# data[].attributes.headline
ESSI Money Game - students compete nationally for cash prizes!

# data[].attributes.subject
ESSI Money Game - students compete nationally for cash prizes!

# data[].attributes.body
I found this fantastic online resource for teaching financial literacy. It's already perfectly mapped to Australian Curriculum. Content is laid out logically, quizzes are online, results feedback immediately to both teacher and student, students compete in the Money Game, so the buy-in highly engaging. Easy planning for a finance unit. I'm using it fairly basically for Year 8 this year, but it will be even better when this content is revisited in Years 9 and 10, at a deeper level. I used this online program to plan an problem-based, authentic, real-life learning unit, for Year 8 Financial Literacy unit, for my next praxis. Students had to choose a fundraising goal (their problem) - usually travel expenses for an upcoming sporting competition - and strategise how they would achieve their goals, in a set time frame.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Player Guide: Hints, tips and how to play ESSI Money

# data[].attributes.headline
Canvas - the Optimus Prime of LMSs (WARNING - VERY ADDICTIVE)

# data[].attributes.subject
Canvas - the Optimus Prime of LMSs (WARNING - VERY ADDICTIVE)

# data[].attributes.body
SEE COMMENT BELOW FOR IMPORTANT UPDATE

Teachers can manage and upload online educational resources classrooms by taking attendance, upload and manage all education resources and activity, and post grades while students log on to check and complete assignments, view course materials, and monitor their progress and grades.

Sequenced learning modules, flipped classroom, self-paced learning so students can work ahead, around other subject varying workloads, or catch up on missed classes. Simple, easy, user-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing; integrates easily with other services like Google Drive, Office/Docs, and others.

Collaborative learning spaces and content creation - co-create content with students and provide peer feedback.
Formative, formal and informal, and summative grading is immediate without lugging exercise books around.

Student and teacher data is securely stored and cloud-based so you don't have to worry about data loss. eLearning Connectors allow for seamless integration between Canvas and your student management system in just a few simple steps.

Features include:
- inbox email function
- calendar with assignments and communication with all stakeholders including parents and teaching assistants
- discussion forums
- announcements and notifications

It's probably not cheap but maximised functionality probably makes up for the cost. 30 million users can't be wrong, and ensures user needs-based improvements will continue.

# data[].attributes.body
Sick of dodgily copying great websites to Powerpoint? You can directly screenshare to learning content sites that do it better and save hours of prep. Two things I like most about Vivi:

1) Students can share their screens with your permission to share their learning at ANY point in the lesson. Their work is at a higher standard knowing their audience is larger.

It's also perfect for when they want to present their assessments live. Students are no longer limited by file size and can make fantastic video presentations. No more struggling to share obese Powerpoint files.

2) You can line up a pre-queued playlist of YouTube videos and they play while you use your laptop for other things.

It's wireless so no more struggling with unwieldy, easily damaged HDMI cables.

Like Canvas, not a tech you can try yourself, but if you're looking to convince your school to go for a great screen-sharing tool, this is it.

# data[].attributes.body
Reflection is the easiest way to get students thinking metacognitively about their learning. It's super simple to set up and get students typing.

This is an example of what a student might blog.

My student's just handed blog's in for their media production because although they have to get the same mark for the actual production, this is their chance to tell the marker exactly how they contributed to different parts of the production.

The only caveat here is that it's Google based so some schools won't allow students to access it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Today we created accounts and looked around the ESSI money game. It looked fun and it seemed like a cool and useful tool for learning how to organise money - finance. Or like, how to organise my financial stuff. It's not just money. I have to check emails every lesson, It also shows me how to set up a bank account and choose a job. I didn't know different accounts have different bank fees. I chose the job I picked because it gave a good amount of money but only work 5 days a week and not on weekends. I've been bragging to my friends about how much money I'm making. It's so much fun that I've been doing it at home as well. I don't like blogging about what I'm learning cause that means admitting my mistakes for everyone to read but I we have to, so I'm doing it. I guess I'm learning more because I have to think about my strategies and why they are working or not working, so I can fix what I need to. I think its' going pretty good so far. I

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Today we created accounts and looked around the ESSI money game. It looked fun and it seemed like a cool and useful tool for learning how to organise money - finance. Or like, how to organise my financial stuff. It's not just money.

