National Science Week grants for primary and secondary schools: apply now

The Australian Science Teachers Assocation (ASTA) has been provided $980,000 to deliver National Science Week grants and teaching resources over the next few years. Apply now for 2023 funding.

<https://www.industry.gov.au/news/national-science-week-grants-primary-and-secondary-schools-apply-now>

Why we should care about online education

Online education is considered by many in developed nations as a poor substitute for face-to-face teaching and learning, and is only something to be reverted to when there’s simply no other option.

<https://lens.monash.edu/@education/2023/02/16/1385477/why-we-should-care-about-online-education>

Should we concern about the use of ChatGPT by our students?

One artificial tool called ChatGPT is being used more by students since it launched in November 2022. At least five Australian states have banned the use of tools like ChatGPT in public schools to limit the potential for cheating and plagiarism. What do we know exactlt about ChatGPT?

<https://www.sbs.com.au/language/indonesian/en/podcast-episode/should-we-concern-about-the-use-of-chatgpt-by-our-students/y8c1h7236>

AI expert deep dives into ChatGPT in webinar

In an exciting new webinar Redesigning Assessment for an Ever-Changing World, hosted by United Kingdom-based PebblePad, leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert Dr Stefan Popenici of Charles Darwin University (CDU) discusses the drawbacks and advantages of using ChatGPT in education.

<https://www.educationmattersmag.com.au/ai-expert-deep-dives-into-chatgpt-in-webinar/>

The secret weapon of every teacher: How ChatGPT can help you keep up

Ask teachers what the one thing they want more of from their school is, and I promise you the answer is not "more jeans days passes".

<https://educationhq.com/news/the-secret-weapon-of-every-teacher-how-chatgpt-can-help-you-keep-up-143198/>

ChatGPT, AI, and the Future of Education

ChatGPT has caught everyone’s imagination. Here, we catch up with founder of Writer’s Toolbox, Dr Ian Hunter. An award-winning academic turned innovator, Dr Hunter is no stranger to the world of AI computing. He holds a patent in AI technology and now runs one of the world’s fastest-growing education platforms.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/chatgpt-ai-and-the-future-of-education>

Podcast Special: ChatGPT and the future of learning

Why is everyone talking about ChatGPT? In today’s podcast special, we speak with several education experts to hear their thoughts on the potential impact of ChatGPT on teaching and learning – from assessment, to equity in education, and policy decisions. ChatGPT will also be joining us as a guest.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/podcast-special-chatgpt-and-the-future-of-learning>

ChatGPT: Education assessment, equity and policy

There is much talk about the impact that artificial intelligence-powered chatbots like ChatGPT will have on students, teachers and traditional classroom learning. But what is ChatGPT exactly? And how will it affect the way we approach assessment, issues of equity, and policy decisions in the future? In today’s article, we speak to 3 experts to find out more.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/chatgpt-education-assessment-equity-and-policy>

Paving the way for future leaders in STEM

Loreto College Marryatville, a leading independent girls’ school in South Australia, is set to become the first Australian girls’ school to build an immersive edutech lab when they establish an innovative Lumination Learning Lab later this year.

<https://www.educationmattersmag.com.au/loreto-college-lumination-lab/>

School attendance has plummeted. And it’s not just because of COVID

More than 60 per cent of NSW public high school students missed at least four weeks of class in 2022, the worst attendance level on record. While sick days due to COVID and flu cases were behind the falling attendance levels, some in the education sector say the latest figures are part of a bigger trend of student disengagement and schools are now offering late starting times for students who spend much of the night gaming as a short-term measure to re-engage them.

<https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/school-attendance-has-plummeted-and-it-s-not-just-because-of-covid-20230119-p5cdyl.html>

STEM opportunities for young women

STRENGTHENING its commitment to providing a diverse workforce and the next generation of innovators, Ampcontrol has announced its sponsorship of Hunter-based industry schools outreach program HunterWiSE.

<https://www.newsofthearea.com.au/stem-opportunities-for-young-women>

Her future is digital

For years, we’ve argued that technology can be a force for women’s empowerment around the world. But on this International Women’s Day, while we celebrate digital’s transformative power, we also recognize the need to address the barriers that stand in the way. This is why the World Bank is prioritizing three key accelerators for women’s digital inclusion: online safety, inclusive digital public infrastructure, and digital skills.

<https://blogs.worldbank.org/digital-development/her-future-digital>

Bridging the gender gaps in GovTech

This International Women’s Day, the UN Commission on the Status of Women will spotlight its main objective—which is, Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. On the occasion, this blog examines gender gaps in GovTech and the opportunities that exist to bridge these gaps in the public sector.

