Another school has banned mobile phones but research shows bans don’t stop bullying or improve student grades

This week, one Sydney high school made headlines for banning mobile phones during school hours. Phones can come to school but must stay in locked pouches allowing teachers to “focus on educating students”.

<https://theconversation.com/another-school-has-banned-mobile-phones-but-research-shows-bans-dont-stop-bullying-or-improve-student-grades-188435>

Why is tech giant Apple trying to teach our teachers?

Apple products are already a central part of our lives in so many ways. We use them to work, socialise, monitor our heart rates, pay for things and watch TV. But did you know they are also involved in teaching school teachers?

<https://theconversation.com/why-is-tech-giant-apple-trying-to-teach-our-teachers-186752>

Surfing the edtech wave: the future is online education

Edtech Never in the history of education has online learning been so important. But there’s a big difference between teaching online, and providing quality online education, say researchers at the University of South Australia.

<https://www.unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2022/surfing-the-edtech-wave-the-future-is-online-education/>

Recycling robo-bin among innovations to solve circular economy gap

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, is unveiling the latest innovations in recycling this National Science Week to inspire the next generation of leaders who will lead our circular economy-focused future.

<https://www.csiro.au/en/news/News-releases/2022/Recycling-robo-bin-among-innovations-to-solve-circular-economy-gap>

CSIRO unveils circular economy innovations

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, unveiled the latest innovations in recycling for National Science Week to inspire the next generation of leaders who will lead the country’s circular economy-focused future.

<https://www.packagingnews.com.au/sustainability/csiro-unveils-circular-economy-innovations>

What makes an award-winning STEM program

The most recent TIMSS report shows that Australia has climbed into top 10 in Year 8 maths and science, and Year 4 science – progress the government hopes to maintain through a raft of changes to the Australian Curriculum.

<https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/what-makes-an-awardwinning-stem-program/280860>

Young Academics launches STEAM workshops during Science Week

Children attending Young Academics centres will soon benefit from weekly science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (S.T.E.A.M) workshops with dedicated educators employed to deliver the program from Term Four.

<https://thesector.com.au/2022/08/23/young-academics-launches-steam-workshops-during-science-week/>

CSIRO Robot Olympics prize money reinvested in future Aussie scientists [university]

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, will fund a $1.2 million scholarship program at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to train the next generation of aspiring Australian roboticists.

<https://www.csiro.au/en/news/News-releases/2022/CSIRO-Robot-Olympics-prize-money-reinvested-in-future-Aussie-scientists>

Parents and screen time: are you a ‘contract maker’ or an ‘access denier’ with your child?

Screen time was a battle for parents before COVID and it continues to be a battle, long after lockdowns have ended. The Royal Children’s Hospital March 2021 child health poll found too much screen time was parents’ number-one health concern about their kids, with more than 90% of surveyed parents saying it’s a problem.

<https://theconversation.com/parents-and-screen-time-are-you-a-contract-maker-or-an-access-denier-with-your-child-188977>

‘Screen time’ for kids is an outdated concept, so let’s ditch it and focus on quality instead

It is school holidays in Australia and, in many parts of the country, it’s also raining and bitterly cold. This means many children are stuck indoors and many parents will be grappling with how much “screen time” their kids are having.

<https://theconversation.com/screen-time-for-kids-is-an-outdated-concept-so-lets-ditch-it-and-focus-on-quality-instead-186462>

Reimagining assessment to promote learning

At Research Conference 2022, ACER CEO Professor Geoff Masters AO presented an alternative to traditional assessment models, highlighting ways to monitor learning and broaden student skills and attributes. This model will help establish and understand where learners are in their long-term learning progress; evaluate growth over time; and provide teachers, students, parents, school leaders, system managers and governments with quality information to promote further learning.

<https://www.acer.org/au/discover/article/reimagining-assessment-to-promote-learning>

Q&A: Meeting learner needs by reimagining classroom assessment and feedback

ACER’s Research Conference 2022 has kicked off today, and this afternoon delegates who attended Dr Fabienne van der Kleij’s presentation, ‘Reimagining classroom assessment and feedback to meet learner needs’, learned about the advantages of a student-centred approach to classroom assessment and feedback.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/q-a-meeting-learner-needs-by-reimagining-classroom-assessment-and-feedback>

Connecting, collaborating, and creating in the modern classroom

The JB Hi-Fi Education BYOD program at Eltham High School is equipping students and educators with excellent devices for teaching and learning while making the process – from purchasing to repairing – straightforward and seamless for everyone.

<https://www.educationmattersmag.com.au/connecting-collaborating-creating-for-the-modern-classroom/>

Melbourne edtech raises $3.3 million to help schools improve student performance and wellbeing

Melbourne data analytics startup Intellischool has raised $3.3 million as it looks to go global with its edutech platform.

<https://www.startupdaily.net/topic/funding/melbourne-edtech-raises-a3-3-million-to-help-schools-improve-student-performance-and-wellbeing/>

Maitland students share their tech-spertise

Maitland Grossmann High School students have been sharing their expertise in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) with East Maitland Public school students.

<https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/maitland-students-share-their-tech-spertise>

Dungog High School students have won the Hunter Robocup Junior competition

A pair of year eight students at Dungog High School have won first place in the Hunter Robocup Junior competition.

<https://www.dungogchronicle.com.au/story/7864184/dungog-students-toy-with-technique-to-take-home-robocup-title/>

When should you talk to kids about online safety?

Parenting today involves raising kids who are surrounded by technology and smartphones. As a mother of two young kids, making sure they understand online safety is a top priority of mine. Children are spending more time than ever looking at screens, and at younger ages. Finding that balance of online and offline, setting boundaries, and having those conversations are critical for creating a healthy and safer experience online.

<https://blog.google/technology/families/when-should-you-talk-to-kids-about-online-safety/> 

New Teams features help improve your classroom’s well-being

Listening to and empathizing with students through ongoing dialogue is vital to their current and future success. And with the right tools educators can foster an environment where students feel heard and help keep a pulse on their emotional well-being.

<https://educationblog.microsoft.com/en-us/2022/08/new-teams-features-help-improve-your-classrooms-well-being>