# data[].attributes.body
Present in person (or recorded) with moving, zooming presentations that grab attention and keep it. Prezi's open canvas lets you organize and view your presentation as a whole. You can embed images and videos. It has multiple interactive options. It is super easy to learn and cheap. I highly recommended Prezi over Powerpoint etc.

# data[].attributes.headline
RFDS Wellbeing - here are the mental health resources we've been working with in class

# data[].attributes.subject
RFDS Wellbeing - here are the mental health resources we've been working with in class

# data[].attributes.headline
Joanne Hughes - excellent ways to improve your TPCK

# data[].attributes.subject
Joanne Hughes - excellent ways to improve your TPCK

# data[].attributes.body
Looking for inspiration - this is a good place to check out useful ICTs.

# data[].attributes.body
I use loom for screencasting and didactic teaching. It helps my flipped classroom set up. The students can engage with content before we apply them collaboratively in class. Students can catch up on missed classes. It's easy to share to Google Classrooms. I get feedback on each video, what worked and what didn't for my students. For only $10 a month, it's the most valuable and most used subscription I have.

Students will now start using Loom to record and present their assessments. Using ICT in this way aligns with Australian Curriculum rationales for both Economics and Business and Media Arts - CK, PCK and TPCK.

# data[].attributes.body
I have students with social anxiety and those who prefer to online chat to feel safe enough to contribute freely in classroom discussions. Parlay is a "threaded discussion board activity, supercharged with secret identities, guided peer feedback questions, ‘model’ submissions, and more."

# data[].attributes.headline
Padlet - highly recommended for collating and presenting research

# data[].attributes.subject
Padlet - highly recommended for collating and presenting research

# data[].attributes.body
Brainstorm
Use an open Padlet to let students add ideas and comments for a brainstorming session. This can span a week or a single lesson and helps encourage creativity.

Go live
Teaching in a hybrid way, use a live Padlet to let students post questions as the lesson progresses -- so you can address any at the moment or at the end.

Collate research
Create a hub for students to post research on a subject. This encourages everyone to check what's up and find something new by thinking differently.

Use exit tickets
Create exit tickets using Padlet, allowing for a debrief from the lesson -- from writing down something learned to adding a reflection, there are many options.

Work with teachers
Collaborate with other teachers in school and beyond to share resources, give opinions, place notes, and more.

My students are currently using it to present their business report. First they need to research what goes into their business report and start collaborating to present it to me, their teacher. They said "yes! it's not an essay!"

# data[].attributes.body
OneNote is a great starter learning management system (LMS). You don't need to lug around 30 exercise books per class to collect evidence of learning or marking and providing feedback. It has great collaborative spaces, and immersive readers with settings for low literacy, students with dyslexia or Irlen's etc. It connects with Teams and all Microsoft apps.  You can read my full write up here.

# data[].attributes.body
Steller has an online ‘mini magazine’ and ‘mood board’ function which would also redefine the task, and useful for teachers to showcase their work to students. Steller is suitable for professional photographers, however the safety parameters and options available weren’t stringent enough for a school-based task.

# data[].attributes.body
Behance has the advantage of linking directly to Adobe Creative Cloud and all its apps, which are industry standard. Behance is suitable for professional photographers, however the safety parameters and options available weren’t stringent enough for a school-based task.

# data[].attributes.body
While I had originally dismissed Instagram as an assessment communication platform for student safety reasons and because I can’t stand the platform myself 😆 #growthmindset, I was determined to look into it because “blending” or “flow” is TPCK best practice for implementing ICTs in the classroom – bringing ICTs that students use and are familiar with in home settings into the classroom (Bulfin & North, 2007; Lai et al., 2013; Hunter, 2019; Puentedara, R, 2009).

Further research into Instagram’s privacy settings, I found it to be the safest program for students to use, under a class account (rather than using student names or logins). Instagram offers the option of private accounts, where viewing access is only to approved users and they can’t share or edit, in this case, parents, students and experts I permit. The school is deidentified and students can use nom de plumes.

