Digital technology

This term, thousands of 15-year-olds around Australia are sitting PISA – showing how they can apply their knowledge and skills to real-life problems and situations. Here, we look at what’s new for the 2025 cycle of this global assessment, and how teachers and leaders can use PISA insights to inform their own practice and drive school improvement.

Today’s students are entering school with more digital literacy than ever before and there is an advantage to leaning into this skill. Educators can meet students where they are and introduce screen time with a purpose.  Sora, used in thousands of schools across the world, including Australian schools, provides access to ebooks, audiobooks, comics and more – all in one platform.

A new report presents 2025 survey data from 104 senior staff in Australian schools about their school’s use of digital technology. The findings show that most schools are using AI tools and that the use of other digital technology has changed since 2023.

‘Technology does not work in the same way or to the same effect in all classrooms and with all students.’  In the final instalment of his 3-part series on technology in education, Dr Ralph Saubern addresses the challenges – and opportunities – in evaluating the impact of EdTech on learning outcomes. 

‘We all feel the pressure of keeping up with the latest technology innovations. This is especially true in schools where we are preparing young people for the future.’ In part 2 of his 3-part series on technology in education, Dr Ralph Saubern questions how schools and teachers can choose the right EdTech in the first place.

The rapid adoption of digital technologies in schools has dramatically changed the way schools and classrooms look, teachers work and students learn. In part 1 of this 3-part series on technology in education, Dr Ralph Saubern discusses whether these digital innovations have led to improvements in student learning, and explores how a professional learning community aligned teaching practice with available technology to improve students’ text analysis skills.

‘If we want to set the next generation up to thrive in an increasingly digital world, then we need real-world strategies that are created with them, not just for them.’ In today’s article, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation share why they embraced the voices of children and young people when co-designing their online safety and digital literacy education initiative, eSmart.

'In embracing EdChat, we chose responsiveness over rigidity, learning over waiting, and trust over control.’ In his latest column, Professor Martin Westwell – Chief Executive of the South Australian Department for Education – shares the thinking behind a generative AI chatbot that has been custom-built for teaching and learning, and its initial impact.

Alongside the exciting opportunities for AI to support teaching and learning, there are challenges and risks. In this special podcast Teacher editor Jo Earp talks to Dr Katie Richardson, Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Council for Educational Research.

‘By focusing on future-orientated education, we can find innovative solutions to the megatrends our planet faces.’ In his first Teacher column for 2025, OECD Director for Education and Skills Andreas Schleicher shares finding from the latest Trends Shaping Education report, and the implications for teachers, school leaders, students and policymakers.