INTERFACE Magazine, Issue 110, March 2022 by interfacemagazine

NEW ZEALAND

SUPPORTING THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN LEARNING

ISSUE 110 TERM 1 MARCH 2022 $11

Are you up for learning new skills and changing old habits? We have some suggestions for supercharging your teaching digital development in 2022 Pages 20-27

It’s on!

is going ahead and registrations are open. Pages 6 and 8-11

Petition seeks your support for copyright licences for all schools.

Pages 14 and 19

Contact our independent Education Leasing Specialists today for a quote*

*Lending criteria, fees and T&Cs apply.

>> ICT/AV + a wide range of equipment >> Stretch your budget >> We can Lease Big and Little things

Our blockbuster Minecraft Competition is back. Pages 38-39

Formerly

We are the same local education leasing specialist you know and trust.

0800 378 426 • flexicommercial.com/nz/

eduquotes@flexicommercial.com

[INSPIRE DAILY.] [LEARN ALWAYS.]

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Dual Cameras

Touchscreen

TravelMate Spin B3 ULTRA-DURABLE LEARNING DEVICE FOR STUDENTS

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INTERFACE News and Views

INTERFACEXpo 2022: It’s on and registrations are now open!

12 Noticeboard 14 ETV: Reducing barriers in teaching – why we need a government-funded copyright licence

28 As you sew, so you shall learn (and record and share) After attending last year’s INTERFACEXpo, Karishma Kumar was inspired to find new ways to stitch digital elements into her Year 7/8 Technology programme. She came up with an activity where students photographed their progress to earn their ‘Sewing Licence’. 30 File Share: Four pages of online resources

15 The Mind Lab: Hybrid learning – making a virtue of necessity

34 Competitions: As always, there are heaps of great prizes to be won!

16 5 reasons why educators love Acer’s TravelMate P4

36 Gamefroot: Bring a quote from a famous New Zealander to life!

17 Inspiring students to engage and achieve passionately Based in South Auckland, Finlayson Park School is New Zealand’s largest primary school. Thanks to Canon, it’s finding new ways to communicate through interactive boards in classrooms and large outdoor digital displays positioned at the heart of the school.

37 Lesson Ideas: ‘What’s inside a computer?’ and ‘Mousercise!’

18 Celebrating our unique stories through digital storytelling Meet Digital Story Telling Aotearoa (DSTA), a new initiative that’s working to help kaiako and ākonga build confidence in using digital technologies to tell meaningful stories. 20 Special Feature: Are you up for learning new skills and changing old habits? With a new school year, comes time to renew, refresh and try something different. Whether you’re looking to learn new skills or just change some old habits, here are some ideas, tips and suggestions for your digital development in the coming months. • Six ways to put a spring in your teaching step • Listen up. Could podcasts provide the perfect PD? • Forget a quick fix of caffeine. What you need to kick-start the year is a digital declutter!

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

38 INTERFACE Teacher and Student Minecraft Competitions 2022 Insert: Acer Guide to Staying Safe Online

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INTERFACE IS GOING FULLY DIGITAL FOR 2022

INTERFACEONLINE.CO.NZ

Welcome to our first magazine of the year. We hope your term has got off to a flying start. As always, there will plenty of ideas, news and stories to explore in the coming issues. We look forward to being here for you and supporting you in your continuing digital journey. Our big news is that we’re trialling going fully digital during 2022. Your feedback has proved to us that this exciting new direction is the way you want us to go. It provides us with many new opportunities for interacting with you, our readers. Going digital also guarantees delivery, meaning you’ll never miss a copy of your favourite magazine! To access and enjoy a digital copy when and where you choose, simply click the link we send to you. Just make sure you receive your copy by ensuring our email isn’t blocked by your school. We’re confident we’re still bringing you the latest and best news, views and information about education technology – especially working alongside our e-newsletter, website, INTERFACEXpo events, and social media channels.

Got a story to tell about your e-learning adventures in the classroom? We’d love to hear from you at comment@interfacemagazine.co.nz

JOIN US FOR ONE OF THE ONLY DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY EVENTS STILL HAPPENING We all saw the success of last year’s INTERFACEXpo. It’s important for everyone involved in digital technology in schools across New Zealand that the Xpos take place and we’re determined to ensure we can go ahead again this year. To achieve this, we have decided to change how we run things, so that INTERFACEXpos can happen no matter what the COVID alert level. We’re going to split them into ‘half’ days. This will allow us to host separate, smaller groups of delegates, in either a morning or afternoon session. We are confident this will enable us to put on successful events that offer the ‘Xpo vibe’. There will still be the great mix of workshops, presentations, exhibition, and networking opportunities, where you’ll be able to learn the latest trends and developments, news and ideas about digital technology in your school. We look forward to seeing everyone. Go to pages 8-11 for more information and how to register.

Petition seeks copyright licences for all schools. See page 14.

WSNEWSANDVIEWSNEWSANDVIEWSNEWSANDVIEWSNEW OUR MINECRAFT COMPETITION IS BACK – AND IT’S NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS!

Meet the team

EDITOR Greg Adams 027 255 1301 Greg.Adams@interfacemagazine.co.nz

Are you and your students mad for Minecraft? Well, get your thinking caps on and your blocks ready to move because the INTERFACE Minecraft Competition 2022 is up and running. We’ve teamed up with Microsoft and there are two parts to choose from, one for students and the other for teachers.

ADVERTISING 09 575 2454 Advertising@interfacemagazine.co.nz DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Michelle Durbin 09 575 2454 Michelle.Durbin@interfacemagazine.co.nz

Going on some awesome entries in previous years, we can’t wait to see what students can create. And teachers, we want you to tell us how you’re using the building program in your class.

DESIGN Design@interfacemagazine.co.nz

For more information see pages 38 and 39. Full details and entry form at interfaceonline.co.nz/minecraft2022

EVENT MANAGER INTERFACEXpo Paul Colgrave Paul.Colgrave@interfacexpo.co.nz

WANTED: YOUR EXPERIENCES USING AI IN THE CLASSROOM

facebook.com/interfacemagazine

@interfacemag

Got a story to tell about teaching that involves using some form of artificial intelligence? From things like plagiarism detection and marking tests, to chatbots, translators and mentors, we want to hear from you about your AI experiences – big or small – and share them with INTERFACE readers. Just drop us a line. Contact Editor Greg Adams at greg.adams@interfacemagazine.co.nz

youtube.com/interfacemagazine

SUBSCRIBE TO INTERFACE For details go to interfaceonline.co.nz/subscribe/ NEW ZEALAND INTERFACE™ (ISSN 1177-973X) is published six times a year by G MEDIA PUBLISHING LIMITED PO Box 25155, St Heliers Auckland 1740, NZ © G MEDIA PUBLISHING LIMITED 2022. Editorial opinions are not necessarily those of the publisher. We do not endorse or accept responsibility for any third party featured in this publication, unless stated otherwise.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR LATEST WINNERS

While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information in this magazine, the publisher does not accept liability for inaccuracies, omissions or misinterpretations that may occur, and urges readers to always check online resources before using them in class.

Thanks to all of you who entered our November issue’s competitions. Well done to the lucky winners.

NEW ZEALAND

The Mobile Phone Telescope was very popular. Getting up close with this clip-on, telescopic lens will be Dana Thompson, Kawaha Point School, Rotorua. We had two LED Portable USB Flexo Ring Lamp up for grabs. They go to Donnis Harrison, Stanley Avenue School, Te Aroha (pink) and Wendy Sheridan-Smith, Manurewa Intermediate, Auckland (blue). And the Fingerprint Padlock is on its way to Zondre Pierre, Upper Hutt College, Wellington.

SUPPORTING THE USE

OF TECHNOLOGY IN

LEARNING

ISSUE 110 TERM 1 MARCH 2022

Are you up for learni skills and changing ng new old habits? We

Lastly, Rob Isaacs, Ashburton College, Canterbury, will soon be enjoying a 6-month Premium (Pro) Subscription to online video editor VEED.

have some suggestions for supercharging your teaching digital development in 2022

Check out our latest competitions on pages 34 and 35.

Pages 20-27

It’s on!

is going ahe 22 and registraad tions are open.

Pages 6 and 8-11

Canon offers free gift with purchase of interactive screen. Page 17.

Petition seeks your support for copyright licences for all schools.

Pages 14 and 19

Contact our inde pendent Education Leasing today for a quote Specialists

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22 7 *Lending criteria,

fees and T&Cs apply.

* >> ICT/AV + a wide range of equipment >> Stretch your budge t >> We can Lease Big and Little things

Our blockbuster Minecraft Competition is back.

Pages 38-39

Formerly

We are the same education leasing local specialist you know and trust.