Use it in tandem with Mojo for bringing posts to life with photostories.

Check out my full write up on using Instagram in the classroom here.

References:

Bulfin, S., & North, S. (2008). Negotiating Digital Literacy Practices Across School and Home: Case Studies of Young People in Australia. Language and education, 21(3), 247-263. https://www-tandfonline-com.ezproxy.cqu.edu.au/doi/epdf/10.2167/le750.0?needAccess=true&role=button

Hunter, J. (2015). Technology integration and high possibility classrooms: Building from TPACK. Routledge.

Lai, K. W., Khaddage, F., & Knezek, G. (2013). Blending student technology experiences in formal and informal learning: Blending student technology experiences. Journal of computer assisted learning, 29(5), 414-425. https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.ezproxy.cqu.edu.au/doi/full/10.1111/jcal.12030

Puentedura, R. (2009). As we may teach: Educational technology. From theory into practice. http://www.hippasus.com/rrpweblog/archives/000025.html

# data[].attributes.body
Doodly allows you to design automated hand drawn presentations - yep those cool cartoony videos. I'm on the fence about Doodly because I have tried it and found it very difficult to use, but, maybe I just need to spend more time on it.

I think students will find hand drawn presentations very engaging. I sometimes find engaging videos but the content isn't quite right, so this would work well for my teaching needs. It is very expensive though, so for now, it's going on my "to try again later" shelf.

Update: Now that I know I don't have to be an expert at something to try it in my classroom, I'm going to assign a lesson for students to practice using it and learn Doodly from each other. They will have greater success than I could alone and I'm looking forward to learning from them. (Ah it's still expensive - so back on the shelf for now).

# data[].attributes.headline
Link to my twitter collection of Economics and Business, and Media Arts resources and case studies.

# data[].attributes.subject
Link to my twitter collection of Economics and Business, and Media Arts resources and case studies.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.embed_code
Tweets by jenniferanswa

# data[].attributes.headline
Excellent summary of the importance of digital pedagogy

# data[].attributes.subject
Excellent summary of the importance of digital pedagogy

# data[].attributes.body
If you're not sure what digital pedagogy is, or how to start thinking about it, this video is an excellent place to start. As a teacher you will find that it addresses the concerns you've been having about the barriers to your students' learning, and provides realistic, 21st century solutions. I have personally found digital pedagogy to be the missing link between "vanilla" lesson plans and assessments, and authentic and engaging learning for my students (and fun for me to teach as well!).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Introduction to 21st Century Learning with Helen Soule

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Stay safe online with info, resources and advice for students and parents.

# data[].attributes.headline
Stuck for ideas? - this is brilliant - Bloom's for ICT

# data[].attributes.subject
Stuck for ideas? - this is brilliant - Bloom's for ICT

# data[].attributes.body
Terry's Heick's "How to use Bloom's in the classroom" is the bom-diggity of easily implementable ideas for how to use ICT to strive for higher order thinking in your classroom.

https://www.teachthought.com/learning/ways-to-use-blooms-taxonomy-in-the-classroom/

# data[].attributes.headline
High possibility classrooms - Jane Hunter

# data[].attributes.subject
High possibility classrooms - Jane Hunter

# data[].attributes.body
HPC focuses on technology integration for inquiry-based learning. Teachers provide experiences in the classroom where students can explore and demonstrate their understanding in real-life situations and make learning meaningful. As students are more than competent with technology skills, teachers need to strengthen student empowerment.

# data[].attributes.headline
The SAMR Framework for effective ICT integration

# data[].attributes.subject
The SAMR Framework for effective ICT integration

# data[].attributes.body
Dr Ruben Puentedura’s SAMR model is a framework that can be used by educators to analyse how effectively they have integrated technology into their teaching, by rating that technology into four categories: Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition.

Substitution and augmentation refer to implementing technology in ways that enhance your lessons, whereas modification and redefinition completely transform your lessons. This differentiation is important because although just enhancing our lessons may be the best option for a certain learning activity, how often have we really pushed the boundaries of what’s possible? Thanks to new technologies, we can transform our assessment tasks and learning activities into previously inconceivable new creations (Bloom, 1956).

