2024

Join the Australian Google Education team at this free event for educators and leaders to discover the transformative power of Google’s tools in education. Hear from keynote speakers and take part in dynamic workshops on Google Classroom, Drive and other essential Workplace tools. Tickets are provided at no cost and registrations are essential.

Date: Friday 11th October
Location: Inaburra School, Bangor

Free internet is still available for eligible families through the Australian Government School Student Broadband Initiative. The Australian government’s offer of free home internet until 31 December, 2025 is still available for families with school aged students who have not had an active nbn® network internet service in the previous 14 days. Check if you’re eligible by contacting the National Referral Centre, operated by Anglicare Victoria on 1800 954 610 or find out further information on its website.

Many schools are exploring the potential of, or are already utilising the services of a learning management system (LMS) suited for their specific educational context needs. With this, we are pleased to announce that the Canvas Learning Management System is now available for schools to procure through EdBuy.

Microsoft Forms for Education in Office 365 has been simplified, modernised, and enhanced for teachers, students, and administrators. Featuring intuitive interfaces and upgraded templates on this collaborative platform, it’s perfect for the classroom and beyond. Sync data in real-time with Excel for deeper insights.

CESE has released the Transition to High School Scout report to help schools support continuity of learning and wellbeing as students transition to Year 7. The report was previously known as Student on a Page.

The report is available to high school principals, deputy principals and head teachers via the Student Administration app in Scout. It brings a range of student data and information together into one place – including key student demographic information, enrolment history, attendance history, Year 5 NAPLAN and check-in assessment results. 

The Transition to High School report will support schools to enhance student wellbeing while building trust and respect for the teaching profession – which are key focus areas of Our Plan for NSW Public Education.

During school consultations, automated data sharing was identified as a key opportunity in helping schools enhance the support provided to students during the transition from primary to high school while also reducing workload for school-based staff.

CESE values feedback from schools - please share your thoughts through the Transition to high school feedback form (open until Term 4 Week 10). 

Register to attend an online information session to learn more about the Transition to high school report and other resources that can be used to support your transitions planning and practices.

Make the most of your Canva for Education access with three free certifications available through the Canva Design School:

Canva Essentials: Perfect for beginners, this certification guides you through the basics of navigating Canva's home page and editor. You'll learn how to use templates, elements, and other essential tools to create stunning designs with ease.

Teacher Essentials: Tailored specifically for educators, this certification helps you integrate Canva into your lesson planning. Discover a wealth of teaching resources and get hands-on with Magic Studio, Canva's innovative tool designed to enhance your classroom creativity.

Graphic Design Essentials: Ready to dive deeper into design? This certification covers design principles, colour theory, and mood boards, giving you the skills to create visually compelling content that resonates with your students.

These certifications are not only a great way to improve your own skills, but they're also an excellent opportunity for your students. Encourage them to take the Canva Essentials or Graphic Design Essentials certifications to boost their digital literacy and design abilities.

Take advantage of these free resources to empower your teaching and inspire your students. Visit the Canva Design School website today and start your Canva certification journey.
 

October is cybersecurity awareness month. Keep safe online at home and at work with four simple tips.

1. Use passphrases – this is the key to your account. Keep it locked. Keep it secure. Use a mix of random words. Make passwords unique and do not share with anyone.
2. Recognise and report phishing – avoid being scammed. Remember the signs of phishing, and at work report using Report Message button in Outlook. Be aware of text messages with links. Hang up on voice calls asking you to do something.
3. Enable multi-factor authentication – double protect your personal devices, bank, social media and shopping accounts.
4. Update your software – enable auto-updates. Do not press ‘remind me later’!

Educators, remember to join your colleagues from around Australia in the Cybermarvel program. Parents can learn too, so don’t forget to share in your newsletters.

Microsoft's Speaker Progress is a powerful tool that educators can leverage to support and enhance student learning in the classroom.

This feature provides valuable insights into each student's speaking habits, patterns, and progress over time, allowing educators to provide targeted feedback, encourage active participation, and identify areas where individual students may need additional support. Speaker Progress helps create an inclusive environment where every learner's voice is heard, enabling teachers to monitor student engagement and ensure that all students are developing their communication skills effectively.

This tool is especially useful for fostering confidence in students who may be reluctant to speak up, as it provides a non-intrusive way to track and encourage their progress in a supportive and constructive manner.

To access this feature, teachers can navigate through Microsoft Teams by selecting the specific class or meeting where they want to monitor speaking progress and by following the how-to guide here or watch the video below.

Information Technology Directorate publishes three issues of news.T4L each term. Remember - share each issue with your staff! And if you aren't receiving an email notification as soon as a new issue of news.T4L drops, then you're missing out! So why not subscribe?