The Australian Education Times - September 2014

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Issue 10 • September2014 • www.educationtimes.com.au

Free

Challenges are another name for opportunities Vibha Coburn, Head of Retail Distribution Citibank

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O O H C S G N I D N OUTSTA

d o o w s t Cha l o o h c S High

Scan QR Code to read digital edition

ICT FOR EDUCATION: Kindle for Samsung

LITERACY CORNER: How to write a blog

magic maths:

How Good Is Your Problem Solving?

Success Story

THE NEWS CREW “Challenges are another name for opportunities.”

Contents News and Views:

4

How to motivate your students

Outstanding School of the month:

6

Chatswood High School

Success Story:

8

Ms. Vibha Coburn, Head of Retail Distribution Citibank

Focus on University

Focus on Universities: 9

Why study in Australia?

9

Why study in Australia?

Special Pull Out:

17

Social Media – how it’s used in Education

Career of the Month: 25 Information Technology

Ms. Vibha Coburn, Head of Retail Distribution Citibank

Literacy Corner: How to write a Blog

30 ICT For

Education

Kindle for Samsung

Join us digitally via our social networks….

15

Magic Maths: 31 How Good Is Your Problem Solving?

Science Lab: 33

FOLLOW us facebook.com/theaustralianeducationtimes

Robotics

@TheAusEduTimes

Puzzle Pop:

Contact us email : editor@educationtimes.com.au Phone: +61 2 8883 0750 Advertise email: advertise@educationtimes.com.au

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Some Fun Activities and Games

Global Story:

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Mark Zuckerberg – the King of Social Media

Literacy Corner How to write a blog

When you see this symbol, check out our website for real life interviews and more info!

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www.educationtimes.com.au The Australian Education Times

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education times

From the Editor

I can’t believe that this is already our 10th issue of The Australian Education Times. We have been able to bring you so many articles and information on a range of topics and I feel as though we have only scraped at the top of the barrel.

I am so appreciative of all of the comments, questions and feedback that we are receiving and hope to cover all of the questions as soon as we can possibly fit into one issue.

In the end, it’s not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away.

- shingxiong

This month, we take a look at the HSC and formal examinations. This is such a crucial time for over 75,000 17, 18 and 19 year old teenagers. We look at what the HSC is and how you can enrol into University.

Our Pullout section is dedicated to Social Media. As a dedicated technology teacher, I love this section and love all of the possibilities that teachers can offer to their students in terms of using social networking sites to encourage and empower students in their own learning.

Quotes of the Month

The Best way to predict your Future is to create it

- Abraham Lincoln

If there is anything that you would like us to feature, please feel free to email me at editor@educationtimes.com.au

We have also interviewed Vibha Coburn, Head of Retail Distribution Citibank.

This interview can also be viewed online at www.educationtimes.com.au

We should not teach children the sciences but give them a taste for them.

- Jean Jacques Rosseau

The Australian Education Times would like to acknowledge the Darug people who are the traditional custodians of this land. I would also like to pay respect to the elders past and present of the Darug nation and extend that respect to other Aboriginal people present.

Welcome to country Letter

Your News Crew interviewers are just fantastic. I wish them all a very bright future and best of luck on your achievement of success

Parth (Facebook)

Letter Great magazine. Really wished that there was something like this when I was at school

Jeremy (Facebook)

Letter

I particularly enjoy the Test Zone section of your magazine.

I have learned a number of strategies to help my daughter in her studies. Thank you Jemima (Facebook)

The Australian Education Times is dedicated to providing relevant and up-to-date news and resources that can be used in the classroom or at home. If you would like to contribute to our magazine, please write to Noelene at editor@educationtimes.com.au All contributions are to be 300 words long and to include a photo that is saved as a jpeg.

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secure your future

ICICI Education Loan

The Australian

education times News and Views

How to motivate s t n de u t your s W ith the HSC around the corner, it is without doubt that teachers are trying to maintain the motivation of students without causing anxiety or unnecessary stresses.

So how do we motivate our students? Unfortunately, due to the complex society that we live in, students are required a various amount of tools to stimulate and maintain their motivation. Many

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schools however are turning towards these tools which are resulting in an increase in attendance, participation rates and exam results.

Teachers across the nation are embedding 21st Century learning pedagogies which means that they are already tailoring their teaching and learning towards individualised and personalised learning for their students. This helps students feel empowered, achieve personal and

academic success and enables them to include their own knowledge into their own learning.

A key way of motivating students is to share stories. When trying to do this repeatedly in a dry subject area, maintaining motivation can become a little tough. Fortunately, there are numerous blogs online today that share the personal experiences of hundreds and thousands of people discussing the topic that you are

Tweetings #SeptemberIntake Good teaching comes from passion. It’s about motivating and teaching students how to learn. #BeTransformed Laura Kroll / @Mandery / Aug 27 A5-Every Monday, we have Monday Morning Motivation. I share a motivating video, (@iamkidpresident) with students #nebEDchat albatrossphd / @albatrossphd / Aug 27 Motivating & inspiring confidence in students is really hard when you feel imposter-ish. Why should they believe me when I don’t believe me Hope for Education / @HOPE_4_Edu / Aug 27 Motivating and hooking students requires willing learners. Passion for learning is nurtured by relationships.

Build those first.

Gavan Watson / @gavatron / Aug 27 Student panel: always nice to see instructors, TAs so engaged with their material; it’s motivating to the students #fallperspectives2014 Jack Schneider / @Edu_Historian / Jun 6 98% of educators think that motivating students is part of their job. Only 71% feel they have “adequate strategies”: http://www.edweek.org/media/ewrc_ engagingstudents_2014.pdf …

The Illuminati / @TheEyeOfControl / May 10 We spend more time forcing students to learn than we do motivating them to learn in the first place.

Stephen Abram / @sabram / Feb 22 Ten Tips for Motivating Students: Vicki Davis / @coolcatteacher / Jan 13 I don’t worry so much about motivating students - If I motivate myself and bring it - they always do too. #teaching

teaching. If your school is also BYOD focused, asking students to find a blog that highlights an individual’s experience in a specific area is particularly useful and can lead to student driven debate and conversation.

Students also need to feel that they are having fun when learning.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that they need to play games throughout your lesson, but playing soft music

or letting them have personal conversations as they do their work will actually motivate students to complete their work whilst building morale and self-confidence. If this is not for you, ice breakers at the beginning and in-between the lesson will also work and drive students to do their personal bests.

Creating a high-energy, fun learning environment will definitely help to motivate your students.

Jenna Shaw / @Teachbaltshaw / Jan 12 I focused on motivating factors this year.

Knowing my students & what drives them. Different for each kid, but way more effective #iaedchat Misty White / @MadDawgMisty / Dec 12 Motivating students comes down

to forming a connection with them.

If they feel valued, they will be less likely to disappoint you. #mschat Rick Wormeli / @RickWormeli / Oct 7 #colchat I’ve never seen descriptive feedback be anything less than motivating. It really matters to students’ maturation and

engagement.

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The Australian

education times Outstanding School

Chatswood high school Gifted and Talented class Chatswood High School has a proud tradition of gifted education and offers a Selective Stream and a Gifted and Talented class in response to the Department of Education & Training’s priority policies on Gifted and Talented Children and Accelerated Progression.

Principal’s message

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t Chatswood High School we ensure success for all through strong academic, arts and sporting programs delivered by highly qualified staff, committed to developing the interests and talents of every student. The teachers at Chatswood High School are here to provide you with outstanding learning opportunities, encouragement and a range of strategies to achieve your goals.

We believe in achieving academic excellence. Chatswood High School has an enviable record of academic success in the HSC where many of our students achieve outstanding results across all key learning areas and regularly attain a creditable UAI ranking. The academic tradition of success is reflected in our students consistently gaining entry to the country’s leading universities or employment in the field of their choice. Our graduate students are offered places in university courses such as Medical Science, 6 |

Veterinary Science, Arts, Environmental Science, Asian and Pacific Studies, Business Studies, Economics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Media and Cultural Studies, Engineering (Mining and Chemical), Forensic Biology, Tourism, Computer Science, Visual Arts and Design, Nuclear Medicine, ADFA Scholarship, Science/Law and Teaching. This list is not definitive but is a great indicator of the considerable achievements and broad range of interests and talents of Chatswood students.

