This is where the K2AV team does the ground work to find practical information that educators can apply, ponder, and discuss to move the needle 1% further . So here it is:

A massive deal that we are VERY proud to have negotiated for you

The most requested 65″ Interactive Screen – Installed for Only $3,999 plus GST ($1,850 OFF). 35 only available as of 30th November 2018.

Based on our recent survey at the WAECSSA & APPA conferences to determine the “most wanted product by WA schools” – a 65″ Promethean interactive screen ranked number 1. So here’s what we negotiated for you – instead of $5,845 plus GST for a fully installed top-of-the-range Promethean interactive screen, you pay $1,850 less at $3,999 plus GST each. Link to the offer details, or click here to reply and secure the deal directly. There are only 35 on offer by the supplier, and with 2,500+ people that will see this – if you procrastinate you’ll likely miss out.

Most shared education article

21 Engaging End of Year Classroom Activities.
Our favourite from the list, especially for this time of year – The Christmas Tree challenge – where students try creating a standing Christmas tree using pipe cleaners.

Ideas educators are using to revive the Secret Santa tradition

With the visible decline in the Secret Santa tradition in WA schools over the past few years – educators are exploring Secret Santa gift ideas to end the year with strong community…and add a bit of fun. Here are 10 School-Based Secret Santa Gift Suggestions that will help.

Most shared education video on Facebook

How to stop bullying.

Perth schools and teachers excited to be named top in WA

Winners of WA’s Education Awards 2018 have been announced. And happy to see both our neighbours (and clients) to have taken out the top prizes.

“Great teachers and great school staff can really change lives,” Education Minister Sue Ellery reaffirmed at the awards breakfast.

P.S. Just in case you skimmed this newsletter

Relinking the offer we mentioned before. It is unlikely we’ll be able to get our suppliers to put up an offer like this anytime soon – so for your benefit here it is again. The most requested product by WA schools at both recent conferences – THE ActivPanel V6 65″ Interactive Screen – currently installed for $3,999 plus GST ($1,850 OFF). Hope it helps activate another classroom for the new year!

This is where the K2AV team does the ground work to find practical information that educators can apply, ponder, and discuss to move the needle 1% further . So here it is:

A Perth school’s documentary making a national impact

Don’t Stop The Music is a new ABC documentary with Guy Sebastian, the first Australian Idol winner and a regular X-Factor judge. He plays the role of musical mentor for Year 4 Challis Community Primary School students on their journey to musical literacy. Cameras follow the students as they learn from the experts. The ultimate aim of this three-part documentary series is to highlight the importance of music in a school’s curriculum and the impact it can have on students, their family, and also the entire community. Launches on ABC iview on November 11, the promotional trailer can be seen here.

Quote from Guy: “I was a singing teacher in numerous schools in Adelaide and I saw first-hand how music would light up a child’s face and lift them above all the things that weigh them down. Every child deserves that.”

A resource WA teachers are using to level up their interactive teaching

The Staffroom. An interactive teaching resources platform developed by us (K2 Audiovisual) where Western Australian teachers can go to ask for help in better using their interactive technology. Most schools are equipped with great interactive technology, however teachers don’t have the support to make great use of it. Now for the two most common teaching softwares – Smart Notebook and Promethean ActivInspire – teachers can book a free in-person training, or Q&A, session.

Most shared education infographic

Motivated by Carol Dweck’s influential book on Mindset, and further popularised by Angela Duckworth’s influential TED Talk on Grit, both which have had a transformative effect on education. The below infographic serves as a diagnostic tool, and a checklist, allowing teachers to correct course each time a student displays a behaviour that could strengthen his/her “fixed mindset.” As studies have shown, developing a growth mindset in students can be a pivotal factor in determining their future success.

This is where the K2AV team does the ground work to find practical information that educators can apply, ponder, and discuss to move the needle 1% further . So here it is:

Ex Perth school teacher’s achievement that educators are applauding

Ex school teacher from Perth features on Eminem’s new album. Donna Burke, an ex-high school teacher who grew up in Doubleview and now lives in Tokyo Japan, has had her vocals sampled on Eminem’s new album Kamikaze on a song titled Good Guy.
“I’m shocked and happy to think that Glassy Sky is being heard by..well Eminem for starters..it’s so fun and completely out of left field! I couldn’t make this up…!”

