The Virtual Staffroom - Podcast

Episode 16 - Fossil hunting with Dr Matthew McCurry

T4L digs deep to chat with vertebrate paleontologist at the Australian Museum, Dr Matt McCurry. Matt and the T4L team have been working behind the scenes on creating an exciting virtual tour of the museum for kids everywhere. Matt also gives us an inside look at paleontology – from the hands-on work on dig sites, to the tech behind setting up virtual exhibitions. Join us for this exciting discussion on the future of museums, plus all the regular resource roundups.

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Episode 15 - Vroom vroom - take a spin with Molly Taylor

T4L gets revved up in Episode 15 of the Virtual Staffroom with Molly Taylor – Australian rally car driving champion. Molly is the first and only female driver to win the Australian Rally Championship and is currently racing in the Extreme E Racing events with bespoke electric sports vehicles. We go behind the scenes to talk to Molly about the skills involved in driving, as well as learning about the tech behind team driving in extreme environments. We also hear how the sport is getting behind sustainability and taking climate action. Plus - Linda, Joe and Yvette update us on their favourite resources. 

Listen to Episode 15!

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Episode 14 - Drones Doing Good

Look up in the sky! Is it a bird, is it a plane? No – it's a drone! Drones can deliver everything from books to groceries to coffees – but what if we used them for the good of humankind? In Episode 14 of the Virtual Staffroom we meet Eric Peck - CEO of Swoop Aero. Swoop Aero was the winner of the New York Times Good Tech Award in 2018 and the pioneer of the world’s first drone-delivered vaccine. Plus, Linda and Joe point you in the right direction to get you thinking about tech for good in your classroom

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Episode 13 - micro:bit...mega possibilities

Never heard of a micro:bit? Find out in Episode 13 how this little piece of tech goes a long way towards the power of good. The team meets Waris Candra from the micro:bit Foundation all the way from Hong Kong and he updates us on a global micro:bit challenge getting students to problem-solve real-world problems and work towards UN Global Goals. Plus, Yvette, Joe and Linda also share their latest finds for your digital classroom.

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Episode 12 - The modern storyteller

Get your creative juices flowing with Episode 12 of the Virtual Staffroom. Award-winning author for kids and teens, Tristan Bancks shares his insights on how he writes, his observations on how students create today - and how he personally uses different platforms to research, organise and synthesise his own work. You’ll be inspired – plus the team shares their favourite digital writing and creativity resources to get you and your students creating. 

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Episode 11 - Digital Well-being

How many pings, alerts and notifications do you receive a day? In Episode 11 of the Virtual Staffroom, we meet thought-provoking neuroproductivity researcher Dr Kristy Goodwin and chat about digital wellbeing and the impact of technology on our productivity. If you’re keen to use technology meaningfully in the classroom, and maybe switch up how you use it yourself, don’t miss this conversation. Plus, the team shares their favourite resources in this space to empower your journey with tech. 

Listen to Episode 11!

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Episode 10 - Celebrating Safer Internet Day

Have you thought about your digital footprint? You might after this discussion. In Episode 9...

• We talk cookies, cybersafety and fake news with special guest Kellie Britnell from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner. 
• We celebrate the global phenomenon that is Safer Internet Day, as well as explore the evolving landscape of digital citizenship. 
• Plus…as always we share our favourite links and resources:
  • Joe sends you to Interland to develop your digital citizenship skills!
  • Linda leads you to the NSW Department of Education's Digital Citizenship site
  • Yvette shares a media literacy resource from the ABC

Listen to Episode 10!

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Episode 9 - Hour of Code Special Edition

• T4L ushers in Hour of Code and Computer Science week with a code-tastic Episode 9 of the Virtual Staffroom.
• First up, we head to Seattle for a chat with the team behind Minecraft’s Hour of Code challenge this year and meet developer Haro Moncivais and education guru Susie Tinker from the M:EE team.
• Closer to home, we speak with game producer and one of the founders of Geek Girl Academy, Lisy Kane, about her career, code and the creativity involved in game development.
• Plus Tune in for your ultimate Hour of Code starter kit with Yvette, Joe and Linda’s top resource picks!