Chatswood High School is renowned for its achievements in the creative and performing arts.

The school has an exceptional reputation built on the delivery of outstanding programs which offer a world of opportunities for our students. They are inspired to develop and explore their talents and interests through the creative mediums of dance, drama and art. Chatswood High School’s exceptional music program showcases the depth of talent of our students leading

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This program serves a need of challenging talented students in a local co-educational setting.

In addition, it provides an extra dimension to our general aim of providing each student with an excellent academic, cultural, social and physical education.

Inspiring excellence - achieving success

At Chatswood High School we ensure success for all through strong academic, arts and sporting programs delivered by highly qualified staff, to national and international committed to developing success. the interests and talents We have a strong focus on of every student. student leadership, on promoting Chatswood High School positive values and developing is a dynamic school that a sense of global citizenship. has the resources and Teachers and students work expertise necessary together in a relationship of to develop the skills, mutual respect helping them knowledge and values develop the skills and confidence that students need to lead for life. At Chatswood High productive and rewarding School we are focused on lives in the 21st century. preparing our students for the Our school is at the real world that is global and ever heart of the community changing. and values open and coChatswood High School is operative relationships a dynamic school that has with parents. Parents the resources and expertise are active participants necessary to develop the skills, in their children’s knowledge and values that learning, resulting in true students need to lead productive partnership between the and rewarding lives in the 21st school and the family. century. Our school is at the Enrich Your heart of the community and Learning values open and cooperative relationships with parents.

Chatswood High School Parents are active participants encourages students to in their children’s learning, enrich their learning and resulting in a true partnership exceed their expectations. between the school and the As a partially selective family. school, Chatswood students benefit

and thrive from our diverse and differentiated curriculum designed to maximise every students potential.

Chatswood High School provides a range of programs developed to enhance the educational choice and aspirations of our students. Our school fosters an environment which enriches and advances our students through our extra curricula activities. Many of these activities offer opportunities for involvement at local, state and national levels.

The school has its own purposebuilt hall with a complete lighting and sound system for special events and stage productions. The talents of Chatswood High School students are showcased in the school’s performances. In 2011, the Drama department staged the Australian play ‘Dags’ by Debra Oswald. The play revolves around the life of sixteen year old Gillian, a melodramatic teenage outcast. A coming of age story - the two performances garnered rave reviews from parents and students alike, Our and were a great showcase of talent at Community Chatswood High School. In 2013 Little Our school is at the heart of Shop of Horrors was an outstanding the community and values open success. and co-operative relationships with These performances allow students to parents. Parents are active participants in develop self esteem and confidence and their children’s learning, resulting in a true be involved whether they prefer to sing, partnership between the school and the family. dance, act, perform or work behind the We are able to provide the best scenes. educational opportunities for every Chatzfest student due in part to the wonderful dedication of the Chatswood Chatzfest first began in 2009 to High School community encourage and foster the amazing groups. talents of the young people in Chatswood. It is a joint Short Film Festival organised by Chatswood High Drama School and Chatswood Primary School.

Drama offers our students the In 2011 there were more than 40 entries opportunity to develop expressive and 2 films went on to win awards at the skills and to convey ideas and feelings Arts North Film Festival. through dramatic action. Based on improvisation and playbuilding, courses Imagination, Inspiration are designed to develop students’ skills and confidence through performances to Chatswood High School is renowned peers as well as local primary schools, for its achievements in the creative parents and members of the public. and performing arts. The school has an exceptional reputation built on the delivery of outstanding programs which offer a world of opportunities for our students. They are inspired to develop and explore their talents and interests through the creative mediums of dance, drama and art.

Chatswood High School’s exceptional music program showcases the depth of talent of our students leading to national and international success.

Innovative Thinking At Chatswood High School technology underpins our teaching of the curriculum across all subject areas.

Chatswood High School’s Faculty of Computing offers students unrivalled opportunities in Information and Communications Technology.

The school is a leading educational centre for multimedia, design and music production and features on site the state-of-the-art SoundHouse facility, one of only 3 in the country.

Students at Chatswood benefit from learning across all areas of information technology with innovative teaching specialists, inspiring them to confidently interact with our ever-changing world.

Music Chatswood High School offers students a variety of musical studies. The school is renowned for its exceptional music groups, excellent staff and enviable facilities, which include a networked purpose-built SoundHouseTM for music composition using music keyboards and computers. The Music department offers many extra-curricula opportunities for interested and talented musicians.

These currently include concert bands, a stage band, a string ensemble, a guitar ensemble and a choir. Groups are formed according to student interest and demand.

Visual Arts Visual arts as a subject provides for various interpretations of the visual arts in the areas of art, craft and design. The subject is sustained through practical and theoretical practice within a framework which forms the basis for content and accommodates a wide range of student ability. The knowledge, understanding, skills and values gained from the subject assists students in building conceptual and practical skills which can be applied in art, craft, design and related careers in a world context.

Justin Hong (Relieving Principal)

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The Australian

education times Success Story with and understand who they are.

You have to work together towards one common goal and understand that people are better at different things. You have to understand each other’s strengths and working together towards a goal is what I think leadership is all about.

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What is your educational background and how has that helped with your career?

I have degrees in commerce and business administration, which gave me the flexibility to work across industries and in different roles. It also organised my thinking, especially when it came to addressing problems or looking at issues so it’s been a good foundation to base my career on.

Vibha Coburn

This month, Sara from THE NEWS CREW had the privilege of interviewing Vibha Coburn, on how she has reached her current leadership position of Head of Retail Distribution, Citibank Australia

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Can you tell us about your journey to become the Head of Retail Distribution, Citibank Australia?

I always thought I’d like to do something in business but I was never entirely sure what. I fell into banking and I had a few roles within financial institutions and then I realised I really liked it.

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When did you realise that you wanted to pursue a career in finance and what inspired you?

In terms of inspiration, I fell into banking and I soon realised I could work with people in helping make their dreams come true. This was a great feeling and I decided this is what I wanted to do with my life

3

What tips do you have for our readers on money management for a good education?

The first step is to understand what your financial target needs to be. Have an idea of the cost then work backwards from that to a budget and save. Most banks have saving accounts, where you deposit a certain amount each month as savings, or you can use a separate account just for your education fund, or you could borrow money from the banks

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4

How do you plan on the right distribution strategy to deliver goods to consumers?

Distribution strategy has to match with what the consumer wants, where the client wants to bank. The best strategy is dependent on the consumer.

5

Should marketing be included in the school curriculum?

Business studies could have a component of marketing in as much as being able to explain what a product or service could do for you

6

What would you say has been your biggest challenge and how did you conquer it?

I think the challenges were also opportunities. I’ve been challenged and also had the privilege of being able to work in different roles. It’s always scary when you start something new.

You’re nervous, as you don’t know the intricacies of the whole job or if you’ll be good at it. However, it gave me the opportunity to learn more and develop so I could perform in the next role.

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What would your advice be to anyone who is aspiring to be a leader?

IWhat I learnt early on in life is that to be successful in business, you have to be successful with the people you work

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What achievements are you most proud of?

What excites me the most is when I get a response from our clients, whether it’s saying you did a good job or providing feedback for improvement, as then you know they genuinely care for you. We call it tough love in our industry.

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Tell us about your experience and skills gained in your 22 years in the finance industry?

I’ve worked in the finance industry as both a banker and a consultant so it’s allowed me to go to different countries, work with different teams and different companies. This helps you realise there are many different ways to see a particular problem.

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What advice would you give to any of our readers on career success and those interested in a career in finance?

My advice is to be open-minded as against some people who may be very narrow minded in business. Keep an open-mind and explore opportunities, as finance is a big industry and you’ll eventually find what you do best.

To watch the full interview visit www.educationtimes.com.au

The Australian

education times Focus on University

Why study in

Australia?

A

ustralia is a world leader when it comes to education. With some of the best facilities and educators, as well as a variety of study options, our education system is held in high regard around the globe.

