ISSUE 17 TERM 4 I 2021
Level up your practice your knowledge your skills
Tools and resources for your digital classroom
Welcome to Term 4 You have all done a fantastic job delivering online teaching and learning across NSW – congratulations! With the transition back to school this term, it’s more important than ever to build on your skills in the digital classroom. In this issue, we’ve asked teachers to share their tips and ideas to help you with developing your practice, skills, and knowledge. Be proud of what you have achieved and take the next step to level up your practice in the digital space. Mark Greentree Director, Technology 4 Learning, NSW Department of Education
T4L loves Create your own banner or template in Canva – see our special on pages 5 - 7
Make your digital lessons magical with Google Earth – go on an Antarctic journey or walk in the footsteps of a National Geographic Fellow – find out how to get started using Google Earth.
Keen to learn more about the impact of stem.T4L kits in schools and classrooms across NSW? Read the latest report from T4L’s researcher, Dr Rose Izadinia.
Listen to three experts on teaching and learning online
Listen to our three-part series on teaching and learning online on The Virtual Staffroom podcast! Featuring three different experts, the team unpacks the evidence that’s in around teaching and learning online, they chat with expert practitioners from NSW’s virtual selective high school, Aurora College and get mindful with Smiling Mind on how to manage stress during high intensity times.
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Please note: tools, devices, software, links and educational practices reviewed within this publication are not an indication of endorsement by the NSW DoE and cannot be used as such.
Try a T4L Totally Tech incursion today! Did you know that T4L has created a variety of school incursions suited to STEM students that are available right now? Bring a STEM excursion into the comfort of your digital classroom across a range of exciting topics led by experts.
Tips and tricks from a T4L guru Meet Joachim Cohen, our go-toguru on creativity, positivity and in his words: can-do-ivity! We caught up with Joachim to find out what inspires him in the T4L world, throwing five key words at him: creativity, feedback, AI, productivity and fun.
Each Totally Tech incursion features:
Joachim on creativity
Exciting STEM industry partners and leaders discussing their careers and research Video content that students can watch independently or as part of a guided class program Connected resources and linked activities suited to Stages 3-4
While many people have been baking in lockdown, I have been illustrating...I have discovered digital drawing and was inspired by the amazing Matt Cosgrove (of Macca the Alpaca fame) in Everyone’s an Author!
Totally Tech incursions available now:
▶ Meet GADI, Australia’s supercomputer
Joachim on feedback My current go-to is Microsoft Forms, I am experimenting with the ‘Math’ option! Discover it for yourself - the automated feedback and marking keeps students learning, without any intervention.
Joachim on AI
▶ Go behind the scenes with the Army’s Drone Racing Team
You might think PowerPoint is so 2012, but with the power of AI, it has changed my life... try creating a presentation and select ‘design ideas’ to experience the power of AI.
Joachim on productivity
▶ Be challenged by The Brickman: Ryan McNaught
I love my iPad - multitasking and gesture tips have changed my life and saved me so much time!
Joachim on fun I may be stuck at home, but I can bring parts of the world and
: Find all the Totally Tech resources here.
the universe to my lounge room with the power of Google AR. 3
Words of wisdom from the experts T4L chatted with three experts in online teaching and learning – we’ve pulled together some of their top tips to inspire your practice.
Virginia Cluff Head Teacher Science and Instructional Leader at NSW’s virtual selective high school, Aurora College Virginia shares her expertise for replicating physical classroom interactivity with success online. Try this routine in your day/lessons:
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General Manager for Evidence and Impact at the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) Zhi recommends thinking about the purpose of technology in your teaching, posing the following ideas:
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Be thoughtful about how you are using technology Are you ensuring that you’re getting that balance right between instruction, providing feedback and creating different ways of engaging with learner?
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Are you maximising the use of the technology? Are you ensuring that technology both facilitates direct instruction as well as collaborative learning experiences?
: Learn more about the
evidence with Zhi on Episode 19 of The Virtual Staffroom.
Check in with all your students for a meet and greet at the beginning of the lesson. Run your online classroom like a real one – could you use the Whiteboard function in Teams to draw a mind map? Clearly identify the learning intentions and what success looks like for the day. Check in with student to see where they are at throughout the lesson. Create an ‘exit ticket’ for students at the conclusion of the day or lesson, to give them a sense of accomplishment - try Google or Microsoft Forms. Do a table talk at the conclusion of a lesson to
Mary Morrison Education Wellbeing Lead at Smiling Mind Mary reminds us that the Smiling Mind app is loaded up with great resources for teachers and students, including:
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see what students have learned.
: Don’t forget there are guidelines to support schools with using live video with students.
: Get more tips from Virginia
on Episode 20 of The Virtual Staffroom.
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Zhi Soon
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guided meditations for stress management, exam stress and sleep. guided mindfulness meditations and lessons, organised by year group, mapped to the Australian curriculum. self-care modules suited to busy teachers and staff.
: Tap into the power of
mindfulness with Mary on Episode 21 of The Virtual Staffroom.
Further resources To get started, check out these quick start guides for students and teachers
Canva is an online design and publishing tool with templates that make it easy to create presentations, posters, videos, documents, and other multimedia content for the classroom or staffroom. Whether you’re new to Canva or already have an existing account, it’s time to upgrade to Canva for Education – it's free for all NSW DoE students and staff to use for educational purposes.