Reference:
Puentedura, R. (2009). As we may teach: Educational technology. From theory into practice. http://www.hippasus.com/rrpweblog/archives/000025.html

# data[].attributes.body
It can be overwhelming to risk assess all the technologies we want to use in our classrooms as teachers. We also have many topics to cover with our students – how to evaluate sources for quality of information, how to ensure consent and copyright – to name just a few. The Australian Curriculum’s Digital Literacy Requirements (ACARA, 2023) can help with a comprehensive checklist with each technology we want to use. The Digital Literacy learning continuum is organised into the above 4 elements. ACARA goes into a lot more detail than I can fit in this post, so I highly recommend familiarising yourself with that part of the website.

ACARA. (2023). Digital literacy general capability. https://v9.australiancurriculum.edu.au/teacher-resources/understand-this-general-capability/digital-literacy

# data[].attributes.headline
Legal considerations - Data security and privacy laws

# data[].attributes.subject
Legal considerations - Data security and privacy laws

# data[].attributes.body
As teachers working under Australia’s strict data security laws (Education Queensland, 2022; Macquarie Government, 2023), we can only use programs where the data is stored in Australia and accessed only by Australians. There are severe penalties for schools who breach these requirements. At my first praxis school, a teacher was reprimanded for using Class Dojo because the data is stored in the states. Despite the students and parents loving the wonderful communication experiences, it was shut down.

Secondly, there are strict prohibitions against our students using 3rd party software, as I learned the hard way on my last praxis. Without parent signed consent, students cannot even use Kahoots or the online mind mapping software I had written into my lesson plans, let alone the editing software they needed for their projects. I had to reteach those lessons with paper and coloured pens, scissors and glue. The students loved these kinaesthetic, non-device activities because they already spend hours at school and at home on their laptops, or staring at other screens.

References:
Education Queensland. (2022). Privacy statement for the department of education. https://www.education.gov.au/using-site/privacy-statement-department-education#toc-storage-and-data-security

Macquarie Government. (2023). Data sovereignty. https://macquariegovernment.com/glossary/data-sovereignty/#:~:text=Data%20sovereignty%20means%20keeping%20Australia's,by%20Australian%20people%20and%20companies.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
ThingLink: Create unique experiences with interactive images, videos & 360° media

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Easily create interactive and immersive visual experiences for online communication and learning. Start a free trial!

# data[].attributes.body
Easelly's design tool lets you visualize any kind of information.

Create reports people will actually read

Spice up your next big presentation

Get more people to share your content

Help customers understand your product

Broadcast your next business

# data[].attributes.body
Visualize: Manifest Anything is a great tool to manifest your desire and attract it by spending just a few minutes in a day.

# data[].attributes.body
A quick link to royalty free stock images & copyright free pictures for you.

# data[].attributes.headline
Freesound - royalty free sound effects and music

# data[].attributes.subject
Freesound - royalty free sound effects and music

# data[].attributes.body
This is a quick link for you to access royalty free music and sound effects for your productions.

# data[].attributes.headline
10 tips for avoiding technology overwhelm

# data[].attributes.subject
10 tips for avoiding technology overwhelm

# data[].attributes.body
I felt personally triggered by this article haha. I highly recommend the tips listed for any teacher who is keen to up the ICT uses in their classroom, or students who want to use ICT to augment their studies.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There's one complaint about technology that I hear from almost every single person I talk to: it's just plain overwhelming. There's too much to learn. There are too many options. It's always changing and I'm always behind.

Between ed tech for your classroom and the technology you use in your personal life, there's always going to be a massive amount of tools you wish you could explore and master. Here's what to do when it all starts to feel overwhelming.

Want to listen to this post instead of read?

1. Know that everyone feels like they're constantly behind and out of the loop

I've worked as an instructional technology coach for several years in NYC, and when I talked with other local coaches, we often hadn't heard of half the programs and apps that one another were using even though we were doing the same job in the same school system! Seriously-it's not just you that can't keep track of all the new tools that are out there. With as many as 60,000 new apps launched in the iTunes app store every month and hundreds of thousands of educational websites in existence, there is simply no way one person can learn all of them.

