magazine.T4L Issue 19

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ISSUE 19 TERM 1 I 2022

Welcome Whatever this year brings, T4L is here for you. We’re all about helping you further develop the digital classroom skills you’ve built on in the last year! This issue is all about: making an impact with the tools you use every day boosting student engagement through technology exciting innovations that provide a window into the tools that will empower our students in the future exploring T4L Kids magazine – featuring classroom challenges you can tackle right now.

Mark Greentree Acting Executive Director, Digital Learning

Best wishes for Term 1.

Got 3 mins? Time to do a nano course!

Content source: LinkedIn Learning

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It only takes a minute to learn!

Why don’t you try a nano course that’s optimised for your phone?

LinkedIn Learning and NSW Education have a curated range of courses focusing on career development. Nano courses could suit you or your Stage 6 students. These bite-size courses could also be a great springboard into further learning.

Try course 1: 

Nano tips for a bold career with Akosua Boadi-Agyemang from Microsoft

Try course 2: 

Nano tips for using Excel with Miss Excel – Microsoft’s Kat Norton

Try course 3: 

Job interview nano tips with HR strategist Madeleine Mann

Please note: tools, devices, software, links and educational practices reviewed within this publication are not an indication of endorsement by the NSW DoE and cannot be used as such.

T4L Innovations Lab Q

What is the Innovations lab?

A

The lab is all about discovering how technology can positively impact the classroom and the experiences and outcomes of the students in NSW Public Schools. It’s about making sure we here at the NSW DoE are at the forefront of technical innovation, providing the latest and most impactful tools to teachers and students.

Q

Do you wear lab coats? What does a day look like?

Q

Favourite recent project?

A

There’s lots of tinkering, testing and checking –

A

Telepresence! We have almost finished piloting this game-changing robotic technology that

and sometimes, lab coats! Our team discovers,

empowers students who can’t attend school for

explores and trials technology tools and then

various reasons. It’s making a positive impact

tests them with the classroom in mind. We

on students’ lives – from social to academic.

assess them against comprehensive criteria to

See it in action.

determine what will make an impact and what will make a difference.

Q

What are some of the things that have come out of the lab?

A

Many of the tools, robots and digital technologies in the stem.T4L kits were first tested in the lab!

Learn more about booking a kit.

Q

What’s next?

A

The next stop is exploring accessibility tools and how technology can provide independence and equity. An exciting project... watch this space!

Q

Can I come and visit?

A

Absolutely! Each Tuesday afternoon you can virtually visit us in the lab during what we’re calling Office Hours. Bring us your questions and problems, and let’s see how technology might be able to help! Register now for the next Office Hours.

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Unpacked for your T4L Kids Context x T4L Kids magazine sets student goals around a design thinking process and an inquiry learning model.

x It can be used as an independent or guided resource and suits face-toface teaching and learning or a hybrid classroom model.

x Each issue comes complete with comprehensive teachers’ notes.

x While it’s focused on fun and inquiry for students, it supports the development of their technology skills with embedded curriculum-aligned challenges and activities.

Issue 8 – Connecting with Community The new issue of T4L Kids asks students to investigate their community and create a digital Acknowledgement of Country.

How many lessons does the magazine comprise?

If you are using the magazine as a classroom resource, the activities could form a sequence of lessons over a week, or even a term’s program of learning. You could

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use them in a project linked to HSIE, Indigenous culture, English, History, Geography and more.

What technology is required?

Students will need a device and their NSW DoE login.

Online and offline learning The activities in the magazine come with suggestions for both online and offline completion of tasks.

classroom Students will explore the role of an Acknowledgement of Country both offline and online and consider the larger question of exploring and understanding their local community.

The design thinking process guides students towards creating a digital Acknowledgement of Country that relates to their local Indigenous country, elders and culture.

Stages 2-3 Primary students will focus on drafting, writing and creating an Acknowledgement of Country. They will then work towards creating a digital version – video, animation, or an audio recording like a podcast.

