magazine.T4L Issue 01

ISSUE 1 TERM 3 I 2019

PLUS: 3D PRINTERS: WE ROAD TEST THEM FOR YOU

GET STARTED ON YOUR MINECRAFT JOURNEY Follow one school’s journey

What should you look for in a 3D printer?

IS 2019 YOUR YEAR OF TECH? Continue your learning journey in your own time

Welcome to magazine.T4L

The T4L Team Mission

Welcome to the first issue of magazine.T4L,

Who are we?

an online magazine designed for use in the

The T4L team is based in the Information

classroom and staffroom. Whether you’re

Technology Directorate (ITD) of the NSW

passionate about tech, or just starting your

Department of Education (DoE). The team is

journey you will find an easy snapshot of tech

comprised of innovators, ICT experts, teachers and

solutions for your classroom and links to boost

other specialists to support teachers, students and

your digital knowledge. We hope you share

schools with the best technology and advice to

this handy new guide from the Technology

create classrooms of the future.

4 Learning (T4L) team with colleagues and students. Don’t forget to tune into T4L TV to stay in touch and make sure you bookmark our new website as a favourite.

We hope this first issue inspires you and we look forward to seeing you at an upcoming T4L event.

Mark Greentree Director Technology 4 Learning ITD

2

Subscribe to

We’re on

Visit our T4L website

Want to keep in touch with

T4L TV is your home for tech

Launched in Term 2, this is

all the latest news? We’ll keep

news and updates from

your hub for all things T4L.

you posted about exciting

the team. Subscribe now to

Bookmark us now and find

new product info, professional

make sure you catch the T4L

out about our events around

development events and

show (released twice a term)

NSW, and keep up to date

resources. Sign up here.

and more.

with the latest tech news.

Follow Como West Public School on their Minecraft journey!

New to Minecraft? Curious or even dubious about its place in the classroom?

We’re following Como West Public School in Sydney as they explore, implement and assess how Minecraft for Education, or M:EE could be used as a learning tool at their school, beginning with the Stage 3 cohort.

Minecraft Education Edition (M:EE): The edition

Class selection is crucial – 2 x stage 3 classes

used in NSW schools and supported by the NSW

will pilot Minecraft with 3 key teachers.

DoE has been created especially for students

Community consultation will be important

and differs to the general edition. There is a focus

– ensuring parent support and understanding

on building and exploring, as well as plenty of

for the program is key.

oversight for teachers managing students in the

Understanding privacy concerns – M:EE

classroom. The NSW DoE has the best utilisation of

utilises the Microsoft Office 365 privacy

the program and the highest engagement of users per license in the world.

agreement with the DoE. So if you’re using

First steps: Como West Public School have decided

agreements.

365 in school, you’re covered by the terms and

to get on board the Minecraft journey. The staff are

Expoloring software and wifi requirements

very new to it and have considered how it will be

– M:EE is available on Windows 10, MAC OS, iOS

received within the school community and they

for iPad.

want to ensure its successful integration.

Implementation – in the classroom and

Considerations: The school established a Minecraft

aligning with syllabus requirements for Term 2.

organising team comprising of key executive staff and two stage 3 teachers who are keen to use Minecraft in the classroom. In Term 1 they met to outline the program, identify challenges and set goals and timelines.

How do I get started?

1.

Yammer  is a great first step for DoE teachers – log in through your portal and search Minecraft

Licenses available for NSW DoE students and teachers, access the Intranet site for details.

to uncover a community who provides timely advice and explore connections with others.

2. Microsoft Minecraft Education Edition Community – jump on the biggest resource in the world.

3. Microsoft Minecraft Education Edition Professional Learning – explore the events page to find training sessions near you.

4. Intranet Site - NSW DoE users can access the intranet site for licensing and access information.

3

Road Test

3D

Printers Trying to decide what’s right for your classroom? Working to a budget? Check out what our expert Phil Kaczorowski recommends.

3D printing in the real world What use does 3D printing have in the real world?

While it has been around since the 1980s, recent advances in 3D printing on a large scale have revolutionised production and manufacturing processes and the way materials and products are made. 3D printing involves using computer-aided

The expert

design (or CAD) to create a 3D object. This means quick prototyping, and the ability to produce complex shapes and designs.

Phil Kaczorowki is the Technology Lead in the T4L team. Phil tests products and develops utilisation strategies for technology in the classroom.

Top 3D printing apps for the classroom Whilst 3D printers are the lure, the power of 3D printing is in the design and prototyping process

Things to consider

it allows students to explore. A perfect fit for

Where will your 3D printer sit in your school

➚ TINKERCAD: A free app used by primary and

and what will you be mostly using it for? Is

secondary students that allows students to create

it for primary or secondary students? Space,

designs, design with code and more.

noise and access can all be factors when considering 3D printers for your school or makerspace.

• Location

exploring digital solutions across the curriculum!

➚ MICROSOFT 3D BUILDER: A free Microsoft App you can download from the Microsoft Store that allows students to create and edit their own 3D objects. Either using templates or creating from

Frequency of usage

scratch.

