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AUSTRALIAN

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Inside the fight to make Western Sydney Australia’s AI engine

Western Sydney could be an AI talent engine, but career literacy, transport and access still hold students back. And that’s bad for SMEs.

<https://www.startupdaily.net/topic/women-in-tech-news-analysis/inside-the-fight-to-make-western-sydney-australias-ai-engine/>

 

How CSIRO is guiding Australia's responsible AI adoption

As AI adoption accelerates, CSIRO is applying science and engineering to build responsible AI systems Australians can trust.

<https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/Articles/2025/December/How-CSIRO-is-guiding-Australias-responsible-AI-adoption>

 

How to make online platforms safer for young people

The tech industry’s unofficial motto for two decades was “move fast and break things”. It was a philosophy that broke more than just taxi monopolies or hotel chains. It also constructed a digital world filled with risks for our most vulnerable.

<https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/how-to-make-online-platforms-safer-for-young-people/288660>

 

Evaluating the validity of SimTeach lessons as an alternative to face-to-face classroom observations

Abstract: Class observations are a widely used form of professional development. They are also used for measuring teaching quality of both in-service and pre-service teachers. While they have demonstrated benefits when utilised as a form of professional development, if used for evaluative purposes, they can be overwhelming for teachers, students and observers alike. This study aims to explore whether observing simulated lessons is a valid alternative to traditional physical classroom observations.

<https://ajet.org.au/index.php/AJET/article/view/10536>

 

NYSF 2013: Where STEM, and a love story, began for Patrick and Beth

When Beth Metcalfe and Patrick Grant attended the NYSF Year 12 Program in 2013, neither could have predicted the role it would play in shaping both their careers and their future together. Now based on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Beth is a veterinarian, and Patrick is a polymer chemist. The two are preparing to get married next year.

<https://www.nysf.edu.au/nysf-2013-where-stem-and-a-love-story-began-for-patrick-and-beth/>

 

What we can learn from Australia’s social media ban [The Hill]

Let’s start with a thought experiment: Pretend you could design America’s K–12 education system from scratch. Knowing what we now know about how technology shapes our economy, national security, and daily life, would we really debate whether AI education and computer science belong in it? We might argue about who should teach it and how much to include, but it’s hard to imagine building a modern school system that didn’t make this foundational knowledge for every student.

<https://au.news.yahoo.com/opinion-learn-australia-social-media-190000047.html>

 

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STATE

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Hackers access names, emails of Victorian students in data breach

Hackers have accessed the information of current and past Victorian government school students in a major data breach.

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-14/student-data-breach-victorian-education-department/106230114>

Supporting children and young people after seeing distressing content online

Online spaces should be safe for everyone, but you may sometimes come across content that is distressing. This could include content that depicts harm or violence.

<https://education.nt.gov.au/news/2025/supporting-children-and-young-people-after-seeing-distressing-content-online>

 

How artificial intelligence is being used across the ACT to provide vital services

... AI is also influencing the ACT school system. Students have been dabbling in AI to help with their assessments (without approval) for years, but the ACT education system is now at the starting line of incorporating approved AI tools for teachers and students.

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-04/how-act-government-is-using-ai-across-services/106137618>

 

2025 Wrap Up

There is so much to like about ECAWA and the people involved in 2025. Many things to consider. In 2025 ECAWA went through a period of rebirth and reconfiguration. ECAWA was first configured in the 1970s, and then incorporated in 1987.

<https://ecawa.wa.edu.au/2026/01/04/2025-wrap-up/>

 

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LOCAL

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Mount Lockyer teacher wins award for Noongar coding

A primary school teacher from Mount Lockyer has been recognised for integrating Indigenous culture with digital technology, winning a state award for her innovative teaching methods.

<https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/mount-lockyer-teacher-wins-award-for-noongar-coding/288745>

 

Malanda students put school on the map

Luke Turner, Isaac Krems, Braxton Palmer, and Sophie Lynch had plenty to be proud about after competing against 55 other primary school teams from across the country at the National VEX Robotics Championships. 

<https://www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au/malanda-students-put-school-on-the-map-2026-01-13>

 

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MISCELLANEOUS

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AI teachers and cybernetics - what could the world look like in 2050?

