Episode notes:

This week we introduce Classroom Screen, a simple yet powerful tool for managing classroom flow and engagement. We discuss its key features, explore how it supports effective teaching and share ideas for bringing calm and structure to your learning environment. Along the way, we wander off on a few topical tangents, including discussing our new recording space.

Takeaways:

• Classroom Screen is a versatile classroom management tool.

• Timers, noise meters, and visuals can help create calm and structured learning spaces.

• Classroom Screen is easy to access across devices and supports teacher wellbeing and voices!

• Paid versions offer extended customisation and additional features, including saving screens - just watch out for the US/AU price difference.

Episode notes

This week, we Tech It Up a Notch with Google Drawings, a free, often overlooked tool in Google Workspace that opens up creative possibilities for learners of all ages. We share practical classroom ideas for using Google Drawings to make art, design diagrams, and explore maths and science concepts in visual ways. We unpack how this simple tool can boost creativity and digital fluency without the need for fancy software.

Key Takeaways

• Google Drawings is a free, cloud based tool for creative and visual learning.

• Great for art, design, diagrams, mapping, and maths concepts like tessellation and symmetry.

• Works seamlessly within Google Workspace (Docs, Slides, Classroom).

• Promotes collaboration, creativity, and sustainable digital practice.

• Best used on laptops or Chromebooks (not mobile or iPad compatible).

• A powerful entry point for digital art and design across the curriculum.

• Perfect for collaborative planning and thinking through new projects with colleagues.

Episode notes

Dive into the wonderfully versatile world of Ozobot, tiny, sensor powered robots that can be colour coded with textas / markers or block coded. Our listener question inspires a discussion into how to use Ozobots in KLAs beyond Digital Technologies. We explore practical, engaging classroom ideas that span English, HSIE, Science, and PDHPE. As always we give common troubleshooting tips and real stories from the classroom to give you an insight using these pocket-sized robots in your classroom.

Key Takeaways

1. Ozobots are ideal for screen free coding

2. Cross curricular potential is great, but be sure they aren’t overpowering the content you are aiming for.

3. The creative layer boosts engagement in areas which may need it (e.g. understanding perimeter) and enhance it in others (e.g. coding a narrative)

Episode notes

Dive into one of the best known coding tools in Australian classrooms: Scratch. In this conversation we unpack why Scratch continues to be a favourite, how to introduce it with confidence and give examples of how it can enhance learning across subjects. From block coding foundations to project ideas, hardware integrations and classroom management tips, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help teachers use Scratch as a tool for creativity, computational thinking and problem-solving.

Key Takeaways

• Scratch is a free, block-based coding platform designed for ages 8–16 that lowers the barrier to entry for coding through visual, drag-and-drop blocks.

• Suitable for new learners and those who need extension.

• Its familiarity and longevity make it less intimidating for teachers who want a foolproof, supported way to introduce programming.

• Ensure students create accounts so they can save multi-lesson projects and avoid tears over lost work.

• Use Scratch’s class function to manage and support students access and projects.

• Encourage students to explore existing community projects and use the ‘See Inside’ feature to learn from other creators' code.

• In built tutorials help those who need step-by-step scaffolding.

Episode notes

Drawing on real classroom experience, Rach and Clare explore how Canva can streamline design tasks, reduce time spent policing image use and empower students to communicate their learning creatively. From posters and presentations to podcasting, video, green screen, and interactive projects, this episode is packed with ideas you can try straight away, especially as you’re setting up for a new school year.

Key Takeaways

• Canva for Education provides free Pro-level access for teachers and students using a @edu email

• Canva supports the creation of multimodal texts, making it ideal for English and other KLAs

• Canva enables student choice through video, audio, visual, and interactive formats

• Built in copyright compliance makes it safer and easier for classroom use

• Collaboration features support group work but require clear expectations

• Canva can be a powerful differentiation tool, particularly for students who struggle with handwriting or fine motor skills

• https://www.canva.com/