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“Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important. “ – Bill Gates Many teachers and schools are worried by the amount of time students are spending using technology for socialising or entertainment rather than for school work. And with good reason.Read more

Is banning phones in schools teaching our students to form good, life long habits? Phones are here for the long term, they’re not a fad, and taking them away from our students is not the answer if we are all about teaching them to be self reliant, self motivated, disciplined and independent.After all, the goalRead more

edQuire can help you manage the many components of #PBL like #collaboration, #inquiry, critical and creative thinking, self-directed learning, and #technology integration. PBL prompts students to collaborate, and it creates learning opportunities where students can really show their strengths. Most PBL is carried out through tasks that require a great usage of #computers and #Internet.Read more

Australia’s Mitchell Institute has outlined 12 ways to be a more #successful #learner. These include: – Creativity – Empathy – Openness to experience – Social Competencies – Humility – Tolerance of Diverse Opinions – Attentiveness – Metacognitive strategies – Perseverance – Trust – Engaging productively in society …and my favourite – Self-perception Knowing how youRead more

The Chronicle of Higher Education (chronicle.com) has come up with 7 fundamental conditions that must exist if people are to learn.They are:1. Awareness 2. Interest 3. Motivation 4. Relevance 5. Engagement 6. Reinforcement 7. SupportProviding all 7 conditions for learning can be tough. After all, what motivates one doesn’t motivate all. What interests Jim mayRead more

“Kids are living in the same world we live in. The world where grownups check their phones more than 50 times a day. Screens are a part of children’s lives, and if we pretend that they aren’t, or if we get overwhelmed by our fear, kids are never going to learn how and why toRead more

Following on from our Top 10 Digital Resource for Primary Schools is our Top 10 Digital Resources for Secondary Schools.With SO many to choose from, it’s nice to have some clarification on what others have found useful, so here you are!#10 – Newsela – (free) solving the problem of reading engagement holistically for students, teachers,Read more

We’ve done our homework, so you don’t have to. We’ve researched the net, we’ve spoken with teachers, we’ve looked at the data we’ve collected from schools to bring you a TOP 10 list of digital resources being used in Primary Schools across Australia. (NB – some are free, but not all!) #10 – LEGO EducationRead more

Over the course of your teaching career, the amount of resources you have personally spent money on would be astounding. You think about it – the odd story book here and there, craft ideas books, research tasks workbooks, stamps, stickers, cardboard, glitter paint, whiteboard markers, board games, bunting, bean bags, pillows – things that makeRead more

Students benefit greatly from challenging opportunities like project-based learning. Recent studies show that almost all students are capable of brain growth and change, when they are exposed to engaging learning experiences. Using PBL can invigorate the learning environment, empowering and engaging students as they explore authentic, real-world challenges. In recent years, PBL has become anRead more