Back to school – for now

As many families and schools look forward to returning to face-to-face teaching, we need to take stock and prepare ourselves for the possibility of further bouts of remote home schooling.

Rethinking digital education

Global school shutdowns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed online education and virtual schooling to the forefront of the political agenda, but this sudden change is also prompting a reconsideration of what constitutes ‘digital competence’ for the teaching profession.

School’s not out forever

While the classroom might appear an old-fashioned concept, COVID-19 is demonstrating that there is something irreplaceable about students and teachers coming together to learn in person.

The new transparency: smartphones, data tracking, and COVID-19

Digital technology might well play an important part in the immediate management of this current emergency, but once the virus has subsided, then more lasting questions will remain.

A face in the crowd

The main purpose of facial recognition technology is not to increase personal convenience, but to facilitate mass surveillance, and adoption of it should be viewed with caution in democratic countries.

Can eSports find a role in schools?

Given the massive youth appeal of eSports, schools and colleges are understandably beginning to explore possible connections between eSports and education.

Should mobile phones be banned in schools?

Banning mobile phones in school may seem sensible, but research and similar moves elsewhere suggest a blanket ban may introduce some problems.

Early-years education online: the rise of the virtual preschool

Virtual preschools might be a welcome alternative for home-schoolers and other families who want to keep their children ‘close by’ during their early years, rather than sending them to state or private institutions.

Does China herald a grim future for technology in schools?

The increasing use of technology to monitor students in schools abroad should give Australian educators pause for thought when contemplating its introduction here.