Despite only having a population of approximately 23 million, Australia is the third most popular international student

• World-class education: Australian tertiary institutions offer a range of globally recognised courses, with five of our universities ranked in the top 100 universities in the world.

destination in the world (behind the United Kingdom and the United States).

But why do so many students venture Down Under to study?

For information and a step-bystep process on applying to study in Australia, visit: http://www.studyinaustralia.gov. au/Global/Apply-to-study.

Reasons to study in Australia

• Location: According to statistics compiled by the Federal Government, Australia ha s five of the 30 best cities in the world for students based on aff ordability, quality of life, student mi x and employer activity. Australia is also one of the safest study destinations, with a low crime rate and strict gun laws ation • Tuition costs: the educ alia are and tuition fees in Austr d to other significantly less compare ns such as popular study destinatio the UK and the USA

• Cultural diversity: Although Australia is an English-speaking country, it is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world.

The Australian

education times FOCUS ON UNIVERSITY

Applying for Uni I

finished high school at Taree High on the Mid-North Coast studying largely science and mathematics. In year 10, I competed in a neuroscience competition and absolutely fell in love with the subject, leading to my decision to study a science degree with a major in neuroscience.

In my final year of science, I applied for the graduate medical program at the University of Sydney. While I’ve loved

studying neuroscience, I decided that I wanted to work with people in a team environment and help others in the short term rather than waiting on my research to have an impact on the population.

Medicine has been an intense onslaught of information, but the information is fascinating, and we have the opportunity to apply it from day one on our clinical days. I look forward to starting every year of university,

and I’m still amazed by the number of opportunities at university.

This story was kindly provided by University of Sydney: http://sydney. edu.au/future-students/domestic/ undergraduate/talk-to-our-students/ ashe.shtml

er d si n o C to s g in h T m o d is W f o Words When Applying to University

sites or email, and have a look at their web ions. Contact universities by phone itut inst and at day rses n cou ope ch an ear nd Res atte 1. a tour or itution. It’s also a good idea to take to find the right course at the right inst offer. they t wha and s puse d look at their cam different universities to get a first-han ents for the course you are applying apply. Check the admission requirem 2. Find out if you are eligible to issions Centre (UAC) website ing their website. The Universities Adm for by contacting the institution or visit out on general eligibility king tion that’s worth chec rma info dy han e som has also ) .au/ (http://www.uac.edu requirements. points to Year 12 students offer. Some institutions offer bonus on are s ship olar sch and ts poin g to or visit the UAC website 3. See if bonus contact the institution you are applyin to sure be so y, stud iary tert to y seeking entr th investigating whether or ous types of scholarships, so it’s wor vari r offe also ties ersi Univ . tion rma for more info not you are eligible for any. tertiary study can become ty. The financial burden of undertaking ersi univ at ying stud of cost the e 4. Calculat to budget. You may be eligible ortant to plan ahead and learn how imp very it’s so e, som for r bea to h too muc to apply for it. you contact Centrelink to find out how sure e mak so ce, stan assi ent ernm for Gov the r preparation for university or have ” You may not be confident with you uni? for dy to d rea I gne desi “am f are rsel that you ses Ask 5. bridging cour your course. Most institutions offer d. assumed knowledge requirements for up to spee and university and get future students narrow the gap between high school

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The Australian

education times Focus on University

e k i l t i s i t Wha e t a p i c i t r a p to e g n a h c x e in an ? i n U t a m progra E very aspect of the exchange experience is one that cannot be traded for anything.

Studying in Boulder, Colorado for one semester was one of the best experiences of my life – my only regret is that I didn’t stay for two semesters!

Nothing compares to the chance to study at another university, in a different country, living on campus,

getting involved in the student life and having the opportunity to live in a bona fide university town.

In between studying, I jumped at every opportunity to see different parts of the US, organising road trips and even making it to Mexico! I loved getting involved in the American college atmosphere, attending all the football games, celebrating Halloween,

snowboarding in the nearby Rocky Mountains, and experiencing my first white Christmas.

My academic experience at the University of Colorado even influenced my decision to transfer from an Arts degree to an Arts/Science degree when I returned to UNSW [the University of New South Wales].

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education times

Public school students encouraged to apply for prestigious scholarships

T

he Public Education Foundation has opened applications for a range of prestigious scholarships for NSW public school students.

Fifteen scholarships categories are currently open and public school students are strongly encouraged to apply for the 2015 school year.

The scholarships include opportunities for students from a refugee background, students interested in pursuing the study of Italian language and for students with a physical disability transitioning to tertiary study. Other scholarships are available for students with an interest in medical science as well as for students interested in a career in trades and technology and many more.

The Foundation has also opened a new scholarship for principals in remote public schools, the Teachers Health Fund Leading in Remote Schools Scholarship. It provides successful applicants with targeting coaching and the opportunity to further develop their leadership skills.

“This is the largest round of scholarships to have been offered by the Public Education Foundation. The diverse range of scholarships are designed to appeal to students with particular needs and talents and provide a life-changing opportunity,” said Catherine Cresswell, Acting Chief Executive of the Public Education Foundation.

Students who are interested in applying for a scholarship can download an information pack from the Public Education Foundation website www.publiceducationfoundation. org.au/scholarships or contact the Public Education Foundation at info@ publiceducationfoundation.org.au or 02 9266 8681.

The Public Education Foundation is a national not for profit organisation dedicated to providing scholarships to students in public schools. It is grateful to partners and supporters, including the NSW Department

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of Education and Communities and many generous organisations, such as the Teachers Health Fund, Teachers Mutual Bank and individuals.

The closing date for applications is Friday, 3 October 2014. Scholarships will be offered for the 2015 academic year. A list of all the scholarships offered is attached.

Media enquiries: Catherine Cresswell, 0425 273 324.

SCHOLARSHIPS OPEN 24 JULY 2014 The Friends of Zainab Scholarship helps support year eleven and twelve students from a refugee or asylum seeker background through the critical years of their High School Certificate and also provides financial assistance for a student’s first two years of full time study. Open to applicants nationally.

The Australian Science Olympiad Summer School Scholarship provides support for eligible students to attend the prestigious Australian Science Olympiad Summer School. Open to applicants nationally.

The Harding Miller Foundation Scholarship an equity based scholarship that helps students in early high school achieve their potential. Open to applicants in NSW and the ACT. The Walter and Eliza Hall Trust Opportunity Scholarship helps students with a physical disability make the transition from high school to tertiary study. Open to applicants in NSW and the ACT. The First Seeds Scholarship provides financial support to a senior high school student taking their first steps towards developing a successful career. Open to applicants in NSW and the ACT. The Malala Yousafzai Scholarship supports hard working students in the middle years of secondary school who have a strong belief in the power of education to change lives. Open to applicants in NSW and the ACT.

The Trades & Technology Opportunity Scholarship provides financial support through years eleven and twelve to a student interested in a career in trades or technology.

Open to applicants in NSW and the ACT. Mamma Lena & Dino Gustin Foundation Scholarship encourages students to pursue the study of Italian language, providing winners with a six-week intensive Italian language course in Rome. Open to applicants in NSW and the ACT. The Emorgo Scholarship for Music assists a talented musician commencing study at the Conservatorium High School in Sydney. Open to applicants in NSW and the ACT. The Patricia Long Conservatorium High School Scholarship supports a young talented musician in financial need who is attending or enrolling at the Conservatorium High School. Open to applicants in NSW and the ACT. The J Holden Family Trust Scholarship provides support for students commencing at the Conservatorium High School in 2015.

Open to applicants in NSW and the ACT. The Capital Chemist College Scholarship supports ACT students in their final year of school at a senior secondary college. ACT applicants only.

The Unions NSW Metropolitan Scholarship and The Unions NSW Rural and Regional Scholarship supports outstanding NSW public school students with an interest in unionism and social justice. NSW applicants only.

The Medich Foundation Elizabeth H Blackburn Scholarship is for outstanding year eleven or twelve students in Western or South Western Sydney interested in pursuing a career in medical science.

