Confessions of an IT Manager

I’m not saying that digital gaming and online social networking do not have a place in learning. Most mature students will still have access to these mediums via their own personal devices, and this is where they should stay – Doug Loader

It is clear that our students are moving into a workforce that is both unpredictable and precarious. With constant reminders that computers and automation will replace many jobs, we are being urged to ‘teach differently’. Schools are being challenged to create young minds that are rich in interpersonal skills, minds that are creative, collaborative, and above all, resilient.

What does this mean, and how can we achieve these objectives while addressing the needs of the curriculum? Read More

Virtual puzzles can teach kids to solve real-world problems

Swinburne researchers have shown that children can apply the skills they learn on a tablet to the real world.The research shows that when four to six-year-olds learn how to solve a puzzle using a tablet, they then apply this learning to the same puzzle in the physical world.

The findings contradict most previous research and suggest that the real world skill learned by a child from a device depends on the actual game played. Read More

Neil Bramsen and Brett Mckay receive Prime Minister's Prizes for Excellence in Science Teaching

The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools are awarded for excellence in teaching in any area of science that is part of the teacher’s state or territory science syllabus.

The prize is awarded to teachers who have made an outstanding contribution to science education. Read More

Notre Dame MA (Writing) to aid NSW teachers with English syllabus

A new writing course introduced by The University of Notre Dame will equip NSW teachers to deal with major changes set to shake-up the English HSC syllabus next year. The new Master of Arts (Writing) program will play a key role in answering the professional development needs of English teachers who are seeking to address the challenge posed by the additional creative writing component in the new HSC. Read More

Heather Schnagl named Victoria’s best educator

Heather Schnagl, Principal at Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School has been awarded the Sir James Darling Medal, which recognises a Victorian educator who has made an outstanding contribution to Victorian education.

Dr Schnagl has spent the past 40 years driving educational outcomes and helping young people learn Read More

2.5m maths activities completed in Mathletics Challenge

Over 6000 schools from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa took part in the recently completed Mathletics Tri-Nations Challenge. 1.5 million students were registered for the event and completed over 2.5m maths activities. Over half of the Students on the winners list were Australian.

Rebekah O’Flaherty, CEO at 3P Learning said “This is the first time we’ve created a challenge specifically for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa Read More

Digital devices add to exam time stress: Family Zone survey

A survey of 1000 teenagers and their parents shows that electronic devices are causing sleep and study problems for teenagers as they come up to important end of year exams.

The survey, commissioned by cyber safety platform, Family Zone, found teenagers are being robbed of valuable sleep time in the lead-up to exams due to a combination of stress and too much time on social media through their mobile phones and laptops. With the very devices that they are using to study being a constant distraction. Read More

2018 Australian Ballet education program wins Aqualand support

Property development and investment company Aqualand will become a lead partner of The Australian Ballet 2018 education program. The company will support the Ballet's workshops for primary and secondary students in maginalised schools. Read More

Teachers TV software allows real-time student teacher assessment

Macquarie University and the Teachers TV Foundation have announced the success of a trial of 'Teaching Teams' which turns the cameras on teacher education students to improve their teaching techniques and effectiveness. Read More