Public school teachers from across the region converged on Moree East Public School this week to learn about some of the latest technology currently available to help equip students for the digital future.
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A team of NSW Department of Education technology experts, along with industry partners from Google, Apple and Microsoft, delivered the Technology 4 Learning (T4L) PowerUp professional learning event at Moree East on Tuesday, February 25.
"Our mission is to deliver this face-to-face learning for teachers to help them get started with technology, or upskill in technology so they can equip students for the future," T4L's Christina Thurn said.
"We're teaching them time-saving tips using G Suite and Drive, and Apple iPad and Pencil, with forums on how teachers can use the classroom to engage students and save time for themselves and be more efficient.
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"Ultimately, it's about achieving better outcomes for students and how we use technology as a tool to help teachers engage and eventually personalise their teaching.
"We're looking at using Microsoft Teams as a management system and how we use all these tools available to help them be more efficient and equipping students for the digital future.
"The fact is, the world is digital now and students need to be fluent in these technologies for employability as they move into the workplace."
Teachers from Moree, Narrabri, Wee Waa, Burren Junction, Inverell, Delungra, Glen Innes, Tenterfield and more attended the day, with sessions running from 9am to 7pm.
For those teachers who were unable to leave the classroom, there were after-school twilight sessions from 4pm to 7pm.
The information was delivered in 15-minute mini keynote introductions, followed by 75 minutes of hands-on sessions.
During the day, the teachers had the opportunity to get hands-on with some of the very latest robotics and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) tools, which stem.T4L's Joe Cohen said can be incorporated throughout the curriculum.
"It's not about the technology, but how we get kids to think and solve problems," he said.
Moree East was approached by the T4L team to host the day because of the great work the staff there are already doing with technology, through programs such as Connected Communities.
"Lorinda Potter, Alex Ford and the team at Moree East have just been incredible to work with," Ms Thurn said.
Teacher Alex Ford coordinated the event from Moree East and decided to involve the students in the day by incorporating his 5/6 class' PD/H/PE unit on healthy eating to showcase the school community to the visitors.
As part of the Healthy Cafeteria unit, students have been learning about catering from budgeting, to time management and catering to a particular audience, so they catered for the PowerUp event.
"I thought that it would be a great opportunity for students to showcase their learning in a practical way," Mr Ford said.
"Students coordinated with the event organiser for the PowerUp to find out the number of people they would be catering for and the various dietary requirements they would need to cater for. Students then researched and adapted recipes to suit their needs and developed a comprehensive shopping list.
"On Monday, February 24, the class walked to Woolworths and purchased the ingredients and extra items they needed to host a morning tea for 35 people.
"On the Tuesday the students were in high spirits as they got to work cooking and assembling their food.
"They served a mix of savoury and sweet finger food and received high accolades from the organisers and attendees.
"The PowerUp organisers gifted some new coding and robotics equipment to the school as a special thank you to the students of 5/6F."
The students made fruit skewers, barbecue skewers, scones, rice paper rolls and coconut water fruit cups.
They also created a QR code, which they used to gain feedback from the event participants, which tied in perfectly with the technology theme.
Moree East principal Lorinda Potter said she was extremely proud of Mr Ford and the students for their involvement in the day.