Students who are interested in applying for a scholarship can download an information pack from the Public Education Foundation website www.publiceducationfoundation. org.au/scholarships or contact the Public Education Foundation at info@ publiceducationfoundation.org.au or 02 9266 8681.

Note – Specific criteria and terms and conditions apply for each scholarship.

Interested applicants should check the PEF website for further information or contact the Public Education Foundation.

Public Education Foundation PO Box 1393, Darlinghurst NSW 1300 Australia T: 02 9266 8681 | F: 02 9244 5665 E: info@publiceducationfoundation.org.au W: www.publiceducationfoundation.org.au

The Australian

education times Focus on University

C A U e h ‘T ’ s s e c o r P F

or Year 12 students, preparing for university can be a daunting task.

Not only are they busy studying for their HSC, but they’re expected to be figuring out what they want to do for the rest of their lives at the same time! At least once you have a general idea about what you want to study at university the UAC guide is there to help you sort the rest out.

The first thing you need to do is look up courses that you would be interested in studying at the universities of your choice. Take note of the required ATAR and admissions criteria as this is what you will have to aim for when sitting your exams.

For undergraduates, you can select up to nine course preferences when applying through UAC. Remember that you can change and add to these preferences until the deadline, generally a few weeks before each round of offers is released.

When offers are released, your courses are considered in the order they are listed on your application. Be sure to take this into account as you will only receive one offer per round. The next step is to accept your offer and before you know it, you’ll be enrolling at university!

Did you know?

You can choose up to nine course preferences. Courses can be either Commonwealth-supported place (CSP) or domestic fee-paying (DFEE).

CSP courses typically cost you less than DFEE courses.

For offer rounds where all preferences are being considered, your course preferences are considered in the order you have listed them on your application. If there is no place available in the course listed as your first preference, your second preference will be considered and so on until an offer can be made or you have no more preferences.

You will only receive one offer per offer round, to your highest preference for which you are eligible and competitive enough, whether you include only CSP courses, only DFEE courses, or a combination of both CSP and DFEE courses in your application.

In some cases you may receive a slipback offer.

In some offer rounds only your first preference will be considered, or only consecutive preferences at the same institution.

UAC also allows you to apply for university courses throughout the year so you don’t just need to apply for university for Semester 1 intake. Many universities and colleges are accepting students to enroll and begin their studies in Semester 2 or in terms 2 and 3. For more information, please contact your preferred university or college for full details.

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education times focus on university

How to maximise your chances of getting into university

A

pplying for university can be a very stressful time for high school graduates. Waiting for what seems like a lifetime to find out your exam results and your ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank), and then working out whether you make the cut-off for the degree you want to study.

Some tertiary institutions offer bonus points to students through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), with each institution setting their own selection criteria for allocating them. Bonus points do not change a student’s ATAR, but do change their selection rank for a particular course or institution.

Types of bonus points

consideration should be made directly to the institution.

Are you eligible?

For more information on bonus points and a list of the universities and institutions that offer them, visit http://www. uac.edu.au/ undergraduate/ atar/. Also, make sure to check with the institution you are applying to about whether or not they require a minimum ATAR.

Subject bonus points: some UAC institutions allocate bonus points in recognition of your performance in Year 12 subjects that are relevant to the course/s that you have applied for.

Regional bonus points: if you live or attend school in a designated region as deemed by UAC, some institutions automatically award you bonus points without needing to apply for them.

Special consideration: some institutions give special consideration for elite athletes and students who have completed extracurricular activities, such as participating in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or being school captain. Applications for special

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By Huntley Mitchell

The Australian

education times ICT for Education

Kindle for

A

new app that gives you access to the world’s largest selection of eBooks on your compatible Samsung device is here*. Kindle for Samsung is great for Australian primary, secondary and tertiary students who want to read on the go. In partnership with Amazon, Kindle for Samsung has everything students can expect from the standard Kindle app, plus they can download a free book every month from the Samsung Book Deals selection. **

Samsung So why use Kindle for Samsung?

Kindle for Samsung can provide students with the opportunity to read from virtually anywhere, with downloaded books available offline.

Kindle for Samsung can be downloaded from the Samsung Galaxy Apps store on compatible Samsung smartphones and tablets^. Existing Amazon users simply use their Amazon account details to login and begin exploring. For new users it’s easy and quick to create a new account.

With the Kindle for Samsung app, you can choose a free book every month from the Samsung Book Deals selection!**

Access the world’s largest selection of eBooks Time to Read estimates how much time it will take to finish a chapter or a book based on your personal reading speed.

Whispersync synchronises your reading across your compatible devices^.

Worry-Free Archive automatically backs up your Kindle books in the cloud,# including all your previously purchased Kindle eBooks.

There are several benefits to using Kindle for Samsung in classrooms and in education: -Students are able to download books at virtually any time on their compatible device* -Students are able to focus on the vocabulary within the book or article they have selected, as they are a click away from finding out the definition of the selected word -Learning new vocabulary can help support improvement in reading comprehension skills, as well as understanding more difficult texts.

* Internet connection required. Data charges may apply. Content within Kindle for Samsung must be purchased and is subject to availability. ** Internet connection required. Data charges may apply. Kindle for Samsung app only available on compatible Samsung devices. Samsung Book Deals only available to customers who sign in with a Samsung Account. ^ Internet connection required. Data and subscription charges may apply. # Internet connection required. Data and subscription charges may apply. Usage is subject to cloud provider agreement.

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MONDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

4

WEDNESDAY

3

5

2

TUESDAY

2014 September Calendar SUNDAY

1

12

SATURDAY

6

25

JAMES SCULLIN’S, 9TH PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA

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CLEAN UP FOR THE WORLD WEEKEND

19

AFL GRAND FINAL DAY

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WORLD PARKS DAY

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ELIZABETH McCOMBS BECOMES THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED TO THE NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT

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INTERNATIONAL DAY OF HISTORY WEEK NSW CHARITY BADGE DAY FOOTY COLOURS DAY

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WORLD MARITIME DAY

GOOGLE IS FOUNDED

BY LARRY PAGE AND SERGEY BRIN

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PRESIDENT NGO DIHN DIEM BECOMES THE FIRST FOREIGN HEAD OF NATIONAL FLAG DAY PROSTATE CANCER STATE TO MAKE A STATE AWARENESS MONTH SAVE THE KOALA MONTH VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

9

8

WHITE BALLOON DAY

7

R U OK? DAY

INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY

16

WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY

FATHER’S DAY NATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION WEEK

15

INTERNATIONAL FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER AWARENESS DAY

14 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY

23

Aus Cizt Day

BIG RED KIDNEY WALK

22

NAVARATRI

17 # 18

21 30

THE FIRST IMAGES OF A LIVE GIANT SQUID IN ITS QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY (WA) NATURAL HABITAT ARE FAMILY & COMMUNITY TAKEN 600 MILES SOUTH DAY (ACT) OF TOKYO

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WORLD CAREFREE DAY

INTERNATIONAL DAY AUSTRALIAN FOR THE PRESERVATION CITIZENSHIP DAY OF THE OZONE LAYER THE MS PRINCESS OF TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA’S FIRST PASSENGER ROSH HASHANAH ROLL-ON/ROLL-OFF DIESEL FERRY MAKES HER MAIDEN VOYAGE

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE WORLD ALZHEIMER’S DAY

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WORLD RIVERS DAY

My Reminders:

A special pullout to help parents and students understand social networking in schools

S L OO IN SCH

n ca t i e w s o H ncrea ning i lear

IA D E M L A I C SO

Mobile Phones How Parents Should Promote Texting, not Sexting

Twitter Using Twitter’s Vine in the classroom

Dangers of Social Networking Sites Can social networking sites encourage students to develop eatingdisorders

PULL OUT education times Focus on Universities The Australian

P

arents of teenagers are facing new challenges each and every day. We have provided our children with elaborate means of technology namely iPads, tablets and mobile phones but in rare instances do parents monitor the activity of their child on a continuous basis. As a busy parent myself, I try to enforce the law at home, however with my own commitments, the commitments of my children and raising more than one child, it is sometimes easier to use and accept an ‘honesty’ system. If asked, our children

will respond with the answers that we want to hear; that they are using Apps correctly and not doing anything unjust with their technological devices. More often than not, as parents, we know our child and to-date, our child/ren has never provided us with a reason to “not believe them” so why would we question their activities now?