<https://blogs.worldbank.org/governance/bridging-gender-gaps-govtech>

States Should Update Digital Literacy Programs to Include AI Literacy

K–12 schools teach digital literacy because students need to know how to use computers and the Internet to be successful in the digital economy. But they need to update their curriculum to account for the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI).

<https://datainnovation.org/2023/03/states-should-update-digital-literacy-programs-to-include-ai-literacy/>

How AI and remote learning platforms are transforming education in the Middle East

Technological advancements are transforming the way young people in the Middle East are taught as traditional educational systems adapt to new tools, techniques and teaching arrangements.

<https://www.arabnews.com/node/2268721/middle-east>

Digital security basics to make 2023 disruption free

This article explores the connection between digital security, online safety and privacy. Each component plays an important role as part of a robust digital security setup for schools and kura. We’ll be continuing the conversation about digital security in coming editions of Education Gazette, with more cyber security and privacy advice. Additionally, stay tuned for the upcoming launch of the digital strategy, ConnectedAko: Digital and Data for Learning, which will roll out with a series of powerful stories of students and educators embracing and thriving in the digital world.

<https://gazette.education.govt.nz/articles/digital-security-basics-to-make-2023-disruption-free/>

N4L appoints five new partners for schools’ Wi-Fi upgrades

Crown-owned technology company The Network for Learning (N4L) has struck new partnerships with five IT companies.

<https://www.reseller.co.nz/article/706161/n4l-appoints-five-new-partners-schools-wi-fi-upgrades/>

Helping more students improve their cyber security skills and online safety

Following the successful launch at the end of last year, Grok Academy will be re-launching Cyber Comp this month to enable students who would have previously been focusing on exams to participate and test their cyber skills.

<https://www.n4l.co.nz/helping-more-students-improve-their-cyber-security-skills-and-online-safety/>

Is ChatGPT the future of learning? Educators, students discuss how schools can adapt to potential of AI-driven world

At an assembly last week, a pastor at a secondary school in Tai Po found an innovative way to engage the 200 students sitting in the hall – he asked a chatbot to share its perspective on being a student in Hong Kong.

<https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/hong-kong/article/3213126/chatgpt-future-learning-educators-students-discuss-how-schools-can-adapt-potential-ai-driven-world>

High School Teacher Confesses to Using ChatGPT for Work

In an ironic twist on an growing trend, a high school teacher has admitted to using OpenAI's ChatGPT to help her create lesson plans.

<https://futurism.com/the-byte/high-school-teacher-uses-chatgpt>

Cyberattacks Rise Sharply Against Governments and Schools

According to a recent report, the number of attacks on the government sector saw a massive upswing in the second half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic led to rapid digitization in government organizations, including a significant increase in remote systems access. This expanded the attack surface and further enabled malicious actors to use cyber warfare as a means to target other nations.

<https://securityintelligence.com/news/cyberattacks-rise-sharply-against-governments-schools/>

The Good and Bad of ChatGPT in Schools

The worst part of going to school is all the homework. Nothing strikes dread in a student’s heart quite like facing down a deadline on a seven-page essay. That’s why some of them may find it tempting to turn those hours of work into a task that can be breezed through in a matter of seconds by an AI-powered app. Generative tools like ChatGPT have wormed their way into the school system, causing panic among teachers and administrators. While some schools have banned the tech outright, others are embracing it as a tool to teach students how to tell the difference between reality and science fiction.

<https://www.wired.com/story/gadget-lab-podcast-589/>

Measuring Reading Comprehension Is Hard. Can AI and Adaptive Tools Help?

Artificial intelligence might be able to drive cars. But can it help kids comprehend what they read?

<https://www.edweek.org/technology/measuring-reading-comprehension-is-hard-can-ai-and-adaptive-tools-help/2023/03>

Is the AI genie out of the bottle in education?

With the startlingly rapid pace of development in Artificial Intelligence in the last few months it’s easy to imagine that education will be left behind. In order to deal with the implications of these technologies, we need to strike a balance between banning and uncritical adoption.

<https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/opinion-is-the-ai-genie-out-of-the-bottle-in-education/282166>

Why teachers love Surface for the classroom

In today’s digital, physical, blended, and hybrid classrooms, teachers want new ways to help every student achieve more. Providing them with natural ways to work can help. Touchscreens support intuitive interactions for every student and digital inking offers the versatility to sketch ideas, take notes, or do math equations. The Surface family of devices offer rich, responsive interactions like these to help drive student success.

<https://edublog.microsoft.com/en-au/2023/02/why-teachers-love-surface-for-the-classroom/>