•

Class exposure

➚ STEM.T4L LEARNING LIBRARY: Find classroom

•

Cost including filament

•

• Noise

integration ideas, tips and tricks and so much more to help with 3D design and printing in your classroom direct from our stem.T4L Team.

4

Models FLASHFORGE INVENTOR II

FLASHFORGE GUIDER 2S

The Inventor II is a great model for the classroom.

Flashforge’s big brother has a greater velocity

Print jobs are sent via wifi and USB and there is a

of airspace inside, the build plate is larger and is

good-sized build plate and all the regular safety

suited to larger-scale projects. Currently being used

features.

in one DoE school and is still undergoing testing in the T4L Lab. Cost: Noise level:

Cost:

Value for money:

Noise level:

Classroom usage:

Value for money:

On procurement?

Classroom usage: On procurement?

FLASHFORGE INVENTOR II SPECIAL EDITION The Special Edition has an inbuilt camera so you can follow the progress of your print job.

Connectivity is via wifi so jobs can be sent remotely.

This printer is on procurement and available for schools to purchase.

ME3D This printer is on procurement and has a proven track record in the DoE environment. This unit is open – this is an important consideration in your classroom or makerspace. Whilst it is good for

Cost: Noise level:

watching the printing unfold, the external features mean closer supervision is required.

Value for money: Classroom usage:

Cost:

On procurement?

Noise level: Value for money: Classroom usage:

FLASHFORGE 3D RESIN PRINTER

On procurement?

Resin printers produce a higher quality print. Rather than using filament it uses UV light in a resin solution to print objects similar to injected mould plastic. This makes it ideal for more senior, detailed projects. The bed is slightly smaller than most, and the cost is a

Legend

little steeper. You’ll also need to consider your resin

Cost - High

costs – approximately $100 per 500g. Schools in NSW

Cost - Moderate

are already using these resin printers.

Recommended for Primary Recommended for Secondary

Cost: Noise level: Value for money: Classroom usage: On procurement?

Varies Depending on Usage Noise - High Noise - Moderate Value for Money - Excellent Value for Money - Good Yes or No

Phil’s pick “ I like the Inventor II Special Edition. The camera, the wifi connectivity and its cost make it perfect for use in the primary or secondary classroom,” Phil says .

5

2019: Your Year of Tech Learn with Lynda.com

Boost your Microsoft skills

Check out the online courses available free for

➚ MICROSOFT TEAMS: Have you used Teams? This is

NSW DoE staff on the portal at Lynda.com. Lynda’s

the fastest growing product for Microsoft and the DoE.

online courses can be watched anytime, anyplace

It can be used as a collaborative tool between faculties

and even at any speed, covering everything from

and staff as well as in the classroom with students.

hard skills such as developing Excel skills to soft

Due to teacher demand, there is now a new feature of

skills like time management. Courses are added

read-only files for students in the classroom.

each week in the innovation, business, technology

➚ MICROSOFT ONENOTE LEARNING TOOLS: New

and creative libraries.

features include the Immersive Reader function

WHAT ARE DOE STAFF WATCHING?

with improved accessibility and a new translation

➚ HTML Essential Training

tool – great for those English language learners and

➚ Excel 2016 Essential Training

also those learning other languages.

➚ Learning Skype for Business

➚ MICROSOFT PHOTOS APP IN WINDOWS 10:

➚ Power BI Essential Training

Great new features for editing videos, and also

➚ Time Management Fundamentals

more options for adding themes, music and text –

➚ Having Difficult Conversations

and even 3D effects!

➚ Building Resilience ➚ Management Tips Weekly

Find out more about these three tools in Episode 2 of the T4L Show here.

You’ll find the Lynda.com tab under the Learning Tools tab in your new portal. Watch our interview with Jan Bayliss from Lynda.com here.

Apple update ➚ CODE CLUB: Have you been thinking about

What’s new at Google ➚ GOOGLE CLASSROOM: If you’re using Google Classroom, you’ll love the new autograding feature which will save you loads of time! Add to that the new locked quizzes features – using a locked-down Chromebook, you can make a quiz full-screen so that students can’t access anything else while they’re in quiz mode. Combined with the auto grading feature,

starting a code club? Find everything you need to start one using Swift Playgrounds in your school here. ➚ CLASSROOM APP ON MAC AND IPAD: The Classroom app is a versatile teaching assistant that puts you in charge of every iPad in your classroom, so you can keep your students on track. It allows you to view students’ screens, lock students in one particular app, and lock their iPads or Macs when you need to give instructions. Find out more here.

this becomes a powerful time-saving tool.

➚ APPLE TEACHER: Apple Teacher is a free

Find out more about what’s new at Google in

professional learning program designed to support

Episode 2 of the T4L Show here.

Did you print this?

Scan the QR code to access all the links to find out more or visit https://t4l.schools.nsw.gov.au

and celebrate educators using Apple products for teaching and learning. As an educator, you can build skills on iPad and Mac that directly apply to activities with your students, earn recognition for the new things you learn and be rewarded for the work you do everyday.

6