The Australian Council for Educational Research’s (ACER’s) Pru Mitchell was named winner of the inaugural Victorian Library and Information Award (VLIA). Teacher editor Jo Earp sat down with her to talk about teaching and teacher librarianship, sharing knowledge and expertise, and the role of AI, technology and digital literacy in the classroom.

More than 7,000 Australian school educators have enrolled in the free, online Micro-credentials for Classroom Confidence since their launch in July 2024. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and delivered by the University of Adelaide, the 3 micro-credentials have been designed by experts in direct response to teacher needs, offering strategies that can be applied immediately in the classroom. 

For teachers introducing students to the periodic table for the first time, Dr Gregory Watson and Dr Jolanta Watson from the University of the Sunshine Coast recommend you begin with a series of 3 pre-periodic tables. In today’s article, they explain what the introductory non-chemistry tables are, and how they can be used at a primary, secondary and even tertiary level.

Many female teachers are reporting increased challenges to their authority and expertise with students echoing language from online influencers. It's linked to a growing online movement known as the Manosphere. Here we unpack what the Manosphere is, why it’s seeping into classrooms, and what schools can do in response. 

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, the role of the teacher librarian has never been more important. Charles Sturt University’s Master of Education (Teacher Librarianship) course is tailored for qualified teachers who wish to specialise in this critical field, offering flexible online delivery designed to fit into your busy schedule. 

Staff and students at Adelaide Botanic High School have been using EdChat, a generative AI tool developed by the South Australia Department for Education, since 2023. In today’s article, principal Sarah Chambers shares examples of how the tool is being used by students to support learning, and by staff to reduce workload. 

Dr Fatemeh Aminpour – Research Fellow at the City Futures Research Centre at UNSW – joins Teacher editor Jo Earp to explore how you can go about making small, thoughtful changes to playgrounds and outdoor spaces informed by student feedback and research to improve the experience for all children.

‘Staff are integrating AI into their practice in ways that align with their readiness, confidence, and classroom context.’ In today’s article, Georgie Facci from Scotch College Junior School, Adelaide, shares how the school is embedding AI into the teaching and learning across the curriculum, and how staff are building their confidence and capabilities to foster a culture of empowered experimentation.

Conversations about children’s online safety are fixated on the most visible harms. The Alannah & Madeline Foundation uses the 4cs framework (Content, Contact, Conduct and Compulsion) to explain why this approach will never achieve lasting results.  

What are the persistent teaching dilemmas you find yourself thinking about in your spare time and circling back to time and again? Professor Brianna Kennedy from the University of Glasgow joins the podcast to talk about a 2-stage process for cracking persistent challenges in the classroom, how teachers can use it in practice, and the impact it has on student learning and engagement.