Professional Learning
EdTechSA is proud to present the Thinking Spaces series of professional learning events.
The Thinking Spaces series is about considering the spaces in which we learn, be they virtual, physical or simply making space in our minds for new possibilities.
We invite you to attend any of the following events and make space in your diary for learning with us.
Thinking Spaces runs from May until September 2021.
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Thinking Spaces Series:
Game Design using Bloxels
About the Event
Bloxels is a great way for all students to create their own levelled game. You will learn how to not only use Bloxels but explore ways that you can integrate this technology with other curriculum areas.
Emma Fowler
10 June 2021
4:30pm – 6:00pm
Prospect North Primary School
30 Stuart Road, PROSPECT, SA, 5082
– upstairs Regency Studio, enter via front office
Members $25 and Non-members $50
Emma Fowler
About the Organiser
Emma Fowler is the Assistant Principal at Nazareth Catholic college and the founder of the NazTech Conference. She was one of the first teachers in South Australia to receive the Highly Accomplished Teacher accreditation and currently leads the implementation of the Digital Technologies curriculum at Nazareth.
Have your say!
Changes to the technologies Learning Area – Consultation with members
About the Event
Have your say in an EdTechSA Association response to the changes being made to the Australian Curriculum Technologies Learning Area and the ICT General Capability. Karen Butler will facilitate an online session where she will go through the changes and collect member feedback to provide a formal response to ACARA. This is your chance to have a say in the future of Australian Curriculum implementation.
Karen Butler
24 June 2021
4pm – 5pm
Online Consultation – Webinar via Zoom
FREE
Karen Butler
About the Organiser
Karen is an educator who has worked in primary schools for many years as a teacher and as a leader. She has worked for the Computer Science Education Research (CSER) team at Adelaide University delivering professional learning associated with the Digital Technologies subject in the Australian curriculum through the CSER MOOC. Karen is currently a Curriculum Manager for the Department of Education writing the Technologies curriculum for South Australia for years R-6. Karen is particularly interested in gender and curriculum, having completed a Masters of Education Studies in the area. She wants to empower girls and women to take their place in the growing digital economy. She is also President of the teacher association EdTechSA. She is passionate about bringing digital technologies into the everyday discourse and practice of teachers and students. She wants to demystify what is sometimes seen as specialised knowledge and excite a love of computer science for everyone.
Thinking Spaces Series:
- Developing Spatial Reasoning Skills using 3D Technologies
- Navigating through Augmented Reality
- Introduction to creating Windows apps using Forms and C#
- Game On – Creating Digital Games from Scratch
Workshop – Tuesday, 6 July 2021
Fiona Clayton, Karen Butler, Mandi Dimitriadis, Sam Fowler
Smart School – UniSA
Magill Campus, St Bernard’s Road, Magill, 5072, SA
Campus map
Developing Spatial Reasoning Skills using 3D Technologies
By Mandi Dimitriadis
Recent research has highlighted the important role that spatial reasoning skills play in future success in STEM learning, and STEM based careers. There is also evidence that spatial skills are malleable and can be improved with practice, particularly at a young age.
3D modelling and experiences in 3D environments are widely accepted as great ways to improve students’ spatial skills and engage them in spatial reasoning.
In this workshop, we will unpack what spatial reasoning is and how it develops.
We will explore hands-on strategies and ideas for helping students develop their spatial skills and integrating spatial thinking across the curriculum.
We will also test out our own spatial reasoning skills and share some of the research underpinning our knowledge of the importance of focussing on the development of students’ spatial abilities.
Please bring along a device with the latest version of Makers Empire installed. The program can be downloaded at www.makersempire.com/download
Navigating through Augmented Reality
by Sam Fowler
Spatial reasoning has been proven to be an important indicator of student achievement in STEM subjects. As such the proposed changes to the Australian Curriculum highlight this important cluster of skills more prominantly. This session will help to show teachers how they can more fully engage with the teaching of navigation through the use of Augmented Reality (AR) and 360 cameras. Learning activities will be demonstrated which will not only challenge students spatial reasoning skills but develop concepts which translate to other subject areas such as HASS. Time will also be allocated to the introduction and use of TinkerCAD to develop topic specific AR maps which could be used back in your school with AR capable devices (e.g. iPads).
Introduction to creating Windows apps using Forms and C#
By Fiona Clayton
Looking for something new to teach your Senior Students? Want to learn a new programming language? This workshop will introduce you to C# and Windows Form Applications and give you practical skills to apply in your classroom. Some basic knowledge of programming is assumed.
