The Australian Education Times - July 2014 by The Australian Education Times

“Public l P Ed ucation” ul lO u

ec ia

Issue 8 • July 2014 •

www.educationtimes.com.au

Free It is really important to keep learning all your life, as it is a very rapidly changing world so it is important to keep your skills sharp and your mind challenged. Wendy Machin, President of NRMA

SCHO OUTSTANDING

s l l i H m a h k l u Ba l o o h c S h g i H

Scan QR Code to read digital edition

ICT FOR EDUCATION:

Using Instagram in the Classroom

LITERACY CORNER: A Poetic Piece

MAGIC MATHS:

It’s Probably Probability

Success Story

THE NEWS CREW

Contents News and Views:

Outstanding School of the month:

Success Story:

Focus on University:

9 Focus on

ICT for Education:

Special Pull Out:

Public Education Matters

Baulkham Hills High School

Wendy Machin, President of NRMA

Study for Mature Students

Using Instagram in the Classroom

University Study for mature students

Why Public Education is still the winning sector

“It is really important to keep learning all your life, as it is a very rapidly changing world so it is important to keep your skills sharp and your mind challenged” Wendy Machin, President of NRMA

Career of the Month: 25 Tourism

Test Zone:

Literacy Corner:

30 ICT For

Gifted and Talented Children

A Poetic Piece

Join us digitally via our social networks….

Education

Using Instagram in the Classroom

Magic Maths: 30 It’s Probably Probability

science lab: 33

Clouds facebook.com/theaustralianeducationtimes @TheAusEduTimes Contact us email : editor@educationtimes.com.au Phone: +61 2 8883 0750 Advertise email: advertise@educationtimes.com.au

Puzzle Pop:

Global Story:

Some Fun Activities and Games

Chad Pregracke- The real life Captain Planet

Literacy Corner A Poetic Piece

When you see this symbol, check out our website for real life interviews and more info!

www.educationtimes.com.au The Australian Education Times

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education times

From the Editor Term 2 would certainly have been the shortest term on record. As a teacher myself, I was overwhelmed by the demands of marking and report writing which is a key component of Term 2. As a parent, I am also overwhelmed by helping my own children with their assignments, preparing for end of topic tests as well as keeping up with their after school commitments. Having said that, though, I’m quite relieved that it’s time for school holidays. This month we are focussing on Public Education. I am a strong supporter of Public Education and although many parents still believe that the education system is the same as when they attended school, the reality is that the school system is, today very, very different. Public Schools are now so competitive that many have enrolment waiting lists longer than many Independent Schools. Our Outstanding School of the month is Baulkham Hills High School who is one of the state’s leading high schools. We have also committed our Pull Out section to Public Schools and have included enrolment advice, specialised programs that Public Schools offer and revisit the importance of Gonski. Our ‘Focus on Universities’ section looks at post graduate studies and helps mature students gain a better understanding of what it’s really like to study, work and balance family should they be commencing in the semester 2 intake. Our ‘ICT for Education’ section includes information for both teachers and parents of how to use Instagram and QR Codes in an educational

Quotes of the Month

It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.

- Unknown

setting. These are both fantastic tools that can be used as part of homework or assessment tasks. This month, our literacy and numeracy sections look at Poetry and Probability as these two key topics are fundamental in all stages of learning from K-12. We have broken these down to help parents assist their children outside of the classroom. If there is something that you would like to see featured in The Australian Education Times, please email me at editor@ educationtimes.com.au Noelene Callaghan

There are always flowers for those who want to see them - Henri Mattisse

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world - Harriet Tubman

The Australian Education Times would like to acknowledge the Darug people who are the traditional custodians of this land. I would also like to pay respect to the elders past and present of the Darug nation and extend that respect to other Aboriginal people present.

Letters To Editor Dear Editor

Thank you so much for your article on Talking Angela. There are so many rumours about this App and I feel reassured that my daughter is able to use this safely.

Meghan, Rouse Hill

Dear Editor As an Indigenous student, I LOVED your last issue. Thank you for helping us take a stance in education.

Oscar(via Facebook)

Dear Editor

As a Science Teacher, I am finding your Science Lab quite resourceful. I am now using your articles as a literacy piece in my classroom. Thanks Carlia, Pymble

The Australian Education Times is dedicated to providing relevant and up-to-date news and resources that can be used in the classroom or at home. If you would like to contribute to our magazine, please write to Noelene at editor@educationtimes.com.au All contributions are to be 300 words long and to include a photo that is saved as a jpeg.

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The Australian

education times News and Views

a B g Brin

our Girls

s a mother with young daughters, it is horrifying to think that in another country, hundreds of young girls were stolen whilst at school trying to earn an education. The thought of my daughters potentially not coming home from school is simply gut wrenching. How

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mothers in Nigeria are coping with their tragic loss is incomprehensible. I think, what is worse, is the lack of media coverage surrounding this malicious activity. We are bombarded with continuous televised footage of other activities that, in my opinion, is

less substantial than the kidnap of this many young women. Unfortunately, details surrounding the abduction are rather sketchy and officials are now relying on statements made by those girls fortunate to escape from their captures.

ack Prestigious appointment for Monash Professor Monash Developmental Cognitive Neuroscientist Professor Kim Cornish has been appointed Chair of the Heads of Departments and Schools of Psychology Association of Australia (HODSPA). This influential appointment recognises the key leadership role played by Professor Cornish in academic psychology. Professor Cornish, a world-leading expert in neurodevelopmental genetic disorders, recently inaugurated the Sub-Faculty of Biomedical and Psychological Sciences’ ‘Inspiring women in leadership forum’. HODSPA represents departments of psychology to relevant external bodies where a concerted or unified representation is required. It provides a forum for exchange of information and liaison on matters of mutual

To meet the significant challenges facing the discipline of psychology, I want to promote a collaborative model of engagements between academia, the professional bodies, government and health services.

Professor Cornish said

interest and concern, and formulates action on behalf of the departments of psychology where the interests of all departments are involved. HODSPA also liaises with other bodies representing or regulating psychology and psychologists. Professor Cornish is looking forward to leading psychology into its next phase, in particular bridging the gap between research and professional practice. She said close collaboration along with a strong voice from all heads of psychology were needed. “To meet the significant challenges facing the discipline of psychology, I want to promote a collaborative model of engagements between academia, the professional bodies, government and health services,” Professor Cornish said. “In addition, I want to raise the profile of Monash and its role as a leader in psychology. This is the first time a Monash Head of Psychology has held this prestigious appointment.” Professor Cornish said her success had grown from her desire to make a difference in the lives of people affected by psychological disorders and produce the next generation of highly skilled and internationally recognised researchers and professionals. Such successes were the focus of a presentation Professor Cornish gave as a guest speaker at a recent Women in Psychology forum, hosted by the Students’ Neuroscience and Psychology Society. More than 100 students listened to the stories of five professional women and their career beginnings and successes. Professor Cornish said the key message from the evening was “to find courage and confidence within themselves, and how a single knock on a door can help turn a student’s dream into a reality”.

Morwell Primary School students escape the smoke to step back in time at Swan Hill’s Pioneer Settlement SIXTY-THREE students from Years 3-6 at Morwell Primary School escaped the smoke, and ash that have covered the town for the past six weeks due to the Hazelwood coal mine fire. The students, 10 teachers and staff enjoyed some welcome respite at the Swan Hill Pioneer Settlement. Nestled on the banks of the Marraboor River at the settlement, the students had an opportunity to step back in time. The breathing difficulties, headaches, sore eyes and nausea caused by the fire, seemed a million miles away. The Morwell visitors revelled in the chance to dress-up “pioneer-style”, and ride on the PS Pyap, a large paddle boat for a river cruise. Other activities included butter churning, rope making, building, blacksmithing, working an “olden days” laundry, plus horseand-cart and vintage-car rides. Australian history came to life as the children filed into the Pine Point Pioneer School, lent elbow grease to construct drop-log buildings and learnt about local indigenous culture. Even the streetscapes echoed another age with 1850s pioneer cottages, Towaninnie Homestead and more than 50 original and replica heritage buildings forming a Mallee township from a bygone era. “They absolutely loved it, they were so excited, they said it was the best camp they had ever been on,” said Ms Merle Williamson, Morwell PS community link co-ordinator. “We’ve been enduring the smoke — you grin and bear it — but we’ve had stinging eyes, sinus, sore throats and it affects breathing. It’s been hard for the children with asthma. “It’s been hard on all the children as they have had to stay indoors.”