Advice teachers are giving to students transitioning to high school after this term

Don’t feel overwhelmed by the jump in school work, to avoid embarrassment – leave the “kid” items behind, and just be yourself, don’t panic, it isn’t the be-all and end-all. This is summarised from “My Year 7 Life” which is a docuseries following 16 Australians as they make their way through the first year of high-school.

Where teachers find movies, documentaries, and education related programming

Enhance TV. A collection of video resources linked to the Australian curriculum completely searchable by subject area, and age. Also free for 12 months for teachers.

Most shared education videos on Facebook

All inspiring and motivating this time around, putting you in the right mindset for Term 4!

1. Teaching Kids To Be Determined : A classroom practising loud affirmations geared towards developing resilience and toughness, as opposed to over-protection.
2. Linda Liukas- The poetry of programming : A talk on how educators need to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of education due to technological advancements – primarily coding.
3. Brené Brown – Daring Classrooms : A talk on the importance of vulnerability, courage, and taking uncomfortable steps that mean students are likely to fall.

Most commented education articles

The ones causing the most heated debates on the socials…

1. Teachers are NOT under-qualified and NOT under-educated: here’s what is really happening.
2. This school replaced detention with meditation and the results are phenomenal.
3. Frustrated with the “new way” of teaching.

A simple activity schools are implementing to get younger kids moving

Yoga For Kids. With sitting being branded as “the new smoking” – schools are placing great emphasis on minimising poor habits carrying over to the next generation. Particularly young kids who are born to move. As part of a school’s garden program – the below poster has been prepared to help run a garden yoga sequence.

This is where the K2AV team does the ground work to find practical information that educators can apply, ponder, and discuss to move the needle 1% further . So here it is:

Ex Perth school teacher’s achievement that educators are applauding

Ex school teacher from Perth features on Eminem’s new album. Donna Burke, an ex-high school teacher who grew up in Doubleview and now lives in Tokyo Japan, has had her vocals sampled on Eminem’s new album Kamikaze on a song titled Good Guy.
“I’m shocked and happy to think that Glassy Sky is being heard by..well Eminem for starters..it’s so fun and completely out of left field! I couldn’t make this up…!”

An online tool educators are using (while giving back to education!)

Giving Docs – creating a Last Will and Testament online. A critical, yet commonly ignored, task of estate planning which on average costs $500 of lawyer fees can now be done online in 10 minutes using this freebie. Even though the tool is legally binding for US states, once completed, the template can be printed and submitted to a local attorney to minimise billable charges. Importantly – distributions can be made to the causes you care about – such as education organisations.

Where teachers find movies, documentaries, and education related programming

Enhance TV. A collection of video resources linked to the Australian curriculum completely searchable by subject area, and age. Also free for 12 months for teachers.

Coding templates educators are using to run their own coding lessons

Below are two ready-to-go coding projects developed by local Perth educator Daniel Budd:

1. Create the Space Invaders game using Swift Playgrounds, and,
2. Map earthquake data on Swift Playgrounds

Exciting projects like this can serve as a foot in the door for students to develop an interest in coding, or alternatively maintain motivation through variety. There are further resources developed by Daniel to help with the coding curriculum – highly recommended is the iBook Swift Playgrounds in the Classroom as a step by step guide.

Most shared education articles

9yo refuses to stand because national anthem is for ‘white people of Australia’, and,
Heavily decorated classrooms disrupt attention and learning in young children.

P.S. Enjoy the upcoming term break, and if your school is still using Smartboards in the classrooms – here’s an offer you’ll find useful (or at least amusing!).

This is where the K2AV team does the ground work to find practical information that educators can apply, ponder, and discuss to move the needle 1% further . So here it is:

Most discussed (and debated) article by educators

The NAPLAN Results Are In. Here’s what you need to know. In summary,

1. The validity of the results and process has been questioned, with scathing criticism of the system by renowned US assessment authorities, however,
2. Primary school students continue to improve in reading, spelling, and grammar,
3. Yet, in writing the scores dipped to the lowest ever since the national tests were introduced a decade ago.