Game On – Creating Digital Games from Scratch
By Karen Butler
The digital gaming industry is worth over 200 billion dollars globally and is a fast growing industry in which our students may find themselves. Australia has now entered the fray with the federal government funding a tax offset for developers who invest in the industry. Want to teach your learners how to make a game? Come along and learn to develop a game from woe to go in “Scratch” with absolutely no visual programming experience necessary! Its time for you to hit “start” and get gaming.
About the Organisers:
Fiona Clayton
About the Organiser
Fiona is the Head of eLearning (R-12) at Torrens Valley Christian School where she has been for the last five years. In that time she has been responsible for the implementation of the new Australian digital technologies curriculum. More recently she has been working with the SACE Board on the implementation of the new Stage 1 and 2 Digital Technologies curriculum. Having come into the teaching profession after an 8 year career in programming, she comes with industry experience which has helped in the classroom to motivate and engage her students.
Karen Butler
About the Organiser
Karen is an educator who has worked in primary schools for many years as a teacher and as a leader. She has worked for the Computer Science Education Research (CSER) team at Adelaide University delivering professional learning associated with the Digital Technologies subject in the Australian curriculum through the CSER MOOC. Karen is currently a Curriculum Manager for the Department of Education writing the Technologies curriculum for South Australia for years R-6. Karen is particularly interested in gender and curriculum, having completed a Masters of Education Studies in the area. She wants to empower girls and women to take their place in the growing digital economy. She is also President of the teacher association EdTechSA. She is passionate about bringing digital technologies into the everyday discourse and practice of teachers and students. She wants to demystify what is sometimes seen as specialised knowledge and excite a love of computer science for everyone.
Mandi Dimitriadis
About the Organiser
Mandi is an experienced and qualified classroom teacher who recognises the power of technology to enhance teaching and improve educational outcomes. She was the winner of the 2019 Winnovation Award celebrating innovative South Australian women. Mandi has extensive experience with curriculum development and learning, having previously developed programs for the South Australian Government’s Department of Education. She is passionate about Design Thinking and how best to prepare today’s students for the future.
Sam Fowler
About the Organiser
Sam is a PhD candidate researching how teachers design technologically enhanced activities to promote authentic learning. He also works with the University of South Australia’s STEM outreach program – Connect, where he delivers learning activities to students and conducts educational research. Currently this research is exploring the effect of digital tools and technologically enhanced learning environments on the spatial reasoning development of students. Sam brings extensive practical experience in primary school education and an enthusiasm for exploring how we as teachers can improve the learning outcomes of our students through the effective use of a variety of new technologies.
Thinking Spaces Series:
Designing integrated learning programs with Digital Technologies at the heart
Our event with Paula Christopherson on 5th June needs to be postponed due to COVID restrictions.
About the Event
This workshop will explore a range of strategies for designing teaching and learning programs that make coherent, and not convenient, connections between Digital Technologies and other learning areas. Upfront will be a presentation about design strategies and the hallmarks of coherent programs, which will be followed by a workshop, where participants can select a suitable strategy and begin the process of weaving together aspects of different learning areas to suit their school context..
Paula Christophersen
Saturday, 5 June 2021
9am – 1pm
Cowandilla Primary School
21 Jenkins Street COWANDILLA SA
Members $40 and Non-members $100
Paula Christophersen
About the Organiser
Paula is the former Digital Technologies Curriculum Manager at the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, and a co-writer of the Australian Curriculum: Digital Technologies and the ICT capability. She is a lifetime member of Digital Teaching and Learning Victoria, a recipient of the Dorothy Hoddinott Medal for outstanding lifetime achievement awarded by the Australian Professional Teachers Association and an ISTE Making IT happen recipient. While she is retired from full-time work, Paula is still actively engaged in Digital Technologies education.
Thinking Spaces Series:
Create a Virtual World with CoSpaces
About the Event
Have you ever wanted to create your own virtual world? All this is now possible with CoSpaces. Come and learn how to use block coding to create a virtual world.
Emma Fowler
Workshop – 19 August 2021
5:30pm – 7:30pm
Venue TBA
Members $25 and Non-members $50
Registrations opening soon
Fiona Clayton
About the Organiser
Fiona is the Head of eLearning (R-12) at Torrens Valley Christian School where she has been for the last five years. In that time she has been responsible for the implementation of the new Australian digital technologies curriculum. More recently she has been working with the SACE Board on the implementation of the new Stage 1 and 2 Digital Technologies curriculum. Having come into the teaching profession after an 8 year career in programming, she comes with industry experience which has helped in the classroom to motivate and engage her students.