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education times Outstanding School

ituated in the Hills district in north- west Sydney, Baulkham Hills High School is both the largest selective high school in the state of NSW and the most popular. Each year over 1000 students apply for entry to Year 7 which has a limit of 180 students. To gain entry students have to sit the Selective Schools test when they are in Year 6. Year 7 students come from 50 or more primary schools and represent a diverse range of family backgrounds, many from non-English speaking backgrounds. Established in 1970 as a comprehensive high school, Baulkham Hills High became selective in 1990. It is unusual for a selective school because it also has a Support Unit with 63 students who have a range of learning disabilities, including autism. This brings the student population to over 1200 with 83 teachers. Known generally as ‘Baulko’, the school’s motto is ‘Persevere’ and the unofficial motto is ‘Every Day’s A Great Day at Baulko!’ The school is proud of its multicultural population and students are encouraged to share their beliefs and philosophies in a non-threatening and harmonious environment. The school values the opinions of students and ‘student voice’ is sought before any major decisions are made, including in the areas of building improvements and uniforms. Student leadership is exceptionally strong with a very active prefect body led by the captains. They lead each school assembly as well as a variety of events in the school including the organisation of the Quad Schools Cup, a sporting competition held with the three other selective schools in Western Sydney (Penrith, Girraween and James Ruse). Another, special Baulko event led by the prefects is AAA Week. This concentrates on Awareness, Acceptance and AntiDiscrimination and features guest speakers and activities which highlight issues such as gender, mental health, disabilities and racial harmony. A multicultural day during AAA Week celebrates the diversity of music, dance and food which students greatly enjoy. In addition, Year 12 students operate a tutoring service for junior students at lunch times.

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Baulkha

high scho

The School Representative Council takes its role very seriously and leads the school in several fundraising activities each year, such as Shave for a Cure, as well as campaigns to improve the school environment and lift school spirit. A highlight of the calendar each year is a Spring Fling which involves music and dancing as well as fireworks which are enjoyed by the wider community. In the academic field the school ranks as one of the best in Australia. Regularly performing in the top five in NSW in the Higher School Certificate, the school currently sits at second and

had six students achieve perfect ATARs of 99.95 in 2013. That is a result that is not bettered by any other school doing the HSC last year. Students placed in the top ten in the state for subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Mathematics Extension 1 and 2, Business Studies, PDHPE, Biology, Engineering Studies and Economics. That is a broad range of subjects and representative of the school’s attitude to curriculum. Students are encouraged to study a diverse range of subjects and not focus on the narrow fields of Mathematics and Science only. With the introduction of the Australian curriculum the school has taken the opportunity to review its curriculum offerings in 2013. The result is an increase in elective subjects for Year 9 students as well as an increase in accelerated subjects. In 2013 new subjects were introduced including Critical Thinking, International Studies and Classical Greek. Subjects which

am Hills

ool

allow possible acceleration include Economics, Japanese, Studies of Religion and Music 2. This allows Year 9 and 10 students the possibility of acceleration in a humanities subject and deliberately broadens their subject base. Extra -curricular activities are a special focus at Baulkham Hills with every student encouraged to participate in the rich array of additional activities which take place outside the traditional classroom. The school offers the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and has one of the state’s largest groups participating at Bronze, Silver and Gold level. Another popular activity is the Army Cadets. Restricted only to Baulkham Hills’ students, the cadets parade once a week after school and feature leadership opportunities as well as adventure training with an annual camp as well as promotions camps.

Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of academic extension activities and competitions including national and international competitions. Throughout the year students take part in examinations for Olympiad selection in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In 2013 Andy Tran represented Australia in the Asia Pacific Mathematics Olympiad and Dmitry Brezhinev won a Silver Medal at the International Physics Olympiad. Junior students do a range of ICAS competitions and students also compete in the Mathematics Enrichment program, the Australian National Chemistry Quiz, the NSW Geography competition, the Brain Bee Challenge and the Aurecon Bridge Building competition, to name but a few. Students also take part in activities such as Mock Trial, Future Problem Solving,

Debating, Chess and the Model United Nations. The students at Baulkham Hills are encouraged to have a strong sense of social justice and responsibility. Two groups which have members from all year groups are the Green Group and Baulko Outreach. The Green Group concentrates on protecting the environment and ensuring that we minimise our impact on the environment. This involves activities such as an electrical audit, the installation of rainwater tanks and solar panels as well as recycling paper and drink cans. Students also get involved with tree planting in the community and ‘Clean Up Australia’. Baulko Outreach is a group of students who get involved in the wider community through visits to aged persons homes or taking part in Anzac Day services and marches. They also volunteer at a local soup kitchen and conduct a school wide Christmas giving tree for charity. Sport is very important to the students at Baulkham Hills High School. The competitive nature of a selective school means students are equally competitive on the sporting field. The school competes in a wide range of team sports as well as individuals who succeed across many sports. There are always several students in every year who are operating at an elite level in the sporting field. Baulkham Hills currently holds the Quad Schools Cup which is a friendly competition between the four Western Sydney selective schools (Girraween, Penrith and James Ruse) across four different sports. On the creative front Baulkham Hills High has some very talented artists, actors, dancers and musicians who regularly share their efforts through performance and exhibition. Creative arts are strongly encouraged as a way to give expression to feelings and experiences which have an impact on young people. They also provide an outlet which is needed in a highly academic environment and help to develop well-rounded young adults. Baulkham Hills High School is a rich, creative, dynamic and challenging school which fosters the growth of talents in all fields and develops resilience, leadership, tolerance and diversity. After all, ‘Every Day’s a Great Day at Baulko!’ The Australian Education Times

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education times Success Story Wendy Machin, President of NRMA, Australia’s largest member organisation, which is taking the lead in helping schools teach road safety. Wendy was the first woman member of the National Party of Australia elected to the NSW parliament. Question 1 – As a child or a young adult, what career aspirations did you have? When I was a young child I wanted to go to the moon. As I got older, I thought I’d like to be a landscape architect or a gardener. When I finished my education, I got interested in public relations so I applied to go to what is now UTS University. I did a BA in communication and I majored in public relations. Question 2 – What led you to reach this top position in NRMA and what was the role of education in achieving your goal? I went to school in a little country town called Wingham then I came to Sydney and went to university. I went into politics first, which taught me a lot about dealing with people. Then I left because I had several children and worked part time. Then I was asked to work on the board of the NRMA, which was a great opportunity for me as it’s a fantastic organisation. You should always seize opportunities, even if it means taking a risk. If you don’t take risks and put yourself out there you don’t get the wins as well. Question 3 – What would you say is the best part of the education system in Australia? I think we are so lucky to have a great free education system. We have a choice, with private schools, church schools, independent schools, and we have a wonderful public education system. Anywhere you go you can get a good quality education in Australia if you are prepared to work for it. Question 4 – How is NRMA taking part in helping and supporting education to help students in the community? 8 |

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Nrma

Around the world, a lack of road safety is one of the biggest killers of children in developing nations. So here in Australia we try to help other clubs around the world we try to give our knowledge and support in the programs that they are doing. We do a lot of things in schools here. At the moment we have a program around 100 schools in NSW looking at science and road safety. Question 5 – Which would you say is the most important ability a leader should have? The single most important quality is the ability to take people with you. To be able to get them to work with you but still be able to lead and have them accept your guidance and understand what you’re trying to say. Leaders have to have courage, strength and integrity. Question 6 – What are the key factors required to be successful? To be successful there is no great secret. You won’t succeed if you’re lazy so, I think, hard work is a very important part of it. I am a strong believer of a good education as you continue learning all your life. Even now I attend courses. I did one last week on digital media. It is really important to keep learning all your life, as it is a very rapidly changing world so it is important to keep your skills sharp and your mind challenged. Being decent to people and treating them properly is also important. Question 7 – How do you start your ordinary day? I start the day with a cup of tea and read the newspapers. I like to catch up on what’s happening in the news. I’ll often have phone calls from journalists just after 6 o’clock in the morning asking for comments in the media. I have three children still living at

home so I’m usually tidying up the house before coming into work. I work a lot so I enjoy my quiet time in the morning. Question 8 – Have there been any gender issues for you personally in your career? When I went into parliament my parents thought I was a bit crazy but they were really supportive throughout. In parliament, there were people who were surprised when I got selected by my party. I remember one of the older men said that they would never win that seat with a woman. I don’t think people believe that these days but you do come across it from time to time. I don’t tolerate it, so if I feel people are being a bully or rude then I will take them on. Question 9 – Who has been your greatest inspiration to date? I would probably say my parents. I have a disabled sister who was injured when she was born so my parents faced that challenge and turned it into a positive for them. They spent their life working to improve education and facilities in our area for children with disabilities. Question 10 – What sort of difficulties have you encountered and how do you overcome these set backs? Probably having a sister with a disability was tough. Growing up in a family, you have to make a lot of compromises and sacrifices. In parliament I’ve had a lot of difficult times, as people aren’t very pleasant to politicians.

To watch the full interview visit www.educationtimes.com.au

The Australian

education times Focus on University

The benefits of distance

Tertiaryn educatio

There are various benefits of completing tertiary studies by distance: You have the freedom to study where you want and when you want. You have the flexibility to fit your study around work, social and family commitments. You can vary your study load to suit your schedule, with full-time and parttime distance study options available at many institutions in Australia and worldwide. You can develop and demonstrate your independence and autonomy through focus and motivation. You have the convenience of your course materials being delivered to you. You can keep in direct contact with your lecturers and tutors by phone, email or the online forum set up by your institution. You can be included in your institutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events and social activities via email subscriptions and social media

s technology advances and our lives get busier, completing a tertiary degree by distance is becoming increasingly popular. The shift from hard copy written material, audio tapes and CD-ROMs to email and online sharing services has pushed for the establishment of online universities and institutions across the globe.