0800 378 426 • flexicommercial.co m/nz/

$11

It’s on! 8

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

22 We’re going ahead and invite you to join us Are you responsible for digital technology at your school? Do you make or influence the decisions about devices, robotics, PLD, BYOD, online tools and resources, digital portfolios, software, cybersafety, and more? Join us at INTERFACEXpo 2022 to help you keep ahead of the latest e-learning trends and developments. Don’t miss this opportunity to not only find out what opportunities lies ahead for your school’s e-journey but also network with the digital learning community. This year’s INTERFACEXpos are at: • Christchurch-Lincoln, Friday 20 May • Taupo, Tuesday 24 May • Auckland, Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 May We’ve made some changes that will allow us to go ahead no matter what the COVID alert level. There will still be the great mix of workshops, presentations, exhibition, and networking opportunities, but we’re going to split the Xpos into ‘half’ days, which will allow us to host separate, smaller groups of delegates, in either a morning or afternoon session. INTERFACEXpo is FREE for educators to attend – PLUS, enjoy refreshments on us. Don’t miss out. Find out more and book your spot at interfacexpo.nz/register2022/

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

22 Meet this year’s sponsors: Gold

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Silver

Supporting

Coffee Sponsor

Wireless Sponsor

Find out more about our sponsors at interfacexpo.nz/xpo-sponsors-2022/

Keep in touch @interfacemag #xpo22 10

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

Come and join us at AUCKLAND

The Trusts Arena, Henderson • Wednesday 25 May, 1-5pm • Thursday 26 May, 8am-12pm or 1-5pm

TAUPO

Great Lake Centre • Tuesday 24 May, 8am-12pm or 1-5pm

CHRISTCHURCH-LINCOLN Lincoln Event Centre, • Friday 20 May, 8am-12pm or 1-5pm

Book your place at interfacexpo.nz/register2022/ We look forward to seeing everyone.

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

isgonaihed LEASING OF AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT IN SCHOOLS ON THE RISE Over the last 18 months, there’s been a significant increase in AV related equipment leasing in schools, says Jan Paterson Head of Education at locally based flexicommercial NZ (formerly Equico). “In particular, schools have been rolling out interactive and touch screen technology, hall and performance space upgrades, displays, TVs and video walls and refreshing projectors. The rationale is to support a project-based approach to acquisition across school sites, to get the right technology for the school’s environment and create a budget and replacement plan for managing this important function in our schools.

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Don’t forget to grab STAYING SAFE your guide to ONLINE Staying Safe Online, courtesy of Acer, which comes with simple and effective tips and advice. There’s a copy inserted at the end of this magazine or download the file at interfaceonline.co.nz/acerstayingsafeonline TravelMate Spin

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“We’ve also seen an increase in leasing of office and support staff equipment, mobile phones, library, and school loaner ICT resources. “The benefits to the budget and managing the age and disposal of technology can be significant for schools and kura. Flexicommercial has a range of options available. We are independent to the supply of equipment, schools choose their own preferred supplier or we can offer suggestions. I would be happy to discuss a school’s requirements and outline what we can do, so they can see the benefits they would receive by choosing to lease.”

FASCINATING ONLINE EXHIBITION EXPLORES THE HISTORY OF MATHS

For more information contact Jan Paterson 021 554 001 and jan.paterson@flexicommercial.com or go to flexicommercial.com to learn more.

ONLINE INFORMATION SESSION Interested in what The Mind Lab has to offer? It’s hosting an online info session on Tuesday 22 February, from 7pm to 8.30pm. Learn more about the programmes being run, scholarships and funding available, and hear from students and graduates on their experience. You can register to attend at themindlab.com/events

New learning options ADD YOUR SUPPORT TO COPYRIGHT LICENCES for your busy life FOR ALL SCHOOLS

Comprising both self-directed learning and weekly live-online class sessions, our programme schedules recognise the need to balance work and wellbeing. Check out the NZQA accredited microcredentials available at The Mind Lab: Digital & Collaborative Teaching & Learning Digital Skills for the Workplace Leading Beyond Sustainability

themindlab.com Do you worry about breaching copyright when accessing resources to use in your teaching? What if copyright licensing was centrally funded by the Government, thus permanently enabling teachers to use any material without the fear of the consequences of copyright infringement? ETV thinks that should be the case and has set up the ‘School Copyright Licensing Initiative’. It’s asking for your help to help convince the Government to take this step by signing its petition. Find out more on pages 14 and 19.

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

[INSPIRE DAILY .] [LEARN ALWA YS.]

TALK TO AN ADULT YOU TRUST IF YOU FEEL WORRI ED

ONLY VISIT WEBSITES SUITABLE FOR YOUR AGE

ASK BEFORE , DOWNLOAD, INSTALL OR BUY ANYTHI NG

What is the Salamis Tablet? When is the earliest use of a symbol to represent zero? Where did the word algebra come from? Find out about these and more at History of Mathematics, an online exhibit developed by the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City and Wolfram Research. Divided into nine ‘galleries’, each with a short timeline and featuring a handful of artefacts, it highlights key maths developments, including counting, arithmetic, algebra (which gets its name from the 8th Century book Al-Jabr), geometry, and prime numbers. More at history-of-mathematics.org

DISPLAY BUNDLE OFFER FROM CANON If you’re getting interactive screens for your school, Canon has a very special offer you may be interested in. Purchase an Infocus 65-inch Interactive Panel from the company and choose between a free Yealink Room Cast Frances Valintine, CEO & or Denon DHT-S216 Soundbar (valued upLab to $530). Founder of The Mind Installation and training are included. Don’t delay. The offer ends 30 April, 2022. For more information see page 17 or go to canon.co.nz/ business/interactive-display-bundle. Alternatively, contact a Canon Education Specialist on 0800 222 666. Learn how Finlayson Park School is finding new ways to communicate through Canon solutions in ‘Inspiring students to engage passionately’ on page 17.

OTICEBOARDNOTICEBOARDNOTICEBOARDNOTICEBOARDNO SAY WHAT? You’ll probably have heard of NFTs, short for nonfungible tokens, which are digital contracts that allow people to prove they own specific online assets. But do you know how to pronounce ‘NFT’? Well, apparently, it should be said as ‘neft’!

SOME POSITIVE RESULTS FROM COVID ional The Internat Observatory Public Policy

ion

cat ency remote edu Global emerg ools during in secondary sch demic pan -19 VID CO the REVIEW A SYSTEMATIC

The shift to remote and hybrid learning forced by COVID lockdowns and disruptions has presented many challenges for teachers and students. However, it’s brought some benefits, according to a recent report from The International Public Policy Observatory (IPPO).

Drawing together the results of 81 studies of secondary schools from 38 countries, it has highlighted how complementary these digital learning methods can be to traditional methods of schooling. Among its findings are:

bal-Espinosa l, Rosa Mendiza ni Nina Bergdah Melissa Bond, Hull, Fjolla Ramada Faye Bolan, Poppy Dylan Kneale, _______________ October 2021

• Pupils have found working at their own pace, and without the social pressures of the classroom, beneficial; • Live synchronous lessons with peer and teacher interaction, and teacher-made videos considered particularly engaging; • 21 different types of online assessments strategies were identified, with online quizzes and formative online feedback the most frequently used; and • Live marking or recorded feedback and assessment were found to be particularly beneficial. On the downside, social isolation was the most frequently reported indicator of disengagement, characterised by “poor attendance in live lessons, a lack of opportunities to seek help with challenges and difficulties facilitating peer collaboration.” Read the full report at bit.ly/ippocovid

GOOGLE ANNOUNCES CHROMEBOOK REPAIR PROGRAMME FOR SCHOOLS

Google for Education has announced that it’s starting a repairability programme to help schools fix Chromebooks in-house, and turn it into a valuable training opportunity for students interested in Digital Technologies. (Roll-out begins in the US first, then onto other countries.) “Many Chromebooks have been repairable for years, with some repairs already covered under system warranties and managed by authorised service providers,” wrote John Solomon VP, Chrome OS. “But it’s been challenging for school IT administrators to find information about which devices they can repair. As part of the Chromebook repair programme, we’re partnering with companies like Acer and Lenovo to spotlight more Chromebooks that are repairable.” Read more at blog.google/outreach-initiatives/ education/chromebook-repairs/

LICENCE TO USE THE INTERNET In Australia, the Labor Party has unveiled plans for a national eSmart digital literacy course for primary and high school students if it’s voted into government at the next federal election. Called eSmart Digital Licence, the course is designed to help build digital intelligence through a gamified learning experience where students explore an interactive story-world containing learning materials, relatable scenarios, and guided reflections about personal experiences with technology. Once students complete the milestones in the course, they then receive a Digital Licence. Labor’s promised AU$6 million to fund it, along with an eSmart Media Literacy Lab program for secondary school students aged 12 to 16 to help them engage with news online.

Once you get rolling with Science in Motion...

