Investigation reveals tracking by EdTech of millions of Australian school students during COVID lockdowns

More than 4 million Australian school students were at risk of unprecedented tracking and surveillance during remote learning as corporations exploited their access to children.

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-25/investigation-reveals-educational-tech-tracking-children-data/101091808>

Millions of Australian school students tracked by education technology companies during lockdown

Tonight 7:30 can reveal the results of an exclusive investigation revealing how education technology companies treated the data of millions of Australian school children.

<https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/millions-of-australian-school-students-tracked-by/13899246>

Governments Harm Children’s Rights in Online Learning

Governments of 49 of the world’s most populous countries harmed children’s rights by endorsing online learning products during Covid-19 school closures without adequately protecting children’s privacy, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The report was released simultaneously with publications by media organizations around the world that had early access to the Human Rights Watch findings and engaged in an independent collaborative investigation.

<https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/05/25/governments-harm-childrens-rights-online-learning>

Students, Not Products

We think our kids are safe in school online. But many of them are being surveilled, and parents have often been kept in the dark. Kids are priceless, not products.

<https://www.hrw.org/StudentsNotProducts>

‘Dystopian’: Govt-endorsed education apps surveilling Australian children

A number of education apps and websites endorsed by Australian governments and used throughout the pandemic have been surveilling and tracking children and sending their data to advertisers, according to a report by Human Rights Watch.

<https://www.innovationaus.com/dystopian-govt-endorsed-education-apps-surveilling-australian-children/>

Census provides snapshot of how Australia’s youngest learners fared during COVID-19

The latest Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) that shows Australian children have been remarkably resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic.

<https://www.educationmattersmag.com.au/census-provides-snapshot-of-how-australias-youngest-learners-fared-during-covid-19/>

Kids in remote areas lag in learning development – new research

New data analysis released by The Front Project has found the percentage of children experiencing developmental vulnerability before they start school is significantly higher in remote and outer regional areas than in cities.

<https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/kids-in-remote-areas-lag-in-learning-development--new-research/280267>

Infographic: Student reading in a digital age

An OECD report 21st-Century Readers: Developing Literacy Skills in a Digital World analyses data from the 2018 PISA test and student survey to report on the reading habits of 15-year-olds in OECD countries. Find out more about how reading in digital and paper formats affects students’ reading performance and enjoyment in today's infographic.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/infographic-student-reading-in-a-digital-age>

School Improvement Episode 39: Focusing on the priorities

How have things changed for schools over the last two years of the pandemic, and what are the improvement priorities now for teachers, principals and communities on the ground? Professor Pauline Taylor-Guy joins us for the latest episode in our School Improvement podcast series.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/school-improvement-episode-39-focusing-on-the-priorities>

Game-based program helps autistic kids learn social skills

A successful game-based program that teaches social skills to neurodiverse children and teenagers has been secured the University of Melbourne’s backing to drive its expansion.

<https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/gamebased-program-helps-autistic-kids-learn-social-skills/280271>

How to supercharge your school’s video learning in 2022

In 2018, a report by Cisco predicted that 82% of all created content would be video. However, the COVID-19 pandemic shifted learning from face-to-face to online over the course of 2020, where ClickView saw a staggering 138% increase in video demand.

<https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/how-to-supercharge-your-schools-video-learning-in-2022/280173>

Education Ministers agree a new curriculum

Australian schools will have a new curriculum to teach in schools from 2023 after Education Ministers endorsed the revised Version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum.

<https://www.educationmattersmag.com.au/education-ministers-agree-a-new-australian-curriculum/>

Almost 60% of teachers say they want out. What is Labor going to do for an exhausted school sector?

During the 2022 federal election campaign, schools barely rated a mention. While the Labor government’s cabinet will not be finalised until next week, we expect Tanya Plibersek to become education minister. She will have plenty to do.

<https://theconversation.com/almost-60-of-teachers-say-they-want-out-what-is-labor-going-to-do-for-an-exhausted-school-sector-183452>

Lockdowns caused 'high psychological distress' in 70pc of high school students, study finds

A national survey of young people taken during 2021's pandemic and lockdowns has found more than 70 per cent of students whose studies were disrupted faced high psychological distress.

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-25/lockdown-mental-health-effects-students-research/101094088>

AIIA urge Labor to appoint dedicated Digital Minister following election victory [AIIA news release]

Australia's peak body for innovation technology, the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), congratulates the incoming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his team following its victory at the federal election.

<https://35hddx2cwawgt701l2sq0v5c-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AIIA-Response-to-Federal-Election.pdf>

Wagga Wagga students crowned national STEM champions

Four senior students from Wagga Wagga Christian College recently travelled to Melbourne to compete in the National Finals for the SUBS in Schools Technology Challenge, where they were able to show off 18 months of work. The team known as 'The Kraken' built and controlled an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) which they describe as an 'submarine of sorts'.

<https://www.abc.net.au/radio/riverina/programs/breakfast/wagga-christian-school-stem-champions/13896068>

Introducing the New Microsoft Learn Educator Center

In support of assisting educators, school leaders, and training partners in the changing education landscape, we are excited to invite the education community to try the Microsoft Learn Educator Center. It is Microsoft’s centralized training and professional development platform where you can explore resources for educators and learn about programs, professional development offerings, and Microsoft technologies that advance teaching and learning practices. The Microsoft Learn Educator Center has replaced the Microsoft Educator Center (MEC) as our new home for the education community.

<https://educationblog.microsoft.com/en-us/2022/05/introducing-the-new-microsoft-learn-educator-center>