For information on applying to study by distance and the courses available, contact the university or institution of your choice, or visit Open Universities Australia at

http://www.open.edu.au/

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education times Focus on University

TAFE v Uni

What are the differences in

nly a few years ago, a substantial gap existed between TAFE and Universities in terms of learning offerings, the type of qualification that you could obtain from each and even what you can study. Once upon a time, long ago, people even referred to TAFE as ‘Tech’….and many of our parents and grandparents still refer to TAFE as this. TAFE was once a technical college that only taught in the area of trades. Today, students can complete anything from a Certificate II to a Higher School Certificate (HSC) to a Bachelor’s Degree.

o longer are students using TAFE as a back up preference to university or private college. Students are actively selecting TAFE as its offerings are becoming increasingly attractive and more beneficial than its competitors in tertiary education. For school leavers, TAFE also acts as a stepping stone to University and other private colleges. In some instances, students are able to be ‘credited’ for the subjects that they complete at TAFE. Additionally, you don’t need an ATAR to be accepted into TAFE. 10 |

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Applying is simple and although some may require an entrance exam or a portfolio of work to accompany the application, TAFE is now seeing such an influx in applications that waiting lists exist. For students still at school would who like to begin their Trade as early as possible, TAFE offers students the opportunity to study their trade whilst completing the Higher School Certificate. These TVET courses still permit students to attain a Year

Did ? you know

stralia’s u A is W S TAFE N cational leading vo training d n a n io t educa regarded is d n a r e provid the best in f o e n o s a the world!

iversities:

n todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s society?

12 Certificate whilst also attaining a Statement of Attainment and immediate entry to other TAFE courses. Many of these also include and/or lead to Work Experience in the area of the specific Trade. TAFE is not just for todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youth. Many mature age students attend TAFE so increase their opportunities of promotion in their own career or to simply increase their knowledge in particular areas. TAFE is so versatile and flexible that it provides learning opportunities for all Australians regardless of language ability, work history and current personal status.

What TAFEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offer:

What Universities offer:

TAFE courses are more focused on learning for work and typically include work experience

University degrees provide specific professional outcomes.

The teaching is based on supporting you to gain specific skills Classes are smaller, more regular and there is more personal contact with your teacher The skills you learn are directly relevant to performing tasks in the workplace and are aimed at improving your employability and your ability to adapt to changing work.

Courses spend more time on theories, so that you have a framework for analysing and solving problems in your field of study. The learning environment is much less structured than school. You choose when to study and how hard to push yourself. You attend lectures and tutorials. You are expected to do your own study outside of the classroom. This usually equates to 8 hours per 2 units. The Australian Education Times

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education times ICT For Education

Students, get your phones out and use

Teacher of the Month

Instagram!

Using Instagram in the classroom

ove over, Facebook—if you teach middle or high schoolers, you know that Instagram is one of the most popular social media channels for teens and tweens today. And while it may not seem like it at first, there are many applications for Instagram in the classroom. Of course, it’s important to protect students’ privacy, especially when using a public channel like Instagram. If you’re interested in

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trying any of the ideas below, we recommend creating a classroom account that you set to “private” and carefully vetting any potential followers. You might also try adapting our suggestions to an educational social media platform such as Edmodo. Finally, be sure to check your school’s technology policies before you begin. Okay, here are 10 awesome ways you can use Instagram in the classroom

Showcase students’ work. Snap pictures of students’ artwork and other special projects to share on a private Instagram account only accessible to families and others in your school community. Feature a student of the week. Invite students to alternate “taking over” your classroom Instagram account and sharing photos from their daily lives. Then have the featured student share his or her photos with the class. Capture excursions memories. Invite a student volunteer “archivist” to take photos on your field trips or during class parties and share them on your Instagram account. Imagine how a famous person in history would use Instagram. Have students browse historical photos and create a bulletin board or poster display showing Mal Meningaor Ned Kelly’s Instagram feed. Imagine what a favourite character would post. Challenge students to find photos that would appear in Harry Potter’s or a Hunger Games Character Instagram. Share reading recommendations. Invite students to snap photos of their favourite books and then browse the photos in your feed for more ideas on what to read. Record steps in a science experiment. Watch as a plant unfurls or a chemical compound slowly changes colours—and keep the changes preserved on Instagram. Go on an ABC scavenger hunt. Challenge kids to find print in the world around them—on signs, packaging and in the mail.

8 9 10

Discover ideas for writing. Tap an “inspiration fairy” to take ten photos that could serve as a prompt for writing—an empty bird’s nest, a For Sale sign and a broken doll, for instance.

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Document student progress. Snap photos of student’s writing at the beginning and end of the year. Order inexpensive prints from sites such as Prinstagr.am to show students how far they have come!

SIMON MCKENZIE

Learning Technologies Coordinator, Aquinas College, Gold Coast Queensland How long have you been teaching? I am currently in my 33rd year as a teacher. I have taught in both Tasmania and Queensland. Over that time I have been a subject Head of Department, a Year Level and House Coordinator and an Acting Assistant Principal. My main teaching subjects have always been Senior English and History. What is the key function of your role? There are numerous functions within my current role. I do everything from administering our e-Diary to delivering PD for staff on new technologies. However, I consider my principal role to be working at shaping the mindset of staff; especially with the arrival of Year 7s in high school next year and the commencement of a BYODD iPad scheme in Years 7 and 8. What is most satisfying thing about helping students in Public Education? The vast majority of my career has been spent in three different Catholic schools although I have hopes of returning to the public system in 2015 or 2016. For me, education has always been about the students first and foremost; their welfare and their learning. In recent years, I have gained the greatest satisfaction from taking groups of Senior Ancient History students on educational tours of Egypt, Greece and Turkey. These have been genuinely life-changing experiences. How can you top crawling the tunnel into the heart of Khefre’s Pyramid? What are your dreams and ambitions in the space of education? So many ambitions … to keep teaching, to keep learning, to keep my sense of humour and to maintain my crusade to bring teaching colleagues into the exciting, ever expanding world of learning technologies. I guess that at age 55, I’m an unlikely “poster boy” for technology in education but I earnestly believe that the “way of the future” must be built “in the now.”

The Australian

education times ICT For Education

SCAN ME!

Using QR Codes in the Classroom IMPLEMENTATION:

What are QR Codes: As I tell my students, QR Codes are ‘new’ bar codes that devices such as mobile phones, iPads, tablets etc can scan (once downloading an app that allows you to scan them) which either directs you to a particular website or provides with specific information. Commercially, QR Codes are growing rapidly and are seen in many businesses. Slowly, schools are also integrating this piece of technology. In my school, QR Codes are used to support administrative duties as well as classroom teaching and learning.

Since the beginning of the year, I have begun using QR Codes with my students primarily when using tablets and iPads. This was simply due to the fact that it was so much easier for students to scan the Interactive Whiteboard and click on the link to go to a website than for me to write the URL on the board/laptop and then for students to type it in (without any errors). (I couldn’t send students an email with the link as this function was disabled on the tablets/iPads). To kick off this activity, the YouTube clip (below) was shown to my students to give them a basic understanding of how to use them. This activity began to change as I gained confidence with my students using their own mobile phones to complete work. Soon, I was able to modify work and create simple instruction sheets which allowed students to complete entire modules of work (see below). A colleague this year also created a ‘Treasure Hunt’ using only QR Codes that uses the concept of students using GPS tracking to find certain things around the school. These activities are engaging our students a lot more and is constant a source for discussion. I am now finding that students are able to create QR Codes for me (as their teacher) to scan and mark their work online. A tool that can be used for all audiences. QR Codes have slowly become a trademark of the Computing Faculty. I began by using them

to publicise our schools Facebook page and school website. Students (and teachers) were quick to show off their latest mobile devices to scan these. So much so, that at one point, there were queues in our administration block during recess and lunch with everyone wanting a turn. QR Codes now play a significant role in the planning of our junior programs (Stage 4 ICT). In the year 7 ICT program, I use QR codes to assist teachers to learn more about each unit of work, with the links going to wikis or to specific areas of the school’s moodle page that contains more information. As a result, QR Codes are now appearing on our school newsletter (which is published once a term), on our school business cards and on our other promotional material as well as assisting students when selecting subjects (for Computers based subjects). In preparation for our Parent Teacher night, notes with a QR Code (linking to the booking system) was also distributed An example of a QR Code Based Lesson The Australian Education Times

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education times The Australian Education Times App Coming soon! If you have any suggestions on how we can make our magazine app better or about what you would like to see in our magazine, please do write to us at editor@educationtim es.com.au. Be in touch with us as well if you have an article that you wou ld like us to consider including in our mobile magazine app.

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education times Technology Treats

Totes Amazeball

Apps!!!!!