What educators have found really valuable

This is where the K2AV team does the ground work to find practical information that educators can apply, ponder, and discuss to move the needle 1% further . So here it is:

Topics educators are debating

1. Young people who can’t use the keyboard. With the prevalence of smartphones, an ever-increasing number of students are unfamiliar with the use of a desktop computer (or haven’t even seen one before), and hence don’t know how to use the keyboard. Educators are arguing the importance of training students on its use as it is necessary knowledge for their future job and others feel it is unnecessary.
2. Zero tolerance approach on bullying. Victorian opposition government plans to rollout a $15.3M four-point plan to tackle bullying by implementing a zero tolerance approach. This comes at a time when Brett Lewis principal of John Butler Primary School in Perth made an announcement to resign due to on-going violence because of his no-suspensions policy.

Most shared YouTube video by educators

Online resources on Australian Curriculum teachers are recommending

Article educators are finding really helpful

7 Meaningful Strategies to Increase Engagement in The Classroom. A few of the favourites:

1. Rock the First Five Minutes or FFM – use the first few minutes of class as a warm-up, provide a bit of breathing room before jumping right in,
2. Share Your Life – teachers are expected to put up a front, sometimes showcasing there is a human standing at the front of the classroom can work wonders, and,
3. The obvious one – Smiling. Smiling through difficult situations can make those situations less difficult, smiling is contagious and our brains mimic a smile without even realising it.

What educators are doing to tackle gaming addiction in class

In the article A Battle for Student’s Attention Against Fortnite – Chris Aviles provides an alternative approach by integrating a student’s interest in a game such as Fortnite into the lesson. “Instead of fighting the tide (sometimes) if you embrace it…you just get more out of your kids.” This could be a valuable approach to tackle other behaviour problems aside from just mobile addiction.

P.S. Someone we are a big fan of who has taken out precious time to help many educators in Perth, and also helped us many a time. Sarah Hill has set up her own edu consulting called Lumos Learning – to help schools handball the thinking around ways they could do things better onto her capable shoulders. It has our recommendation!

This is where the K2AV team does the ground work to find practical information that educators can apply, ponder, and discuss to move the needle 1% further . So here it is:

An event educators are getting year 10 – 12 students to attend

1. The Innovators’ Tea Party STEM Networking Event. 8 different speed-networking sessions allowing year 10-12 students to meet with 12 women working in a range of STEM fields. Students can ask questions one-on-one, and get to meet mentors passionate about their field. The aim is to empower more young women to pursue STEM based careers. Held on 11th and 18th August.

Most shared education article

STEM funding schools are applying for 

A talk (still!) impacting the way teacher’s teach

Joshua Foer’s deliberate practice model. In this 17 minute talk Joshua lays out a roadmap, a how-to, that students can follow to become exceptional at any skill they desire. Joshua isn’t just theorising, he put this into practice by going from a freelance journalist to the USA Memory Champion in under 12 months. He set a new record of memorising a deck of 52 cards in 1 minute and 40 seconds. Joshua did this with no prior experience, or skill in the area. His journey was documented in his New York Times Bestseller Moonwalking With Einstein.

WA school achievement that educators are proud of

Vasse Primary School’s world record for the largest number of students dressed up as Dr Seuss characters.

This is where the K2AV team does the ground work to find practical information that educators can apply, ponder, and discuss to move the needle 1% further . So here it is:

The one exercise educators are taking the time out for

1. Self Compassion exercise from the School of Life. Educators typically fall into the highly self-critical category, being tough as nails on themselves. And if exercises and practices to lessen the voices of self-flagellation are not practised, then it is extremely unlikely they can be taught. Teaching this practice, as we all know, is imperative for a fruitful life.

Classroom website builders educators recommend

1. Wix, and,
2. Weebly for education.

Most shared article on supporting young entrepreneurial types

Most shared education video on Facebook

Some schools have stopped grouping kids by age — and it’s making a big difference. Essentially the Montessori method of education – the premise being, the only reason students were grouped by age was for efficiency of “knowledge transfer”. Classrooms should allow students of different age to collaborate promoting opportunities for tutoring, modelling others, eliminating the “normal” for a particular age, and greater autonomy.