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For more info check out www.education.nzta.govt.nz/science

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

Reducing barriers in teaching – why we need a government-funded copyright licence Access to all audio visual, music and print resources to enhance your teaching should be available to all educators and all schools, without the worry of the consequences of breaching copyright. Currently they’re not but you can help to put that right, writes Martin Drew. Offering free access for every teacher to the ETV subscription catalogue in Term 4 last year was a huge success. However, as simple and straightforward as it may have seemed, this was only made possible by the support of Screenrights, who provided copyright licences to enable us to do it – and legally allowed all schools to take up the offer. And that started us thinking. What if copyright licensing was centrally funded by the Government, thus permanently enabling teachers to use any material without the fear of the consequences of copyright infringement? We think that should be the case and have set up the ‘School Copyright Licensing Initiative’ and are asking for your support to help us convince the Government to take this step.

Protected from prosecution

Elsewhere, it’s already been successfully done. In Australia and the United Kingdom, for example, teachers don’t have this problem and when going about their daily teaching are fully protected from any threat of copyright prosecution. Licences are purchased for schools by their respective governments, making it easy and cost effective to access a broad array of curated educational content from online resource centres (similar to ETV) that deliver licensed material to schools. Here in New Zealand, however, the situation is very different. Copyright licences are currently purchased by each individual school on a voluntary basis, as directed by their Board of Trustees. This is a legacy environment that was created under the 1980s ‘Tomorrow’s Schools’ policy which, especially in an anywhere, anytime post-Covid learning environment,

is demonstrably no longer fit for purpose. While it’s true to say that no school has so far been prosecuted for copyright infringement, the potential consequences if it were to happen are significant.

What is a copyright licence?

Copyright licences grant users permission to copy or do other restricted acts that are otherwise prohibited under the Copyright Act. Schools must pay licence fees in order to get these additional rights. Failure to do so may result in legal action if copyright law is broken. According to TKI (tki.org.nz): “The person (student, teacher or other employee) doing the restricted act is personally liable for copyright infringement, but in some circumstances their activity may also give rise to civil and criminal liability for the school’s principal and the supervising Board of Trustees.” The Ministry of Education’s purpose is to shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes. Indeed,

Please add your voice to this call for a government-funded copyright licence for all schools by signing the petition here. 14

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

a strong theme from the Prime Minister is that we need to maintain momentum to close the digital divide and address equity issues in education. Surely, equal and equitable access to copyright licences is a key step towards the stronger, fairer education system that is key to Labour Government policy? That’s why we need a centrally-funded copyright licence. That’s why we’ve set up the ‘School Copyright Licensing Initiative’. And that’s why we need your help. We’ve set up a petition and urge you to join us in calling on the Government to provide equity by funding copyright licensing for all schools. Add your voice to this message at bit.ly/copyrightpetition Martin Drew is General Manager of ETV. Find out more about ETV at etv.nz

Hybrid learning – making a virtue of necessity In 2020, when COVID-19 first disrupted education worldwide, there was much debate about the impacts on students and teachers of being forced to move schooling online. As the COVID years have rolled by, learning has become hybrid at best, and there have been unpredictable switches between face-to-face and online learning. Of course, the idea of flexibly blending online and face-to-face learning was well-known many years before the arrival of COVID-19. The Christensen Institute says blended learning is when students learn “at least in part through online learning, with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace”. Teachers have no doubt been experiencing exactly this, albeit perhaps in a very unplanned way, in their own practice.

place, path, and pace of their learning. Some use the term HyFlex (hybridflexible) to mean not only online and face-to-face learning, but flexibility, where students choose whether or not to attend face-to-face sessions. Many teachers will feel that their students are already de facto using this model, whether it was intended or not.

them feel fully included, and not assumed to be in a deficit model of learning, it may be necessary to be more flexible around the timetable, to have students learning collaboratively together in groups that combine both in-class an online students, and for online students to have their own communities of learning, supported by their teachers.

Opportunity to rethink

If learners feel they can move seamlessly between different modes of learning to suit their circumstances, without being disadvantaged, we will have made a significant step forward.

We have had to acknowledge student agency over their time and their preferred ways of working as well as acknowledging the lack of agency they may have over access to devices or connectivity.

What began as a crisis can be turned into an opportunity to rethink the nature of teaching and learning. We might think “half the class is missing” or we might take the view that “this is already a HyFlex classroom, how can it be made to work for everyone?”

The only way we can help students to be their best in this situation is to give them the necessary control over the time,

We need to avoid losing our engagement with students who, for whatever reason, are not in face-to-face classes. To make

By Dr David Parsons, National Postgraduate Director at The Mind Lab.

New learning options for your busy life Learn your way in 2022 Comprising both self-directed learning and weekly live-online class sessions, our programme schedules recognise the need to balance work and wellbeing. Check out our education programmes available:

Digital & Collaborative Teaching & Learning Micro-credential Postgrad Cert in Digital & Collaborative Learning

themindlab.com

Master of Contemporary Education

themindlab.com

Frances Valintine, CEO & Founder of The Mind Lab

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

5 reasons why educators love Acer’s TravelMate P4 The education landscape is changing and Acer is looking for new ways to accommodate these changes. With the move to more online and blended learning, there are new opportunities for technology to address some of the challenges educators face. Acer has been collecting feedback on the evolving needs of teachers across the current education landscape and they have come across some interesting findings. Educators are now faced with the challenge of teaching online classes – which means requiring a good laptop solution for preparing online study materials, tracking student progress online, creating digital class presentations, and reviewing assessments remotely.

Choose the right laptop

In addition to these responsibilities, teachers are also being asked to help students adjust to new processes for remote learning. This duty of care can quickly become complicated when struggling to troubleshoot laptop issues. If a teacher’s laptop fails or gets damaged, it can cause disruptions and delays to the curriculum and result in downtime while waiting for a fix. Furthermore, most schools have caps on their budget for repairing or replacing a laptop if it gets damaged and broken. That is why it is important to choose the right laptop up front. The Acer TravelMate P4 Clamshell and Spin models have been designed to address some of the key challenges educators face. Every P4 series laptop has been built to stand up to the rigors of teaching life and ensure longevity term-to-term. And so far, it has been receiving excellent feedback. Here are five reasons why educators love the Acer TravelMate P4 series laptops:

1. Less Accidental Damage

Teachers do not have to worry about these laptops taking damage because they were built for it. The TravelMate P4 Clamshell and Spin laptops are put through military grade testing and are weatherproofed to withstand extreme temperatures and humidity. Each laptop has also been tested to a standard of 26 successful drops from a height of 122 cm. Spill resistant and knock proof, these laptops are guaranteed to exceed expectations of durability.

5. Improved ROI

Laptops are a big investment and there are a lot of things to consider, including: overall design; durability; battery life; user friendliness; reliability; and security. The P4 series offer the benefits of the latest technology at a reasonable price point, making the right tools for educators to do their best work much more accessible. Whether designing lesson plans on the go or grading online assignments outside of office hours, educators can feel confident that the Acer TravelMate P4 series laptops will allow them to focus on what really matters – helping students learn better every day.

More on the P4 series

2. Better performance in and out of classroom

Teachers are better able to focus on preparing class materials with convenience at their fingertips. The P4 Clamshell and Spin laptops offer all-day reliability, a long-lasting battery and one-hour charge. These creature comforts are sure to increase focus and boost productivity. For drawing and note taking on the go, the built-in Acer Active stylus conveniently stores in a built-in dock. The P4 Spin model also offers four convertible modes— laptop, tablet, tent or stand— which make for very easy handling.

3. Longevity

In addition to a durable military grade casing, the P4 series laptops also have robust storage options. With 32G of RAM and the option to upgrade to 1TB of additional storage, teachers can expect this laptop to last through many terms and seasons without running out of space.

4. Peace of mind

Every P4 series laptop has enhanced security protection at the hardware level. Login options include facial recognition and one-touch fingerprint recognition for secure device access. These increased security measures ensure a teacher’s most important files, folders and administrative data will be kept safe.

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

Want to try one for yourself? Register your interest to receive an evaluation device for your school here. You can also reach out to the Acer team at education.aca@acer.com

Inspiring students to engage and achieve passionately Based in South Auckland, Finlayson Park School is New Zealand’s largest primary school. Thanks to Canon, it’s finding new ways to communicate through interactive boards in classrooms and large outdoor digital displays positioned at the heart of the school. In this fast-paced digital world, schools are adapting by embracing new technologies that help to prepare their students for the future. Finlayson Park School accepted the challenge of new technology head on, by expanding its resources and finding new ways to engage with students, teachers, parents and their local community. Canon’s Educational Specialist, Benjamin Rann, who is a former principal himself, worked closely with the school to provide solutions that support its needs and enhances the learning experience, including the customisable Infocus JTouch. “We were very pleased to know that Canon had an Education Specialist,” said Principal Shirley Maihi. “With him and his knowledge of schools, children and teacher’s needs, that’s been a real plus for us to be engaging with Canon.”