Unfortunately, it is the naive parent who then discovers that their child has participated in unacceptable and unsocial activity. Such activity does not only include using Facebook without parental

permission or cyberbullying as a troll on Twitter. It also includes sexting and using Snapchat inappropriately.

It is becoming increasingly common for students to create fake accounts on social media with the intent to bully others.

Others provide too much information via their social media accounts enabling predators to learn about them very quickly. Some teenagers are using Instagram and Snapchat to take photos of themselves without considering the repercussions should a ‘follower/friend’ screenshot their image. A recent case in a Sydney high school saw a 13 year old girl take a photo of her own breasts and send it to her boyfriend via text (sexting).

The boyfriend was then bullied by his friends to share the photo with them.

Within hours, every student in the grade had a copy of this photo. Such disturbing situations are not isolated and are being reported to the police more regularly. As parents, it is our responsibility to ensure that our child will not fall victim to such actions by educating them about sexting and taking selfies

How Parents Should Promote Texting, g n i t x e S t no hool The Role of the ifSc anything

• To notify the parents urs occurs during school ho w to be a ho of nts • To educate stude n ize cit l ita dig responsible gical use • Promote safe technolo l oo sch within the ce the school • To remind and enfor partment’s de the of community uct nd Co of Code a photo of a • To notify the police if e of 18 naked child (under the ag

ers (during years) is shared with oth school hours)

What is NOT the role of the School victims and

• To mediate between on occurs bullies if the communicati urs ho l oo outside of sch oto is • To decipher if the ph rnography or po ld chi considered as not at fault • To determine who is

The Role of the Parent:

• It is important to maintain open lines of communication with our children • Set clear rules of how the device will be used • Be a follower/friend on all social medium accounts • Be knowledgeable about which Apps your child has downloaded • Set times of when the device can be used • To involve the Police where necessary • To notify the school if you believe the sexting/ cyberbullying is occurring during school hours

Anyone experiencing depression should contact Beyond Blue for support and information. Beyond Blue can be contacted on 1300 22 4636 and are available for Web Chat from 4pm to 10pm daily.

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PULL OUT

Is it free speech giving people a license to bully or to be a Troll?

W

ith the recent death of Robin Williams, my first instinct when writing this is to think of his daughter – Zelda whom has been bullied soon after learning of her fathers passing. It horrifies me to think that people can be so cruel and so unkind to a girl who has just lost her father. Which makes me think - Is free speech being confused with free bullying?

Within the classroom, there are many advantages of using social media as theoretically it can help students collaborate, be autonomous, and have ownership of their work. Unfortunately, many students are missing out on the opportunities of learning with social networking sites as these sites are often blocked and not accessible by students during class time.

Perhaps correct teaching and learning in digital citizenship will prevent individuals writing taunting messages to each other through these mediums. According to Dr Rachel Busman, Psychologist and Mother, there are hateful posts that ask others to comment on a teen’s looks, her friends, her social status. Comments that go up on Facebook include “Why don’t you go kill yourself?” and vicious name-calling.

Such actions definitely demonstrate that students need to develop accountability.

Accountability of their digital actions and digital vocabulary. Dr Busman further states in her article that the level of anonymity afforded by some of these sites creates just enough distance for tweens and teens to “post without thought” and act impulsively without regard for what may come. Kids this age are not thinking about the consequences of a post -- the potential for others to gang up on a person, or comments that get out of control and take on a life of their own.

Education is certainly necessary to reduce the actions of so many bullies and trolls and educate them of how their words can have serious affects on others.

What are people saying about this on twitter?

What are people saying about this on twitter?

Ideas about using social networking explicitly...22 Effective Ways To Use Twitter In The Classroom http://www. edudemic.com/22-effectiveways-to-use-twitter-in-theclassroom-2/ … via @edudemic @iria_marino 7 Reasons To Leverage Social Networking Tools in the Classroom http://ow.ly/3jenAK #edchat #edtech This Weekend’s Blog Post: The Latest Research on Social Networking in the Classroom. http://bit.ly/1kFLzNJ #AECT @SCDSB_Schools stop impending on our rights. We are allowed to express our personal opinion on a social networking site @coleasschneider I think employers and schools should look at social networking sites to learn about prospective employees/ students and their grammar.

I hope my future jobs and school don’t look up my social networking sites.

Imagine if ppl put as much time in career promotional training or school stuff like homework

as they do social networking sites My son’s school had a ‘social networking boot-camp’ for parents today. 15 year olds were teachers for the day. Everyone went home the wiser. @HollyWelham “My school is very keen on social networking. My lessons are often inspired by a Twitter feed or blog.” http://www. theguardian.com/teachernetwork/teacher-blog/2013/ dec/03/teaching-internationalschool-working-life …

How Facebook Made My Students Better Writers: “social networking has altered how high-school boys deal with emotions” http://www. theatlantic.com/education/ archive/2013/11/facebookhas-transformed-my-studentswriting-for-the-better/281563/ …

Schools should not be involved with their students social networking. What they do outside of school has nothing to do with them. ‫@‏‬sethjds If it wasn’t for social networking sites, we’d all be waiting outside the school gates tomorrow and wondering why it isn’t opened.

I’m so glad I graduated high school when I did because I could not handle the bullying going on nowadays, especially on social networking.

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education times

PULL OUT

Using Twitter’s Vine in the classroom

V

ine is the latest addition to be added to its online armoury and while it hasn’t had much time to infiltrate the classroom toolkit, its uses offer some exciting options for EdTech innovators.

Vine is a file-sharing app that enables users to record and share short video updates. Acquired by Twitter in October 2012, it copies its owner’s insistence on brevity by restricting video shorts to six seconds.

Founded as recently as June 2012, Vine was initially released independently as a free app on iOS but, with the support of Twitter, development is under way to bring the Appto Android and other devices from as soon as autumn 2013.

Like many new apps, Vine experienced some teething issues at the start with service interruptions causing some to question its readiness for worldwide launch. Yet despite these initial issues,

How to use Vine Students are tasked with either watching a lesson tutorial or reading an assigned piece of text before

Vine has experienced immense growth with users tweeting and Facebooksharing an average of 2,300 videos every hour.

The response to Vine has been similar to reactions to the launch of Twitter.

There have been mixed opinions, with some believing it will be a useful addition to the social medium and others questioning the value of an App that limits messages to six seconds.

Regardless of where you stand, Vine has already caught on in a wide range of fields and the education sector is just one of them.

About Twitter • There are over 500 million users • Today, over 340 million tweets are sent daily from teenagers, worldwide celebrities, small businesses and the largest conglomerates

How does Vine benefit learning?

With so many social networking tools popping up you’d be forgiven for overlooking Vine but I would recommend taking a closer look.

Just like Twitter, Vine’s biggest asset is in its limitation.

Restricting video footage to six seconds forces users to the point, enabling others to view messages instantly and in a way that encourages and rewards creativity.

Vine may not seem suited to learning at first glance, but this tool offers various applications for use in education. For example, the flipped classroom is becoming one of the most exciting teaching techniques at the head of the digital wave. While many teaching professionals view the flipped classroom as simply tasking students with a lesson tutorial to watch before coming to class, the cyclical learning process is much more in depth and longer lasting.

the class but students need to document and share their questions and comments with the teacher to identify misunderstandings, gaps in knowledge and topics or concepts that have caused confusion

Teaching professionals have started to integrate Vine into their classroom teaching strategies:

Social networks are ideally suited to this and, by combining Twitter and Vine, students have the opportunity to convey their thoughts and response to end-of-topic questions in a direct and more creative way.

Once students got over the fear of making mistakes, they had fun with experimenting, creating their Vines and seeing the responses of their classmates and even industry professionals”.

