VIVA hot spots

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Linda Lazenby (Director, Technology Enablement). 2025 has been another huge year for ITD. We will take a look back at what some of the challenges and successes were, with an eye on what the future will look like in 2026. 

Viva Hot Tips

• The final edition of news.T4L for 2025

• We want your feedback on news.T4L

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Katherine Sharah (Strategy Manager, ITD). Come along and hear about Katherine’s role and how she and the team at ITD are leading the next NSW DoE Digital Strategy! 

Viva Hot Tips

• NSW DoE Digital Strategy Update

• Education Digital Strategy Refresh website

• EDConnect

  • Book a call

  • Live Chat

  • Updated search field - TIP: use single words eg. intune, wifi, software.

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Leo Giusti (TSO, Colo HS). Come along and hear us have a chat with him around his role and the new features about to be released in CDM! 

Viva Hot Tips

• news.T4L Term 4 Week 6

• Microsoft Teams - Shared Tab

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Daniel Hart (TSO, Chifley College Shalvey Campus). Come along and hear us have a chat with him around his role and how he supports the staff and students each day, as well as some of his other interests and passions. 

Viva Hot Tips

• news.T4L Term 4 Week 3

• NSWEduChat - available for Stage 5 and 6 students

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guests this week are Mona Sidhu (Manager Cyber Security Education and Awareness) and Cath Harding (Cyber Training and Awareness Lead). It is cyber security awareness month! Hear from Mona and Cath about Cybermarvel resources as well as tips and tricks to keep yourself cyber safe.

Viva Hot Tips

• Microsoft OneNote - new features:

  • Page sorting; Inking tools; OCR from images; and much more...!!

• Cybermarvel

• Cyber safe parents

• Cyber security awareness

• Email - how to report suspicious emails in Outlook

• Cyber Health Check Tool

• Cyber Safety - Viva Community

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Tome Josevski (Lead Application Specialist). We will be chatting about his role within ITD in managing the four main digital vendor platforms - Adobe, Canva, Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. 

Viva Hot Tips

• news.T4L - Term 3 Week 9

• End User Device Refresh webinar - Wednesday 22nd October

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guests this week are Tina Wiremu-Brook and Kieren Sainsbury to chat about the DoE's Safe AI team and the process that AI tools go through when being assessed for use in the DoE's environment. 

Viva Hot Tips

• Artificial intelligence in education

• Risks and guidelines for AI 

• Windows 11 24H2

  • Taskbar labels

  • Right click on a file and now see icons for cut/copy/paste etc.

  • File explorer duplicate tabs

  • Snipping tool copy text and copy as table

• Microsoft Word - simple PDF editing

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Mitchell Hill (TSO, Kurri Kurri HS). We will be chatting about his role as a TSO and how he is supporting his school community on a daily basis. 

Viva Hot Tips

• Term 3 Week 6 news.T4L

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Shane Gandy (Director, Digital Field Services). We will be chatting about the new Digital Field Services structure and support model, and how DFS will be directly helping NSW Public Schools. 

Viva Hot Tips

• Windows 10 and ChromeOS Flex announcement

• ITD Support Team Leader finder

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Ben Cullen (Principal Product Owner). We chatted about the new school website upgrade and demonstrated the new Document Author tool.

Viva Hot Tips

• School Website Upgrade

• School Website Training

• Join the School Website Service Viva Engage community to stay up to date!

• Introducing the End User Device Strategy

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Mark Lawson (ICT Project Manager). We will be looking at the new way in which schools can register to have their eWaste removed safely and securely.

Viva Hot Tips

• Term 2 Week 9 news.T4L

• magazine.T4L - EDUtech Edition

• eWaste Collection form

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guests this week are Erin Ireland (Cyber Security Project Manager) and Linda Lazenby (Director, Technology Enablement). We will be looking at some upcoming security enhancements in the Google space as well as the launch of Simplified Logon!