Interactive and ambitious

The first solution was a small digital display to the right of the main office, showcasing student achievements, upcoming events and school news. The second was the installation of 15 Infocus JTouch interactive boards into classrooms to transform the learning environment into a modern, collaborative space. The third, and most ambitious, was the installation of New Zealand’s largest digital display inside school grounds. This digital display, which is commonly referred to by teachers as “the big screen”, promotes exercise through play, broadcasts school performances and even plays rugby matches and other live events.

ENGAGED: THE INFOCUS JTOUCH IN ACTION AT FINLAYSON PARK SCHOOL

Infocus JTouch

Ideal for education, the interactive panels allow students and teachers to collaborate, share ideas and engage with one another through technology. With 4K resolution, built-in whiteboard, intuitive touch, wireless casting, multiple monitor inputs and the ability to download any applications such as Google Suite, the Infocus JTouch gives classrooms a handson, interactive approach to learning. Through brilliant imaging and innovative display technology, Canon’s enabling schools and students to achieve more. “Our learners are very collaborative, and the size of the board allows all our learners to touch the board at the same time,” said Vice Principal Sumi Naidoo. “Kids want to touch and learn, and they don’t want to take turns so the size of the board allows all our learners to touch the board and learn together and it creates this very engaged feeling at school.” Content provided by Canon Business Solutions.

‘THE BIG SCREEN’

Display Bundle Offer

Just like you, Canon wants to inspire students to ask big questions, engage passionately, and have powerful experiences they’ll carry with them for life. To kick off the school year, Canon is offering a Display Bundle Offer*. Purchase an Infocus 65-inch Interactive Panel and choose between: • Either the Denon DHT-S216 Soundbar and create a rich multi-sensory experience for your students, by enhancing the classroom with DTS Virtual: X 3D quality audio for enhanced bass and crystal-clear dialogue. • Or deliver hassle-free, engaging classes with the Yealink RoomCast. With easy deployment and effortless wireless sharing, inspire your students with a 4K ultra-HD, multi-sharing experience including whiteboard, annotation, and intuitive remote control. For more information go to canon. co.nz/business/interactive-displaybundle or contact a Canon Education Specialist on 0800 222 666. *Installation and training are included. Offer ends 30 April, 2022.

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

Celebrating our unique stories through digital storytelling Meet Digital Story Telling Aotearoa (DSTA), a new initiative that’s working to help kaiako and a-konga build confidence in using digital technologies to tell meaningful stories. Here INTERFACE finds out more from co-founder Arnika Macphail. DTSA is an association set up to support kaiako and a-konga with resources around digital storytelling from an Aotearoa perspective.

Why have you set it up?

We have found that a lot of teachers are still looking for authentic ways to bring the Digital Technologies and Hangarau Matihiko curriculum content into the teaching and learning. We wanted to have a place where people could connect to look at how we can use storytelling as an authentic context for this.

How does it all operate?

We are lucky that we have a lot of flexibility around how we can work and operate. The funding can cover project development, experts to work with kaiako, kaiako release, hui, resource development and anything in between. We have set projects that we develop with the committee, we also work with any teachers who want support for a storytelling project.

What will DSTA bring to schools?

The flexibility to have tailored professional development around how to use authentic contexts to engage in Digital Technologies. Release time to work on projects. Access to storytellers (of their choice) to support the storytelling element. Resources online which will have a variety of Ma-ori Medium, English Medium and also opportunities for deaf education support.

Who can participate?

The funding is nationwide, which allows us to support people around the country. We currently have a committee member in Taupo, and the rest of the team are in Canterbury. We would love for educators to reach out from all over the place.

How can schools access funding and support?

They can either use our Facebook group page (bit.ly/facebookdsta), or email me at arnika@impacted.co.nz

How long is the funding for?

Having applied for funding through an RFP process, we are fortunate that we have secured three years of funding, so, we have about two and a half years left!

DIGITAL STORYTELLERS AT TE WAKA UNUA SCHOOL

What projects have you done so far?

We have been doing a lot with Sir Ian Taylor and his TaylorMade team, using their Ma-tauranga resource (maatauranga. co.nz) as a context for storytelling. This includes working with a group of students from Te Waka Unua School in Christchurch to develop Minecraft Education Edition lessons, as well as supporting kaiako in Dunedin with release time to continue to build educational resources, both of which were linked to Ma-tauranga.

What have been the challenges?

The challenge at the moment is finding the time to quality assure resources to be able to get them online to share them. We also want to ensure that we do our mission justice, so we want to have a range of resources before we publish anything online.

What’s been the reaction from those participating?

Teachers are excited and engaged in the hui, and we have people coming to us with amazing projects we can support all the time. We have already been able to connect with amazing people from around the country. The main word that has been used in feedback has been ‘inspiring’, which is a massive compliment to the mahi.

What are your plans for the future? We want to be responsive to the mahi that is needed. We hope to support kaiako and a-konga by helping them to connect to resources that will support them in their digital journey. Our future really depends on the need, and how many awesome educators get in touch with projects they wish to fulfil.

Thank you.

INTERFACEONLINE.CO.NZ

What is DSTA?

Arnika Macphail is MD at impactED and was talking to INTERFACE Editor Greg Adams. Find out more about Digital Story Telling Aotearoa (DSTA) at dsta.co.nz

Wanted: Your experiences using AI in the classroom. Got a story to tell about teaching 18

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with artificial intelligence? Just drop us a line at comment@interfacemagazine.co.nz INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

EVERY TEACHER. EVERY SCHOOL. GOVT FUNDED COPYRIGHT LICENSING Equal access for all teachers and students to the digital and physical resources needed for teaching and learning. Please add your voice to this call for a government-funded copyright licence for all schools by signing the petition here. bit.ly/copyrightpetition

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

Are you up for learning new skills and changing old habits?

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Chances are you’ve been venturing out of your digital comfort zone more than usual for the past two years. But a teacher’s life never stands still. With a new school year, comes time to renew, refresh and try something different. Whether you’re looking to learn new skills or just change some old habits, here are some suggestions for your digital development in the coming months.

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The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” SOCRATES

If the pandemic had struck 50 years ago, or 25, maybe even just 10, imagine the impact on everyday schooling. Learning as we know it would have been severely disrupted, if not brought to a grinding halt.

VIRTUAL ACTION: ENJOYING VR IN THE CLASSROOM

As it was, teaching life did go on, albeit in novel circumstances. And that was, it no small part, thanks to digital technology, which helped us get through one of education’s (and the world’s) biggest challenges in recent times. In fact, in the last two years, we’ve experienced not only a consolidation in the strong bond between innovation and teaching but a vindication in the belief of this digital direction, too. But what next? Further COVID disruptions aside, what should be on your radar for technology in education in the coming year? Are you up for learning new skills and changing old habits?

Bring on the benefits

Of course, there are always reasons to be reluctant about change. It’s not easy or straightforward. You may not see the point. The training being offered might not suit. Expectations may seem unrealistic. Nevertheless, the advantages of a digital technology in the classroom are well documented. It can: • create a more engaged learning environment; • incorporate different learning styles; • improve collaboration; • prepare students for the future; and • connect teachers with their students and their colleagues. Clearly, if you give things a go, you may well be pleasantly surprised.

Trends and expectations

Many of you are already doing great things with digital. One recent survey reported 84 per cent of teachers used the internet at least weekly to find content that will engage students. How can you do more? There are always advice and tips available. Some you may use, some not.

Just soak it up and make your choices. You’ll probably have seen some of the ‘trends’ predictions, the ones that come at the start of most years. Business magazine Forbes (forbes.com) identified ‘Five Ed Tech Trends To Look Out For In 2022’ that seems to sum things up nicely: • Personalised learning, with more digital tools in the hands of teachers allowing them to gain a better understanding of students’ data, with deeper insights and a more detailed evaluation of their progress; • Closing the gap, with more access to digital devices, parental support and broadband at home; • Focusing on the teacher-student relationship, with human-centred technology solutions, now that we’re more familiar and confident in virtual learning tools; • Blended/hybrid learning is not going away, with tools introduced in the past two years have become a mainstay in today’s education; and • Gamification, mixing healthy competitiveness and effectiveness for teachers who wish to deliver educational tasks more engagingly and social remotely.

Anything else on the horizon?

What else? Well, perhaps two other trends that we would expect to see making their presence felt in 2022 are sustainability and esports. Schools are increasingly making ecofriendly choices and that’s not going to change. If anything, we’re going to see them picking even more devices that hit not only budget and performance targets but also reach a certain level of environmental friendliness, with optimised energy consumption and upgradable, built-to-last designs. Esports is a another – and is a subject we’ve covered several times. Growth here will be huge again, with the popular activity promoting a competitive yet inclusive community, where students are engaged and expanding their skills. There are a number of school competitions running – we featured the Esport Zone Day at Northcote Intermediate last year. This and other events like it are fairly simple to join but offer so much in return. Check them out.

