Director’s welcome
Welcome to the NSW Department of Education. Congratulations on beginning your teaching journey in a New South Wales public school. Technology 4 Learning, or ‘T4L’ for short, is your gateway to technology in the department. Our team is part of the Information Technology Directorate (ITD).
We’ve developed this guide with beginning teachers in mind (and we’ve all been there!) to help connect you with all the platforms and tools at your fingertips. Magazine.T4L publishes once a term and is your handy guide to tech news, resources and great ideas for your classroom.
Add us to your tribe and bookmark us online – we’re here to support you!
Linda Lazenby Director, Digital Teaching and Learning
Beginning teacher feature
Meet Alex from Buninyong Public School, Dubbo
How long have you been teaching at Buninyong?
I’ve been teaching for three years, but I’ve been at Buninyong for a long time and have gone through every sort of role here.
Has it been a whole school approach? Who have you leaned on?
We all use Teams and OneNote instead of having paper around. Starting out, I’d go to the expert teachers that have been in the field for years and pick their brains, but I also chat with the fresh teachers as well to share ideas – we’re always talking.
What’s your advice to beginning teachers?
Don’t be scared to give something a try. The worst thing you do as a teacher is never try something. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.
How do you integrate tech into your teaching and learning with Year 4?
I’ve tried to use ICT whenever I can inside the classroom, whether it’s PowerPoint, some Smartboard work or the kids using their own devices for writing. In the world we live in today, there’s technology everywhere around these kids, we need to learn to use tech efficiently. I’m a paper and pen guy so it was tricky for me to go through and look at aspects of my teaching when planning – and to look at where I can use ICT.
Getting started FAQs
Getting online quickly is crucial to a successful start. Here are some commonly asked questions among beginning teachers.
What is my department User ID?
Your department User ID is your unique identifier to access all platforms and tools in the NSW Department of Education. Your user ID is the same as your department email address and is in the following form: firstname.lastname@det.nsw.edu.au
I can’t connect to my school’s Wi-Fi.
Watch this video to learn more about connecting to school Wi-Fi. There are also guides to getting online for school (T4L) devices and BYO devices.
My computer isn’t working.
Chat with your school’s ICT coordinator. Make them your best friend!
Don’t forget to check with your school’s ICT coordinator for assistance with joining school wi-fi, or any questions you have about your computer.
Help! I’ve forgotten my password!
You will be prompted to change your password each term. Changing your password is easy and can be done on your mobile device. If you forget your password, follow these instructions or contact EDConnect on 1300 32 32 32 if you need further support.
Some websites that I want to use in my lessons are blocked. What should I do?
The department filters it’s internet service so you might find that some websites you wish to use in your teaching and learning will be blocked for students. Use the web filter checker to explore your options.
How do I install apps or extensions on my school device?
Check in with your ICT coordinator. If you’re a Windows user, you can request specific programs for school use from the Software Catalogue. They can also help you manage iPads using the JAMF system. If you’re using a Chromebook, you’ll need Googledelegated admin rights.
Safe, responsible use in your classroom
While the department has formal policies around the responsible use of technology in the classroom, have a general conversation with your class about using it responsibly and safely. Your students know the school rules – it’s no different online.
Getting online
Navigating the staff portal
The staff portal is your home base – from here you can access tools, resources and essential services. Edit and customise your portal dashboard so that your favourite apps appear in your my essentials at the top. Watch this resource
What kind of device do you have?
If you’re working with a Chromebook, DELL laptop, Macbook or a computer you’re not familiar with, make sure you check out T4L’s device guides to get you started.
Navigating your staff email
All department staff use Microsoft Outlook. You can find the email address and contact details of all staff members in the Global Address Book in Outlook or through the staff directory on the staff portal. Watch this resource
Connecting your personal devices
Each school determines whether staff are allowed to bring their own device(s) to school. If your school allows it, this advice will help you connect your device to the department’s Wi-Fi service and network. Watch this resource
The portal and my essentials
This menu on the left is your management tool. From here you can manage your contact details and also access the department’s app store and add new tools to your essentials.
Watch a walk-through video on how to navigate the portal.
Use the pencil to remove or rearrange your essentials.
Your favourite apps can be added to your essentials so you can easily find them at the top of your portal.