And that means you don't have to feel pressure to try. Stop telling yourself you need to learn to be proficient in all technology and know the latest about every type of tool out there. It's not going to happen, and it doesn't need to.

2. Recognize that your frustrated feelings will only change if YOU do

The sheer amount of technology that's available is only going to increase with time, so if you're waiting for that feeling of being overwhelmed to go away, you're just going to get more frustrated. Now is the time to jump in there. You might not ever be a technology expert, but you can be a determined, lifelong learner who is willing to put yourself out there and keep trying.

3. Innovate like a turtle

That's a phrase coined by educator Vicki Davis (Cool Cat Teacher), who reminds us that transforming the way we teach is not about speed and making huge, rapid changes, but about slow, steady progress over time. Start with whatever you've got and whatever you're capable of learning how to do right now. Remind yourself that small changes add up to big results!

4. Focus on versatile tools that you can use again and again

Rather than try to learn about every tool that's out there, just pick one or two that will give you the most bang for your buck, and work on familiarizing yourself with those first (I'll share suggestions later this month.). Play around with them and practice. Resist the urge to think about all the things you're missing.

If you lived a thousand years, you wouldn't have time to learn every resource that is out there right now. But the only resources you need to learn are the ones you NEED in your life to solve specific problems.That might only be a handful of tools for right now. You can add a few more over the next few months, and a few more after that as you're comfortable.

5. Let go of the mentality that you must be trained by someone else in order to use a tech tool

I have never received training in 95% of what I do online. No one taught me how to use a SMARTboard or create screencasts or start a podcast or maintain a website, or any of the other things I do with technology. I just get curious (or get stuck) and do a quick internet search to find blog posts or videos that answer my questions. I try different things out to find the best approach for me personally, and bookmark helpful sites for my reference. I repeat the tasks enough times and experiment enough to feel comfortable, and that's all there is to it!

If you wait until your school district provides training on everything you need to know about technology, you're going to be stuck in the dark ages. Don't put your professional development in the hands of your district and wait for someone else to mandate what and how you learn-it is so much more empowering to take charge!

6. Keep a running list of tech problems you need to solve and tackle them in batches

Got an annoying error message that pops up every time you open a specific application? Don't fall down the rabbit hole now and waste 45 minutes trying to get rid of it. Write the problem down in a Tech Troubleshooting list (perhaps in Google Keep or another tool that syncs across devices) and check it out at a more convenient time when you're in "tech problem solving mode." If you have IT support at your school, you may want to go through the list once a month or so together, rather than trying to figure little things out on a daily basis.

7. Set aside a small, well-defined block of time so you can experiment with tech tools

If you're being selective about how many tools you want to master, prioritizing time to explore those tools won't be a hugely time-consuming task. Be very focused with your goals for that block of time ("I want to learn how to create X and organize Y") and allot some time to researching and trying things out. Just pull up the site or program you want to use, and do what the kids do: play around with it!

Experiment. Make mistakes. Fail, a lot. The only way to really learn something is to explore it yourself. Trial and error is your friend. Kids understand this intuitively: that's why they are fearless with technology and adapt to changes so quickly.

8. Remember that Google is your best friend

If you're fortunate enough to be offered technology PD or have someone show you how to use a tool, don't try memorize everything or write down copious notes about every little detail. When you get stuck, you can Google it: How to copy and paste. How to create an email list. How to download a video from YouTube. No matter where you are on the tech proficiency spectrum, I guarantee that three million other people have already searched for the same thing and there will be dozens if not hundreds of websites and videos with your exact search phrase that will explain, step by step, exactly what to do.

Don't get overwhelmed by the results: pick one with a description that sounds like a good match, and check it out. If you don't find what you're looking for, pick again. You can do this! And the more you practice it, the faster you'll get at finding authoritative sites that provide accurate tutorials.

9. When you find a good resource that explains how to do something, bookmark it/save it to your favorites, or pin it to a Tech Troubleshooting board in your Pinterest account

Don't beat yourself up by saying, "I read it but I don't remember! Someone showed me how to do it but I forgot! I'm so bad with technology!"