Flipboard

Hootsuite

Flipboard transforms blog posts, social networking feeds, images, video, and articles into an impressive layout that replicates the print reading experience—and puts traditional desktop RSS readers to shame. The latest version, Flipboard 2.2.3, revamps the Cover Stories section and adds a few other small features. Flipboard continues to evolve, but it remains the best iPad newsreader. Within the classroom, Flipboard can be used to create interactive assessment tasks or research tasks in the classroom. Creating a Flipboard is effortless and can be used at any age in any classroom. This is a free app that be downloaded on both iOS and Android devices.

If you are an avid user of social media and have multiple accounts, perhaps it’s time to consider an all-in-one approach. Hootsuite allows you to connect to all of your favourite social mediums and send messages through one click. It also has the luxury of allowing you to favourite and retweet/repost messages that others have posted on their social media pages. Hootsuite is a free app that be downloaded on both iOS and Android devices and an absolute must for those who are determined to stay connected with their friends, peers or school community.

Shazam

Docs To Go

Shazam “listens” to the music playing around you from nearly any source and then provides you with information on the particular song, artist, album, and more. Through this app, you can identify specific tracks, look up similar music to try, and see what your friends are listening to. This is also a great tool to use in the classroom in creative subjects that require audio to process learning. Additionally, teachers can use Shazam to create a treasure hunt and direct students through a path of facts using music. This is a free app that be downloaded on both iOS and Android devices.

This free Office suite is fantastic for those who have replaced their laptop or computer with their mobile phone or tablet/iPad. Docs to Go allows you to create a document using traditional Microsoft Office products as you would when using a PC. It has sharing permissions so it can be emailed to yourself or to your teacher once your work is completed. It also allows you to sync your work to your desktop so if anything happens to your device, there will always be a backup somewhere. A fantastic tool for both secondary and tertiary students, Docs to Go is available on both iOS and Android.

ICT Metalanguage Have you tried to assist your children in understanding their assignments and wonder what some of the jargon means? Here is a list of terms that will help you decipher them when helping your child: BASIC - is an ‘interpreted’ language which means that the computer converts every line of code in turn into machine code and then acts on those instructions E-Safety - This relates the sensible steps you need to take whilst online in order to avoid any problems. For example, what to do and not do in internet chat-rooms. What to do and not do when shopping online and so on. Fibre-optic cable - allows data to be transimitted by making use of light. The cable has an extremely transparent central glass core, which is surrounded by cladding. When light enters the central core, it cannot get out until it reaches the other end because the cladding reflects the light - so effectively fibre-optic cable is a guided-light pipe. Interface - An interface is a method, either hardware or software, which connects different parts of a computer or network so that data communication can take place. kilobyte - a measure of computer memory or storage. It is generally thought of as 1,000 bytes. However, to be completely correct, it is actually 1,024 bytes. Nibble - The name given to 4 bits or half a byte. OMR - Forms that have been filled in for use with an OMR machine are marked with high contrast ink. The machine can then read the data very reliably and rapidly. Repeater - All signals fade as they travel from one place to another be it via copper cable, satellite or fibre optics. The repeater boosts the signal so that it can travel further. Utility - is a piece of software that performs a specific and useful task, for example compressing files, defragmenting the hard disk. Many Utilities come as part of the Operating System. Noelene Callaghan Noelene is an ICT Teacher at Rooty Hill High School, a member of the ICTENSW and a Councillor of The Teachers’ Guild of New South Wales

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MONDAY

TUESDAY

2014 Calendar July SUNDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

The Australian

education times

SATURDAY

7 Toy and Game Expo, Sydney Olympic Park

Australian International Music Festival, Sydney Opera House

Sweet Songs by Annie Lennox, Sydney

Amazing Whales, Darling Harbour closes

Keir Choreographic Award, Sydney

Independence Day in USA

Term 3

In 1861, the battle of first Bull Run took place

Bondi Winter Magic 2014

Last Day for the Winter Festival, Darling Harbour

In 1976, The Viking 1 lander successfully landed on Mars

In 1439, Kissing was banned in England

29 30 31

Wombat Stew - The Musical, Glen Street Theatre

In 1951, “Walt Disney’s “”Alice In Wonderland” was released

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

In 2007, Lewis Gordon Pugh became the first person to swim at the North Pole

Bare Island Tours, Botany Bay

In 1889, Mexico was founded

The Archibald Prize is awarded

Tyrannosaurs closes

17 18 19 20 21

In 1978, the World News Tonight premiered on ABC

In 1968, Intel Corporation was created

Christmas in July Cruise, Sydney

The Life and Times of Governor Arthur Phillip, Parramatta

In 1995, the Nasdaq stock index closes above the 1,000 mark for the first time

In 2007, PratibhaPatil was sworn in as India’s first woman president

10 11 12 13 14

In 1987, the IBMPC DOS Version 3.3 (updated) was released

Public Education Week

Opportunity Class Placement Test

15 16

That 90s Show, Potts Point

Public Education Week

My Reminders:

A special pull out to help parents and students celebrate Public Education

Public

n o i t a c u d E

The Place of Public Education

Curriculum and Programs

Why Public Education is still the winning sector

Specialised programs that Public Schools offer

Gonski The ongoing battle

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PULL OUT

Why Public Education is still the winning sector

he question over private or public schooling can provoke fierce debates. To some, public schools are places of academic failure and the reason Australia is sliding in international education rankings. To others, private schools are a waste of money and drain public resources that should be going to government schools. No research offers definitive proof that either public schools or private schools produce better results at Year 12. Analysis by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) of results from international tests concludes that, once adjustments have been made for variations in the schools’ socio-economic

status (SES), there is no significant difference in average scores between government, independent and Catholic. “The socioeconomic background of the school is what matters, rather than the type of school,” an ACER report concluded. Even when taking socio-economic status out of the equation, public and private schools have widely differing student bodies. Comparing their literacy and numeracy results is like comparing apples and oranges. Public education enrolls the vast majority of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, yet they operate on a budget that’s close to 70 per cent of independent schools. This is no

mean feat. If the MySchool website was to report individual students’ literacy and numeracy improvement from test to test it would find that government schools far outperform private schools. Lastly, while private schools have higher rates of students finishing year 12 and send proportionally more students to university, internal research from Melbourne University shows that it is students from public schools who perform better in their first year of university. This is put down to the fact they are required to be self-motivated and apply high levels of self-discipline while at school.

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Public Educationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Special Offerings

he Department of Education and Training offers a range of specialist programs availableto students in both primary and secondary public schools. These vary from school to school and can include Gifted and Talented, Opportunity Class, Sporting, PSSA,Arts, Vertical Learning Programs, and Festival of Choral Music programs among others. These programs are designed to give children the opportunity to turn their passions into dream futures. Sports and arts programs as well as academic and applied studies give children realworld skills and a head start to reach their career goals. The Gifted and Talented Program for example aims to provide challenging and highly motivating learning opportunities to children

with exceptional academic capacity and creative talent.The Approved Sports Specialist Program aims to develop character, teach technical skills and selfdiscipline, and nurture a love of sport, be it cricket or cheer dance. The Approved Specialist Arts Program classes can include workshops, studio work, competitions, enrichment opportunities and mentoring sessions by visiting practising professionals who provide real insight into the life of the artistic professional. Applications for Approved Specialist Programs are made directly to schools. As every program is unique, the application process and closing dates vary. Contact the relevant schools or check their websites for more information.

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The Australian

education times PULL OUT

How to enrol in a D NSW Public School

eciding on your child’s educational future is always a very complex task for parents. We tend to do quite a lot of research, when in fact, enrolling in a public school is actually quite simple.

Starting Kind

erg

Finding a school

Each NSW public school has a defined local enrolment area. This means that your child is designated to a particular school based on the permanent residential address of the primary caregiver. Every public school reserves enough places within their school for students in their local enrolment area.

Out-of-area schools

Parents may however apply to enrol their child at a school outside their enrolment area. Non-local applications may be considered by the school’s enrolment panel, according to the department’s policy and subject to selection criteria such as availability of appropriate staff and classroom accommodation. It is recommended that parents contact the school to find out more about their out-of-area selection criteria.

Enrolling a child with Special Needs It is recommended that you contact your local regional office by phoning 131 536. Depending on your location and your child’s needs, you may have access to regular classes in regular schools, support classes in regular schools or a school with specific support services. The student support team at your local regional office will arrange for initial assessment of your child, and review by the placement panel in the first instance. 20 |

The Australian Education Times

arten Your child ca n star t Kinde rgar ten at th of the school e beginning year if they tu rn five on or 31 July in that before year. By law, all children m enrolled in sc ust be hool by their sixth bir thda students star y. Because t new work in their new clas the beginning s at of the school year, it would an advantage be for your child bot educationally , to star t schoo h socially and l as soon as p in the new ye ossible ar. Apply for Kin

ergarten Please contac t the school th at you wish to to discuss the enrol at enrolment pr ocedures and the necessary to obtain paperwork to complete. Most schools have an induct ion program fo children ente ring Kindergar r ten. This inform should be avai ation lable at the ti me of enrolm ent. Changing

Primary Sch Simply notify ools your existing school that yo to change scho u wish ols and contac t the new scho check if you re ol to side in the en rolment area obtain the ap , then propriate enro lment forms.

