Feds 'playing catch-up' on use of ChatGPT in schools [AAP]

Australia is "playing catch-up" on the use of a popular chatbot in the education system, federal officials have conceded at a federal inquiry.

<https://educationhq.com/news/australia-playing-catch-up-on-use-of-chatgpt-in-schools-155525/> [subscription]

Don’t be seduced by ChatGPT, educators warn: Lack of school policies is damaging education, inquiry hears.

Educational technology (EdTech) solutions risk being marginalised by ChatGPT and other generative AI tools, an inquiry has heard, as teachers and students use it to create lesson plans and write assignments indistinguishable from those written by humans.

<https://ia.acs.org.au/article/2023/don-t-be-seduced-by-chatgpt--educators-warn.html>

Girls take up the STEM challenge in ACER game design competition

Girls have brought their A-game to the Australian STEM Video Game Challenge this year, making up 73% of the winners, despite being only 33% of the total entrants.

<https://www.acer.org/au/discover/article/girls-take-up-the-stem-challenge-in-acer-game-design-competition>

How teachers can help young people evaluate online content in a post-truth world

Half of Year 8 students trust adults more than the internet for information, while about a third would accept content as true if it was repeated by multiple online sources, new research shows.

<https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/how-teachers-can-help-young-people-evaluate-online-content-in-a-posttruth-world/283235>

Podcast - Squiz Kids: Ministers: The Hon Jason Clare MP: SUBJECTS: Star Wars; homework; teacher workforce; NAPLAN; the power of education

BRYCE CORBETT: Hello, and welcome to this very special edition of the Squiz Kids Q&A, the podcast where you, the kids of Australia, get to ask the questions. I'm Bryce Corbett, and joining us today in the Squiz Kids Q&A hot seat is none other than the Federal Education Minister himself, Jason Clare. Now, as the Minister in the Federal Government responsible for schools and education right around the country, it's not a stretch to say that more than any other politician in Australia, this man has a big influence over your day to day lives. So let's plonk him in the hot seat and get him to answer the questions that you've sent in. Minister, welcome to Squiz Kids.

<https://ministers.education.gov.au/clare/podcast-squiz-kids>

Cyber security licence could be first line of defence for Aussie kids [subscription]

Cyber safety is one of the most prevalent and pressing of concerns in society and it has never been more important that we be well informed and prepared for the exciting, yet perilously dangerous, cyber world.

<https://educationhq.com/news/cyber-security-licence-could-be-first-line-of-defence-for-aussie-kids-155130/>

Ideas and innovation at STEM showcase

Illawarra and Shoalhaven schools took part in a STEM showcase to promote their Young ICT Explorer projects.

<https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/ideas-and-innovation-at-stem-showcase>

School Improvement Episode 47: Karonga School’s immersive classroom

Our guest for today’s School Improvement episode is Ruth Rogers, Principal of Karonga School in New South Wales. Ruth joins us today to talk about her school’s immersive classroom, and how it allows students – all of whom have an intellectual disability – to access a world beyond the classroom and practice skills that they can take with them when they are out in the community.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/school-improvement-episode-47-karonga-schools-immersive-classroom>

UNESCO: Governments must quickly regulate Generative AI in schools

As pupils in part of the world return to school after the summer break, UNESCO is calling on governments to implement appropriate regulations and teacher training, to ensure a human-centred approach to using Generative AI in education. To this end, UNESCO publishes the first-ever global Guidance on Generative AI in Education and Research, designed to address the disruptions caused by Generative AI technologies.

<https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-governments-must-quickly-regulate-generative-ai-schools>

The AI Potential for Education

One of the great 80s songs reminds us that education is an essential component to empowerment: “I believe children are the future, teach them well and let them lead the way.”

<https://edublog.microsoft.com/en-au/2023/09/the-ai-potential-for-education/

Time for teachers to get moving on ChatGPT

Students across the globe have been experimenting with ChatGPT, the artificial-intelligence-driven program, over the past several months. Many educators, however, remain mired in concerns about all of its potential impacts on teaching and learning.

<https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/09/time-for-teachers-to-get-moving-on-chatgpt/>

6 Things Teachers Do That AI Just Can't

Education Week asked educators and AI experts which teacher tasks are very unlikely to be replaced with AI tools.

<https://www.edweek.org/technology/6-things-teachers-do-that-ai-just-cant/2023/09>

Back to school in a changing world

Dear Teachers, In many parts of the world, students will be returning to the classroom this week. Educators will be busy putting finishing touches on the curriculum and organising scheduling. Parents and caregivers will be focused on packing lunches, dropping anxious and excited students off and trying to figure out how to juggle work, caregiving and responsibilities around schooling. It’s worth taking a step back to consider the global context in which these students are learning.

<https://oecdedutoday.com/back-to-school-in-a-changing-world/>

Fueling student futures with the power of literacy

September 8th is International Literacy Day, a day designated by UNESCO to showcase the far-reaching importance of literacy in our lives. It is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate the full power, purpose, and potential that literacy offers—in the classroom, in the library, and in the world.

<https://educationblog.microsoft.com/en-us/2023/08/fueling-student-futures-with-the-power-of-literacy>

Microsoft’s 2023-2024 MIE Experts and Showcase Schools: Fostering a culture of innovation

As we embark on the 2023-2024 year, it is with great excitement and anticipation that we extend a huge welcome to Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts and Showcase Schools. These exceptional educators and institutions are at the forefront of educational transformation, harnessing the power of technology to enhance learning experiences and inspire the next generation of learners.

<https://educationblog.microsoft.com/en-us/2023/09/microsofts-2023-2024-mie-experts-and-showcase-schools-fostering-a-culture-of-innovation>

Expand students' information literacy skills: A guide to Search Progress for educators

Search Progress, a new Learning Accelerator, is intentionally built alongside Search Coach to help students gain lifelong information literacy skills within a structured environment. Search Progress empowers you to create, customize, and assign research projects. It offers simple and authentic ways to find, curate, and reflect on information discovered throughout the research process. Search Progress offers many benefits for both educators and students:

<https://educationblog.microsoft.com/en-us/2023/08/expand-students-information-literacy-skills-a-guide-to-search-progress-for-educators>

Gear up for the school year with Microsoft’s AI-powered solutions

The school year has begun and we’re here to help! Microsoft offers a range of teaching, learning, and work solutions with built-in AI that can help you and your students thrive this year. We are committed to designing, developing, and deploying responsible AI solutions that are fair, reliable, secure, inclusive, and transparent to support educational settings.

<https://educationblog.microsoft.com/en-us/2023/09/gear-up-for-the-school-year-with-microsofts-ai-powered-solutions>