Animation to augmented

Turing our attention elsewhere, coding’s been at the top of many people’s ‘to do’ list for a couple of years now. While it’s gradually become more embedded and mainstream, it still remains an unknown

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quantity for many. There are multiple, simple online courses to get you going. As for others, here are three more to think about: Animation – More than simply entertainment, the use of animation offers opportunities for storytelling and simulation, while leveraging students’ engagement, skill creation and knowledge retention. Big Data – Collecting of data can be used to analyse a student’s academic performance based on test results and assignments. These results can lead to the development of personalised education plans, achievements and goals. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) – We are on the cusp of the new meta world (or so we’re being told). VR and AR are already breaking apart the physical world and replacing it with a 3D/ immersive real-life interactive environment where students can interact with all manner of objects, people and places, from seeing dinosaurs and visiting historic spots, to going inside the body or journeying to outer space.

Decreasing attention spans

There is one other key thing to bear in mind – and perhaps one you didn’t expect. Research has shown that as digital technology has grown, attention spans of students has gone in the opposite direction. In 2000, a study published by Microsoft placed the average human attention span at 12 seconds. By 2015, the same study found that number had fallen to eight seconds. (By comparison, a goldfish has been measured as having an attention span of about nine seconds.) Has it decreased further in the last six years? Whether or not is has, the inference is clear, this change has potential impact on how teachers keep students engaged. They need to find ways to catch and keep their attention, by adapting the course delivery method and pace. Today’s students want to be challenged, and they value interaction. Remember, put material in front of them that’s highly visual and engaging, and you’re in with a shout. One technique is ‘Bite-Sized Learning’, which, as the name suggest, teaches specific academic skills with brief, focused activities. This allows students to learn skills, often building on each other, in convenient, shorter bursts over time instead of all at once in long classroom lessons.

Take the win

Where technology is concerned, change can come at an astonishing rate. Throw in a global pandemic and who knows what is around the digital corner. Here we’ve tried to highlight just some of the trends and developments for you to keep an eye on in the coming months.

Some may not hit the spot for you; we hope others will strike a chord. If you can take something from these suggestions, make even just one change for the good, then that’s got to be a win – and something you can build on. The INTERFACE Team

Hybrid learning is here to stay

While you might think hybrid learning and blended learning are synonyms, there’s a key difference between the two, in their relationship with online and in-person learning, as Acer’s Education team explain. Blended learning is focused on balancing distance learning with face-to-face interaction. In this type of environment, resources such as videos, podcasts, online lectures, articles and LMS play a complementary role, enhancing the in-class learning experience. By contrast, the online factor is much more prominent in hybrid scenarios, where learning leans heavily on the remote side and incorporates multiple teaching techniques to create a flexible environment. Asynchronous online material makes an integral part of the main lesson plan, and resources available on the internet are a valuable alternative to in-person materials. What’s more, hybrid learning’s socalled Hy-Flex iteration foresees the possibility of simultaneous one-to-one and online learning, with some pupils attending in person and others following classes from home, while it’s the same teacher to deliver the lesson. Own pace, no pressure Thanks to hybrid learning, pupils can learn at their own pace without the pressure of in-person interaction. At the same time, parents can get a greater insight into their sons or daughters’ learning, and teachers can deliver more personalised outcomes, especially for students with specific learning needs. Moreover, in hybrid scenarios, learners have an active responsibility to accomplish their tasks. In the long run, this will have a positive impact on the students’ style of learning, helping them develop a self-directed independent approach to education. Plus, the hybrid model relies mostly on online content, which has proved to be highly effective in terms of engagement and retention. Hybrid learning can become an engine for a great change in the world of education. Educators need to learn how to make the best of this approach and welcome it as a positive upgrade that can be beneficial for everyone. Read more at acerforeducation.acer.com

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Find out on pages 24 and 25.

Old ways won’t open new doors. ANONYMOUS

Six ways to put a spring in your teaching step Keep up to date

A successful teacher knows how important it is to be up with the latest news, social trends, educational developments, and, of course, technological advancements. Plus, sharing this information with your students helps to keep them updated, too, adding value to the learning experience and pushing to find out more about things that happen beyond the confines of their classroom. Tech tip: Following news sites, Twitter feeds, Reddit forums, and the like, is a quick and easy way to keep up to date with what’s going on in the world.

Take risks

As the saying goes, “No Risk, No Reward!” Whether going out of your comfort zone works or not, at least you’ve given something a go. Remember, students watch your every move. If you take risks by trying new things every once in a while, they’ll also be confident enough do the same. Tech tip: You know that video editing software you’ve been wanting to try, give it a go. Or the coding program everyone’s raving about. Or Minecraft. Or the robot that’s in your cupboard.

Be Fun and Enthusiastic

Do you like to be around someone who’s grumpy and serious or someone who’s fun and enthusiastic? Exactly. And students like fun, too, and they’ll be far more comfortable engaging with teachers with a smile on their face. Sure, there’s a time for serious but the way you carry yourself greatly determines your approachability. Get excited, smile, and crack a joke or two. Tech tip: Share amusing anecdotes, cartoons and videos. There are plenty of online sources to find these.

Play games

Everybody likes games and using it in education is a classic way to stimulate student thoughts and engage them in the topic. Research shows that playing games in the classroom can increase motivation and attentiveness, as well as promote problem solving skills and collaboration. One study of the popular multiple-choice quiz game Kahoot found that it improved students’ attitudes toward learning and boosted their academic scores. Tech tip: We often profile digital games – there are three on p32. Start the day with a brain teaser, build a game into a class project, or set quizzes to test what’s been learned.

Ask and encourage questions

Questions are a powerful tool for promoting learning and the exchange of ideas. Students may get bored and lose concentration if all you do is talk. A useful rule-of-thumb is that you don’t explain ideas or facts uninterrupted for more than five minutes at a time. Instead, set a good example by asking questions and also invite questions from students that steer the discussion and improve engagement. Tech tip: Try an online polling tool to pose questions to students during class or after an activity. The results could show in real-time as they answer or be reviewed later. An example is Poll Everywhere on page 33.

Keep learning

Even teachers don’t know everything (!). However, the more you know, the easier it will be to teach your students, lead their learning and answer their questions. That’s why you need to feed your mind with as much information as it can take in. Keep your brain working hard. Remember that students always engage better with (and prefer) teachers who they see as possessing in-depth knowledge and are confident about a specific subject or skill. Tech tip: Learn new skills and pick up ideas by joining a virtual learning forum, following social media feeds of educators you admire, or by downloading some Podcast PD (find out more on p24-25).

22 Keep up with the latest in digital technology.

Registrations now open. See pages 6 and 8-11. INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

Listen up. Could podcasts provide the perfect PD? Looking for an effective, convenient and enjoyable way to find out about new teaching skills, thoughts and ideas? One simple approach is to listen and learn from the knowledge and experience of others through their podcasts. If there’s something you’d like to learn about chances are there’s a podcast on it – and if you’re interested in education there are definitely plenty to choose from. Learning through podcasts is a popular and growing activity. People share thoughts, opinions and experiences; all you have to do is sit back, listen and soak it all up.

What is a podcast?

A podcast is a collection or series of digital spoken recordings that are made freely available for downloading or listening to online (a bit like a radio chatshow). Often, they’re focused on a particular topic or theme, and typically available as a series, new instalments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.

How to listen to podcast

You can access podcasts on your mobile, tablet or computer through an app or a browser. Both Apple and Google have in-built podcast apps, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts respectively, where you can browse and sign up to shows. Other popular places to find podcasts are Spotify, Pocket Casts and Stitcher. Podcasts are not always available on every service, so it’s always worth trying different ones.

Podcasts to try

Want to give it go? There are hundreds, if not thousands, to choose from. Have a look and see if anything takes your fancy. To get you started, here is a selection of podcasts you could try: Teach Me Teacher (teachmeteacherpodcast.com) Teachers discuss topical, informative, and inspiring subjects. Designed for teacher development, this podcast aims to help you better your craft, learn new skills, get ideas, and have some laughs along the way.

Teaching Today (teachingcouncil. nz/resource-centre/teaching-todaypodcast/) About teachers, with teachers and for teachers, Teaching Today’s hosts speak with experts from the education sector – tune in for discussion and insight.

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Social Studies (mrdtimes3.com) Elementary school teacher and comedian Joe ‘Mr D’ Dombrowski mixes humour with real-life stories. Topics include working with crotchety teammates, teacher hairlines, teacher gifts, and parent emails.

CORE Podcasts (core-ed.org/ free-resources/podcasts/) Have you ever wanted to eavesdrop on an engaging discussion between leading educators in their area of expertise? From Leadership and Game-based learning, to Digital and innovation, CORE offers a collection of podcasts that will engage, entertain and educate.

The Modern Principal (themodernprincipal.com) Whether you’re an aspiring, new, or seasoned school leader, get ready to laugh and learn while listening to the Karen and Christy, two primary school principals, share their anecdotes, past mistakes, and lessons learned.