Starting High School To apply for Year 7, you wil l need to contact your hig h school and complete an ‘Expressi on of interest for placement in Year 7 form’. These forms are du e back to the school by the end of March (when the child is in yea r 6). The

early due date is required in order to ensure that sufficient staffing and resources are availa ble for all students prior to com mencing Year 7. Some schools offer eithe r an induction day where yea r6 students attend the schoo l for a day or an information eve ning session which permits stu dents and their parents to learn about the school’s offerings.

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PULL OUT

The NSW Nationals have called on the federal government to fulfil the Gonskischool funding deal signed by the Gillard government, backing Adrian Piccoli, the state Education Minister. And NSW regional areas have been promised a big boost in funding for water security, tourism and freight in next week’s state budget, with Nationals leader Andrew Stoner saying there would be $1 billion in investment in regional infrastructure.

ehind the New South Wales National Party’s support for the Gonski school funding model is a young teacher from northern NSW. James Burnett is also the Mid North Coast regional co-ordinator for the NSW Young Nationals. His motion calling on the Federal Government to honour six years of the Gonski school funding model was passed at his party’s annual conference in March. It runs contrary to the Federal Government’s plan to scrap the Gonskimodel, that was negotiated between the former Federal Labor Government and states and territories, after four years and put in place a new system.

I’m a teacher and I really believe it’s an important commitment to make, Mr Burnett said of the Gonski model. Education is the single greatest investment that a government can make in its future, so that’s why I put it up. The NSW Young Nationals’ policy in support of the Gonskimodel, was adopted by its senior party, the NSW Nationals, at its annual conference last week. It really signals how important many of our Nationals’ politicians felt about it, because we had so many of the state politicians stand up and support it, he said. Some of the federal politicians did speak against it, yes, not necessarily against the concept but in terms of the funding, and as well know with the Federal Budget. But certainly Minister Piccoli, the Education Minister, spoke for it as did a number of our Legislative Council politicians as well.

We Still Need Gonski We certainly had a number of both MPs and senior members of the party come up and congratulate us acknowledging how important the policy is for regional Australia and our students in rural and regional NSW. I’m proud that I led the @ nswyoungnats motion at the @ NSWNationals Conference to show that @igiveagonski #natsconference and it passed! - James Burnett (@jburnett_91) June 13, 2014 Mr Burnett says the NSW Nationals policy on the Gonski funding model will now be considered by the federal National Party. The Nationals are the party of regional Australia and it’s a great deal for regional Australia, and that’s why we’re supporting it, he said. He says that a number of other of the NSW Young Nationals’ policies were also adopted as policy by the NSW Nationals. As always we speak very passionately about the policies and we’re not some crazy youth movement of the party, we certainly reflect many of the party’s aspirations and ideas, he said. Education is the single greatest investment that a government can make in its future, so that’s why I put it up.

James Burnett, Mid North Coast regional co-ordinator, NSW Young Nationals So I’d say a solid half, if not more, of our policies got up, some didn’t as can be expected but certainly some of our more important ones, like the Gonski motion, did get through the conference.

And the motion requesting Parliament House be moved to regional NSW? Unfortunately with all conferences there are many things to consider, many motions, and it was towards the end of the program and we didn’t get quite through it, he said. But that will then go to our NSW Nationals Central Council to consider along with the other motions we didn’t get through. The Australian Greens are calling on the federal National Party to back the position of its NSW party and support the full six years of Gonski funding for schools. Senator Penny Wright says by keeping silent, the National Party’s federal MPs are selling out their communities. It’s time they took a stand to fight for the country Australians they say they represent by supporting a more equitable schools system so kids from the bush aren’t missing out, she said. The Coalition’s cut back to a four-year deal means country schools will miss out on up to two-thirds of the money they would have got under a six-year scheme. The National Party owes it to country school children to stand up to Tony Abbott and fight for their futures. The Australian Education Times

| 21

The Australian

education times PULL OUT

Our New Educ O

Budget is A

n June 17, The NSW Government handed down a Budget that will enable our department to continue our reforms across schools, TAFE institutes and in communities. $14.4 billion has been allocated to education, training and early childhood education − an increase of $612 million on the prior year’s expenditure. The 2014-15 State Budget also provides $53 million to support initiatives for Aboriginal communities, multicultural communities, veterans, young people and volunteers. Funding of $117 million is also provided for grassroots sports, sporting

facilities and infrastructure and programs across the State. The 2014-15 State Budget also recognises that, effective from 1 July 2014, TAFE NSW will become a separate entity from the Department of Education and Communities. Our school reforms are the most significant in a century to improve outcomes for all students, raise the quality of teaching, and give more authority to schools to meet the needs of their local communities. The extra $230 million in school funding in the Budget, across all sectors from the ‘Gonski’ agreement, will allow us

Highlights of the Budget include: Government schools $10.7 billion in spending on government schools, including $347 million for maintenance $400 million for capital works and upgrades. New public schools, including a new school for students with special needs at Glenmore Park. 14 major school projects, including a redevelopment of Hunter Sports High School. 256 new permanent classrooms.

22 |

The Australian Education Times

TAFE NSW $1.86 billion expenditure budget. $77 million capital funding for new facilities and information technology projects, including a major upgrade to Hunter Institute – Newcastle campus.

to accelerate reforms including Local Schools, Local Decisions, the Resource Allocation Model, Great Teaching, Inspired Learning and the Rural and Remote Education Blueprint for Action. Our schools will have certainty in planning for the future with the NSW Government’s commitment to fully fund its $1.76 billion commitment under the National Education Reform Agreement.

cation

Announced Early childhood ducation Funding of $361 million, including allocations to maintain universal access to quality early childhood education in the year before school.

Aboriginal affairs A new Deputy Ombudsman for Aboriginal Programs to monitor initiatives to assist Aboriginal students stay at school, transition into work and develop pride in their culture and identity. $2.4 million from a total $5.1 million in 2014-15 for continued implementation of OCHRE, the NSW Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan for Aboriginal affairs, to support the revitalisation and maintenance of Aboriginal languages through the Language and Culture Nests and funding for Opportunity Hubs to match school students with local training opportunities.

Gallipoli commemorat

ion

100 NSW high school students will travel to the Gallipoli Dawn Service next year, to share in the centenary commemorations of the Anzac landing at Gallipoli , funded by an allocation of up to $1 million.

Youth

to prepare a ildren and Young People A new Advocate for Ch such as s ue ategy to address iss whole-of-government str d the an ety ess, community saf cyberbullying, mental illn gs. misuse of alcohol and dru

Sport and Recreation Funding of $117 million for sports, facilities, infrastructure and programs across NSW, including $3 million over two years to upgrade the Lithgow Aquatic Centre $7.8 million to upgrade 11 Sport and Recreation Centres and venues such as the Sydney International Equestrian Centre, the Sydney International Shooting Centre and the Sydney International Regatta Centre.

The Australian Education Times

| 23

The Australian

education times PULL OUT

Becoming a Teacher through the NSW DEC Graduate

m a r g o r P y Entr

he If you are currently studying a relevant core degree subject at university, such as science, mathematics, English, or any other applicable degree subject, it isn’t too far down the line to embark on an exciting journey to a career in teaching. Becoming a teacher can be a rewarding and stimulating experience with endless opportunities and extraordinary levels of job satisfaction. The NSW Department of Education and Communities can offer the perfect graduate entry program to help develop and focus your skills to becoming a teacher in NSW public schools. Following the completion of your undergraduate degree (bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science) or during the final stages of your study, you can obtain a teacher qualification by finishing an end-on graduate entry teacher education qualification. This could be a graduate diploma in education, an end-on bachelor of teaching or a master of teaching. Alternatively, you could complete a four- or five-year combined degree program such as a Bachelor of Mathematics/Bachelor of Teaching. Remember, it is important to make sure that the content of your undergraduate study reflects that which you wish to teach. For example, primary teaching requires study of undergraduate content that covers all primary curriculum areas. Secondary teaching requires a more focused study 24 |

The Australian Education Times

of an undergraduate subject that you wish to teach. Students who wish to enroll in a graduate entry initial teacher education program must meet the NSW Institute of Teachers’ subject content criteria,either pre admission or pre graduation. The university you wish to apply to has the power to decide

whether or not you meet the Institute’s requirements in your undergraduate and appropriate postgraduate degree/s. For information regarding eligibility criteria, and current credible initial teacher education programs, visit http://www.nswteachers.nsw.edu.au/

The Australian

education times Career of the Month

Tourism T

he tourism industry is on the up! Coupled with hospitality, it is the largest single employer in Australia. So if you are a people person and committed to providing a high quality service, then now is the time to begin your journey to a career in tourism. There are a wide variety of potential career paths offered by the industry, all of which can provide you with the necessary skills and experiences to achieve a successful future. Here are just some of the areas you may wish to explore: Tourism Operations Attractions and Theme Parks Guiding Tour Wholesaling Retail Travel Sales Visitor Information Services Meetings and Events

Jobs in tourism require employees to be customerservice driven, so communication and people skills are a must. Employers tend to look for the following attributes in any potential candidate:

Good communication skills. A strong customer focus. Smart presentation and grooming. Organisational skills. Ability to work in a team. Ability to work well under pressure. Good technical skills and knowledge.