Listen to Episode 9!

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Episode 8 - Taking the Leap into 2021 

• Take the leap into 2021 as the the Virtual Staffroom meets Director, T4L Mark Greentree.
• With some recent major policy and funding announcements, Mark shares his vision for excellence in teaching and equity in this inspiring episode.
• Linda uncovers an amazing new resource on co-teaching that is a perfect complement to a new open plan learning space.
• Joe introduces you to a student innovator competition to get your students inspired through to the holidays.
• Yvette takes a look at the big 20 innovations that have shaped the last 20 years!

Listen to Episode 8!

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Episode 7 EduTECH Special - Riding the 2020 rollercoaster 

• The team recaps day two of the EduTECH conference with its highlights and picks.
• Professor Pasi Sahlberg - Deputy Director, Research with the Gonski Institute For Education at UNSW joins us as we reflect on the rollercoaster ride of 2020 and what we can learn for the future.
• Plus so much more!

Listen to Episode 7!

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^{PS Whilst we might have said we recorded this podcast live on day 1 for effect...we might have snuck it in a few days earlier, forgive us for any inaccuracies! Check out the show notes for any clarifications and latest updates!}

Episode 6: Episode 6: EduTECH Special - The year 2041: students, success and the skills they require

• We wrap up day 1 of the EduTECH Conference with our top picks and insights
• Visionary changemaker Richard Gerver (UK) is in the house as we jump in our DeLorean and look at the world in 2040 - and how it can influence the classroom of today.
• Plus so much more!

Listen to Episode 6!

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^{PS Whilst we might have said we recorded this podcast live on day 1 for effect...we might have snuck it in a few days earlier, forgive us for any inaccuracies! Check out the show notes for any clarifications and latest updates!}

Episode 5: The road to EduTECH

• Yvette gives you all the goss on EduTECH and how you can score one of 10 free tickets for your school
• We head to Wilcannia to hear one teachers’ story on the power of networking and her EduTECH 2019 story
• Joe challenges you to think about how smart EdTECH AI really is!
• Linda heads deep into Sydney Harbour with a great resource from The Sydney Opera House

Listen to Episode 5!

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Episode 4: Reaching for the stars

• We reach for the stars with Astrophysicist Professor Lisa Harvey Smith
• Joe challenges you to give AR a try for homework
• Linda talks about LifeLauncher a tool to help students plan for the future
• Yvette takes us on a Big Data journey starring tomatoes!

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Episode 3: Special Edition - Excursion - Virtual Celebrations

• Get geeky with our own Papa Tech Greig as he talks all the tech you need to take your celebrations online
• Hear from Billabong High School’s Nim Weerakoon about their ‘Lockdown Getdown Online Disco’
• Learn how Sylvania Heights Public School Principal Clint White used Brightcove to take his assemblies virtual
• Finally we take a trip across the pond to hear how schools in the US are graduating online with Director of Technology and Media from Newtown County Schools Dr. Adam Phyall

Listen to Episode 3!

Virtual Celebrations Toolkit 

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See the following Equipment Safety in Schools Advice for the use of Drones in schools 

Episode 2: Eddie Woo + EdTECH = Magic

• Hear about Eddie Woo’s passion for Maths and also his top tips and tricks for engaging students
• Joe introduces you to NSW’s Smart Digital Twin
• Linda takes us on an adventure with ‘Imagineering in a Box’ from Khan Academy
• Yvette retells a story of the power of telepresence and 3D Printing to do good in Northern NSW!

Listen to Episode 2!

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Episode 1: Class is in session

• Head to Cockatoo Island with Yvette.
• Hear about one school's journey to harness the power of LinkedIn Learning to flip their classrooms.
• We chat with drone guru Dr. Catherine Ball about World of Drones Education and her awe-inspiring journey!
• Linda talks about her love of T4L Kids TV.

Listen to Episode 1!

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See the following Equipment Safety in Schools Advice for the use of Drones in schools