This Teacher Life (monicagenta.com) What crazy stuff is said in school? How do you motivate kids? What does ‘learning’ mean? These are the types of questions that Monica Genta, a middle school teacher and educational consultant, explores through her weekly podcast.

It Takes A Village (rnz.co.nz/ programmes/it-takes-a-village) Setting boundaries, COVID vaccines, keeping the peace, taking risks. These are the sorts of topics covered by this parentleaning podcast. While you’re there, check out the awesome series of podcast produced by RNZ.

The Creative Classroom with John Spencer (spencerauthor.com) Host John Spencer, a former middle school teacher and current professor, discusses transforming classrooms into spaces that fill teachers and students with joy and creativity.

Ten-Minute Teacher Podcast (coolcatteacher.com) On offer are five episodes a week, each focusing on different themes in education. You can tune in to Motivational Mondays, EdTech Tool Tuesdays, Wonderful Classroom Wednesdays, Thought Leader Thursdays, and Five Idea Fridays. Each episode features a short interview with a teacher.

Truth for Teachers (stitcher.com/show/angelawatsons-truth-for-teachers) This podcast is packed full of useful tips for teachers. It’s stated aim is to speak life, encouragement, and truth into the minds and hearts of educators and get you energised for the week ahead.

Two Talkative Teachers (anchor.fm/twotalkativeteachers) In this relatively new podcast, two passionate teachers talk teaching life in New Zealand and put a spotlight on the amazing things teachers are doing, both in our own backyard and around the world.

Art Ed Radio (theartofeducation.edu/ artedradio/) If you’re an art teacher, this is the podcast for you. There’s lots of ideas for those that teach K-12 students, so you can get them excited about art and creativity.

What teaching-related podcasts do you listen to? Let us know and we can share with INTERFACE readers. Send to comment@interfacemagazine.co.nz

How to go about creating your own podcast Starting a podcast isn’t difficult, but there are a number of steps you’ll need to go through in order to get it going. If you want to give it a go, here’s your starter of 10 steps to take: • Choose a topic • Pick a name • Decide on your show and episode format • Create a suitable logo • Select intro and outro music • Equipment selection (you need recording and editing tools) • Record your podcast • Make it available for others to listen to (you may just want to load it on a blog or school website to begin with, before working your way up to the big time on iTunes and Spotify) • Promote your podcast • Keep going and record more episodes For help, insights and advice, there are many videos and blogs that cover the subject in depth. If you do become a podcaster, let us know how you go!

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Forget a quick fix of caffeine. What you need to kick-start the Content chaos? Desktop disorder? App anarchy? Just as a ‘spring clean’ can do wonders for the physical space we work in, it’s as important to tidy our technology space. Find focus more easily when using your computer (and keep it in good shape) with a digital declutter. Start with your email

Most of us receive a constant stream of email and it’s easy for your inbox to get overwhelmed. If you have a backlog, get rid of it. Start by deleting everything that’s still there from last year – or filing it, if it’s important … just don’t let it sit there any longer. Now, purge old emails, organise folders, and delete old emails, especially those with large attachments that may be using memory on your computer.

Tidy your desktop/homescreen

Do you really need all those shortcuts, apps, folders, images, and files? Every program on your computer can be easily accessed via other means – and you can pin the ones you use most commonly to the taskbar at the bottom of your screen. All the other stuff should simply be filed away properly.

Move on from old files

Take a hard look at your files: documents, photos, videos, downloads, etc. Start with archiving photos and videos (the cloud’s a great option as it’s all backed up and you won’t run the risk of losing them), then eliminate duplicate files, and, to finish up, identify anything you no longer use or need. If you don’t want to get rid of it completely, consider moving it to an external hard drive.

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Uninstall old programs

Your computer will have come with dozens of programs you never use and you will have likely added a fair few, as well. Uninstall any outdated software or programs that you no longer use. If you haven’t accessed it in the last year, chances are good that you don’t need it, so get rid of it!

year is a digital declutter! Clean up your hard drive

There are a number of tools that you can use to maintain and tidy your computer, freeing up storage space and improving performance. Generally, how they work is that they’ll search and analyse the hard drive for files that are no longer of any use and suggest what can be removed – like cookies, deleted files, temporary internet and operating system files, and offline (cached) web pages.

Use consistent file names

The first thing to do when organising is to make sure the naming of files and folders follow the same rules. By getting consistent with naming, you’ll always be able to find what you need quickly and won’t end up redoing work or saving multiple copies of the same file in different places.

Review and re-set

While you’re in the mood, now might also be a good time to change passwords and logins, and review and update privacy and security settings on your online accounts.

Keep up the good work …

And lastly, once you’ve got things back under control, try to keep it up. Devoting a few minutes each week to clearing out some digital clutter will help you feel calmer, less overwhelmed and keep you at maximum productivity. Now that the decluttering’s out of the way, surely it must be time for a coffee! Compiled by the INTERFACE team.

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As you sew, so you shall learn (and record and share) After attending last year’s INTERFACEXpo, Karishma Kumar was inspired to find new ways to stitch digital elements into her Year 7/8 Technology programme. She came up with an activity where students photographed their progress to earn their ‘Sewing Licence’. Do you know a backstitch from an overstitch – and can you prove it? In Term 3 last year, Technology Teacher Karishma Kumar started to instruct her students about sewing, specifically different hand stitching techniques, and that’s exactly the sort of thing she needed to know from them. So, she decided to add a digital angle by setting up goals that they could ‘evidence’ towards achieving a Sewing Licence. “The idea was they would use their iPads to take photos of their work when they have achieved a certain level or outcome and share it on Seesaw,” said Karishma, who teaches at Bailey Road School in Auckland. “It was not only a great way to track what they have done but also a way to remind them of what they haven’t each time they come to class.”

“Students are taking ownership of their learning and it improved their digital skills. They’re documenting their own work and ticking off the goals when they think they have achieved this, not when the teacher decides.” Students learned to capture photos, evaluate whether the photo was ‘good’ or not, use Seesaw as a sharing platform, think about their audience and what their photo reflects, and even ‘like and comment’ on other students’ work. “They also choose how they want to share their work. Some recorded videos of themselves showing the sewing skill, some drew arrows over the picture to

Using Seesaw

It also proved to be a successful way to motivate students. “Adding digital devices raises engagement, interest and more than anything else a sense of pride in their learning as they get to share their work with their classroom but also with their wha-nau and community.

Access codes Seesaw is an online digital portfolio tool that students can use to create, manage and share their learning. More at web.seesaw.me evidence their skills, others created labels so this shows that they are really thinking about their audience.” As for the sewing skills, Karishma definitely saw improvements during the project. “The use of digital devices definitely improved their sewing proficiency. Students could choose which skill they wanted to start with. They also had access to their own workbook and could ‘tick off’ the skills they had achieved and know exactly what to do next. “If the teacher was unavailable to explain something, students knew they could

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navigate through Google Classroom, open up their lesson and watch the videos that relate to the skill they are trying to learn. For example, they were able to pick up on ‘how to sew a button’ through watching the video when they felt they were up to that part or just wanted to do that step first. If the video wasn’t helpful, they could locate something on YouTube that better serves them. It was a way for them to take responsibility for their learning and be held accountable for it.” It wasn’t all smooth sewing and there were few dropped stitches along the way. “Students scanned the QR code associated with their accounts to login to Seesaw. However, what I didn’t realise is that they could access other accounts if they had their codes. We had a few bits of work ‘disappear’ from accounts. “So, to overcome this issue, they had to ask me for the account code, login in front of me, share their work and make sure they have signed out before handing the iPad back to me. A tedious job but a necessary one to protect students’ accounts.

Support and sharing

Unfortunately, just as they were getting going, lockdown struck. But the activity more than proved its worth. “I had great student engagement and they couldn’t wait to get back to sewing!

“I will definitely continue to encourage students to document their learning journey on Seesaw. It’s a way of ‘live reporting’ to families, and creates a window into a student’s learning journey, not just seeing the polished work at the end. “Students know that they can access support through devices, as well as each other, not just the teacher! It really relieves the pressure of ‘I don’t know what to do now’ or ‘What do I do next?’. “When we start cooking, I really want to incorporate the use of devices more and not just for sharing reflections and evaluating meals. I think it’ll be so cool to create stop motion animations of the cooking process and show a creative way to share recipes. I am definitely interested in finding better ways to use digital devices as a means to create and not just share.” Karishma Kumar was talking to INTERFACE Editor Greg Adams.

Could you achieve your sewing licence? You need to be able to … • Thread a needle • Tie a knot using thread • Demonstrate the difference between an overstitch, blanket stitch and back stitch • Create an object that shows two different hand stitching techniques • Sew a button onto a piece of fabric • Unpick a threaded stitch • Thread the needle in a sewing machine • Stitch a straight line, a curved line and a zig zag line using the sewing machine How would you do?

