The Virtual Staffroom

The T4L team goes behind the scenes at William Rose School in western Sydney and chats with principal Nicole Parker in this inspiring episode. Explore how the power of assistive technologies supports students with differing learning needs at Nicole’s school and get an insight into how no two days are the same.

The team is thrilled to chat with a huge game changer in the STEM space, Corey Tutt. Corey shares his personal journey that led him to form Deadly Science, an organisation dedicated to providing STEM resources to remote communities across Australia. A proud Kamilaroi man and an award-winning author and a leader in the STEM world, Corey has brought First Nations science to the fore. You won’t want to miss this deadly chat.

Come on an adventure as the Virtual Staffroom explores all things technology and ecology as we talk with the game-changing team from Brewongle Environmental Education Centre on Sydney's Hawkesbury River. From 360 tours to remote trail cameras and so much more we see how technology is supercharging the way students learn and providing them with the ability to take positive and meaningful action about their environment.

Join the Virtual Staffroom team as they talk with Nav Virdi and the Braille and Large Print team, who have pioneered a revolutionary new library of 3D printable objects that have the power to revolutionise the learning experiences of students with vision impairment.

Listen to examples of how Nav and his team have inspired students through their design of 3D prints that complement current resources such as braille books and large print books. Explore ways in which the 3D prints effectively supplement traditional two-dimensional resources to create a greater tactile experience, and learn how they contextualise concepts such as geography, astronomy and history with the aim of enhancing the learning experience.

In this Virtual Staffroom first, join the team on location at EduTECH 2022 as they explore the latest in technology innovations and trends in the classroom. 

Discover how a 3D food printer can convert insect powder into something edible, hear about a manufacturing simulation that uses three robotic arms communicating through sensors to power a conveyor belt and learn about the emerging trends of sustainability, drone technology, artificial intelligence, Citizen Science and more. This episode will inspire you with valuable insights into how these unique innovations are transforming teaching and learning in the classroom.

In this episode of the Virtual Staffroom, you’ll learn all about the latest tech tools and programs that were highlighted at EduTECH, a huge educational technology conference that took place in August 2022.

Join Linda and Joe, along with their special guest hosts, as they reflect on the standout concepts that inspired them at EduTECH. Amongst the many concepts designed to improve student outcomes through effective use of tech in the classroom, our podcast hosts also explore the school stories that inspired them. These include how technology can support Aboriginal education and improve attendance and inclusion for Indigenous students, how one school aligned digital literacy across their entire school community and particular programs that connected with students and inspired their learning. Our hosts then discuss emerging trends in the digital aspects of the curriculum, such as teaching students how to be a cyber friend to help alleviate cyberbullying, empowering teachers to access professional learning through social media and enhancements to accessibility and assistive technology tools.

The Virtual Staffroom heads to the nation’s capital in this new bite-sized podcast! The team chats with digital learning education officer Jo Taplin at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Get an insight into how the Australian War Memorial works with students and teachers around the country with a focus on both storytelling and commemoration. We also explore ways in which you can bring some of these important War Memorial resources into the classroom using Main Learning Displays (MLDs) to encourage discussions in this space. It caps off three great episodes on MLDs and virtual resources.

The black rod, the speaker and the bear pit – all things we summon up when we think of the hallowed halls of the Parliament of NSW. Walk the corridors of power with learning manager Daniela Giorgi who shares the power of online resources from the sacred halls. Power up your classroom experience with a virtual tour and explore how you can share the processes behind democracy with your students on an MLD. Take the Virtual Staffroom with you on your next walk or as you ponder the backdrop of the federal election.

Time for a cup of tea and a podcast? Or perhaps time to walk the dog around the block? Why don’t you take The Virtual Staffroom with you and explore the power of Main Learning Displays (MLDs) in your classroom. Virtual excursions expert Bonnie Tratt talks us through taking your students to the Great Barrier Reef or even blasting off to the NASA launch station. We also explore the processes behind the corridors of power and all the resources on offer from the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD) with learning manager Stephanie Smith. Plus, the T4L team chats about the resources to help you get the most out of your MLD. To infinity and beyond!

Telepresence robots are on the move, powered by students and staff across the state. But what are they exactly? Tune in to find out how these robots-on-wheels have the power to support students in the classroom from a remote location. The team explores the power of telepresence with Tingxi Tan, creative force and co-founder of these robots at OhmniLabs. Don’t miss this chat exploring how robotics and coding is changing access to education in NSW. Plus, the team rounds up their favourite resources for Hour of Code in Week 10, Term 4.