TAFE
Drysdale enhancement
Tas Govt media release, 21 Aug 2017
In response to the state government's Workforce Taskforce's report, Servicing Our Growth, tourism and hospitality training centre Drysdale House will have its own TasTAFE board sub-committee to enable it to become a Centre of Excellence, education minister Jeremy Rockliff has announced ...

SCHOOL STARTING AGE
Lower starting age to 4.5 years
The Mercury (opinion by Terry Polglase), 21 Aug 2017
Tasmania's school starting age needs to be lowered a little before our NAPLAN results can be compared properly with those of other states, writes former state AEU president Terry Polglase...

TEACHING PROFESSION
Teaching myths countered
ABC News, 18 Aug 2017
Promoting The Staffroom, ABC-TV's three-program series on the teaching profession (6.00pm Saturdays), Jane Caro busts five myths about teaching:
that teachers work only from nine to three
that teachers have 12 weeks of holidays each year
that 'those who can do; those who can't, teach'
that teachers just have to deliver content
that teachers are glorified child-minders
...

FEDERAL POLITICS
Might Nick Xenophon be a British citizen?
ABC News, 18 Aug 2017
Senator Nick Xenophon is checking his citizenship status after realising that Cyprus was a British territory at the time of his father's birth there...

TERRORISM
Terrorist attack in Spain kills 13
ABC News, 18 Aug 2017
Three Australians have been injured in a terrorist attack in Barcelona in which a van ploughed into crowds. Police have killed four people in Cambrils, south of Barcelona, in preventing a second terrorist attack...

FEDERAL POLITICS
Yet another citizenship uncertainty
ABC News, 17 Aug 2017
Deputy Nationals leader Senator Fiona Nash has announced that she might be a British citizen through being Scottish by descent but she says she will not resign...

WEATHER ALERT
Icy roads warning
BoM website, 17 Aug 2017
Icy roads, black ice, hail and snow above 300 metres are forecast for tomorrow (Friday)..
Road closures: see Tas Police community alerts
BoM warnings page

SCHOOL STARTING AGE
Starting age plan scrapped
The Examiner, 14 Aug 2017
The state government has dropped its plan to lower the school starting age, instead deciding to offer an additional year of pre-school for disadvantaged or vulnerable children, education minister Jeremy Rockliff says...
Ditching of lower school starting age plan welcomed, ABC News, 14 Aug 2017
Early learning announcement, Facebook statement by Jeremy Rockliff, 14 Aug 2017
New approach to early learning, Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training, 15 Aug 2017
Labor had always opposed the earlier starting age, Michelle O'Byrne, Opposition education spokesperson, 15 Aug 2017
Reversal welcomed, The Examiner, 15 Aug 2017
Working Together for 3 Year Olds plan welcomed, Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training, 16 Aug 2017

TEACHING PROFESSION
Excellence finalists announced
Tas Govt media release, 14 Aug 2017
Finalists in the 2017 DoE Awards for Excellence have been announced by education minister Jeremy Rockliff...

FEDERAL POLITICS
Now Barnaby Joyce questions his citizenship
ABC News, 14 Aug 2017
When will it end?
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has announced that he could be a New Zealand citizen by descent even though he was born in Australia. However, he will not resign from his positions...

SCHOOL STARTING AGE
Three-quarters oppose lower starting age
ABC  News, 12 Aug 2017
An EMRS survey for the United Voice Union shows that about 75 per cent of Tasmanians oppose the government's plan to reduce the compulsory school starting age by six months and the related lowering of the voluntary kindergarten age to three and a half years...
Starting age report to be tabled next week, Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training, 12 Aug 2017
Labor would build six new Child and Family Centres instead, Michelle O'Byrne, Opposition education spokesperson, 13 Aug 2017

SCIENCE
Science award nominations open
Tas Govt media release, 11 Aug 2017
The Minister for Information Technology, Michael Ferguson, has called for STEM award nominations, including Tasmanian STEM Teacher of the Year for primary years and for secondary years..

LITERACY
The five reading pillars
The Mercury (opinion by Terese Phillips), 10 Aug 2017
Evidence shows that the systematic teaching of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension (the five pillars of reading) has clear benefits for most children, Independent Schools Tasmania's manager of education services says..