To get a step-by-step
Get creative in the classroom! Make:
Education for teachers
group work and skill-based
education presentation
activities and worksheets
templates
lesson plans
videos
classroom décor kits
flipped lessons
infographics
posters
socio-emotional learning activities (eg ‘How are you feeling today?’)
walk through, watch this Top Tech Tip video
Download this flyer Accessing Canva for
Download this flyer – Accessing Canva for Education for students Sign up for a Canva for Education online workshop, including one on creating
virtual classroom kits including Google Classroom headers and
infographics with Canva, or catch up with webinar recordings
virtual backgrounds Attend the Canva
: Virtual badges
Design School
for students
Join the Canva group on Yammer
: Virtual class jobs
: Staff virtual backgrounds
Get on board now! Learn how to sign up now using your department email address for instant access. If you already have an existing account, you can easily switch over. Students need to be invited to connect with Canva for Education and students under 13 need parental consent. For more information, head to the T4L Canva resources.
Check out the T4L Canva for Education information hub
Join the T4L teacher community on Teams
Join the Canva teachers community
Listen to the Canva story – T4L meets co-founder Cameron Adams on Episode 22 of The Virtual Staffroom.
on Facebook (run by Canva)
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Meet our Canva for Education champs!
Elisabeth Dubois 1
Why do you love Canva for Education?
My name is Elisabeth Dubois and I am a teacher librarian at Maitland Grossmann High School.
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What would be your top 3 tips for teachers new to Canva for Education?
It’s extremely user-friendly. From the design tools to a vast range of workable templates it makes digital design accessible to all users. It’s also fully web-based - I never have to worry about carrying around a USB. So long as I can access a computer with the internet, I can access anything that I’ve created.
1. Browse the vast number of Canva templates and use these as a springboard for your design. All you have to do is modify them by adding your content, to make it relevant for the context of your lesson/activity/design. 2. I always duplicate a design (by clicking
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Do you tend to use templates or create your own materials?
the plus button ‘duplicate design page’) a number of times so that I can change elements of the design to see what it looks like. I can change font, add a graphic, or move elements around on
When I first started with Canva, I used the templates as a starting point for all my designs. As I became more comfortable and confident, I started using completely blank projects and now have a range of my own templates.
the page. 3. Play! The best way to familiarise yourself with the platform is to experiment with all the features/tools. Click all the buttons! One of my favourites (apart from the background remover tool) would have to be the ‘tidy up’ function--this becomes very helpful when I’m creating things and I want them to be evenly spaced, for aesthetic purposes.
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How has Canva helped you in preparing materials, forms, presentations, virtual backgrounds or other resources? I create just about EVERYTHING on Canva. From bookmarks, to teaching and learning resources, posters and social media tiles! You can also resize designs and transport them from one project to another i.e. with a click-of-the-button you can resize an A3 poster to a social media tile. This saves time in advertising events in both a virtual and physical platform for the library. Everything that I create is eye-catching and this without a doubt has helped to increase student engagement within and across the library.
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Rebecca Toltz T4L
My name is Rebecca Toltz and I am a primary school teacher librarian, at Bourke St Public School.
Why do you love Canva for Education?
It’s like having a graphic designer in your back pocket. Generally, I know what it is I want to say, but Canva helps me present in a visually more engaging and attractive way – it’s easier to read and understand. I use Canva for classroom posters, flyers to staff, students and the school community. I’ve even used Canva for my Twitter profile and library catalogue.
T4L
Do you tend to use templates or create your own materials?
Templates! I watched a Canva for Education presentation recently, where another teacher was making worksheets from scratch, I always scroll through all the designs, make a choice and edit.
T4L
What would be your top 3 tips for teachers new to Canva for Education?
1. Start easy - create a classroom poster, print it and think about how your audience will read/interact with it. 2. Upload media and make it personal. Add your own photographs or QR codes 3. We all know how to use PowerPoint. Now step up and try Canva’s Education presentation templates.
T4L
How has Canva helped you out in preparing materials, forms, presentations, virtual backgrounds or other resources?
Canva has given me the confidence to try. In the past, I would have chosen the practical tools I’ve used before – but now I can go further.
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Are you a cybermarvel? Meet cybermarvel Mona Sidhu – Cyber Security Awareness and Education Manager
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Tell us about Cybermarvel...
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Mona: A ‘cybermarvel’ is someone who is actively safe online and promotes safe practices to students and others. It’s also the name of our program running throughout October, which aims to build online safety awareness in primary school students, staff and families. This is a joint initiative of the NSW, QLD, TAS, VIC, SA and NT education departments.
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What does the program look like?
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Mona: Throughout October, there are plenty of activities and webinars to get your students involved, plus we’ve curated a great range of resources for school leaders, parents and carers too. The program has been developed in line with the eSafety Commissioner’s Best Practice Framework for Online Safety Education.
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How can students stay safe online?
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Mona: Understanding students’ rights and responsibilities in the digital age is vital for young people. Why don’t you get your class to join a virtual classroom for a fun, engaging and safe discussion to help nurture their digital citizenship? Let’s encourage these conversations, not just in October – but throughout the year.
Further information : Visit the cybermarvel resources page : Register your class now for an event or webinar 8
: Book in for PL now and develop your skills and knowledge
Download our new handbook!
Find all our new resources in one handy download and power up your digital practice. Our new handbook is loaded up with fresh resources, links and tips for your practice and your digital classroom.
Digital teaching and learning activities
10 digital activities to get students learning online
8 digital resource banks from across Australia and the globe
Building skills with...
Google Workspace
Microsoft 365 Apple iPad 9