Studying and Qualifications A career in tourism is different to many other professional careers, in the sense that a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree etc. isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

Top Tip

required. Instead, there are a number of alternative methods to obtaining a job in the industry. The most common routes are as follows: Many people obtain a formal qualification, and then continue the course whilst working, by getting assessed in the workplace through ACCESS or by completing an inhouse training program. Othersbecome an apprentice and complete their first certificate onthe-job. This way you can continue your education as you work, learn and still earn money. Alternatively, you could obtain a Diploma or Advanced Diploma with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), whilst working part time in the industry to gain some relevant work experience. This will leave you in a good position to move up the hierarchy more quickly, as you will be armed with a qualification and industry experience.

Before enrolling on any course or training program, make sure you do background research to ensure that the qualification you are about to receive is legitimately and nationally recognised by the Australian Tourism Training Review Panel (ATTRP). Otherwise, you could find yourself wasting a lot of time and money obtaining skills and qualifications that are worthless in the industry.

Job Prospects ning.com.au, According to tourismtrai an employment the industry now boasts llion people. base of more than 1.3 mi m is now in In addition to this, touris of 325,000 the preparation phases a year ends new jobs in all sectors. As e 268,000 and another begins, abov l and part-time people embark upon ful es for the training. This speaks volum s between progression of partnership Training industry and Registered u have gained Organisations.So, once yo d experience, relevant qualifications an try will be jobs in the tourism indus difficult to avoid.

Salary Average Australian Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Salary $ 55,841 The Australian Education Times

| 25

The Australian

education times Test zone

Is your child Gifted?

he Higher Ability Selection Test (HAST) program has been devised by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) in response to requests from individual schools throughout Australia for a screening process that would assist them in identifying students for participation in gifted and talented programs. These tests draw upon ACERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extensive experience in high stakes testing for schools such as those for the Opportunity Placement Class Test and Selective High School test in NSW, the Ignite program in South Australia and the Queensland Academies Student Entrance Test. The HAST-P will help with assessment and placement at the middle primary level by determining which students are working at higher levels than their peers. Results from this test can be used to verify existing information about a student or discriminate between those students already identified at the top end of performance. HAST-P can be used for whole cohort testing or as a second stage screening instrument to discriminate more finely between highly able students at the upper end of the scale. Schools choose the test date and register to use the test program with ACER. The costs and further details of the test packages are available in schools for parents to access. It should be noted that students register to complete these tests with the school and not with ACER. The school lets ACER know its final candidate numbers no less than ten (10) working days before the test and sufficient test papers and detailed instructions for supervisors are sent out. There is a ten (10) working day turn around between the receipt of the completed tests and the provision of results allowing for immediate feedback and action.

HAST â&#x20AC;&#x201C; P

is ascreening testused by schools toidentify academicallygifted middleprimary studentsfor participation ingifted and talentedprograms

26 |

The Australian Education Times

The Australian

Education Times INSIDE SCHOOLS

Too Cool @ Schools Primary School Bellevue Hill’s Alex Van Vugt makes NSW Primary School cricket team

ITH idols such as Australian cricketers opening batsman David Warner and pace bowler Ryan Harris as his inspiration, it is no surprise that Alex Van Vugt has relished his role of all-rounder. The 11-year-old Cranbrook student from Bellevue Hill was last week selected in the NSW Primary School side, which will contest the national championships in Darwin next month. And he already has his sights set on making a statement. “Winning the tournament would definitely be a highlight and playing well as an individual,” are his lofty goals. “Maybe two wickets a match and more than 30 runs a game.” The Easts Dolphins cricketer started playing at the age of five and hopes to one day play for Australia. He went through a rigorous selection process starting with his school side, then the Catholic Institute of Sydney Tournament followed by a three-day trial for the state side at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Secondary School

Tertiary School

Westfields Sports High School’s plan to develop future champions

The eye of a Fly

LANNING Australia’s future sporting success will take more than raw talent, it will take real strategy and sound analysis says principal of Westfields Sport High School, Roger Davis. In his eight years at the head of one of the State’s elite sporting high schools Mr Davis has watched the progression of many top athletes. Just a few of his school’s famous alumni include football greats Harry Kewell and former Wanderers captain Michael Beauchamp, NRL stars Jarryd Hayne and Jamal Idris and world champion discus thrower Dani Samuels. And while Mr Davis is very proud of the sporting success of both his school and Australia he says more needs to be done to ensure a big bag of medals come home after the next Olympic Games. One of the ways he says this can be achieved is by getting elite young athletes to take part in sophisticated biometric testing which helps identify their strengths in terms of fitness and physical attributes. “That way we could say to a kid, you’ve done really well in this program but your physical strengths show you might be even better in this program,” Mr Davis said. While the school has invested in some technology such as jump height tests the data is not being collated nationwide.

esearchers working at the University of Wollongong’s Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials in Australia, along with several Chinese colleagues, have created a superhydrophobic nanostructure material based on microscopic observations of the common green bottle fly. In their paper published in the journal Small, the team describes their work in investigating the fly’s eye surface structure, how they found it to be superhydrophobic and then successfully replicated what they’d found using zinc nanoparticles, creating a new material that shows promise for superhydrophobic applications. In examining the fly’s eye surface structure using a high powered microscope, the researchers found it to be covered with very tiny hexagonal units, each fitted neatly together and just 20 micrometers in diameter. Looking closer, they found that each of the hexagonal units was itself covered in even smaller (100 nanometer) hexagonal units, which unlike the main units protruded up slightly, producing a bubble-like appearance. Putting the fly in a humid environment revealed that that while droplets formed on its body, its eyes remained clear.

Is your school doing something fabulous? Why not share it with us. Simply write a 200 word article on your event and attach an image (in a jpeg format) and send it to editor@educationtimes.com.au

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education times literacy corner

oetry is an important form of literary art, which looks to use the aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language to evoke expression of a variety of themes such as deep thought or emotion. To write a poem can be a very personal and reflective experience. It is a skill that can be difficult to master, like any other form of literary art. However, exploring poetry can be a very rewarding experience, with benefits that are applicable in other areas of education.

A Poetic

Piece

There are many reasons why it is beneficial to teach poetry to young students but here are some of the more noteworthy: Memorising and reciting poetry in front of an audience helps to build self-confidence. Poems provide students with a memorable source of information to instill lessons or values. Poems can be inspirational and encourage students to pursue goals. 30 |

The Australian Education Times

They can be thought provoking and encourage emotional sensitivity through lyrical phrases. As there is no limit to what poems can be written about, there are many opportunities for connection with other areas of students’ curriculum. Poetry, as a literary tool, can be instrumental in improving a student’s grammar and vocabulary.

So you may wonder, how can I teach poetry to students or to my child? There are many techniques that can be used to generate an effective learning environment, here are some key points: Read the poem aloud – begin by reading it aloud yourself, stopping to provide any background information regarding the poem. Identify and define unknown words – isolate unknown vocabulary and make sure that they have a good understanding of what is written. Read the poem again – upon reading it a second time, the children will now have a much better level of understanding. Summarise the poem – ask them to summarise the poem in their own words, remembering to ask them about the theme. Discuss the poem – ask them about their summarisation, the characters and their personalities and maybe how the poem made them feel. Also (depending on age and difficulty of the poem) ask them to identify any literary devices such as rhyme, alliteration and onomatopoeia. Recite the poem – now it is their turn to read the poem aloud so that they can appreciate its lyrical flow in their own voice. Write their own – ask them to use what they know about poetry, characters, emotion and literary devices to write a short poem of their own. There are many different varieties and genres of poems, such as haikus, sonnets, narrative poetry and dramatic poetry. All of which have a way of utilizing certain rhythmic patterns and literary devices to achieve certain effects.