LEGAL SYSTEM
Neill-Fraser case bombshell
ABC News, 10 Aug 2017
A 41-year-old woman has been charged with corrupting a witness and perverting the course of justice in relation to Susan Neill-Fraser's appeal in connection with the murder of her partner Bob Chappell...

FEDERAL POLITICS
Postal vote on same-sex marriage
ABC News, 9 Aug 2017
An Australia-wide postal poll on same-sex marriage is to be held as early as 12 September following the Senate's rejection, as expected, of the government's plebiscite plan.
However, a group of opponents has announced an intention to lodge an appeal to the High Court over the postal poll plan...

INTERNATIONAL INSECURITY
Guam threat
ABC News, 9 Aug 2017

North Korea says it is "carefully examining" its plan to fire missiles at the US Pacific territory of Guam, a threat made only a few hours after Donald Trump warned of 'fire and fury like the world has never seen' if North Korea continues to threaten the United States...

News continued in the
August 2017 news archive
See also the News archive index

TASMANIAN FIRES For updated alerts, see:

 
FOOD AND NUTRITION
How to read food labels

Special ABC report on interpreting food labels

New sites continued below

New sites (cont'd)

PEDAGOGY
Evidence-based teaching

"Turning research into practical advice." Particularly useful pages on evidence-based teaching and learning are:
- Top 10 Evidence Based Teaching Strategies
- Top 10 Behaviour Management Strategies
- 10 Things Every Teacher Should Know Before Starting Their First Day in the Classroom

COMPUTER SECURITY
Cybersecurity glossary

At work and at home we are increasingly being warned about cybersecurity threats, with a consequent need to be familiar with cybersecurity terms.

METEOROLOGY
Tropical Cyclone Data Portal

The Bureau of Meteorology's Southern Hemisphere Tropical Cyclone Data Portal allows you to overlay the tracks taken by cyclones in the Australian region for any range of years since 1970.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION
Healthy Kids for Professionals

Although aimed primarily at health professionals, this NSW government website will be useful for teachers and parents concerned with children's weight issues and healthy eating requirements. For example, the site provides a guide to correctly measuring a child's height for the BMI calculation.

NEWS MEDIA
Crinkling News

National newspaper for young Australians.

TASMANIAN HISTORY
The Art of Science: Baudin's Voyagers 1800-1804 (TMAG)
On loan from France and never before seen in Tasmania - original drawings and paintings by artists among the voyagers on board the ships of French explorer Nicholas Baudin.
Exhibition open at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery from Fri 7 Apr to Sun 9 Jul 2017 (closed Mondays).

STATISTICS
The seven deadly sins of statistical misinterpretation

Several common mistakes people make when interpreting statistics, probability and risk, and how to avoid them. (The Conversation contribution by Winnifred Louis and Cassandra Chapman, 29 Mar 2017.)

COMPUTER EDUCATION
Digital Technologies Hub
Activity suggestions and other resources to support teachers, students and parents in pursuing the coding and other digital elements of the Australian Curriculum. Financed by the Australian Government.

WOMEN
Women in Tasmania
Tasmanian government website containing links to the Tasmanian Women's Plan 2013-18 and other policies, programs and resources related to women (media release, 18 Mar 2018).
See also the Women in Tasmania Facebook Page.

LITERACY AND NUMERACY
Learning Potential Resources
This federal government website augments the Learning Potential app in giving parents ideas on how to improve their children's literacy and numeracy skills at home. (Media release, 20 Feb 2017)

MEDIA LITERACY
5 Ways Teachers Are Fighting Fake News
Research shows students need to be taught the critical thinking skills necessary to distinguish between fake and genuine news stories. (NPR, 16 Feb 2017)

THE CURRENCY
New $10 banknote

A new $10 banknote will be circulated in September 2017.
The following RBA pages for teachers and students deal with notes and coins generally:
Learning About Banknotes
Activities and interactive games

BULLYING
Bullying No way!


Schools can register to participate in Bullying No Way!'s National Day of Action to be held on Friday 17 March 2017. (Media release.)

ONLINE SECURITY
My Guide
My Guide (2MB pdf file) is a short guide from the Australian Government's Stay Smart Online website that encourages people to develop safe online security habits in relation to:
privacy
passphrases
suspicious messaging
surfing safely
online finances and payments
tablets and mobiles
backups and protection
reporting scams

More new and useful sites in the
Useful sites archive