Assign students the task of visually defining or explaining poignant terms Integrate social tools to support group communication and collaboration Encourage students to share their end-of-course experiences

Twitter’s popularity has not gone unnoticed in the education sector either, with very few schools, colleges and universities without Twitter feeds of their own. What has been far more transformative than its use as a simple broadcast tool for news and updates is its new-found role in the classroom, offering students and teachers the opportunity to connect through short but meaningful snippets of information

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PULL OUT

U

sing social media in the classroom? Worried that students’ may abuse your trust? Worried that they might accidently stumble across something inappropriate? Here are some things you can do to maximise learning online.

Setting rules about internet safety and how to use the social medium is also important. These may consist of:

• Tone of voice to be used (e.g. serious/playful/non-aggressive etc) • How frequently people should post • Where to source content from • Infringement of copyright • Avoiding conflicts of interest • Rectifying mistakes e.g. giving out the wrong information • Disclosing confidential information • Not damaging the reputation of your school

g n i y Sta n o e f Sa l a i c o S s e t i S

DID YOU KNOW: That social media has become a new form of literacy?

Before posting anything on the internet, those tasked with the school’s internet presence should agree on what they actually want to share about the school on the internet. They also need to be aware of some basic safety requirements: • Parental/Guardian permission is always required before any pupils can be featured in name, picture, videos or in reference to a piece of their work on the internet, as posted by the school.

• Where photos of pupils are displayed on social media channels, there should be no names included in the captions as this could place a particular student at risk.

• Whilst it’s ok to interact with pupils on public channels e.g. school related Twitter account, school related Facebook page, it’s not ok to communicate with pupils via any personal accounts. Any requests from pupils to connect via a personal account should be ignored.

: Don’t forget venting visitors

In the long run, pre on your from posting comments rpose of pu ole wh page defeats the Facebook.

Schools also need to alert all of its users that different social media platforms have their own additional security settings which can be activated on all official pages or accounts.

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education times

PULL OUT

How to use Facebook in the classroom Is Facebook unblocked in your school? Well here is a way of using this fantastic technological resource safely and confidently. Facebook is a vital tool for teaching and learning in the 21st century and for making education more social.

1 2 3 4 5

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Use Facebook groups to create a space to share educational resources and knowledge.

Subject materials and files can be uploaded to groups, and teachers and pupils can post content and encourage their fellow students to engage.

Facebook can be used as a way to inspire pupils about a subject by using a tool they like and are familiar with already – set up groups for particular subject topics such as history or science to bring to life your subject material.

You can turn on ‘pending posts’ to review posts to groups before they appear on the wall. Being able to review posts before they appear gives you more control of what appears on timelines, pages and groups.

Utilise privacy shortcuts to make sure you’re clear on who can see posts, you can access the privacy shortcuts by clicking on the padlock logo at the top right corner of your timeline and adjust your settings.

Pupils and teachers can still keep a professional distance - classroom groups are closed and pupils and teachers do not have to be friends on Facebook to interact.

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6 7 8 9

Use the ‘View as’ button on your Timeline to see what your profile looks like to different people - using this function enables you to ensure that they are in control of who can view what content on their profile.

Use the ‘activity log’ button on your Timeline to curate different profiles for different audiences - the activity log enables you to choose which of your activities can be viewed and by whom

Untag photos you might be uncomfortable with or change their audience.

Familiarise yourself with Facebook’s reporting tools - there are two main ways to contact Facebook - in the help centre which provides information and contact links sorted by topic and from content on the site where people can report abuse or violations of Facebook’s standards through the reporting tool.

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education times

PULL OUT

How schools use Social Media to stay in touch

with Parents?

1. Vision There are many potential benefits of using social media in the classroom: it can improve your relationship with students and their parents, and inspire them to spend more time on their work. It will also remind them of upcoming news and events. More importantly, it is a great way to celebrate the successes of your school.

This is essential if you are going to convince your school that using social media in education is a good idea. Why do you want to use social media? Is it primarily for teaching and learning, or communicating with students, parents or even the public?In order to get an idea whether your use of social media has worked you will need to decide what your aims and objectives are, and assess how well these have been met later on.

2. Administration It is important to be able to keep track of all of your accounts and groups. If you don’t, there is a danger of it becoming a free-for-all with different staff members setting up groups or accounts on Facebook, Twitter or Google Plus.

3. Training Before implementing social media in your school, give all students digital citizenship lessons, including training in e-safety. During online safety lessons it is important to discuss Facebook’s privacy settings.

Training teachers in how to use social media, as well as how they can protect their profile, is also important. They need to be confident users if they are to buy into the idea of using it in their school. Finally, get the parents involved. Run an information evening and show them what young people use the internet for and let them know how you are educating their children to use the internet safely and productively.

4. Content Social media can be used for extra curricular clubs, excursions, marketing and communication, but it is also a powerful tool for teaching and learning. It could be used simply as a means of broadcasting information quickly to your students. Taking it a step further, you could make it mandatory to contribute to Facebook groups for a project in order to guarantee collaboration and online discussion.

Students could share links, videos, audio and their work with their group via social media - it could even be part of their homework.

5. Evaluation After a set period of time, it is important to evaluate the initiative. Both students and teachers need to be asked in order to get an accurate and balanced perspective of how well your aims and objectives have been met.

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education times

PULL OUT

Are Social Networking Sites encouraging teenagers to develop eating disorders?

S

ocial networking websites influence teen girls to eat less and become stick thin, a latest research reveals.

A recent study found that teen girls are heavily influenced by the photos of their peers or “freminies“ posing the ideal body or look on social media sites such as Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Snapchat. This leaves them feeling anxious and shunning food and begin poor dieting techniques. This coupled with hashtags such as #thinspo and #thinspiration are making it even easier for teenagers to find out how to be thinner and lose weight quickly.

What is even worse is that there are now countless websites and Facebook pages dedicated to pro anorexia and bulimia. Social media, with their global proliferation and instant provision of validation in the form of a ‘’like’’, have drawn dramatic new focus on ‘’skinny’’, acting as an intimate tabernacle of gaudy body shots where the anorexic come to worship.

In the UK, a hospital reported a staggering increase of hospital admissions of girls aged between 5 and 9 years. 47 girls were admitted to the one hospital for treatment against anorexia. In Australia, no such public data exists thus it is difficult for parents to know what we are fighting against.

This may seem like a catch 22, as we are being told that Australia is joining the United States and becoming one of the heaviest countries in the world, yet a significant proportion are weighing in at less than 40 kgs.

It must be noted that eating disorders are not lifestyle choices, they are mental

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disorders that if left untreated can cause serious health problems or could even be life-threatening.

Women generally develop eating disorders during their teenage years compared with men. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and bingeeating disorder are some of the eating disorders that affect women’s health. Anyone who is suffering from an eating disorder is encouraged to speak to a friend, parent or teacher. If you know anyone who is ill, please also let someone know. And remember, although it is less common in boys, these numbers are growing and

your male friend could actually be suffering quietly.

The Australian

education times

Career of the Month

Information Technology Is this career path for you?

The IT industry has been on the rise for many years, with every conceivable industry and business now employing people with IT skills in some capacity. In this ever expanding field, a career in IT does not necessarily mean that you will be working exclusively with computers.

Helping others use their computers is often a big part of the job however the opportunities in IT are broad and constantly changing.

Educational Qualifications If you are interested in a career in IT the best place to start is by studying as much maths and science in high school as you can. Mathematics Extension 1 and physics are assumed knowledge for many courses, with mathematics Extension 2 being listed as advantageous.

Upon graduating from high school, there are numerous degrees offered at universities across Australia. Enquire into what courses are run at the universities of your choice. You could study, for example, a Bachelor of Computer Science and Technology at the University of Sydney or a Bachelor of Software Engineering at the University of New South Wales.

Be sure to qualify your degree by what you want to do. If you love game design and you wish to enter the industry as a game programmer, you’ll need to major in something like Computer Games Technology (dependent on what your faculty offers). If you’re looking to work for a non-technical corporation building mostly business applications, consider a degree in Management Information Systems or one of the many business technical degrees now offered.

Stay up to date!

In your spare time, focus on honing your skills and on keeping up with the constantly evolving applications, hardware, and software that you’ll need to utilise. Search job boards and take note of what technologies are creating a buzz.