No, you're not. And you don't HAVE to remember. Who could possibly memorize all of this? Go back to the site you bookmarked and re-read how to do it, or search again. All the information you need is stored online, so it doesn't need to be stored in your head.

10. Get connected with other educators who can help

Being a connected educator means creating a personal learning network, often called a PLN. The people in your personal learning network are those you connect with to share ideas and encourage each other. You can join Facebook groups for teachers, participate in Twitter chats, follow educator hashtags on Instagram, or use any other social media platform you're comfortable with. You are not alone in this!

Technology is a useful servant but dangerous master. --Christian Lous Lange Click To Tweet
Christian Lous Lange was a Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize winner...and he was born in 1876. If his words were true then, they're doubly true now! Technology is your servant. It's a tool to make your life better, faster, easier, and to make teaching more effective, efficient, and enjoyable. YOU are in charge of your technology, not vice versa. See blog posts/transcripts for all episodes Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes Subscribe to the podcast in Stitcher

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Truth For Teachers - 10 tips for avoiding technology overwhelm

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There's one complaint about technology that I hear from almost every single person I talk to: it's just plain overwhelming. There's too much to learn. There are too many options. It's always changing and I'm always behind. Between ed tech for your classroom and the technology you use in your personal life, there's always going to ...

# data[].attributes.body
So before you read the ad below, I was considering using Adobe Connect as a fully integrated learning management system, because Adobe products are absolutely essential to Business and Media subjects, BUT... I did a trial of the software and it's really more aimed at running businesses efficiently. Like Photoshop, it does all sorts of amazing and fantastic things but most of its features are just unnecessarily complicated for a secondary school level. So it's a no from me, for now.

Why choose Adobe Connect? Create customisable, reusable and secure virtual experiences as engaging as real-life interactions.

Functionality is delivered with resizable pods that can be positioned on the screen by the host, who determines what everyone will experience at any time. Design interactive storyboards with customised layouts.

Adobe Connect rooms can be used as a canvas to set up your content according to your style and goals.

# data[].attributes.body
This tool is handy for group projects and managing homework and assignments.

# data[].attributes.headline
More gamified learning from Jessica Gigliotti

# data[].attributes.subject
More gamified learning from Jessica Gigliotti

# data[].attributes.body
"Strategy simulation - MEGA Learning

Gamify your learning with 5 real-life simulations:
1. The Competitive Advantage
2. Fundamentals of Finance
3. Customer Value Challenge
4. Healthcare Strategy Challenge
5. Human Capital Challenge

A brief summary of the first simulation, The Competitive Advantage, positions students in a fictional management team in an industry competing against other teams. The goals is to analyse their 4-product portfolio, the cost structure of business lines and identify opportunities for growth using their customer profile. Teams are challenged to find balance between remaining competitive and developing consistent strategy, to make a profit and become leaders in their market."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What is this business simulation about?

Develop a competitive advantage by leveraging your resources.

The Competitive Advantage places participants in the management team of a company within a fictional industry, in competition with other teams starting from the same position. Their goal will be to analyze their 4-product portfolio, analyze the cost structure of each business line and identify growth opportunities against their customer profile.

The challenge will be for teams to find balance between developing a consistent strategy and remaining competitive, to become the leaders on their market while being profitable.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Competitive Advantage places participants in the management team of a company within a fictional industry, in competition with other teams starting from the same position. Their goal will be to analyze their 4-product portfolio, analyze the cost structure of each business line and identify growth opportunities against their customer profile.

# data[].attributes.body
Get more done. Add your tasks. Organize your life. Add tasks like “Read work emails every day at 10am” to fill your to-do list in seconds using Todoist’s powerful natural language recognition and recurring dates.

# data[].attributes.headline
Balancing ICT use in the classroom - from Keegan McCann

# data[].attributes.subject
Balancing ICT use in the classroom - from Keegan McCann

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Technology and learning in the classroom: six tips to get the balance right

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Technology has good potential to help students learn, but it must be used appropriately to keep students moving, learning and working together.