Return to Country Program pioneers new approach to unlocking STEM pathways for Indigenous students

The University of Melbourne Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT) is pioneering a new Return to Country Program to spark interest in STEM pathways among Indigenous regional, rural and remote communities, with a group of FEIT Indigenous staff and students visiting schools and Indigenous communities in regional New South Wales this week.

<https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/february/return-to-country-program-pioneers-new-approach-to-unlocking-stem-pathways-for-indigenous-students>

School of the Air employs governesses to help with outback NSW

It is standard practice for most school-age children to be in the classroom among their peers throughout the school year. But for bush kids living in remote Australia, schooling is a virtual experience.

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-16/school-of-the-air-governesses-help-outback-nsw-sa-education/103467142>

School Improvement Episode 50: Award-winning STEM teachers

The longstanding Prime Minister’s Prizes for Excellence in Science Teaching recognise one primary and one secondary STEM teacher for their outstanding contribution to the field. The 2023 winners were announced late last year and in this episode, we speak with them both about the work they’ve been recognised for.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/school-improvement-episode-50-award-winning-stem-teachers>

Expert Q&A: Building students’ ICT skills

NAP-ICT Literacy measures the skills of Australian students in year 6 and 10. In our latest expert Q&A we catch up with Dr Tim Friedman and Dr Kristy Osborne from the Australian Council for Educational Research to find out more about recent revisions to the assessment, what teachers can learn from the latest round of data, and classroom activities to support student learning.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/expert-q-a-building-students-ict-skills>

3 ways to help your child transition off screens and avoid the dreaded ‘tech tantrums’

Many Australian parents worry about how much time their children spend watching screens. While some time on devices is fine for entertainment and education, we also know it is important children do things away from TVs and devices.

<https://theconversation.com/3-ways-to-help-your-child-transition-off-screens-and-avoid-the-dreaded-tech-tantrums-220138>

Screen time doesn’t have to be sedentary: 3 ways it can get kids moving

There have been concerns about screens making kids more sedentary and less active since TV was introduced more than half a century ago.

<https://theconversation.com/screen-time-doesnt-have-to-be-sedentary-3-ways-it-can-get-kids-moving-223460>

EduTECH keynote speaker a pioneer in AI-powered learning

The founder of a not-for-profit organisation piloting an AI tool that acts as a personalised tutor and teaching assistant has been confirmed as EduTECH keynote speaker this year.

<https://www.educationmattersmag.com.au/exclusive-edutech-keynote-speaker-a-pioneer-in-ai-powered-learning/>

Unlocking tech industry career pathways for young people

The Albanese Labor Government is helping more young people, including those experiencing disadvantage or increased barriers to employment, receive training and experience for future careers in tech with the launch of a Virtual Work Experience Program. The program – a result of the Albanese Labor Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit and designed by the Tech Council of Australia – aims to help young people and post-school leavers aged 14-25 build their skillset through online modules that were designed in collaboration with companies including Microsoft, the Commonwealth Bank and the National Broadband Network.

<https://ministers.education.gov.au/rishworth/unlocking-tech-industry-career-pathways-young-people>

Opening pathways to tech jobs for more young Australians

The Tech Council Australia (TCA) has launched a national virtual work experience program for tech jobs that will be delivered in partnership with leading education group Year13. CBA, along with some of Australia’s leading tech companies and members of the Digital Employment Forum, including Microsoft and nbn®, have signed up as initial program partners. They will be delivering virtual work experiences in high-demand roles like software and networking engineering, cyber security, and data science.

<https://www.commbank.com.au/articles/newsroom/2024/02/cba-virtual-work-experience-program.html>

New program opening up tech career pathways for more young people

Young Australians, particularly those experiencing disadvantage, will be given a boost to gain work in the growing technology sector as part of a new training program.

<https://educationhq.com/news/new-program-opening-up-tech-career-pathways-for-more-young-people-166985/>

NSW secondary school sees more IRL interaction after phone ban

Mobile phones will be officially banned in schools starting next term, but some schools have already implemented the policy.

<https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/first-up/audio/2018926756/nsw-secondary-school-sees-more-irl-interaction-after-phone-ban>

Asking the hard questions about COVID school closures: The Herald's View

For more than two years, the Herald has been a vocal proponent of the need for a sweeping inquiry into how our nation responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal should not be to lay blame but to learn important lessons by asking uncomfortable questions about whether we should make different decisions when the next pandemic strikes.

<https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/asking-the-uncomfortable-questions-about-covid-school-closures-20240218-p5f5t2.html>

‘We made the wrong decisions’: COVID-era mass school closures condemned: losing Sydney’s schools was one of the biggest - and most controversial - calls during the pandemic. But was it really necessary?

Mass school closures that stretched for months during the pandemic were unnecessary and led to a cascade of social and educational problems that threaten a generation of Australian children, top education experts say.

<https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/we-made-the-wrong-decisions-covid-era-mass-school-closures-condemned-20240214-p5f521.html>

Violence, anxiety in students as young as 5: Marks of the COVID generation: In part two of this series, experts discuss reports of students struggling and teachers being physically attacked in the aftermath of school closures during the pandemic.

Young children are losing control and hitting out at teachers, while older students are struggling with anger management and problem-solving because they could not practise key social skills when schools shut during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their difficulties are turbocharging anxiety, depression and technology abuse, a panel of top psychologists and educators has warned.

<https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/violence-anxiety-in-students-as-young-as-5-marks-of-the-covid-generation-20240213-p5f4n1.html>

Teenagers the biggest losers of COVID-era school closures: In the third and final part of this series, experts say the impact of COVID-era school closures on a generation of students is still unclear.

Teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds are still struggling to make up lost ground years after pandemic-era school closures, while experts warn the full impact of 1.2 million children missing out on months of in-person learning remains unclear. The Sydney Morning Herald convened a panel of top educators to assess the impact of COVID-19 on students after the federal government failed to include the decision to close schools in its independent inquiry into how the nation managed the pandemic.

<https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/teenagers-the-biggest-losers-of-covid-era-school-closures-20240215-p5f588.html>

Building a better future with STEM

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is one of the most talked about topics in education, highlighting scientific research, problem solving, critical thinking and creativity.

<https://narrabricourier.com.au/2024/02/16/building-a-better-future-with-stem/>

Teaching for the future: when careers start in the classroom [subscription]

<https://www.theleader.com.au/story/8515611/james-cook-boys-high-school-stem-coordinator-wins-10000-scholarship/>

What Is Age-Appropriate Use of AI? 4 Developmental Stages to Know About

Child development experts and teachers offer advice on when K-12 students should start using AI-powered tech and for what purposes.

<https://www.edweek.org/technology/what-is-age-appropriate-use-of-ai-4-developmental-stages-to-know-about/2024/02>

 AI Is Common Thread Through the Big Challenges Schools Are Facing, New Report Says

Recruiting and retaining educators, cybersecurity, and scaling innovation across schools are some of the biggest challenges.

<https://www.edweek.org/technology/ai-is-common-thread-through-the-big-challenges-schools-are-facing-new-report-says/2024/02>