An event WA educators are excited about

Eddie Woo at Curtin University on 2nd August 2018 on engaging students with mathematics. Named “Australia’s most famous teacher” – with a YouTube channel boasting 300,000+ subscribers, a finalist for top 10 teachers in the world, and awarded Australia’s Local Hero 2018 by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

P.S. Here’s a link to one question we’re asked most often “Is a normal everyday TV good enough for my classroom display?” – the answer is “most likely not.” As 58% of students in an average classroom can’t read from a 70″ screen. Use the 4-6-8 method described here to calculate the size display you need.

This is where the K2AV team does the ground work to find practical information that educators can apply, ponder, and discuss to move the needle 1% further . So here it is:

Grants and competitions that educators are excited about  –

1. Western Power’s Circuit Breakers program which is a 10 week STEM program for Year 4 – 6 students where each successful school receives 2 x 3D printers and course material to help explore what it takes to provide electricity to the community. Schools can apply until June 22nd via Western Power’s website.
2. Promethean’s most creative video competition to win 1 of 15 interactive touch screens. The competition requires a short 5 minute video to be created and submitted before 4th September 2018 which showcases why your class and/or school would benefit from the grant of a Promethean interactive screen. As inspiration there is an example video of last year’s winner.
3. And one that just ended – the Australian Aeronautical Velocity Challenge designed to address the shortage of scientists and engineers in Australia. There is a $5,000 student prize pool and two junior (Year 7 – 9) and senior (Year 10 -12) divisions that compete to create a bottle rocket, propellor powered plane, and drone, and battle their creations against others. The national finals were held last week.

A complete list of competitions sorted by curriculum group is here.

Most shared education article –

How To Ensure Students Are Actively Engaged and Not Just Compliant. The article outlines 8 qualities to help measure engagement.

Safest interest browser to use at school –

The Brave Browser. Developed by the creator of the JavaScript programming language with the aim to block all ads, trackers, and other methods that browsers employ to violate a user’s privacy. Also claims to be the fastest browser and one with an ‘incognito’ mode that is actually private.

What’s making educators laugh: A museum trip with 60 school kids –

People can’t contain themselves with this dad’s live tweets of a museum trip.

Most shared Facebook videos around education –

Pitch 1 and Pitch 2 of “Pay Teachers The Same As Politicians” from the Gruen TV show. Pitch 2 seems to have taken the honours, however the segment has further fuelled a discussion around the topic of teacher pay again.

This is where the K2AV team does the ground work to find practical information that educators can apply, ponder, and discuss to move the needle 1% further . So here it is:

An app educators are experimenting with  –

Nearpod. Cross-platform (Apple, Android, etc.) and lets teachers create drag/drop interactive lessons, or use pre-existing lessons created by others. Then that lesson can be instantly shared across all student devices, facilitating real time feedback, and uncovering where each student is struggling or may require additional support. There’s a good case study on its use by a science teacher in San Jose.

Most shared Facebook video amongst educators –

12-year-old Chinese boy solves 3 Rubik’s Cubes while juggling them…And also breaks the Guinness World Record.

Practical tips on helping self-critical students –

How To Help Kids Who Are Too Hard On Themselves.

A valuable takeaway:

“In isolation, negative self-talk is natural and not cause for concern. But it can also be evidence of low self-esteem, a learning disability, anxiety, or depression…(A sign to look out for if) The negative self-talk is persistent and pervasive, it is not based in reality, eating and/or sleeping patterns have changed, (and) vague “I don’t feel well” statements in the absence of physical symptoms.”

Hotly debated topic amongst Perth schools –

Call for primary school ban on mobile phones. “Perth College, Scotch College, Helena College, Gilmore College and Ocean Reef Senior High School have all banned or heavily restricted the use of mobile phones during school hours.”

A free course teachers are excited about –

An online Noongar language and culture course by Curtin University. To help learn about the Noongar people of Western Australia who have been here for 45,000 years, their culture and their language. The course will teach a range of conversational Noongar words and phrases, spiritual and cultural beliefs, and key events that transformed the history of the Noongar people.

P.S. There may be a chance to win an interactive screen and/or projector — we’re working on a competition to celebrate 3,000+ subscribers, so keep an eye, ear, and nose out.