Stages 4+ Secondary students will undertake this challenge but also explore the place of Acknowledgement of Country in a variety of contexts across curriculum areas.

Supporting your students with the tech

Apple Keynote

Not sure about the tech? Students will be guided through the following technology that is freely available across platforms. You can brush up here!

Google Jamboard

Adobe Creative Cloud Express

Microsoft PowerPoint

Content source: Adobe website

Share your students’ work with us We’d love to see what you create and feature it in an upcoming issue of T4L Kids!

Get in touch with us via email at t4linnovations@det.nsw.edu.au 5

Webcam on top Connected to a T4L Mini PC (it’s not just a TV) Touch it like a tablet

Main Learning Displays (MLDs)

Check out the resources on MLDs available here

Interactive panels on a classroom wall or portable trolley

(T+L) + MLD = engagement!

Take your class on a free virtual excursion with DART Learning Explore the pyramids with Google Arts and Culture Beam in an expert via Teams or Google Meet

Take your MLD to the next level Features on a regular computer take on new life on an MLD – improving collaboration and accessibility

◁ ◁

Inking – annotate and brainstorm class or group ideas, or just take notes!

Immersive Reader – concentrate on the text, empower accessibility and remove distractions

Become a pro and improve your practice

◁

Check out the fresh new videos and guides to using your MLD

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Are you considering an MLD for your school or classroom?

Consider your size and space; get out the measuring tape!

Add a webcam and Mini PC to get the most out of your MLD (please note: all MLDs delivered as part of the Rural Access Gap [RAG] program come with a Mini PC and webcam as standard) Standard MLDs are available on EdBuy for all schools to purchase. They come with warranties and are supported by T4L and EDConnect. You could consider updating your standard Logitech C930 purchase to RAG MLD specifications by adding a Logitech Brio or MeetUp WebCam.

New

Save time/boost engagement

Google Meet is here T4L tips Discover the permanent link directly in Google Classroom to virtually connect with your class in seconds!

Simply click ‘Generate link’ in your Google Classroom

Decide if you want it always visible to students (using the toggle) and select ‘Save’

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Google Meet is here for students and teachers to join

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Seamless integration with schools using Google Classroom

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Boost productivity and engagement with this tool – why not use it as a window to the world and teleport an expert into your classroom?



Save time setting up parent meetings or staff catchups – add Google Meet directly from Google Calendar

Content source: Google Meet

Learn more Have you seen the resource kit?

Student videos/teacher instruction

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New

Develop future-focused skills/spark creativity

Adobe Spark is now called Creative Cloud Express

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Easy-to-use interface

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Students can tell stories and share their learning in engaging ways

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Boosts visual literacy across the curriculum

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Builds future-focused design and communication skills

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Browser-based across any device + Chrome + iPad

T4L tips Check out the templates and ’spark’ creativity (geddit?)

Try the resize feature to get students creating for mobiles and smartphones

Content source: Adobe website

Ready to log in?

1. Head to - creativecloud.adobe.com

Discover our Adobe resources

2. Sign in with your email

Get to know Adobe Creative Cloud Express

3. Click on ‘Company or School Account’

Bookmark our events page for upcoming live webinars

4. Enter your DoE credentials 5. Click the ‘+’ to get creating!

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Learn more

New

Develop visual literacy skills/create multimodal texts

Create a video with Canva T4L tips Check out the library of stock video, images and templates that are all available for education purposes Click ‘Video’, ‘upload’ and ‘record yourself’ directly with Canva

Export as an MP4 or GIF or share a link

Try dragging audio directly into your video stream to enhance your video

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Simple and easy video creation without high-end software

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Take your poster or worksheet to the next level and create a video

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Create multimodal texts such as animations and videos

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Accessible to students across all stages

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The screen-share function allows you to create flipped lessons in minutes

Content source: Canva website

Learn more Check out our Canva for Education resources (head to our resources page to find out if Canva’s right for you) Sign up for your educator account – from here you can share designs with students Become a student of the Canva Design School (YouTube only –please consider this if sharing with students) 9