More structure, less screen time, makes for healthier children

Vacation care, sports programs, or performing arts – whatever a child’s interests, researchers say that adding structure to the school holiday is a great way to keep kids healthy and active over the break.

<https://www.educationmattersmag.com.au/more-structure-less-screen-time-makes-for-healthier-children/>

More structure, fewer screens equals healthier kids in school holidays: research [subscription]

Vacation care, sports programs, or performing arts – whatever a child’s interests, researchers say that adding structure to the school holiday period is a great way to keep kids healthy and active over the break.

<https://educationhq.com/news/more-structure-fewer-screens-equals-healthier-kids-in-school-holidays-research-145582/>

Education reforms needed to make Australia a ‘global STEM superpower’ [subscription]

Australia’s peak body representing scientists and technologists is calling for ambitious new targets to boost the number of students studying STEM subjects.

<https://educationhq.com/news/education-reforms-needed-to-make-australia-a-global-stem-superpower-145408/>

These jobs will drive Adelaide for years to come

Australia has to act now if we are to build a workforce capable of sustaining the next generation of nuclear-powered submarines, as announced in the AUKUS agreement last year. ... Mr Davis explained the nature of the skills needed means we must encourage an uptake of more STEM subjects in schools and universities, but also retain and retrain those people currently skilled in these professions and trades.

<https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sponsored/JKwxTdWk74WqfEDmEcDJ/these-jobs-will-drive-adelaide-for-years-to-come/>

Time for a 'national, best practice approach' to phone bans: Clare [subscription]

A national school phone ban could soon come into effect.

<https://educationhq.com/news/time-for-a-national-best-practice-approach-to-phone-bans-clare-145293/>

Ground-breaking new institute promises to close the digital skills gap

A new institute is offering a revolutionary approach to education, allowing students to build their digital skills incrementally, without having to commit upfront to years of study.

<https://edublog.microsoft.com/en-au/2023/04/ground-breaking-new-institute-promises-to-close-the-digital-skills-gap/>

Full STEM ahead for the Hastings Heroes

When it comes to robotics, Hastings Secondary College has terabytes of talent.

<https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/full-stem-ahead-for-the-hastings-heroes->

Books vs. Screens: What Does the Latest Research Say?

Digital texts can be useful for teaching certain foundational skills, but they do not equally develop cognitive patience and slower, deeper processes in the brain that serve comprehension, retention and focus.

<https://www.govtech.com/education/k-12/books-vs-screens-what-does-the-latest-research-say>

Tackling phishing

Phishing is the term used for all types of scams that bypass cyber defences by tricking people into handing over information. Bad actors use it to steal money, install ransomware or steal private data. Often they are looking for passwords.

<https://www.n4l.co.nz/tackling-phishing/>

Celebrate the limitless power of Dyslexic Thinking

Of the more than 7 billion people on earth today, 1 in 5 of them are dyslexic. Understanding Dyslexic Thinking skills—creativity and inventiveness—are fundamental to the fabric of the future.

<https://educationblog.microsoft.com/en-us/2023/04/celebrate-the-limitless-power-of-dyslexic-thinking>

Banning ChatGPT will do more harm than good: A high school senior argues that ChatGPT can help reshape education for the better.

The release of ChatGPT has sent shock waves through the halls of higher education. Universities have rushed to release guidelines on how it can be used in the classroom. Professors have taken to social media to share a spectrum of AI policies. And students—whether or not they’ll admit it—have cautiously experimented with the idea of allowing it to play a part in their academic work.

<https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/04/14/1071194/chatgpt-ai-high-school-education-first-person/>

Surveys: Educators Approve of ChatGPT for K-12, College

Two separate entities conducted nationwide studies, one in the first week of February and another in the first week of April, showing that the AI tool is popular at school on both sides of the lectern.

<https://www.govtech.com/education/k-12/survey-educators-approve-of-chatgpt-for-k-12-college>

Policies, People, and Protective Measures: Legal Requirements for K-12 Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity has become an increasingly pressing issue in K-12 education, as incidents have continued to escalate in frequency and severity. Responses to K-12 cyber attacks have focused on providing resources to educational institutions, increasing coordination and information sharing, and enforcing legal obligations.

<https://cdt.org/insights/policies-people-and-protective-measures-legal-requirements-for-k-12-cybersecurity/>

Can technology help schools prevent AI-based cheating?

Since the public release of ChatGPT took the world by storm last fall, many educators have worried about students using the highly advanced, artificially intelligent chatbot for cheating on school assignments by passing off AI-generated work as their own. But if AI can be used to produce written content, can it also be used to determine whether a piece of writing was created by AI or by a human being?

<https://www.eschoolnews.com/digital-learning/2023/04/14/can-technology-help-schools-prevent-ai-based-cheating/>

What Educators Think About Using AI in Schools

From concerns about harms to ideas on how it will change education, here’s what educators said about the use of AI in K-12.

<https://www.edweek.org/technology/what-educators-think-about-using-ai-in-schools/2023/04>

Preparing students for the future

According to a 2023 survey conducted by Manpower Group, 77 percent of employers report difficulty in finding skilled employees. Employers seek both technical skills and soft skills, including self-discipline, problem-solving, and critical thinking. In today’s continuously evolving job market, it is important to prepare students with the skills they need for the future, regardless of their grade level. In fact, it is estimated that around 85 percent of the jobs that students will be doing by 2030 don’t even exist yet.

<https://educationblog.microsoft.com/en-us/2023/04/preparing-students-for-the-future>

Achieve more in the classroom with new Teams features

Microsoft Teams for Education has been a game-changer for educators who want to create a more collaborative and organized learning environment. With its ability to bring meetings, content, and apps together in one place, Teams has become a go-to digital hub for educators. Now with even more dynamic updates, Teams is offering new and exciting features that can help students and educators achieve even more in the classroom.

<https://educationblog.microsoft.com/en-us/2023/03/achieve-more-in-the-classroom-with-new-teams-features>

Exploring new opportunities with AI in education

In schools around the world, education leaders, educators, and students are exploring the power of AI to save time, personalize learning, and increase the efficiency of their operations. Although AI has already been used to boost inclusivity and productivity, recent advancements offer the opportunity to reimagine solutions to longstanding challenges in education at a time when they are perhaps needed most.

<https://educationblog.microsoft.com/en-us/2023/03/exploring-new-opportunities-with-ai-in-education>

How STEM Education Improves Student Learning

Why should a child learn STEM? Perhaps they aren't particularly interested in timetables or the periodic table (I know I wasn't when I was a kid!), and you don't want to force it on them. Or maybe it doesn't seem very applicable to their daily experiences.

<https://stemeducationguide.com/how-stem-education-improves-student-learning/>

App Lab Physical Computing lessons now feature the micro:bit

The BBC micro:bit has now been integrated to Code.org’s App Lab to add the benefits of making to the classroom.

<https://www.microbit.org/news/2023-04-04/app-lab-physical-computing-lessons-now-feature-the-microbit/>