University curriculums simply can’t keep up with everything so it is worth investing in some additional technical books to broaden your knowledge. It is also a good idea to supplement self-taught skills with a few classes or an associate degree. The more education you get in the field, the better your income will be in the long run.

Career paths In an age of instant communication and high speed computation, the opportunities for graduates are rapidly expanding. Possible careers in IT include but are in no way limited to: Software Engineer Systems Analyst Business Analyst Graphic Design

Network administration Web Developer Programmer Network Engineer Top tip! Seek internships at reputable IT companies. An internship at Microsoft or Google will open a lot of doors for you later.

Core skills: Adaptability Business focus Initiative Problem solving Analytical work Presentation skills

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The Australian

education times How to nominate a teacher to be th e “Teacher of the Month”

ian The AustrnaTlimes Educatio f the “Teacher o m is Monthd”toprroegcroagnise

designe o are making educators wdhand positive a profoun the lives of difference inents. stud

Your name:______________________________________

_____________________

Teacher’s name:______________________________

______________________

School:____________________________________________

_____________________

What makes this teacher special?:_____

______________________

____________________________________________________

_______________________

Your contact email/phone:______________

________________________

Contact us via Email -editor@educationtimes.com. au Facebook- www.facebook.com/theaus tralianeducationtimes Website - www.educationtimes.com. au/contactus Post - 207/5 Celebration Drive, Bella Vista NSW 2153 From the entries received, one tea cher will be chosen to be recognised for his/her priceless con tribution to the welfare and education of our students.

that r e h c a e t Know a n? io it n g o c e r deserves or.... f m e h t e t Nomina

f o r e h c a e t “ ” h t n o the m 26 |

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Education Times INSIDE SCHOOLS

Too cool @ school

Jewells Primary School are a Chess Mate!

O

ur Jewells Rookies and Knights Chess Teams travelled to St Pauls Primary School at Gateshead to compete in a Zone Tournament against Caves Beach, St Patricks Swansea, Marks Point, Charlestown East, St Pauls and Belmont Christian College primary children. These are the first matches played against other schools this year. Each of our players came away from the tournament more seasoned and experienced team members with a larger range of skills to take to their next competitions.

Congratulations on a great effort to the Rookies playing in their first competition matches: Arabella Johnson, Miriam Reimann, Lily Askew, Tobias Reimann. Our Knights team performed well with Dylan Baxter, Lilli Philpott, Ashlyn Blackstock and Sarah Pickering as team members. Our thanks also goes to Amanda Reimann for the terrific help she was in transporting team members and chess sets!

Brave students Donate Blood

O

n Friday, July 25, brave teachers and students from Years 11 and 12 at Terra Sancta College donated blood with the Australian Red Cross Mobile Blood Service.

Although there were many students willing to donate on the day, there were many prerequisites that they had to meet before getting the all clear to go ahead. There’s a LONG list to tick off to ensure that each donor is healthy, prepared and well enough to remain stable after donating from what you had for breakfast, to whether you’ve been to the dentist in the past week!

Still, there were many who stepped up into the bus, bravely donated and came out with big smiles and a bag full of goodies to eat. Everyone at Terra Sancta College would like to thank those students and teachers who made a difference on the day - donating to save lives.

PhD research paves the way for cultural awareness in Indigenous education

A

research project which highlights the value of service-learning in developing pre-service teachers’ cultural awareness and skills for Aboriginal education will be recognised at The University of Notre Dame Australia’s July Graduation Ceremony on the Fremantle Campus today Dr Glenda Cain, will graduate with a PhD at the Ceremony alongside another 477 students from the University’s nine academic Schools.

Senior Lecturer in Notre Dame’s School of Education, Fremantle, Dr Cain’s thesis ‘Service-learning as a way of developing pre-service teachers’ knowledge, perceptions and cultural awareness of Aboriginal education’ aims to promote pathways for preservice teachers to develop a greater understanding of Aboriginal education whilst developing their own literacy knowledge and instructional skills.

“Glenda is an asset to the School of Education and is widely respected by fellow staff and students alike.”

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education times Literacy Corner

How to write a blog

S

o you are thinking of joining the blogosphere and becoming a blogger? You may be wondering, “Where do I begin?” Well, it may not be common practice for you to write something personal on a daily/frequent basis but I can assure you it isn’t as taxing as it may seem. Finding what to write about is the hardest part. The rest will come naturally. Here are some key tips to keep in mind when creating your own blog:

• Find a focus – decide what you want your blog to be about. It is best to first ask yourself, who am I writing for? And then use that information to focus on a niche topic to write about.

• Be yourself –your personality will keep readers returning to your blog. Once you have found a niche that will attract attention, the way your personality comes through in your writing will build you a following.

• Use images – sometimes your writing won’t be enough. Some readers who require visual stimulation will stay loyal to your blog if you provide something striking.

Remember to check whether or not the image you wish to post is free. The best way is to take your own images for an added personal touch.

• Try to use links – posting links to other blogs or even past posts you have made on your blog will increase the traffic on your blog and

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will also improve its search engine ranking.

• Share – don’t be embarrassed of your blog, use the power of social media to advertise it to all of your family and friends. Use Facebook, Twitter, etc. to promote what you have written to expand your fan base.

• Respond to comments –remember to thank readers for continuing

to visit your blog. If a reader posts a comment that requires an answer then don’t hesitate to connect directly with that person. Again, this helps to make your blog personal, which gives the reader a feeling of honest authenticity and will set out your blog from the rest of the blogosphere.

If you follow these tips, you will create an established blog in no time at all. It is also important to remember that you should try not to over work yourself and let the blog run your life.

However, when you do post, don’t limit yourself to a word count. After all, creativity and expression of oneself should be without boundary. Keep your posts free of long paragraphs, incorrect grammar and spelling, and unnecessary negativity. Try to imagine yourself as the reader and you will understand why these points are important to your blogging success.

A good place to start is Wordpress as it is free to sign up, it has a variety of themes to choose from, it is easy to write posts and attach images, and people can comment on and share your posts easily across all social media platforms.

The Australian

Education Times magic maths

How Good is Your Problem Solving?

Many students are scared, if not horrified, of math word problems.

In general, they are thought of as difficult. Problem solving is still the most challenging part of mathematics to teach to students. Yet, when students learn to solve problem, it empowers them in many ways

But how do we do Problem Solving?

Four Stages of Problem Solving

1 2 3 4

understand

Understand and explore the problem Find a strategy

Look back

Use the strategy to solve the problem

Strategy

Look back and reflect on the solution SOLVE

Steps in problem solving

1 2 3

Read the problem carefully

5

Underline clue words and problems

Visualise the problem

4 6

Cross out what you don’t need Solve the problem Check your work

There are a number of common strategies that children can use to help them solve problems.

Guess (this includes guess and check, guess and improve)

Act It Out (act it out and use equipment)

Draw (this includes drawing pictures and diagrams)

Make a List (this includes making a table)

Think (this includes using skills you know already)

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education times g rnin ” “Lea Types

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Issue 7 • June 2014 • www.educationtimes.com.au

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O raaTnION: EDrUC ICT FORA iot Apn:ple tVXIA at DUc or eSTUDE F t ic T FOR

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Stay up to date with the latest educational news, learning programs and curriculum content and resources.

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www.mervynalfred.com Phone: 0404 817 652

The Australian

Education Times Science Lab

Robotics is the area of technology that explores the design, construction, operation and application of robots. The creation of machines with fully autonomous operation came about in the second half of the 20th century.

Now, robotics is a rapidly growing field of modern science. With the rate of technological advance, robots are being created to carry out a variety of functions, even those that are hazardous to humans. For example, bomb defusing, mine detection and shipwreck exploration.

All you need:

Experiment – Robot Racer

1 cardboard tube (can be a toilet or kitchen roll tube)

ponent parts and can cost Although robotics involves a lot of com can be easily demonstrated a lot of money, some basic principles eriment will let you build a using everyday items. This simple exp car. fast, fun, easy-to-build elastic band

1 elastic band (average sized) 4 bottle plastic tops (need to be bigg er than the width of the tube)

How it works

the elastic band is wound up, When the robot racer is pulled back friction between the elastic creating tension. When you let go the d to unwind and drive the tube band and the rear axle allows the ban forward!