The last 25 years has seen some mind-bending technological changes. At the start of the century, most computers connected to the internet with noisy dial-up connections, Netflix was an online DVD rental company, and the vast majority of people hadn't even heard of a smartphone. Fast forward two and a half decades, and innovations in AI, robotics and much else besides are emerging at an incredible rate. So we decided to ask experts what the next 25 years could bring. ... Futurist and author Tracey Follows, who helped write a government White Paper on UK education in 2050, believes learning will take place across "virtual and physical realities" using AI teachers which "adjust in real time". Rather than textbooks, she predicts children will use "immersive simulations". Meanwhile, education will be less standardised, with each child's individual DNA or biometric data studied to understand how they learn best.

<https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c865n800d5jo>

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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

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The Potential Impact of ChatGPT on Education: Using History as a Rearview Mirror

Technology is a key driver of social change in today's world. However, the history of technological development shows that not all technologies become part of the education system and change and promote educational practices; this space is reserved for technologies that exert extensive influence while changing and promoting the fundamental propositions of educational practices. Regarding ChatGPT and other generative AI in education that have recently been intensely discussed (Su & Yang, 2023), do they have the potential to become the next breakthrough technology that changes the form of education as we know it? When at a turning point, looking toward the future, history serves as an invaluable analytical lens. Using history as a “rearview mirror,” this study analyzes the changing influence of technology on education throughout history and identifies the potential impact of ChatGPT on the future of education.

<https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20965311231189826>

Systematic Review of Artificial Intelligence in Education: Trends, Benefits, and Challenges

Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how we teach and learn, generating excitement and concern about its potential to transform education. To contribute to the debate, this systematic literature review examines current research trends (publication year, country of study, publication journal, education level, education field, and AI type), as well as the benefits and challenges of integrating AI into education. This review analyzed 155 peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2015 and 2025. The review reveals a significant increase in research activity since 2022, reflecting the impact of generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT. Studies highlight a range of benefits, including enhanced learning outcomes, personalized instruction, and increased student motivation. However, there are challenges to overcome, such as students’ ethical use of AI, teachers’ resistance to using AI systems, and the digital dependency these systems can generate. These findings show AI’s potential to enhance education; however, its success depends on careful implementation and collaboration among educators, researchers, and policymakers to ensure meaningful and equitable outcomes.

<https://www.mdpi.com/2414-4088/9/8/84>

 

Artificial Intelligence for Enhancing Special Education for K-12: A Decade of Trends, Themes, and Global Insights (2013–2023)

Abstract: This paper provided a review of 210 studies on AI-enhanced special education from 2013 to 2023. Through bibliometric analysis, this review aimed to explore trends, focus areas, developments, and evolving themes of the field of AI for enhancing special education. Several noteworthy findings emerged from our analysis. The trend analysis of publications and citations revealed distinct phases, including an initial exploratory phase (2013–2016) followed by a period of rapid development (2017–2023).

<https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40593-024-00422-0>

AI, learning and education

Developed boldly and responsibly with learning science at the core, AI stands to be a powerful force in improving learning outcomes for everyone, everywhere.

<https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/ai-learning-education/>

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STEM

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How can we teach about AI in the arts, humanities and sciences? Research seminar series 2026

For the last five years, once a month, we have hosted an online seminar sharing computing education research. Seminars are organised as usually year-long series with changing themes. In 2025, for example, our theme was ‘Teaching about AI and data science’. In 2024, it was ‘Teaching programming (with or without AI)’.

<https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/how-can-we-teach-about-ai-in-the-arts-humanities-and-sciences-research-seminar-series-2026/>

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CODING & ROBOTICS

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Learning from Code Clubs around the world: How approaches differ but values are shared

Every week, young people around the world gather in libraries, classrooms, community centres, and makerspaces to create with code. From Gujarat to Glasgow, Nairobi to New Jersey, the settings may differ, but the energy is unmistakable.

<https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/learning-from-code-clubs-around-the-world-how-approaches-differ-but-values-are-shared/> 

Our impact in 2025

With breakthroughs in accessibility and huge project milestones reached, 2025 has been full of achievements for the Micro:bit Educational Foundation and our community.

<https://www.microbit.org/news/2025-12-29/our-impact-in-2025/>

A practical guide to teaching with the BBC micro:bit in 2026

Start the year with confidence and make the most of your BBC micro:bit with practical, classroom-ready support.

<https://www.microbit.org/news/2026-01-01/2026-new-year-top-tips/>