A collection of the most useful, tactical, and actionable information educators are using to help grow Australia’s education to the frontline of the world. 1% at a time.
If you missed the first or second or third edition of this newsletter, this is where the K2AV team does the ground work to find the most practical information that educators can apply, ponder, and discuss to move the needle 1% further. So here they are:
Most liked education article : NAPLAN not good enough for us
The Making of a Teacher : Why Naplan is Not Good Enough For Us. A masterfully composed piece, rightly so coming from Sydney’s Richard Gill one of Australia’s most admired conductors and music educators (150K+ views on his Ted Talk). Richard lays out the reasons why NAPLAN testing, even though implemented with the greatest of intentions to improve results, may be doing just the opposite. This quote sums it up:
“It seems to me we go to school for two reasons and two reasons only: to learn how to learn together, and to learn how to think for ourselves. NAPLAN encourages neither of those precepts…Literacy and numeracy are NOT disciplines or subjects. They are states or conditions at which one arrives as a result of being well educated.”
Most polarising Facebook video and article
Young school students in Norway are part of this social experiment video showcasing the pay gap and financial inequality between genders. And this article by John David Blake, head of education at Policy Exchange argues that teachers should be provided scripted lessons and external resources and be stopped from designing their own lessons.
A 5 week course to become a STEM expert
Simplifying the ever-increasing complex landscape of STEM based learning. The National STEM Learning Centre run by world-class educators in UK have developed three online STEM teaching programs to provide high quality support to educators around the world. This 5-week FREE course Differentiating for Learning in STEM Teaching is the recommended starting point, with in-class footage to learn all about customised teaching in relation to STEM. Additionally – here’s 5 things parents can also do.
What educators are absolutely loving
These comics drawn by a primary school teacher Colm Cuffe in Ireland capturing the humour in the life of a teacher. Last year this teacher decided to merge his two passions of teaching and cartooning – posting regularly on Facebook too.
Simplest time investment for the greatest return
Google search tricks. A tool educators and students already use all day, however a tool that barely anyone has invested the time to learn, or understand its capability. Here are 20 tips to unleash the potential of Google search. Guaranteed most of you didn’t even know this was possible.
Some inspiration for the rest of the week
We like honest no-holds-barred feedback. As the largest classroom technology provider to education in WA, our goal has been to help grow education in Australia to the frontline of the world. This newsletter, our podcast, and our book has been our means of sharing information that can help do that. Let us know what we could/should do better.