Viva Hot Tips

• Microsoft Teams - New Calendar:

  • Similar interface to your Outlook calendar.

  • Easily view any shared calendars within the Teams application.

• Sensitive information | Data.NSW 

• K-2 Simplified Login - register your school

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guests this week are Dan Hart (Head of AI, Data, Integration and AI Engineering) and Michael Fitzsimmons (Teaching and Learning Advisor, Online Assessment and Learning Tools). NSWEduChat was launched last year and we'll be chatting about the updates and improvements that have occurred! 

Viva Hot Tips

• Term 2 Week 6 news.T4L

• Intune devices: 

  • Updates and firmware now apply similar to regular Windows Updates.

• Restricting administrative privileges:

  • FAQs section added to support those who need priviledged access.

• Artificial Intelligence in Education resources.

  • NSWEduChat

  • eduSearch

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guests this week are Megan Anderson and Tim Cassell (Digital Learning Advisors, Technology Enablement). Hear about T4L Tuesday, as well as their work supporting rural and remote schools and accessibility tools for all users! 

Viva Hot Tips

• Term 2 Week 3 news.T4L

• CDM - Bulk Importer Tool

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Suzi Archer (Teacher and ICT Coordinator, Model Farm HS). A frequent contributor to many Viva Engage communities, hear about Suzi's work juggling the dual role of Teacher and Computer Co-ordinator in a large high school setting! 

Viva Hot Tips

• eT4L server security upgrades.

• Lenovo will be publishing products on EdBuy soon.

• Microsoft Teams quick tips:

  • Scheduled posts in Teams channels.

  • Record a video clip as a response to a post or chat.

  • Copying a URL creating an automatic hyperlink.

  • Changing where notifications appear on your window.

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Scott McBain (Assistant Principal, Orange Grove PS). Hear about his journey with Modern Cloud Management and how he has migrated all 315 devices in his school. Scott is also piloting the Simplified Login process - let's hear about his experiences across both of these projects! 

Viva Hot Tips

• Term 1 Week 9 news.T4L

• eduSearch

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guests this week are David Walsh (Teacher Wellington PS) and Kate Jones (Digital Learning Leader Technology Enablement). Hear about some of the subjects he teaches that involve coding and programming, the skills that students are developing to help them into the future and how the courses have evolved over time. 

Viva Hot Tips

• Profile Picture Maker in Adobe Express

• T4L Digital Tools Deep Dive PL Day - Wednesday March 26th

• InTune roll over date. Devices to be rolled over by May 30th 2025

  • More information from Staff Noticeboard 

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Ben Jones (HT TAS Tempe HS). Hear about some of the subjects he teaches that involve coding and programming, the skills that students are developing to help them into the future and how the courses have evolved over time. 

Viva Hot Tips

• Term 1 Week 6 news.T4L

• Microsoft Reading Coach

• NAPLAN Lockdown Browser Update

  • Log issues with EdConnect for Digital Field Services support

  • Launch the app if the icon hasn't updated to check that it's the correct version

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guests this week will be Jessica Allison (Online Assessment ICT Coordinator) and Ann Martin (Manager Student Assessment and Online Reporting). With NAPLAN approaching let's hear how schools can best prepare their devices and spaces and some key tips to help you throughout the testing period. 

Viva Hot Tips

• Google Vids is now available for all staff and students to access! Find it by going to:

  • Your Google Drive and clicking New

  • Typing in your URL bar vids.new

  • Clicking this link: https://docs.google.com/videos

• New T4L SASS Magazine

  • Find it here

• NAPLAN 2025 Update slide deck

• Join the Viva Engage - NAPLAN Team 

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Welcome back to 2025!! There is a lot in store for us this year so come along and enjoy hearing about the road ahead. Our special guest this week is Adam Astill (Digital Learning Adviser, Technology Enablement). Let's get to know Adam as he will be joining Viva Hot Spots as a co-host, as well as diving into the latest news.

Pete's Points

• The Week 3 issue of news.T4L is available now!  Let's take a deeper dive.