WIN Blue Light Filter Glasses

Find out how on page 34.

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

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sgonahg INT ERFAT SUPO E RFAT INT onahg INT ERFAT isgER AROUND THE WORLD

SCIENCE

POLITICS

Pulse of the Planet (pulseword. pulseplanet.com) offers daily, twominute narrated explanations of natural, cultural and scientific sounds. Each recording comes with a transcript and can be downloaded. Browse by date or search by keyword for specific topics and sounds.

OneZoom (onezoom.org) is an interactive map of the evolutionary links between all living things. Each leaf represents a different species. Explore the branches to see how these evolved from common ancestors over billions of years. Also, check out the teaching resources under ‘For Education’.

Teaching about how New Zealand’s political system works? Parliament’s Education Services (parliament.nz/en/ visit-and-learn/educators-and-students) has activities, videos and information for learning how government operates, including creating your own Parliament, debating roleplay and taking a VR tour.

Where is the International Space Station right now? You can pinpoint its location at Current Position of the ISS (astroviewer.net/iss/en/index.php). The site shows what the astronauts can see, as well as the equivalent ground point on a world map. You can also follow the Chinese space station Tiangong.

Interested in chemicals? CAS Common Chemistry (commonchemistry.cas.org) is an open community resource for accessing information and properties on elements and compounds. Search nearly 500,000 substances, including common and frequently regulated chemicals relevant to school study.

Search a fascinating collection of US presidential documents at The American Presidency Project (presidency.ucsb.edu/index.php). With more than 145,000 records added, learn about Presidents, explore archives, videos and articles, read messages and papers, and analyse statistics.

Can you identify a location from a video of a street scene? Test your visual and geographical knowledge at City Guesser (virtualvacation.us/guess). There are several games to choose from and you can play as an individual or a group. Simply make your guess on the map, then click to see how close you are.

From Frostbite Theater to Science Vocabulary Hangman to Element Bingo, J Lab Science Education (education. jlab.org) has a wide range of fun online activities, videos, games, quizzes, worksheets, and more. Check out the teachers’ section for advice, information and easy access to resources.

From The United Nations Association of the UK, The United Nations Matters (bit.ly/unmatters) is a teaching resource for developing students’ awareness and understanding of the UN and the global issues it tackles. There’s a downloadable Teacher’s Handbook, as well as lesson plans and student worksheets.

A SELECTION OF FILE SHARE RESOURCES IS ALSO LISTED UNDER ‘FREE STUFF’ AT INTERFACEONLINE.CO.NZ

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HAREFILESHAREFILESHAREFILESHAREFILESHAREFILESHAR From Leonardo da Vinci to Banksy, Impressionism to Collage, The Art Story (theartstory.org) is your guide to understanding and enjoying the best of the visual arts. Whether you’re interested in artists, art movements, or artistic directions, search and explore information, analysis, ideas and timelines of the art world.

From Google Arts & Culture, Visual Crosswords (experiments.withgoogle. com/visual-crosswords) enables students to learn through pairing. The game provides two columns and players are asked to drag artworks to matching boxes. If they’re not familiar with an artwork, they can click on it to read more.

Which One Doesn’t Belong? (wodb.ca) challenges students to explain exactly that. Using maths vocabulary, they have to describe the odd one out in sets of shapes, numbers and graphs. There are no answers provided as there may be different, correct ways of choosing which one doesn’t belong.

In addition to scientific value, many satellite images are intriguing to look at. Explore the beauty of river deltas, mountains, and other sandy, salty, and icy landscapes at Earth as Art (eros. usgs.gov/image-gallery/earth-as-art). Each image comes with a description and can be downloaded.

The mission of Art21 (art21.org) is to “inspire a more creative world through the works and words of contemporary artists.” It has an educators’ section offering everything from strategies, guides and resources to discussion questions, documentary videos and hands-on activities in its learning library.

Need maths worksheets? Math-Drills (math-drills.com) has more than 58,000 free ones to pick from. They cover a broad range of topics, including number sense, arithmetic, pre-algebra, geometry, measurement, and money concepts. Plus, there are interactive flash cards and dots math games.

You know all the white marble statues of the ancient Greeks, guess what? They’ve not always been white. Originally, statues were brightly coloured but 2,000+ years of weather has scrubbed off the paint. In the video GREECE – ancient art wasn’t black & white (bit. ly/greekwhite) see what they may have looked like.

Cartoon Movement (cartoonmovement. com) is an online platform hosting more than 70,000 cartoons and 500 editorial cartoonists from more than 80 countries, offering daily perspectives on what is happening in the world. Browse the cartoons, cartoonists and collections categories, or search by keyword.

Foster creative thinking around fractions with Fraction Talks (fractiontalks.com). The site is packed with images of complex patterns of shapes. The idea is to ask students to explain what they see and, in so doing, start to understand and explore the mathematical relationships between fractions.

WHAT IS THIS?

Wherever you see this symbol it means there’s a video to watch on our website relating to the resource interfaceonline.co.nz INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

INTERFATCI ITACI

MATHS

ART

isg COOL GIZMOS

EDUCATIONAL GAMES

Capture your thoughts quickly and creatively with Rapidsketch (rapidsketch.co). Choose from a collection of handwritten fonts, handdrawn icons and templates to make fun and effective sketch notes. You can also change the text colour, stroke and background, as well as pick from a 3,500+ collection of emojis.

Explain (explain.web.app) lets you make blackboard-style ‘explainer’ videos. Press record and use the drawing tools to record voiced, visual instructions. You can also enable touchdraw and add a background, or wipe and start again. Share videos and viewers can add comments.

At Fanschool (go.fan.school), learners play with real-world data and make predictions about current events. Pick from four categories for your game – politicians, countries, business or animals. Students make their choices, then make adjustments for the game’s duration to achieve the highest score.

PixelPaper (pixelpaper.io) is a collaborative, online whiteboard designed specifically for teaching. It’s browser based and all information is stored and easily accessible via a dashboard. Upload and share documents, worksheets and past papers, annotate and draw diagrams, and all in real time.

Need a temporary email address for a casual sign-up or trial? Try Tempmail (temp-mail.to). There’s no need to register, simply click ‘Open Inbox’ to receive a disposable, anonymous email address. You can read emails but not reply. Extend the life of the address or delete when you’re done.

What began as a project collecting languages from visitors to a hostel in Prague, Ling Your Language (lingyourlanguage.com) challenges students to identify the language being spoken. Play individually or as a group. Select the difficulty and guess correctly to score. There’s also an option to learn a little about the language.

Create amusing memes in seconds with Meme Maker (meme.town). Choose a template or upload your own image. Add and format textboxes for captions, add stickers, and adjust the ordering of layers across your elements. Once your meme is good to go, save on the app or export as a PNG file.

Organise how you can help students by getting them to digitally queue up with ClassroomQ (classroomq.com). Share a code and, as they work and find they need help, students can post their name and question. This gives you a real-time list in the order of help requested. (And if they find the answer, they can cancel.)

Improve typing skill and speed with 10 Fast Fingers (10fastfingers.com). Start with a free, one-minute test. The Practice Mode lets you hone your skills on the most common words and punctuation. Customise your own challenges or test yourself against others in the Typing Competition.

A SELECTION OF FILE SHARE RESOURCES IS ALSO LISTED UNDER ‘FREE STUFF’ AT INTERFACEONLINE.CO.NZ

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

HAREFILESHAREFILESHAREFILESHAREFILESHAREFILESHAR YOUTUBE CHANNELS

WORD CLOUDS

For some fascinating videos about physics and astronomy check out Sixty Symbols (youtube.com/user/ sixtysymbols). From ‘Burping Black Holes’ to ‘Untangling the Cosmic Web’, experts from the University of Nottingham explore and explain a range of scientific and spacey topics.

Mathantics (youtube.com/user/ mathantics) tackles the basics of learning mathematics. Fractions, percentages, algorithms, probabilities, geometry, algebra, ratios and proportions, and statistics all get the teaching treatment in these entertaining and well-produced videos.

Formerly Tagul, Word Art (wordart. com) lets you make word clouds with ease. Input your text (either type in or import as a CSV or Excel file) and then customise pretty much everything, from the font, colour and layout, to background, style and shape. Save, share, embed, or download the result.

Free School (youtube.com/user/ watchfreeschool) offers engaging videos on many school subjects, including letters, literature, history, animals, health, geography, music, art, and science. Search by topic or browse playlists grouped by subject, like ‘Exploring the Ocean’ or ‘Beethoven and his Music’.

With colourful, fun animations, Peekaboo Kidz (youtube.com/c/PeekabooKids) guides younger students through the world of science. Featuring cartoon character Dr Binocs, find out about things as diverse as dandruff and swallowing fruit seeds, to the causes of radiation and how the Moon was formed.