The Australian

education times Magic Maths

ost people define probability as how likely something is to happen. If we can remember far back enough to high school mathematics, we would know that the probability of an event is a number between 0 and 1 that indicates the chance of something happening. For example the probability that the sun will come up tomorrow is 1, the probability that a fair coin will come up ‘heads’ when tossed is 0.5, while the probability of someone being physically present in Adelaide and Brisbane at exactly the same time is zero. As many events can’t be predicted with total certainty, the best we can say is how likely they are to happen using the idea of probability. In general, the probability of an event happening is equal to the number of ways it can happen over the total number of possible outcomes: Probability of an event happening

It’s Probably Probability Test Yourself! Bag A contains three red marbles and four blue marbles. Bag B contains five red marbles and three blue marbles. A marble is taken from each bag in turn. Find the missing probabilities for the tree diagram:

Number of ways it can happen Total number of outcomes

A general understanding of probability is developed from a young age and gradually built upon during a student’s education. By Year 1 students should start to understand and engage with the concepts of chance and probability in the classroom. According to the Australian Curriculum, at this age they are required to be able to identify the possible outcomes of familiar events involving chance and describe them using everyday languages such as ‘will happen’, ‘won’t happen’ or ‘might happen’. By Year 10 students describe the results of two- and threestep chance experiments, both with and without replacements, assign probabilities to outcomes and determine probabilities of events. Diagrams are fundamental to teaching and studying probability. Students use tree diagrams, 2-way tables and Venn diagrams in order to represent and interpret frequencies and probabilities. For example, tree diagrams allow us to see all the possibilities of an event and calculate their probability. Each branch in a tree diagram represents a possible outcome. If two events are independent, the outcome of one has no effect on the outcome of the other. For example, if we toss two coins, getting heads with the first coin will not affect the probability of getting heads with the second. A tree diagram which represent a coin being tossed three times looks like this:

From the tree diagram, we can see that there are eight possible outcomes. To find out the probability of a particular outcome, we need to look at all the available paths (set of branches). The sum of the probabilities for any set of branches is always 1. Also note that in a tree diagram to find a probability of an outcome we multiply along the branches and add vertically. The probability of three heads is:

Answer:

P (H H H) = 1/2 × 1/2 × 1/2 = 1/8 P (2 Heads and a Tail) = P (H H T) + P (H T H) + P (T H H) = 1/2 × 1/2 × 1/2 + 1/2 × 1/2 × 1/2 + 1/2 × 1/2 × 1/2 = 1/8 + 1/8 + 1/8 = 3/8

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Education Times Science Lab

Clouds C

louds are made up of liquid droplets and frozen crystals from water or other chemicals found in Earth’s atmosphere. These particles are also known as aerosols. The formation of clouds is a result of saturated air in the atmosphere, known as condensation, which is caused by cooling of the air and the changing state of water vapour from a gas to a liquid. With enough saturation, clouds produce rain to fall to Earth’s surface, unless the rain is virga, where it evaporates before reaching the surface.

Types of clouds Cloud types are classified based on their appearance, formation and height from Earth’s surface. Low-level clouds sit no more than 2,000 metres from the ground. Types of low-level clouds include: • Stratus – these clouds appear like fog, often covering the sky, and produce little to no rain. • Nimbostratus – these are darker and more wet-looking than stratus clouds, and produce light to moderate precipitation.

between Middle-level clouds sit The two s. tre me 2,000 and 7,000 s are: ud clo el lev types of middleclouds appear • Altostratus – these produce before a storm and can n. continuous rai type appears • Altocumulus – this red puffy as a white and grey colou a sign of mass, and is sometimes torm. an approaching thunders

High-level clouds sit 6,000 metres above of Earth’s surface. Types these clouds include: s are thin • Cirrus – these cloud at and fragmented that flo m fro y across the sky mostl ally rm no west to east, and are a sign of fine weather. are thin • Cirrostratus – these like a sky the er clouds that cov

sun and sheet but still allow the e. ibl moon to be vis se clouds • Cirrocumulus – the ffy with d are small, round an pu ripples. lly are Clouds that develop vertica and s, ud clo lus known as cumu mulus Cu s. ow pill ffy look like big, pu as low as m fro clouds can form und, and 1,000 metres from the gro s. They tre me 00 8,0 can grow up to bus im lon mu can also turn into cu m tor ers nd clouds, which are thu clouds.

How to make your own cloud (parental supervision required)

What you will need: • • • •

One jar with lid Warm water Ice Matches

Steps: 1. Pour warm water into the jar. 2. Place the lid upside down on the jar and fill it with ice. 3. Light a match, lift the lid and throw the match into the jar. Quickly place the lid back on top of the jar. 4. Observe the cloud form and move in a circular pattern inside the jar. 5. Open the jar and let the cloud slowly rise out. Touch it to find out what clouds feel like!

How does this experiment work? The atmosphere needs three elements to form a cloud: moist air, cooling and cloud condensation nuclei (also known as CCNs or cloud seeds). CCNs are particles that allow water vapour to condense and a cloud to form, which is what the smoke did in this experiment. The cloud moved in a circular pattern due to a combination of warm air rising (from the warm water) and cold air sinking (from the ice).

The Australian Education Times

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The Australian

education times

Puzzle POP

Spot the 5 differences

Crazy But True!!!!! Research indicates that mosquitoes are attracted to people who have recently eaten bananas

Laughter Zone! Q: What did the big furry hat say to the warm woolly scarf? A: “You hang around while I go on ahead.”

Q: What kind of math do Snowy Owls like? A: Owlgebra.

Q: Where do seals go to see movies?

Q: What sits on the bottom of the cold Arctic Ocean and shakes?

A: The dive-in!

A: A nervous wreck.

Linking Puzzle Pop to the Australian Curriculum Did you know that picture puzzles develop vocabulary, increase small muscle development, develop eye hand coordination, improve memory skills, increase problem solving skills, build spatial perception and build literacy skills.In the Australian Curriculum, this is addressed by “Measurement and Geometry”. On the Numeracy Continuum, this is addressed by “Using Spatial Reasoning”. 34 |

The Australian Education Times

Puzzle POP

The Australian

education times

Find a word July Find a word

T H S P C Z T S O R F D N R P

R T K N T Q J L P S L I P V G

D E P B L W V U D Q M R A I N

U R O E B F D X L T P I J B W

W S W Z Y D F X O A M C S F K

Z N O L L E P X C I I Y N B Z

Q O J E I K W K X J A L M N L

N W S V R X V S Y D B L X L A

F O Y I E F P J I M L N S X F

C R Y F T B P L J C L A J U M

J E R T N J O V P T K M S I O

C Z T B I H M Q P S Y W U S Z

N B R Z W H L L I H C O R L A

B U U R C K L K N I H N Q T X

WINTER

M S J M Y C F I V Q E S K E L

SNOW COLD SNOWMAN HOLIDAYS CHILL FROST RAIN PUDDLES SUBZERO

Knock your brains WINTER

1. SNOW You breathe on average about 5 million times a year. COLD

SNOWMAN always have a Friday the 13th

You are born with 300 bones, by the time you are an adult you will have 206.

The average lead pencil will write a line about 35 miles long

Months that begin on a Sunday

in them. HOLIDAYS

or write approximately 50,000 English words. 5. One fourth of the bones in your body are in your feet.

CHILL FROST

Record of the month

RAIN

Highest Box Office Film Gross PUDDLES For An Australian Film

SUBZERO

Crocodile Dundee (AUS 1986), starring Paul Hogan and Linda Kozlowski, has grossed US$328 million (ÂŁ218 million) since it was first released. For more info on this record and hundreds more, go to guinnessworldrecords.com *Answers can be found on our contest page at www.educationtimes.com.au The Australian Education Times

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The Australian

education times

Puzzle POP

BOOK Review

2 Wolves ‘Gripping and unpredictable, with a hero you won’t forget.’ - John Boyne, author of The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas An old man tells his grandson that there is a battle raging inside him, inside all of us. A terrible battle between two wolves. One wolf is bad – pride, jealousy, greed. The other wolf is good – kindness, hope, truth. The child asks, ‘Who will win?’ The grandfather answers simply, ‘The one you feed.’ One afternoon, police officers show up at Ben Silver’s front door. Minutes after they leave, his parents arrive home. Ben and his little sister Olive are bundled into the car and told they’re going on a holiday. But are they? It doesn’t take long for Ben to realise that his parents are in trouble. Ben’s always dreamt of becoming a detective – his dad even calls him ‘Cop’. Now Ben gathers evidence and tries to uncover what his parents have done. The problem is, if he figures it out, what does he do? Tell someone? Or keep the secret and live life on the run? ‘A high stakes adventure that will keep you guessing and breathless until the very end.’ Michael Gerard Bauer, author of Don’t Call Me Ishmael

Movie Review

The Lego Movie The LEGO Movie is the kind of animated free-for-all that comes around very rarely, if ever: A kids’ movie that matches shameless fun with razor-sharp wit, that offers up a spectacle of pure, freewheeling joy even as it tackles the thorniest of issues. It’s part South Park, part Lord of the Rings; part The Matrix, part Idiocracy. It’s a superhero team-up movie, a toy-strewn dystopian vision, and a Bergman-esque inquiry into the mind of God. And it’s somehow still also fall-offyour-seat funny. The film’s irreverence is partly just a physical fact: It takes place in a world made up almost entirely of LEGOs. The characters eat LEGO drumsticks, they shower with LEGO water, their guns shoot LEGO lasers, and their ships roll on LEGO waves. In that context, it’s hard not to think of everything as parody. But writer-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (who also gave us Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and 21 Jump Street) have also designed the story to comment on its own LEGO-ness. Our hero is mild-mannered, smiley-faced construction-

worker Emmet (voiced by Chris Pratt), a totally anonymous worker drone who happens upon a rare, non-LEGO object, called “The Piece of Resistance.” An ancient (and, as evidenced by the opening scene, totally made up) prophecy declares that the person who finds this object will be The Special, “the most important, most interesting, greatest person of all time.” Emmet is clearly not said person. But before he knows it, he’s whisked along by Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), a beautiful, Trinity-like member of a resistance movement determined to end the rule of President Business (Will Ferrell). Formerly Lord Business, this seemingly fun-loving leader of LEGO Land is, in reality, a despot who can’t bear to see anything out of place. He’s protected by Good Cop/Bad Cop (Liam Neeson), a seemingly indestructible, two-faced policeman, as well as an army of giant, tentacled “micro managers” who enforce his deadly vision of making sure nothing ever changes – that nothing ever gets built that wasn’t pre-determined and packaged with specific instructions.

