CONTENT

Announcements: from the Desk of the President 

Webinars and workshops: remaining in 2021

Girls' Tech Day: month long program from AWS

Teaching Culture Podcast: for new and pre-service teachers

STEM kits lending library: corrected link to expression of interest

VCE Applied Computing Teachers Conference: Thank you to all involved

Teaching position: Secondary Information Technology (Tyabb)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

From the desk of DLTV President Ben Gallagher

Today I’d like to focus on DLTV 2022.

As we come to the end of a long year, it is inevitable that teachers and leaders will be starting to think about what next year might look like. We at DLTV are doing the same, and we are excited by the opportunities that 2022 will present for us to reconnect in and around our school communities. As an organisation, we have also been about teachers, schools and communities, and we look forward to getting back out into hustle and bustle supporting our members.

If you’re planning a curriculum day or professional learning session for your staff keep us in mind. We are here to facilitate workshops focusing on empowering learning and teaching of the Digital Technologies curriculum, and building capacity in Digital Literacies. We can also provide specialised expert speakers and consultants to schools in these two important areas of focus.

In 2022 we’re likely to see the impact of the ACARA review and the importance of Digital Technologies and Digital Literacies and how these impact on teachers, students and even parents. DLTV can help you unpack how these changes to our curriculum will impact on your school community.

Our major starting point in 2022 in the area of professional learning is our virtual conference DigiCon February 21st to 24th 4pm to 6pm each afternoon. Planning is well underway.

Pricing and bookings will be available soon, so build something into your budgets. For one price you’ll be able to attend as much or as little as you like.

Membership of DLTV is another way you can stretch your professional learning budget as we always apply considerable discounts to all our events for both our individual and school memberships, including DigiCon.

Our membership drive is exceeding expectations, and we’re tracking much better than last year. Hopefully by now you’ve had an email about our prize draw and also information about our two great offers Elevate and Gifting.

Contact us if you need more information at office@dltv.vic.edu.au

Finally, like many of you I find it hard to believe that were almost drawing towards the end of the year, and what a year it’s been. I firmly believe that parents and students now have a better understanding of the work we do as educators and appreciate your efforts like never before.

As always reach out if we can support you in any way.

Cheers, Ben

UPCOMING WEBINARS AND WORKSHOPS

Maintaining a culture of tech in your school

18 Nov 2021, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Cost: free

Haven't had a chance to see our recent panel discussion yet?

18 November is a screening of a pre-recorded discussion about the challenges of keeping a culture of ICT use going in a school, then DLTV staff will host an open chat for those attending to share their own experiences and challenges in their own schools.

Moderated by Daryl English, the recorded discussion includes Debra Hicks (Digital Learning Services at the Department of Education and Training Victoria), Steve Brophy (Ivanhoe Grammar School), David Williams (Catholic Education Diocese of Sandhurst) and Catherine Newington (Australian Computing Society).

Object-oriented programming: Getting started for Australian teachers

1 Dec 2021 + 8 Dec 2021, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Cost: free

Taking place across two Wednesday afternoons, this online workshop is a guided delivery of the content in DLTV's virtual module set: Object-oriented Programming: Getting started for Australian teachers, by the developers of that resource.

Especially relevant for teachers of DigiTech 9-10 and VCE, discover what Object-oriented Programming is and why programmers use it through a sequence of activities.

Don’t forget DigiCon is virtual in 2022, February 21st to 24th from 4pm to 6pm each afternoon.

Pricing and bookings available soon. For one reasonable price you’ll be able to attend as little or as much as you like.

Keep an eye on our website and next newsletters for more information.

Girls' Tech Day: month long program

AWS Girls’ Tech Day runs from November 13 – December 13, a fun-filled tech program where you can explore coding, robotics, cloud computing, problem solving, and more!

You can download the PDF flyer here and the Q&A PDF here.

This virtual event will take you on your very own space mission and you'll experience an all-star lineup of speakers, hands-on learning sessions, and fun activities.

Our mission is to inspire and motivate girls and young women, ages 8-24, to develop and pursue their interests in technology.

Our program is free of charge to participants for a period of 30 days. It also supports access for educators and youth leaders who want to participate with their classes, girls’ tech groups, and clubs.

To give you a sneak peek into this year program, AWS Girls’ Tech Day 2021 includes:

• Learn about coding through interactive sessions
• Connect with our all-star lineup of women in tech and girls in STEAM
• Discover how algorithms, machine learning, and cloud computing power Amazon’s fulfillment process
• Get your questions answered by AWS Recruiters
• Register for the Launch Prize Space Competition to work on a student project with NASA
• Dance with DJ Les, play trivia games, launch postcards into space, and much more

The workshop activities are designed so that each participant can go at their own pace, and participate on-demand as many times as they like between November 13 – December 13.

PODCAST: for new and pre-service teachers

From podcaster Matthew Bliss:

As teachers educating the next generation, we often find ourselves reassuring students that their career path will be unique and variable. My journey through teaching is as unique as it is surprising, with a strong desire to give back to the teaching community through a podcast.

While completing my Masters of Teaching, I could spot the gaps in the curriculum for teachers. There was a lack of holistic, pragmatic learning (unless a pre-service teacher is fortunate with their tutors) and many presumed areas of knowledge, such as technological acumen and cultural navigation. I helped my fellow PSTs where I could but had no platform to support them effectively and I wanted to give back to the teaching community.

Thus, the Teaching Culture Cast podcast was born. I started the podcast this year (2021) as a resource for potential new teachers, pre-service teachers undertaking study and current teachers.

We hear stories about pedagogical practices and teaching methodologies, but mostly I ask my guests about the subjects not covered in the teacher training: advice to get through a hard practicum, how to navigate the culture of a school, the supervisor’s perspective and what a graduate teacher’s first year actually looks like.

As the host I ensure the anonymity of my guests for their privacy, and that of their students and schools. The episodes are conversational in tone, like having a coffee with your networking group, and I release episodes with my guests every fortnight.

This is my contribution to the teaching community; my desire to give back to a profession that has empowered and enriched my career and unlocked my passion for teaching and learning.

The Teaching Culture Cast can be found wherever you get your podcasts. I would love to collaborate with the DLTV community, so if you would like to be a guest or send your feedback, please get in touch at teachingculturecast@gmail.com.

PAKRONICS STEM LENDING LIBRARY:

Open for 2022 to DLTV members schools

DLTV placed the incorrect link to register interest for the Pakronics STEM Lending Library in last fortnight's newsletter. The correct link is now available via the button below.

VCE TEACHERS' CONFERENCE:
Thank you to all involved

Another VCE Applied Computing Teachers' Conference has been and gone. DLTV wishes to thank all involved, including presenters, attendees, staff and our VCE subcommittee.

This year's online event included 12 sessions across the day, including core sessions led by teachers, and topical sessions from cyber security to data ethics.

Recordings of the topical sessions are now available on DLTV's YouTube channel starting from Video 6 in this playlist.

TEACHING POSITION: Secondary Teacher Information Technology

Applications are invited for the position of Teacher of Secondary Information Technology at Flinders Christian College, Tyabb Campus, from experienced and innovative teachers with a strong commitment to Christian education. The ability to teach with the use of digital technologies would be highly regarded.