WordCloud Generator (monkeylearn. com/word-cloud) provides three ways to input text: type it, paste it, or upload a text file – and can handle up to 200,000 characters. You need to sign up to use it. The top toolbar had a range of editing tools. Your final file can be downloaded in SVG or PNG formats.

What is nothing? Why are there seven days in a week? Why is glass transparent? You’ll find the answers to these questions – and a whole heap more – at It’s Okay To Be Smart (youtube.com/ user/itsokaytobesmart). Each video breaks down complicated information into easily understandable explanations.

As the name suggests, MinutePhysics (youtube.com/user/minutephysics) focuses on short explanations of physics topics, things like antimatter, gravity, dark matter, and relativity. Each recording uses a visually engaging, drawing style, to describe and explain each subject area.

Combine a word cloud and a poll with Poll Everywhere (polleverywhere.com/ word-cloud). Ask a question of your students and each word of their replies is used to create the word cloud image. Words move and grow with each new response, and the final artwork reflects the shared feelings of the group.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO CHECK THE APPROPRIATENESS OF ANY ONLINE RESOURCES BEFORE USING THEM IN CLASS.

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

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IN T ERFAC E ONL INE .C O. N Z @

IN T ERFAC E ONL INE .C O. N Z

We have some fantastic prizes up for grabs this issue.

2to

CLEANING PUTTY

WIN!

Fed up with FOD (that’s Foreign Object Debris) on your digital gear? Get into all those hard-to-reach corners and crevices clean with a pot of Cleaning Putty! This antibacterial gel is designed to be sticky enough to adhere to dust, fluff and other contaminants while staying intact as it bends and seeps into even the smallest of spaces. Perfect for the office or classroom, it can be used to remove dust and dirt from keyboards, phones, computer consoles, printers, and more. The putty can be reused several times (until it fades in colour). We have two tubs of the sticky stuff to give away. Enter on our website and you could soon be cleaning up! Entries close Friday 25 March.

2tINo ! W

BLUE LIGHT FILTER GLASSES High-energy visible (HEV) light – aka ‘blue light – is all around us, mostly coming from the sun. However, there’s a concern that overexposure of blue light emitted from the screens of our smartphones, computers and tablets (specifically excessive screen time and being too close to a screen) can strain and damage eyes, as well as impact sleep cycles. Enter Blue Light Filter Glasses, which are designed to restrict some of the blue light from screens and artificial light. We have two pairs of glasses up for grabs – one with a black frame, the other tortoiseshell. Both also come with a protective sleeve. Simply choose your preferred colour design when you enter. Entries close Friday 25 March.

5 reasons why educators love Acer’s TravelMate P4. Page 16. INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

Z WIN@INTERFACEONLINE.CO.NZ WIN@INTERFACEONLINE.CO

To enter any of the competitions just go to our website.

1tINo !

CHROMA KEY GREEN SCREEN BACKDROP

Chroma key is the process of filming actors and objects in front of a flat screen of a single colour, usually green or blue, which, during editing, can be replaced with a different image. Be perfectly positioned for adding the best background for your video with a Chroma Key Green Screen Backdrop. This 5m x 3m muslin sheet is woven and stretches tight and smooth for an even finish that doesn’t reflect light. Simply hang it in place and you’re set for action. We’re giving away one sheet as a prize. Help make your videos stand out. Enter on our website. Entries close Friday 25 March.

Please note: This prize is the backdrop sheet only. The stand is not included.

2to

WIN!

DESKTOP HOLDER LAZY STAND MOUNT

Position your mobile device safely and securely with a Desktop Holder Lazy Stand Mount. Clamped firmly to your desktop, the universal holder is suitable for smartphones, tablets and cameras thanks to a clip width of 115mm-180mm. You can adjust and tilt, bend and twist the 70cm flexible arm into different angles and distances to meet your positional needs, leaving leave your hands free for other tasks. And when you’re done, just unclip and take it with you. If this sounds like just the thing you need for reading, filming or viewing, there are two stand mounts available (both black). Enter your details online and one could be yours. Entries close Friday 25 March. Please note: The devices are for demonstration only and are not included in the prize.

Forget caffeine. What you really need is a digital declutter!

Pages 24 and 25. INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

In association with

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22.01

LESSON IDEA 22.01: WHAT’S INSIDE A COMPUTER? Objective: Learn about the parts and components of computing devices Age range: 8-15 Website: n/a

Every day, we turn computers on and expect them to work. But how do they do it? What’s inside that makes them operate? How does it all fit and work together?

OPENED UP: LOOKING INSIDE A DUSTY LAPTOP.

Method

2. How did they go? Discuss the results and how accurate they were. 3. Show them what’s inside. Identity all the component parts and what they do.

4. Review what they got right and what they got wrong. Were there common errors and misconceptions – and why would this be? Anything that surprised them?

Uses in learning

If you can open a computer (properly and safely, maybe with an old, broken device), that’s a great way for them to see. If not, a diagram or video – there

22.02

While students don’t need to know exactly how things work, a basic knowledge of the internal workings of a computer is always useful, both for understanding the performance of their own machine and identifying if things go wrong.

LESSON IDEA 22.02: MOUSERCISE! Objective: Practising using a computer’s hand-held pointing device (aka a mouse) Age range: 5-11 Websites: pbclibrary.org/mousing/mousercise.htm

Being able to accurately control a computer and make it do what you want is vitally important. Learning to use and operate a mouse is one of the key ways to achieve this.

Method

1. Talk with your students about ways they can control computers – things like keyboard, touchscreen, voice, trackpad, and mouse. Ask them how they differ and when they’d use them. 2. Explain how a mouse works (there are heaps of videos that do this) and how it operates, left/right click, double click, scrolling, text selection, and so on.

and go through all the activities, which are designed to test the ‘mousing’ skills of the student.

5. How did it go? Review the results and discuss with students if, how and why the exercises helped their use of the mouse.

INTERFACEONLINE.CO.NZ

1. Ask your students what’s inside a computer – perhaps get them to draw a diagram and label all the parts. (Don’t give them any clues.)

are plenty on YouTube – is fine.

Uses in learning

This is a fun and engaging way to learn mouse control. There are other similar exercises – or you might want to set up your own activities and challenges.

3. Introduce and explain ‘mousercise’, a fun way to practise and learn how to use a mouse, quickly and accurately 4. Go to pbclibrary.org/mousing/ mousercise.htm. Start ‘mousercising’

THESE LESSON IDEAS ARE PUBLISHED UNDER THE CREATIVE COMMONS BY-SA LICENCE. THIS MEANS YOU’RE FREE TO SHARE AND ADAPT PROVIDED YOU CREDIT INTERFACE AS THE SOURCE. INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

38 38INTERFACE INTERFACE 110 MARCH 110 MARCH 22 22

We know you’re doing some awesome things with Minecraft Education Edition. Now’s the time share your success. Simply tell us about a project you’ve been doing in class with Minecraft.

Your challenge is to ‘Build a Better Future’. Come up with a creation in Minecraft that helps to protect our environment. From sustainable living to fighting climate change to tackling plastic pollution, the choice is yours!

WIN some awesome prizes, including a #StikBot

Zanimation Studio. PLUS, get the bragging rights as the best Minecrafters in the country. Entries close Friday 8 July (end of Term 2). For full details and entry forms go to interfaceonline.co.nz/minecraft2022

More on Minecraft Education Edition at education.minecraft.net INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

INTERFACE 110 MARCH 22

STAYING SAFE

ONLINE [INSPIRE DAILY. LEARN ALWAYS.]

KEEP YOUR PASSWORDS TO YOURSELF AND SAFE

BE RESPECTFUL AND POLITE OF OTHERS ON-LINE

STAY SA ONL

ONLY VISIT WEBSITES SUITABLE FOR YOUR AGE

ASK BEFORE, DOWNLOAD, INSTALL OR BUY ANYTHING TravelMate Spin B3

TALK TO AN ADULT YOU TRUST IF YOU FEEL WORRIED

[INSPIRE DAILY.] [LEARN ALWAYS.]

ONLY ‘FRIEND’ OR ADD PEOPLE YOU KNOW IN REAL LIFE

YING AFE LINE

ASK BEFORE MEETING WITH ONLINE FRIENDS Powered by Intel® Core™ Processors

DON’T GIVE OUT ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION TravelMate Spin P4

INTERFACE Magazine, Issue 110, March 2022

Articles inside

File Share: Four pages of online resources

Lesson Ideas: ‘What’s inside a computer?’ and ‘Mousercise!’

Noticeboard

The Mind Lab: Hybrid learning – making a virtue of necessity

As you sew, so you shall learn (and record

5 reasons why educators love Acer’s

Special Feature: Are you up for learning new skills and changing old habits?

Celebrating our unique stories through digital storytelling Meet Digital Story

ETV: Reducing barriers in teaching – why we need a government-funded copyright licence

Inspiring students to engage and achieve