Puzzle POP

Horoscopes Pisces

You have already made up your mind about something that others are still contemplating. Stick to your guns and you will achieve your goals

Sagittarius

Scorpio

Libra

Virgo

Leo

Cancer

Gemini

Taurus

The holidays could not have come sooner for you. It is time to rest and enjoy your time off from your studies. It is important to recuperate and take advantage of your time off.

Aries

July

Capricorn

Education Times

Aquarius

The Austrailan

You have been working hard and you are about to be rewarded. Congratulations. But be aware, this is not the time to slack off, but to keep working hard. You have been working to this point for rest and relaxation. Enjoy the holidays and rest as much as you can. Beware of having too much fun as it may impact the start of your new studies. Day dreaming may seem like a good idea, but it’s important to stay focussed and on task as you may miss out on some important information. Listening to music whilst you work or breaking up your activities will help you become more productive. Although others may be critical of you, it is important to complete your work that best suits you. Things are going well for you. It is important pay attention to your studies and to those in your learning environment as you may need assistance from someone unlikely. Sometimes in order to go forward, we have to look behind us. We learn to learn from the lessons that we experienced them and relive them to our advantage. You have a second chance to fix things. Inspiration can come from within and is not always derived from external sources. You don’t need to be bribed with money or good results to apply yourself. Work hard and achieve your desired results. Sometimes we do things because others expect it. Rarely do we do things that we want to do which is looked down upon by others. It is time for you to be unique and stand up against others. Technology is not everything. Yes, it helps us with our lives, but it is not the be-all and end-all. Learn to manage your time between ‘real-life’ and your ‘technology-life’. You will always have a group of friends who look up to regardless of what you are doing. It is important to be there for them and to help them in a time of need as you may need a favour one day.

The Australian Education Times

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The Australian

education times

Curriculum Link

The Importance of Learning

Another Language H

ave you ever heard people say or perhaps asked yourself “What is the use of learning a foreign language”? Everyone speaks English these days..... The reason why it is beneficial to learn another language varies with each individual however, the fact remains that the world is full of languages and people do not necessarily have the English language as their mother tongue or their primary point of communication. Learning another language opens up your world with endless experiences. Just imagine how many more people and places you could really get to know, how many more books, newspapers, TV and radio programmes you could read, watch and listen to, the possibilities are endless. Studying a second language can only improve your academic skills and capacities and if you have already learnt a language other than English at home, extend your knowledge by exploring its vocabulary, grammar, culture, and literature. This can assist you to gain more chances for success not only at school but also in your chosen career and life in general . We all have different needs and learning another language for whatever reason, be it sentimental or intellectual is an individual choice. It is an understanding that helps motivate a person to learn another language. At times it is not always an easy decision or an option but rather a necessity. Learning a foreign language takes time, dedication and commitment. It can be a lifelong journey which can prove to be very enjoyable and a rewarding experience. Migrating to another country where English is not widely spoken increases the necessity to learn to speak the local language. This helps better integration within the local community or society that one lives in or associates with. It will also provide a better chance of communicating effectively, experience closely and personally the local culture, learn more about the history and the way people think and behave. Indulging or familiarising oneself with the local cuisine can only stimulate one’s appetite. Moreover, learning how to cook the local dishes and being able to pronounce the name of the prepared food can only increase one’s confidence and knowledge. We often have members of the family marrying into different cultures or have friends that come from different countries. Learning the language of that country helps you to communicate effectively with the in-laws, their extended family and also your friends. There is less chance that you will be disadvantaged or left out of the conversation. Knowing their language and being able to communicate and participate in their cultural celebrations can only enhance your friendship if not earn their respect.

38 |

The Australian Education Times

If a person’s line of work involves regular contact with speakers of foreign languages it would be an advantage to be able to communicate with them in their language. Being able to communicate effectively can provide the individual with endless prospects.... chances of promotions, going on overseas business trips, opportunities for overseas postings, even getting a better job. More importantly, you will win the trust and friendship of people whose languages you know, even if you know them just a little. In my years of travelling to various European countries I have often found that the majority of people spoke their own language with the exception of a minority who also spoke the language of the country they bordered with however, things are changing. English might be spoken around the tourist areas but not off the beaten track and in many remote areas people speak their own dialect especially the elderly. Knowing the local language helps you read signs, buy tickets, find your way around, read menus, order food or have a real conversation with the people you meet and more importantly stay out of danger. Studying overseas or doing research also requires a thorough knowledge of a foreign language Students these days are offered courses in overseas universities, colleges and schools. Here the institutions provide courses for students studying overseas to improve their language skills in order to be able to function and communicate effectively while studying abroad. Getting in touch with one’s roots is another valid reason why one takes up learning a foreign language. Besides wanting to get in touch with the language of the ancestors and one’s own heritage, it can also provide the individual opportunities to delve into the family history. A very famous American actor expressed his regret of changing his original name to a more “acceptable” anglicised version. As he delved into the family history in two different countries besides his own he found out the extraordinary life his ancestors had lived, the hardships they had endured in pursuit of social justice and consequently achieved a high respected standing in society. He continued to say that he should not have changed his name but left it as it was given to him and worn it with pride. Parents who migrate to other countries might want to teach their mother tongue to their children in order to interact effectively with their grandparents or when travelling overseas on holidays to meet other members of the family. It might also be an opportunity to help preserve or revitalise a language which might be on the verge of extinction.

According to the “The 2012 Eurobarometer Report “Europeans and their languages” the report states that, “To begin with, it’s always heartening to see the value the European Union places on linguistic and cultural diversity: It is even more heartening to see that this vision is shared by the majority of Europeans: almost all Europeans (98%!) think that learning at least one foreign language is important for the future of their children. And the current generation is itself well on the way towards that goal: with 46% of the population, monolingual Europeans are now in the minority. 19% of Europeans are bilingual, 25% are trilingual and 10% speak four or more languages.” “The European policy objective of a trilingual population (national language, English, another language) is already met by the majority of the population in Luxembourg (84%), the Netherlands (77%), Slovenia (67%), Malta (59%), Denmark (58%), Latvia (54%), Lithuania (52%) and Estonia (52%). By contrast, the countries furthest away from this objective include Portugal and Hungary (13% in each), the UK (14%) and Greece (15%).” These days with all this modern technology at our fingertips learning a foreign language has to be a much easier task than it was many years ago. You only have to start the process to find out what an exciting life long experience learning foreign languages is. Therefore... I say challenge yourself ....become a more well rounded world citizen....take the plunge learn another language.... and let the whole world evolve around you. Bonne chance !!!

By Pauline O’Brien Language Teacher of Maltese

The Australian

education times

Global Story

The real-life

Captain Planet Chad Pregracke grew up in East Moline, Illinois, located in the Midwest of the United States.

he son of educators and river enthusiasts, Pregracke grew up with the Mississippi River as his playground. He worked as a commercial shell diver and fisherman while attending high school and college, and it was during this time that Pregracke began to notice the large amount of rubbish and debris clogging up the Mississippi River. In 1997, Pregracke took it upon himself to clean up the popular waterway, and with the help of a small grant from American aluminium company Alcoa, began removing and transporting garbage single-handedly. A year later at the age of 23, Pregracke founded Living Lands &

Waters, a non-profit organisation that helps protect and preserve major rivers across the US and promotes awareness of environmental issues. His organisation has a fleet of boats to transport waste, but Pregracke relies on each community he visits to supply the right amount of helpers to get the job done. Living Lands & Waters has hosted more than 700 cleanups on 23 rivers, and averages 70 cleanups a year in 50 communities. In the past 15 years, Pergracke has helped remove more than 67 thousand tyres, 218 washing machines, 19 tractors, 12 hot tubs, four pianos, and almost one

thousand refrigerators from waterways in the US. Furthermore, Pregracke has launched a floating classroom raft, where his staff educates high school students and teachers about pollution and its negative effect on river ecosystems. The man they call “The Rivers’ Garbageman” has received many prestigious awards for his work, including the Jefferson Award (America’s version of the Nobel Prize) for Public Service. Pregracke also wrote a book in 2007 titled From the Bottom Up: One Man’s Crusade to Clean America’s Rivers, which tells of his journey as an environmental pioneer. The Australian Education Times

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