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guests this week are Mark Greentree (Executive Director, Technology Enablement) and Linda Lazenby (Director, Technology Enablement). 2024 has been yet another HUGE year in ITD and across all of our schools. Join us as we wrap up the year, recap some of the main highlights while also looking forward to what 2025 will bring!

Pete's Points

• The Week 9 issue of news.T4L is available now!  Let's take a deeper dive.

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guests this week are David Summerville (HT Technology) and Joel Hepworth (TSO) from Callaghan College, Wallsend Campus. With the release of Intune and CDM for schools who register their interest, we chat with David and Joel about how they have migrated their devices and supported staff and students through the change process.

Pete's Points

• Intune and CDM Resources:

  • Onboarding Guide

  • How to videos and guides

  • Example site profile scenarios

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Erin Ireland (Cyber Security Project Manager). We will be discussing adding labels to sensitive documents and how AI is being used to enhance cyber security. Some additional resources shared by Erin:

Sensitive information | Data.NSW 

Information classification and labelling 

Pete's Points

• The Week 6 issue of news.T4L is available now!  Let's take a deeper dive.

• Printer contracts

  • Currently in negotiations with a short-list of suppliers. 

  • Hoping for a decision in the next 2 - 3 weeks. 

  • More information to be made available in Staff Noticeboard. 

• Polls in Outlook Email

  • Watch this short video to show you how to easily collect information without clogging up your inbox!

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Kaylene Ainsworth (Lead Cyber Security Assessment Analyst). We will be discussing the ways in which she leads the process of assessing applications and websites for use within the DoE.

Pete's Points

• The Week 3 issue of news.T4L is available now!  Let's take a deeper dive.

• Windows 11

  • Progressive rollout starting Monday Week 5

• Printer contracts

  • Currently in negotiations with a short-list of suppliers. 

  • Hoping for a decision in the next 2 - 3 weeks. 

  • More information to be made available in Staff Noticeboard. 

• Device contracts

  • HP is now available on EdBuy. 

  • Lenovo to come shortly. 

• Google Takeout

  • Backing up data at for students leaving the DoE. 

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Shane Gandy (Director Digital Field Services). We will be discussing the ways in which he leads the DFS team, how DFS currently support schools as well as a few Term 4 tips and tricks.

Pete's Points

• T4L Computer Equipment Rollout Update

• Loom - do not use - Staff Noticeboard article

  • Alternatives for screen recording

    • Windows Snipping Tool

    • Clipchamp

    • Canva for Education

    • Stream

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is James Greening (TSO at St Clair High School). We will be discussing his school's involvement in the Intune/CDM pilot and some of the benefits of the new management tools.

Pete's Points

• The Week 9 issue of news.T4L is available now!  Let's take a deeper dive.

• Apple iPad Inclusive and Assistive Technology

  • Zoom

  • Spoken content

  • Dictation

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guests this week are Linda Lazenby (Rel. Executive Director Technology Enablement) and Stuart Holstein (Digital Field Services Team Leader). Join us as we hear about the 2024-25 Computer Equipment Rollout and how schools can access support to plan for, and order devices. For more information check out the T4L website: T4L Computer Equipment Rollout - Technology 4 Learning (nsw.gov.au) 

Pete's Points

• Google Chrome - browser tips and tricks

  • Tab groups - collate your tabs easily and quickly

  • Reading mode on websites

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guests this week are Deon Fleming and Manu Chopra from Cyber Security. Deon is a Cyber Security Program Manager and Manu is an ICT project Manager, both directly involved with Application Control. Join us as we hear about the steps the Department is taking as part of a cyber security uplift.

Pete's Points

• The Week 6 issue of news.T4L is available now!  Let's take a deeper dive.

• PDF editing tools - what do we have access to?

  • Adobe Express

  • Adobe Acrobat Pro (licence requried)

  • Microsoft Edge

  • Canva for Education

• Adobe Creative Cloud - Reduce Popups - guide for all users, especially those with BYO devices.