The student portal experience is different. Watch these videos on how to support them to navigate this space.
3-6 7-12
Microsoft 365
Did you know that teachers have access to all Office 365 tools like Word, OneNote, PowerPoint, Excel and Teams? Use OneDrive cloud to save your files, each user has up to 1TB of storage space. Work online in browser mode or save the apps to your device.
How do I access Microsoft 365?
You can access Microsoft 365 through the portal. Add it to your my essentials bar at the top.
Watch this video to learn how to find it in your portal
I am confident in using Microsoft Suite products like PowerPoint, Excel and find them incredibly helpful for developing classroom resources or analysing data. As a school we’ve all moved on to Teams and are learning how to best utilise it. In addition to this we are all programming on OneNote and saving our work in OneDrive.
Great starter resources for teaching with Microsoft 365 tools
The T4L Microsoft 365 page is your one-stop shop to explore video resources on using these tools.
Excel
Everyone knows the power of a good spreadsheet – but why don’t you take it to the next step with your students using T4L Kids? Take the challenge to improve sports and fitness performances by plotting data using Excel.
PowerPoint
PowerPoint is a perennial presenting tool but it’s recently been amped up with AI features like Presenter Coach. Get your students’ (and your own!) presentations to their best level with PowerPoint.
Louisa, Digital Classroom Officer, Buninyong Public School
Word
You can engage directly with students working in Word, or set collaborative tasks with students around writing. Why don’t you try one of Jackie French’s writing challenges from Everyone’s an Author?
OneDrive
Your school might be saving to the OneDrive cloud. For more info on working and saving in the Cloud, watch our T4L resources
OneNote
Is your school working with OneNote? OneNote is a digital note-taking app that provides a single place for keeping all of your notes, research, plans, and information — everything you need to remember and manage in your life at home, at work, or at school. Watch our T4L resources here.
Minecraft Education
It is a fabulous teaching tool across KLAs. Check out how to get Minecraft up and running on your classroom devices, then make sure you explore some of our T4L learning resources to guide you through design challenges and so much more!
Google Workspace
Google Workspace is available for all teachers and includes plenty of cloud storage in Google Drive. You can access and use Workspace apps such as Google Classroom, Docs, Sheets and Forms among many others. While staff use Outlook for email, students use Gmail.
How do I access Google Workspace?
You can access Google Workspace through the portal. Access to Google Workspace uses your department Google account which is in the following format: firstname.lastname@education.nsw.gov.au
Great starter resources for teaching with Google tools
The T4L Google resources page is your one-stop shop to explore video resources on using these tools.
Google Classroom
Don’t forget that you can easily integrate both Google and non-Google documents into Google Classroom. Google Classroom is a virtual classroom that lets you communicate with students, set tasks and give feedback.
Google Sites
Getting students to build a Google Site is a great way to demonstrate their learning. In this T4L Kids challenge they are tasked with creating a sports newsletter/ website for their school sports results.
Google Drive
Google drive lets you store, organise and share your files, photos, videos etc. These files can then be accessed easily on any internet connected device.
Let students collaborate on scripts and presentations using these essential tools. Take some of these ideas from the Food and Farming edition of T4L
and create a
Numbers and Sheets
Get students working creatively with data to build an infographic or a report for their class or school. Take a look at the Dynamic Data edition of T4L Kids for inspiration.
Canva for education
All department staff have access to Canva for Education, a premium edition for educators in NSW public schools. You can search for customised education resources and templates. Students can only access Canva documents which you share with them directly.
Try Magic Feature for some AI magic — don’t reinvent the wheel.
How do I access Canva for Education?
Find the Canva app in your portal and add it to your essentials. Watch this video here on how to log in and view your resources in the Team Switcher.
Watch a walk-through video on how to navigate the portal.
Your projects sit in your own space under your school’s name
Create engaging lessons with pitch decks, infographics, reports and even record video presentations. The sky’s the limit!
Discov the Mar the O Wha canth
Simply search for whatever educational template you desire! Your profile sits under your school(s) name Check out the new features including the Education Library for lots of great ideas.
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Stay safe online T4L’s top five cybersafety tips
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Use strong passwords or passphrases
Protect your login information
Don’t share your login with colleagues or students. Your username and password are unique to you and should be protected.
