Australian STEM Video Game Challenge

Now is a great time to engage your students in the Australian STEM Video Game Challenge. It’s linked to Australian/state curricula, so it’s fun AND informative! Win, win!

<https://inteact.act.edu.au/2023/05/11/australian-stem-video-game-challenge/>

Explore STEM lesson plans

Engineering from farm to table | Years 5–6: Students are invited to become food and fibre engineers to research how wheat, the largest agricultural crop in Australia, gets from the farm to the table. They will build and improve models of key agricultural or production technologies. TikTok science stories | Years 7–8: Students learn about the diverse roles of science communicators and are challenged to create their own science communication text in a contemporary medium; Designing urban carbon sinks | Years 9–10; In this lesson, students learn about the role of vegetation as carbon sinks, conduct field work to evaluate local carbon sinks and explore urban design issues.

<http://edservaus.createsend.com/t/ViewEmailArchive/r/8174C3BA08F440CE2540EF23F30FEDED/C67FD2F38AC4859C/>

PBL in STEM – enhancing learning and teaching

In the second of 3 articles about research into Problem Based Learning in schools, teachers involved in the project discuss how it has enabled them to reconsider their classroom practice and the conditions necessary for meaningful STEM learning.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/pbl-in-stem-enhancing-learning-and-teaching>

Teacher recruitment through online games

Researchers from the University of York are hoping to address teacher shortages in the UK by recruiting new teacher graduates to the profession using online games and simulations. The 3-year project also aims to build a better understanding of what might attract STEM undergraduates to teaching.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/teacher-recruitment-through-online-games>

We want to hear from you!

This is your opportunity to ‘Have Your Say’ in the future direction and services provided by Scootle. Scootle was developed in 2007 with the aim of providing teacher with access to digital resources and learning objects. Over time Scootle was adopted nationally and has been a key resource for teachers in supporting the implementation of the Australian Curriculum. The teaching community have significant impact and input in providing clear direction and feedback on the functionality teachers want and need in the design and delivery of Scootle.

<https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7292450/Scootle-research>

Lesson ideas for your classroom

Can an AI recognise what you are drawing? | Years F–2: This lesson provides an opportunity to incorporate representation of data using a relevant context being studied in the classroom. Making maths quizzes 1: Plan and test our programs | Years 5–6: In this sequence of lessons students plan, create and edit a program that will ask maths questions that are harder or easier depending on user performance; Coding for GUIs (Javascript edition) | Years 9–10: This lesson sequence provides step-by-step video tutorials and challenges to incorporate Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) into your General Purpose Programming. 

<https://www.digitaltechnologieshub.edu.au/teach-and-assess/classroom-resources/lesson-ideas/>

Join a STEM workshop 

Keen to find out about using drones in the classroom to engage your students in real-world STEM challenges? Join She Maps for a one-of-a-kind Teacher PL workshop. This curriculum-aligned PL session is subsidised by the Australian Government's Department of Education, and its $50 sign-up cost includes access to She Maps online teaching resources for the rest of 2023.

<https://shemaps.com/teacher-professional-learning-workshops/>

More than 1,300 schools to receive funding for school upgrades and new equipment

Today I am announcing that more than 1,300 schools will benefit from a share of $32 million in grants to upgrade school infrastructure and equipment. The funding will be provided to schools for projects including: ... New tablets and laptops.

<https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/more-1300-schools-receive-funding-school-upgrades-and-new-equipment>

Many teachers find planning with colleagues a waste of time

Creating protected time for teachers to collaborate with colleagues provides – in theory – an opportunity for teachers to improve teaching, and reduces the time they have to spend in the evenings and on weekends preparing for class.

<https://grattan.edu.au/news/many-teachers-find-planning-with-colleagues-a-waste-of-time/>

ACARA releases new Australian Curriculum resource for teachers

New curriculum support resources for teachers are now available on a professional learning hub launched by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).

<https://www.educationmattersmag.com.au/acara-releases-important-new-australian-curriculum-support-resource-for-teachers/>

New learning hub to guide curriculum implementation subscription]

The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has launched an online hub to help teachers get to grips with the new curriculum.

<https://educationhq.com/news/new-learning-hub-to-guide-curriculum-implementation-146610/#>

ChatGPT lesson activity: Secondary students testing the fallibility of AI

While ChatGPT can save students time from searching through textbooks or online databases, the AI-generated content is not always accurate. Steve Brophy from Ivanhoe Grammar School in Victoria assigned students the task of testing the fallibility of ChatGPT with the lesson activity: Would you lie to me?

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/chatgpt-lesson-activity-secondary-students-testing-the-fallibility-of-ai> 

Esports in K12 Education - Online Reflection Seminar

Given the overwhelming popularity of video gaming among young people, it is not surprising the rise of esports as a booming industry, with an estimated audience of 532.1 million worldwide. But esports is also a relatively new approach to teaching that utilises competitive video gaming as a tool for learning, promising to promote the development of 21st-century skills, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic planning.

<http://www.eun.org/news/detail?articleId=9957477>