Issue 117 - 2025 | Term 1 | Week 3
News The Beginning Teacher Tech Guide is back
New in 2025 - read the latest Technology 4 Learning Beginning Teacher Tech Guide!
Discover how to work effectively using tech so you can focus on your teaching and learning.
The Beginning Teacher Tech Guide 2025 provides you with the latest information on department resources that are available to you, to integrate digital learning seamlessly into your pedagogy and classroom.
With helpful tips, links and important information, this magazine supports you from the moment you log onto the DoE staff portal, right through to all the resources available on the Technology 4 Learning (T4L) website.
Inside, you will find inspiring classroom activities, real school stories from teachers doing amazing things with digital learning, an abundance of FAQs to help get you set up, tips and tricks on platforms and how to connect to your community so there's always someone to help you in your journey. Share it out in a staff or faculty meeting!
Tip Canva’s back-to-school templates
The new school year is here, and it’s time to bring your classroom to life with creativity and inspiration. Canva has crafted a collection of back-to-school templates to make your year easier and more organised from day one.
From customisable lesson planners and eye-catching posters to engaging icebreaker activities, our templates are designed to help you save time and set the tone for a memorable year.
Whether you’re sprucing up your syllabus or decorating your space, Canva has everything you need to make a great first impression.
Ready to get started? Explore the collection.
PL New Adobe tutorials and webinars
News Safer Internet Day is coming soon!
Let's make the internet a more inclusive and kinder place to be in 2025. Cybermarvel and the eSafety Commissioner bring you virtual classrooms and webinars for parents and teachers. Five top tips are:
- Be safe
- Be mindful
- Speak up
- Start the conversation
- Share online safety messages
Key learnings in February are:
Visit Cybermarvel for additional on-demand resources to help celebrate Safer Internet Day 2025.
Update Local administrative privileges
Towards the end of Term 1, we will be removing local administrator privileges from staff who don’t require them.
If you provide technical support at your school, you may require privileged access, so please submit the privileged access request form as appropriate for your role.
We wanted to remind you that T4L team have created Tips and tricks for switching off to support you with managing your digital communications. The department is committed to limiting work-related communications with teachers outside of regular school operating hours, and we encourage you to take some time to review what's interrupting you!
New service account login details:
If your school uses the srvNAPLAN account for NAPLAN, the username and password have changed for 2025. Principals will be emailed the new login details soon to send to NAPLAN coordinators and technical support officers.
Known issues:
Please refer to the Device Issues - Advice for Schools sections in the locked down browser guides for known issues and relevant troubleshooting steps.
iOS 16:
For iPads, the minimum version supported is iOS16. Some Apple iPad devices running iOS 16 may have issues launching iPad LDB v5.8.23. If problems arise, update to iOS 17.3 or later. Consider the device's suitability for NAPLAN if updates are not possible.
Technical preparation:
Schools should test the locked down browser on devices that will be used for NAPLAN, by using the Demonstration tests or the Training and Practice links in the Locked Down Browser menu. Refer to technology requirements for more information on technical preparation.
Training:
Staff involved with NAPLAN can register for live online training or access self-paced eLearning.
Support:
For NAPLAN enquiries contact the NESA NAPLAN team on 1300 119 556 or +61 2 9367 8382 or by emailing naplan.nsw@nesa.nsw.edu.au.
For help with device checks call EDConnect on 1300 32 32 32 and select option 5.
News Lenovo’s back on EdBuy!
Lenovo have made a significant return to EdBuy, marking a notable development in the tech industry.
This comeback is expected to enhance the range of options available to our staff, educators, and students alike.
Lenovo, known for its innovative and reliable products, has consistently delivered high-quality devices that cater to various needs, from personal use to enterprise solutions.
Their re-entry into EdBuy signifies a renewed commitment to providing cutting-edge technology and exceptional performance.
With Lenovo's strong reputation for durability and advanced features, you can look forward to a diverse selection of laptops, desktops, and other devices that meet the demands of modern computing.
Overall, Lenovo's return to EdBuy is a positive step for us, promising enhanced choices and improved technological advancements for users.
These products will be available in Term 1 2025. To access the great range of Lenovo offerings, head over to EdBuy and check them out!
Alert Why should I consider student privacy?
Keeping students' personal information secure is everyone’s responsibility as per the Privacy and the use of third-party web and cloud-based service providers (nsw.gov.au) policy. Before you use any online application in the classroom, you can carry out a search in AssessedIT to check if it is safe. There are over a thousand online applications, resources, device drivers, browser extensions, mobile and desktop applications that have been assessed for cyber security and data privacy to help you.
Each application has a rating:
- If it is rated ‘endorsed’ or ‘use with caution’ - adhere to documented usage conditions.
- If parental consent is required, information about data collected, stored and shared is provided. The automated parental consent form can be generated and sent for the applications/services you have selected to use during the school year. For questions about parental consent, please seek advice from Legal services.
Safer Technology for Schools have reviewed some services. This is reflected in the NSIP (National Schools Interoperability Program) column. If a service is ‘endorsed’, but there is an outstanding NSIP report, you can still use the service.
If the application/service you want to use is not in AssessedIT, search to determine if there is another application/service that meets your needs. For more information, read Online software applications and parental consent or reach out to the cybercompliance@det.nsw.edu.au team.
Tip Back to school with Apple
Back to school sessions recently hosted by Apple Professional Learning Specialists are now available to give you a head start with the new school year. From get-to-know-you activities to tips on planning, exchange ideas and resources with educators using iPad and Mac for teaching and learning.
Topics include:
• Support Literacy and Language with iPad
• Strengthen Mathematics Fluency with iPad
• Engage Early Learners with iPad
• Create Inclusive Classrooms with iPad
• Amplify the Impact of Teaching with iPad
• Manage Your Class with iPad and Mac
• Promote Privacy and Safety for Families with iPad
• Discover Ready-Made Student Projects for iPad
• Explore New iPadOS and macOS Features for Education
• Deploy and Manage Devices with Apple
Grab these helpful resources here.
PL Back to school with Google
Catch up on the recent back-to-school Google for Education webinars featuring presentations from educators in Australia and New Zealand.
The series covers releases from Term 4, a squiz at favourite updates and the latest news from BETT in London. Watch on demand by registering here. The goal of the series was to help educators learn how to:
- Save time with new productivity features in your favourite Google tools.
- Boost student engagement with creative uses of technology.
- Support all learners to realise their learning potential.
Sessions included:
- Google classroom - Wow you have changed!
- Accessibility tools in Google for Education
- Productivity updates to your favourite Google tools
You can access these webinars during Term 1 so check them out.
Update Single Sign On (SSO) process with Canva
Over the break there was a slight tweak made to the Single Sign On (SSO) process with Canva. This change affects the URL associated with the SSO process. If you access Canva through the Staff Portal there is no need to worry - the change has been made to the tile in your portal and you can log into Canva seamlessly though there.
However, if you access Canva via the SSO method through another landing page set as your browser default home page using Sharepoint Page, Google Site or Canvas, the URL that is linked to the Canva tile will need to be changed in order for access via SSO to continue.
The new URL is: https://edu.nsw.link/canvalogin
Fun ICT thought of the day
Info news.T4L will be back in Week 6!
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?
Tell us about your school's great ICT initiatives! Send us an email to T4LNews@det.nsw.edu.au