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Our special guest this week is Jodie Hartwig from School of the Air, Broken Hill. Jodie is a Year 4 teacher, ICT Coordinator and was the DCO during the Rural Access Gap. School of the Air went through a significant change in how their classrooms operated last year. Join us as we hear about the incredible journey that their staff, students and community undertook.

Pete's Points

• The Week 3 issue of news.T4L was released last week!  Let's take a deeper dive.

• The next editions of magazine.T4L and T4L Kids are now available and both have a focus of Connecting Community with Technology:

  • magazine.T4L - Issue 29

  • T4L Kids - Issue 18

• Canva Update - Category 1 application meaning all students can now access Canva without requiring parental permission.

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Join our new host Peter Noakes on his very first episode. Peter Noakes, is a member of our Digital Support Team, and has been been in education for over 16 years, as a Maths teacher and in the role of ICT Coordinator at his previous school. Pete has joined the Digital Support Team, bringing along with him a wonderful eye for that balance between all things technical and teaching and learning when it comes to technology. 

Our special guest this week is the one and only Andrew Balzer from Microsoft. Andrew shares his enthusiasm for Microsoft tools with teachers across Australia and beyond. But today, he is joining us for a very exciting launch of the newest tool for MS in DoE, Clipchamp! 

Pete's Points

Windows 11 has brought some nice efficiency updates. Some of these include:

• File Explorer tabs and using the + New to create new folders or Microsoft 365 documents.

• Snapping window templates for easy to use window layouts.

• Snipping Tool screen recorder to record either sections of or the entire screen with included microphone and computer audio input.

Check out the lastest Microsoft video tool resources developed by the T4L team on the T4L website.

Recording

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Viva Hot Topics

If you have a topic that you would like discussed on Viva Hot Spots, please complete the form Viva Hot Spots - Your Hot Topics.

Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Special guest host, Linda Lazenby (Director, Digital Learning) shares all of the latest updates in this term's final T4L news.

This week we also hear from Canva's Megan Townes, and Adam Pullinger from the Digital Support Team, who share some of the powerful resources from Canva's recent 'Glow Up' and take a look into how managing your school's Canva will be changing with some of the new admin features available. Don't forget to apply for your school's branding kit after you watch this episode! 

Recording

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Today's Viva Hot Spots 

This week we hear from Kimberley Hall, Google product manager, about whats on the road ahead for our schools!

Review the latest T4L news from ITD to learn how your school might be impacted

Work continues on recovering Stu Hasics bank of resources, his YouTube Channel is now restored.

Recording

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Today's Viva Hot Spots 

Laurens Derks shares his tip for 1 tool that can be a direct replacement for 3 Adobe Creative Cloud apps. If your school has used Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Audition or Adobe After Effects, then look for DaVinci Resolve in UDM.

Digital Learning Advisor, Peter Noakes provides an update on Windows 11 deployment and what it means for your school. 
See his presentation here. 

Digital Learning Advisor, Zrinka Krivosic talks with former DCO Chantel Chandler from Gilgandra PS about how she uses Google Delegated Admin to manage her fleet of Chrome books.
See her presentation here.

Recording

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Today's Viva Hot Spots 

• Executive Director of Digital Learning, Mark Greentree and Director of Digital Teaching and Learning, Linda Lazenby are joined by special guest Greig Tardiani, to shares some memories on the contribution of Stu to the department.

• What are the next steps for many of Stu's projects?

• Future department event to commemorate Stu. 

News From the Technology For Learning team

• The Week 3 Term 2 issue of news.T4L was released today.  Let's take a deeper dive.

• Explore our podcasting T4L Kids magazine with your staff, a powerful way to demonstrate a wide range of literacy outcomes.

• Adobe Update

• A School Website Service Meetup

Tell us what you think

• What did you think?  T4L are committed to providing helpful information to schools, please provide us
  some feedback

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