga-BCG-report>

The Digital Learning Ecosystem: What’s Missing?

While it may be challenging to determine the downstream effects of COVID-19 on technology, one clear result is that institutions have accelerated efforts to marshal existing technologies to support teaching and learning. This includes maximizing the interoperability of these solutions and ensuring that any new technologies deployed will improve agility to respond to new initiatives, like increased hybrid learning.

<https://encoura.org/the-digital-learning-ecosystem-whats-missing/>

The latest Surface is a $250 laptop that takes a swing at cheap Chromebooks

Microsoft's next Surface device is the company's latest and most direct attempt to compete with Chromebooks in schools. The $250 Surface Laptop SE is a low-end, 11.6-inch laptop made for basic browsing, document editing, and remote learning. The Surface Laptop SE runs Windows 11 SE, a cloud-focused version of the operating system that preserves the basic look and feel of Windows 11 but allows school IT admins to control which apps are installed and keeps most files and user settings in the cloud rather than on-device.

<https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/11/the-latest-surface-is-a-250-laptop-that-takes-a-swing-at-cheap-chromebooks/>

How Schools Surveil Your Kids

A startup named GoGuardian is changing the way teachers monitor their students online.

<https://slate.com/podcasts/what-next-tbd/2021/11/goguardian-and-school-surveillance-software-on-what-next-tbd>

School connectivity equips learners for education, work, and life

New research by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and ITU identifies sustainable funding models that could cover the bulk of investments to connect every school worldwide.

<https://www.itu.int/en/myitu/News/2021/11/01/09/53/School-connectivity-Giga-BCG-report> 

The Digital Learning Ecosystem: What’s Missing?

While it may be challenging to determine the downstream effects of COVID-19 on technology, one clear result is that institutions have accelerated efforts to marshal existing technologies to support teaching and learning. This includes maximizing the interoperability of these solutions and ensuring that any new technologies deployed will improve agility to respond to new initiatives, like increased hybrid learning.

<https://encoura.org/the-digital-learning-ecosystem-whats-missing/>

The latest Surface is a $250 laptop that takes a swing at cheap Chromebooks

Microsoft's next Surface device is the company's latest and most direct attempt to compete with Chromebooks in schools. The $250 Surface Laptop SE is a low-end, 11.6-inch laptop made for basic browsing, document editing, and remote learning. The Surface Laptop SE runs Windows 11 SE, a cloud-focused version of the operating system that preserves the basic look and feel of Windows 11 but allows school IT admins to control which apps are installed and keeps most files and user settings in the cloud rather than on-device.

<https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/11/the-latest-surface-is-a-250-laptop-that-takes-a-swing-at-cheap-chromebooks/>

Igniting a spark for Computer Science Education Week

I feel extremely lucky. My job at Google is to find and support the next generation of Black, Latino and Indigenous leaders with a passion for computer science (CS). As a Black woman, this role has a deep meaning for me. In fact, it’s the job I’ve always dreamed of — one that bridges my passion for computer science and equity. And, I get to work with people who look like me.

<https://www.blog.google/outreach-initiatives/code-with-google/igniting-spark-computer-science-education-week/>