3
Be aware of phishing scams
Phishing emails may contain suspicious links. Do you know the sender? What are they asking you to do? If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Click Report Message and select Phishing in Outlook.
Once a term, you’ll be prompted to change your password through the Staff Portal. If you forget your password, you can reset it yourself or call EDConnect on 1300 32 32 32.
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Safe browsing online
The department blocks out unsafe or noneducational websites but if you’re planning to use a particular site in your teaching, you can check out the web filter intranet page for more information. You can also request a review of website content from the web filter team.
5 Join our cybersafety initiative
Complete your mandatory training
The mandatory Cyber Security Essentials training will improve your awareness of how cyberattacks and phishing scams work.
Join the department’s Cybermarvel initiative with events in February and October of each year. There are webinars and on-demand lessons from cyber experts to boost yours and your students’ cyber awareness.
T4L resources
Everyone’s an Author
Need some inspiration for your budding authors and illustrators? Ten top Aussie authors share their secrets of storytelling in this 10-part video series, which includes downloadable learning journals with lesson ideas.
The Student Podcaster
Explore these video modules with your students as you explore all aspects of podcasting, from script-building to the technical side of production and publication.
The Student Filmmaker
This self-paced course with interactive video modules introduces students to key skills and concepts of film production. You don’t need any special equipment to make films, just your school’s devices.
T4L’s website
The T4L website is your one-stop shop for student resources including bite-size tech videos exploring some of the most popular tools, as well as virtual excursions linked to the ‘Science and Technology’ syllabus.
Find your tribe!
Statewide staffrooms
Statewide staffrooms are online communities connecting curriculum and specialist teams with fellow teachers. Come together with colleagues across the state in this collegial and collaborative space – ask questions, share resources, and find information. The online staffrooms deliver curriculum updates and personalised, accurate and curriculum-aligned content. It’s a giant brains trust with over 50K members – join one as soon as you can!
Join a statewide staffroom
T4L Teams community
Join a techy teaching community and share ideas about how to embed tech in your teaching and learning. Whether you’re building your digital classroom, looking for hot tips or just want to share ideas, this is the place to be. Newbies and experts welcome!
Join the T4L Teams community today
Get started with these Viva groups:
Technology in Education
T4L News for Schools
ICT Support
Viva Engage
This is the department’s professional networking platform (formerly Yammer). Connect with colleagues in your teaching area, join groups you’re passionate about and share teaching resources with colleagues. Get started by searching for groups that interest you, ask questions and join the conversation. There’s also a weekly show called Viva Engage Hotspots which delivers the latest tech news and features interviews with techy teachers across the state.
Join the Viva Engage conversation.
Video conferencing
Microsoft Teams is one of the easiest ways to set up a meeting online with colleagues, parents and students. Need a refresher on using Teams? Head to the T4L resources page which comes with videos on how to start online meetings with both colleagues and students.
Google Calendar bookings and Google Meet
Create appointment schedules using Google Calendar. Simply jump into Google Workspace through the Portal and use the calendar to start the process.
Customise the length of your appointments and set your start/finish times.
Offer virtual appointments through Google Meet.
Schedule effectively for one day or have them recur each week and watch as your calendar automatically builds around your existing commitments.
Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft bookings
If you use Microsoft Outlook, utilise the calendar and the bookings system to organise your approach to busy meeting periods. There are options to set up virtual meetings through Teams or in person with parents or colleagues.
Set custom lengths and set bookable hours to schedule effectively.
Build in buffer time to let you gather your thoughts.
Schedule effectively against your existing calendar.
Your learning journey
MyPL
MyPL (My Professional Learning) is the department’s home of professional learning and mandatory training. On you first school development days, you will likely complete online modules together with colleagues, such as Child Protection Awareness Training, Anaphylaxis and more. Take a beginner course to get acquainted with MyPL.
Find MyPL on the portal
Enrol in a Beginners Guide to MyPL
Your next techy steps!
Level up your Google goodness at the Google Teacher Centre.
Boost your Canva creativity at the Canva Design School.