Method

1. Cut the cardboard tube, using a craft knife, to your desired length, remembering that the longer the tube the more it will weigh and therefore it will travel a shorter distance.

2. Using the kebab/barbecue skewer, poke four holes in the cardboard tube. Two in the centre of one end of the tube (opposite each other) and two in the centre of the other end of the tube (opposite each other). Use a rule to make sure the holes are in line with each other.

Remember, the larger the hole

1 kebab/barbecue skewer (wooden) Craft knife/scissors Glue gun Ruler

the less friction on the axle and therefore the car with travel further.

3. Cut the skewer in half or to make two axles, which are long enough to pass through the tube with enough room either side to attach the wheels.

4. Colour in your tube or coat in white paper then colour to make the design look exciting!

5. Ask for your parent’s assistance to drill a hole in the centre of each bottle top (wheel).

6. Plug the axles into the holes on each wheel and glue into place.

Make sure the wheels are facing the right way and are straight before gluing.

7. Cut a small section from your skewer, drill a hole in the top, at the front of your tube and plug the skewer in the hole until it touches the inside of the tube. Loop one end of the elastic band around the skewer and glue into place.

8. Use a paper clip with a hook on the end to stretch the elastic band down the tube to the back axle, loop it round and you’re done. Time to race!

The Australian Education Times

| 33

The Australian

education times

Puzzle POP

Spot the 5 differences

Crazy But True!!!!!

There was a woman in 1972 whopossessed a visual acuity 20 times better than average. She could identify people at a distance of more than a mile (1.6 km).

34 |

The Australian Education Times

Laughter Zone!

Q. What kind of horses go out after dusk?

A. Nightmares!

Q. What did the hat say to the scarf?

A. You hang around here, I’ll go on a head!

Q. Why did the tortoise cross the road?

A. To get to the Shell station Q. Why is there no gambling in Africa?

A. Too many cheetahs!

Q. What do calendars eat?

A. Dates!

Find-A-Word A

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Lions

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Magpies

M Q

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B

F

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Giants

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Hawks

S

B

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B

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Tigers

F

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Bombers

Saints

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Knock your brains 1. I’m a word, six letters long,

I sometimes enter with a gong.

All in order from A to Z, I start with the letter B. What is the word?

2. Has a mouth,

but cannot drink.

Has a head, but cannot think.

Has a tongue, but not a lung.

Some are held and some are hung.

What am I?

Guinness World Record Most rotations hanging from a power drill in one minute This feat would require a great amount of upper body strength—and it’s much more extreme than boring weight lifting. Still, I don’t think it would be the best idea to try this one at home. The current record is 148 rotations in a minute, achieved by The HuyGiang of Germany.

3. This on this.

That on that.

Growing tall, but never fat.

What am I?

The Australian

education times

Horoscopes

36 |

The Australian Education Times

Pisces

The past shows up and presents you with pictures and feelings that cause grief. Each memory has a message that has bearing on the future.

Aries

Routines are often part of every day life but recently you will know that you have been stuck in a bit of a rut. Routines rather than just being part of your life have become your life. You will finally realise that your life has become

Taurus

You may have just come back from vacation and a pile of work has built up while you were away. The only action is to work through the pile, whoknows, there could be an opportunity hidden amongst all that paperwork.

Gemini

You’re a bit of a risk taker at times but this is not the month to get involved in any risky ventures whether it is business, work, health or wealth. Also, try to work on separating your work and personal life before the two begin to clash.

Cancer

Your top priorities for September will be work and health. You have missed a few opportunities but don’t worry, new ones are on their way. You may have to work harder but it will be worth it.

Leo

You like to be the leader but I am afraid that sometimes things just do not happen the Leo way. You are so preoccupied with yourself sometimes that you forget the fact that others have a life too.

Virgo

During September your thoughts will be strongly focused on work and financial issues. You may have spent too much the past few months so perhaps a financial review is in order.

Libra

Love will enter your life everywhere and you will take that loving feeling into the rest of your life. It will even affect your professional life, and colleagues at work will notice that you have a new glow.

Scorpio

Sometimes Scorpio you try to ignore your needs and passions. It is not always easy for you to keep all of that passion under wraps so why not let it out to play for once. Your needs, emotional and physical, seem to be turning more into cravings as they have been locked up for such a long time.

Sagittarius

I am afraid that September is not playtime for you. This month will be all about work, and furthering yourself in work or in your business. Mind you, it may not feel like hard work.

Capricorn

Stress can be a factor during this month. It seems to come out of nowhere and you really do not know why you are feeling stressed. Is this a feeling that you are imposing on yourself? Remember to take care of your health.

Aquarius

September

New technologies coming on the market will fascinate you, and you will want to fill your life with them. You are always very forward thinking and live most of your life in the future but do you actually need all of this techno stuff?

The Australian

Education Times

Pictures August in

2014 WWE Tour Roman Reigns reigns in Perth as he defeats Kane to close the WWE Live 2014 Australian Tour

Darwin Festival Choir of Man star at the opening night of the Annual Darwin Festival

The A-league All Stars vsJuventus

Llorente celebrates as he scores in Juventus’ 3-2 win against the A-league All Stars in Sydney

Commonwealth games Kylie Minogue stars as the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow ends in style

Edinburgh Festival

City 2Surf

Scotland is the place to be this month as performers from around the world performer at the world’s largest arts festival

Runners flood the streets of Sydney as they make their journey from the CBD to Bondi Beach

The Australian Education Times

| 37

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The Australian

Education Times

Global Story

Mark

Zuckerberg

M

ark Zuckerberg – Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of the multi billion dollar tech giant, Facebook. The social networking site turned 10 years old this year and is currently valued at more than $134 billion (US). Like many other entrepreneurial ventures, Facebook had humble beginnings; inZuckerberg’s college dorm room at Harvard University.

In 2004, Mark and his college roommates created Facebook. Initially, the site only allowed access to people with a Harvard University email address. However, this soon changed and within a year it had 1 million users, which encouraged Accel partners to see the potential in the site and invest $12.7 million (US) in Facebook. Since then the site has grown from strength to strength with now over 1 billion active users across the world.

There has been much controversy surrounding Mark Zuckerberg and the creation of Facebook. Even Hollywood has told, what is believed to be, the story of Facebook in the critically acclaimed motion picture ‘The Social Network’.

However, controversy aside, Zuckerberg is not only one of the youngest ever billionaires (29 years old), a computer programmer and an Internet entrepreneur, but has also used the success of Facebook to explore more charitable

endeavors.His philanthropic exploration has taken many forms, but most notably he has used his amassed fortune to donate $100 million (US) to the failing Newark Public Schools system in New Jersey and sign the “Giving Pledge” in December 2010; promising to donate 50 per cent of wealth to charity over his lifetime, along with other member such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and George Lucas. Zuckerberg also remains actively involved in politics, with his lobbying group

FWD.us. The group is an advocate for immigration reform and intends to improve the standard of Science and Technology education.

More recently, Mark Zuckerberg has come up with another, slightly audacious, philanthropic venture known as Internet. org. In late August 2013 he launched what he claims to be the movement that will provide Internet access to the 5 billion people who are not connected using solar powered drone aircrafts.

He has teamed up with a small number of telecommunications and technology giants to attempt to provide the entire world with affordable Internet access.

Mark reinforces that the knowledge economy is the future and allowing internet access to everyone will not only improve billions of lives, but will also create a mutually beneficial connection throughout the world. Benefits from ideas and productivity that anybody contributes will be felt across the world.

Although Mark Zuckerberg is estimated to be worth upwards of $31.6 billion (US), it would seem that Facebook and other ventures such as FWD.us and Internet. org have been created to benefit the world rather than benefit his bank account. After all, chief operating officer of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg, claimed that Mark “…always said Facebook was started not just to be a company, but to fulfil a vision of connecting the world”.

The Australian Education Times

| 39

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