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AUSTRALIAN

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Coronavirus has revealed an education failure forcing Queensland families to take desperate measures

Jamie-lee Cullen knows her three children are not getting the same education as those from wealthier families. She has done all she can to help them — but it's not enough."Everything is online these days and unfortunately I'm stuck in the dark ages," she said.

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-28/queensland-coronavirus-education-technology-failure-internet/12177438>

Eight big issues for vulnerable students highlighted by coronavirus crisis, charity says

She's only six years old, but Sylvana's education has already served up challenges most kids won't even need to think about during their entire school life. When the COVID-19 crisis closed her school, Sylvana was forced to switch to online learning in a home that didn't even have a computer.

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-25/coronavirus-students-back-to-school-education-digital-divide/12273772>

Principal says her school was 'forgotten' during the coronavirus lockdown

A principal says her school was "forgotten about" during the coronavirus pandemic, with none of her students able to take part in online learning. When Cabbage Tree Island Public School went into homeschooling mode in March, only one family had a laptop.

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-27/cabbage-tree-island-school-overlooked-with-homeschooling-tech/12288446>

ICT educators online development

The ICT Educators Virtual Development Series from ACS is designed to support teachers and educators drive high-quality computing education and to deliver better technology outcomes that promote collaboration and shared ideas.

<https://www.technologydecisions.com.au/content/futureed/news/ict-educators-online-development-887296737>

Future-focused schools that take an innovative approach to learning

These days, it’s not enough for international schools to fill lessons with current subject trends and one-way teaching methods. ... International schools, with the funds and foresight to be ahead of the curve, will be the ones setting the standard. Historically, international schools have implemented some of the most innovative education technology and pedagogy in recent years. Their students show some of the most collaborative acumen, best academic results and highest digital literacy skills.

<https://www.studyinternational.com/news/future-focused-schools-that-take-an-innovative-approach-to-learning/>

Pandemic risks wiping out hard-won gains by women in STEM

Hard-won gains for women’s advancement in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) workforce are now at risk of a major setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

<https://www.science.org.au/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/pandemic-risks-wiping-out-hard-won-gains-women-stem>

<https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/pandemic-risks-wiping-out-hard-won-gains-by-women-in-stem/>

Discover resources and opportunities for women in STEM

The Academy’s STEM Women directory is now host to a growing collection of resources and opportunities aimed at increasing the attraction, retention and progression of girls and women in STEM.

<https://www.science.org.au/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/discover-resources-and-opportunities-women-stem>

Government’s Women in STEM Ambassador Program names PHD as media agency

The federal government’s Women in STEM Ambassador Program has appointed PHD to its media account, involving a remit of media planning, buying, content development, and PR.

<https://mumbrella.com.au/governments-women-in-stem-ambassador-program-names-phd-as-media-agency-630218>

Regional Development Australia is committed to working with industry to improve STEM skills

The past few months have seen a dramatic pivot in many of our RDA projects. For me, the most dramatic shift has been in our STEM Industry School Partnership (SISP) Program, a program that connects local STEM industry with local students to better engage students in Science Technology Engineering and Maths.

<https://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/6773075/students-connect-with-stem/>

Selling success: Australia’s 2020 maths modelling challenge winners

Teams from Caulfield Grammar School in Victoria and North Sydney Boys High School in New South Wales will represent Australia in this year’s International Mathematical Modeling Challenge (IM2C), which requires students to determine how a ‘bricks and mortar’ store should arrange its goods during a flash sale to minimise the risk of damage.

<https://www.acer.org/au/discover/article/selling-success-australias-2020-maths-modelling-challenge-winners>

Recognising everyday science in the early years

A set of free resources published by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) aims to improve young children’s scientific understanding by encouraging educators to recognise science not just as subject but as an approach to learning that is present in everyday activities.

<https://www.acer.org/au/discover/article/recognising-everyday-science-in-the-early-years>

Digital Content Officer - Women in STEM

The Australian Government’s Women in STEM Ambassador, Prof. Lisa Harvey-Smith, is responsible for increasing the participation of women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) studies and careers across Australia. The Women in STEM Ambassador’s team works to address gender equity issues across all STEM disciplines in the education and training, research, academic and industry sectors.

<https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/1875493520/>

Teaching and learning activities: Everyday science in the early years

A new research-based series encourages early years educators to take advantage of everyday teaching and learning opportunities to improve young children’s scientific understanding, and shares four step-by-step activities for the classroom or learning at home.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com.au/articles/teaching-and-learning-activities-everyday-science-in-the-early-years>

It's the right time for less time in class

Don't worry too much about the impact of remote learning on students. The real issue is how we might repair, rather than resume, our education system.

<https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/victoria/it-s-the-right-time-for-less-time-in-class-20200430-p54oj8.html>

Perth school rethinks report cards, using coronavirus pause to focus on child personal development

Primary school principal Clark Wight doesn't mince his words about what he thinks of semester report cards that use A–E grades to assess student performance in each subject. ... While ACER didn't recommend the abolition of A–E grades, it concluded that most reports gave little indication of a student's learning growth and were increasingly superseded by newer communication technologies that allowed for continuous reporting.

<https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-27/perth-school-rethinks-report-cards-in-move-away-from-grades/12285020>

Global Science TV launches 1st episode—Can the world tackle climate change with COVID-19 urgency?

The coronavirus pandemic has proven the world is capable of a global response to address a crisis. But why haven’t we seen the same type of swift action on climate change? And can we expect our leaders to pay as much attention to scientific advice for other challenges as we emerge from the pandemic?

<https://www.science.org.au/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/global-science-tv-1st-episode-can-world-tackle-climate-change>

As we mark National Reconciliation Week, what role can science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) play in bringing about change?

As Australia recognises National Reconciliation Week, which runs from 27 May to 3 June, with events around the country – this year’s theme of ‘In This Together’ is an opportunity to explore the role that science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) plays in bringing about change. Here, five Indigenous science academics and researchers write about the role STEM can play in reconciliation and self-determination.

<https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/science-technology-engineering-mathematics-and-reconciliation>

Kip McGrath Education Centres’ online education booms due to pandemic

Kip McGrath Education Centres has seen a rise in online education due to the current pandemic.

<https://themarketherald.com.au/kip-mcgrath-education-centres-asxkme-online-education-booms-due-to-pandemic-2020-05-29/>