Digital PDPs
The performance and development process supports the ongoing growth of a skilled, effective and professional workforce. The Digital PDP guides you through the annual performance and development cycle, and provides helpful links and tips along the way. Find the Digital PDP icon in my essentials and speak to your supervisor about getting started.
Learn more about the digital PDP process here Watch the instructional video here
Learn more about Microsoft tools at Microsoft Learn.
Connect with other Apple educators in the Apple Education Community.
Explore T4L Kids magazine
T4L Kids is your go-to resource for the classroom. With a new issue published each term, and all back issues available, there are hundreds of exciting ideas, interviews and challenges for students to dig into, all while building their tech skills. T4L Kids is a fun magazine for Stages 3-4. Each
in
tools available to students.
kids technology 4 learning
stem.T4L resources
Did you know you can book a stem.T4L kit for your school? There are a variety of kits available for you to book, covering everything from virtual reality (VR), 3D printing, 360° cameras to the aeroponics kit (growing a garden with air!).
NEW KITS COMING IN 2024
In 2024, there will be even more kits available to schools. Coming in Term 1 is the Device Experience kit, a kit developed in response to schools trialing a greater ratio of devices in their classrooms before buying. In Term 1, the iPad and notebook versions of the kit will be released (available now for booking) and in Term 2, the Chromebook and MacBook versions will be added (will be available for booking in Term 1). Each stem.T4L kit comes with instructional videos, a huge range of classroom learning ideas and all can be found on the stem.T4L Learning Library.
3D Printing Kit
Camera Kit Coding Kit
Inventor Robotics Kit Microcontroller Kit
Aeroponics Kit
Virtual Reality Kit
Junior Explorer Kit
Accessibility in the classroom
There are plenty of online tools to support the different learning needs of students in your classrooms. Here are some great tools to get you started that you might not have known about.
Microsoft Immersive Reader
Immersive Reader is a tool to support reading and literacy in the classroom. This digital tool can assist with decoding texts and help emerging readers build confidence.
Learn more about inclusive classrooms with Microsoft tools.
Microsoft Math Assistant
This tool supports students with learning differences in Mathematics, by using some of the principles in Immersive Reader.
Learn more about Math Assistant here
I have students with differing learning needs and we’ve used technology to develop their writing skills. Using something simple like voice notes, they can record their sentence and drop it into a document, then read it back. A small, successful win in the classroom!
Google Workspace
You can boost your accessibility in Google tools to support your classroom.
Apple Accessibility
Boost your Apple devices with their accessibility tips and inbuilt features With seeing, hearing and speech accessibility features, you can explore how to enhance your devices and your output using Apple tools.
Louisa, Digital Classroom Officer, Buninyong Public School
Start your teaching adventure
Design and HSIE
History
Food Technology
technology
learning
Plan an airport precinct and build a community in Minecraft Edcuation. Map it to a real-world challenge at Western Sydney Airport.
Create a timeline of your school’s history using a Canva template.
in Minecraft!
an airport of the future in Minecraft!
English
Create a fiction podcast with a new episode each week with the Student Podcaster module.
Connect with Community
Build connections to Country at your school and explore how to build a digital Acknowledgement for your school in this special edition of T4L Kids.
Science
Grow a garden with air, book an aeroponics kit from stem.T4L.
PDHPE
Set a steps challenge for your class by charting data and setting goals in Excel – try our student challenge in T4L Kids Sports Issue.
Compile a class cookbook of favourite recipes in Canva and share it with your school.
Mathematics
Learn how to tell us a story with data .
Commerce
Develop your students’ enterpreneurial skills with the challenges in the Build your business edition in T4L Kids.
with tech!
Digital Technologies
Design and prototype an app that can be used in the real world!
Science
Bring scientific data to life by creating an infographic in Canva.
Drama
Record a performance for parents and the community to watch anywhere by making a video with the Student Filmmaker
Music
Build a soundscape or put your poetry to music using GarageBand.
Top tip
Check out Staff Noticeboard for all the latest Professional Learning
Library
Learn some awesome writing tips from author Oliver Phommavanh in Everyone’s an Author.
Languages
Create a list of cultures and languages in your classroom using Google Jamboard.
Assembly
Use Presenter Coach inside Microsoft PowerPoint to build students’ presentation skills
English
Write and publish your own picture book using Canva.
