Articles

ACARA presses on with NAPLAN Online preparations Schools across Australia have been taking part in school readiness testing to assess their ICT capacity for NAPLAN Online and to become familiar with administration and logistics

Not new teachers – new Educators For the first two days of the recent school holidays I hosted 20 very special visitors to Marist College Bendigo. These 20 people had recently been appointed as Educators at Marist from the beginning of 2018. Our applications closed at the beginning of Term 3 and the next eight weeks were spent finalising these successful applicants from well over 100 applications. Our time line has been similar for the last three years as we continue to cater

2015 National Report on schooling in Australia released The National Report on Schooling in Australia 2015 is the annual report on Australia’s school education sector. The report highlights progress in 2015 towards the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians agreed by Australian education ministers in 2008.

Western Sydney Coding Club launched The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences has launched its 2018 Schools Program, aimed at inspiring a life-long engagement in STEAM subjects. Schools in Western Sydney will also have the opportunity to access free professional development and coding resources through the new Western Sydney Coding Club.

Mission 360 Virtual reality launched by Catholic Mission Walking in the shoes of the other has long been a quintessential part of Catholic Mission’s formation experience, but now it is set to take on a whole new meaning. Mission in 360 utilises virtual reality technology with footage shot in communities around the world.

Nominations for Teacher Fellowship Awards close on 12 October Time is running out to nominate outstanding teachers in the 2018 Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards with entries closing on 12 October. Now in its second year, the Awards will offer 12 Fellowships worth $45,000 for teachers and school leaders who are inspiring and transforming the lives of Australian students.

Victorian Education Excellence Awards finalists announced A school raising the career aspirations of young people and a primary teacher who is passionate about increasing women in STEM education and careers are among the finalists of this year’s Victorian Education Excellence Awards.  

Teenagers opposed to Fitbits as a way to increase levels of activity There is an increasing use of healthy lifestyle technologies but little in-depth empirical research on their impacts on young people. Fitbits have been used in schools to tackle rising levels of obesity and sedentary behaviour yet a study published in Sport, Education and Society shows that they might have longer-term negative impacts

NESLI Wellbeing Tookit has positive effect on mental Health in schools NESLI’s Staff Wellbeing Toolkit is having a profound impact on the mental health of Australia’s schools. After doing the 5 module program schools reported a marked improvement in understanding 

I'm available… why don’t they call me? In general, casual teachers are outstanding in the provision of excellent education at short notice. But there are exceptions, and these are the casuals that wonder why schools don’t call them again. Having been a principal in schools over 10 years, I have experienced some puzzling and interesting behaviours and attitudes from casuals… and here are a few of my favourites.

$600,000 funding to enable an Australian-first telepresence robot pilot St.George Foundation and MissingSchool have announced funding of up to $600,000 over three years to enable an Australian-first telepresence robot pilot. Telepresence robots will be paced in schools to demonstrate that continuous two-way connection is possible between seriously sick children and their classrooms.

Ivanhoe Grammar School to open new University Campus at La Trobe Ivanhoe Grammar School and La Trobe University have entered into a partnership to establish a Year 9 campus to provide students with a university-school experience. The initiative will give Year 9 students an early taste of university learning