Curated news, resources and upcoming events in the K-12 sector - in this edition we look at creative thinking leaders, the importance of parent-teacher conversations and life-ready signals
In each edition you'll find curated summaries of news, resources and upcoming events in K-12. New editions are sent out regularly - scan the summaries or read the story in full. Want to discuss skills in your school? We invite you to reach out.
Enjoy till next time!
Aussie Students Global Leaders in Creative Thinking
by The Educator
Australian students rank 4th globally in creative thinking per PISA 2022. Curiosity, linked to better well-being and academic success, is essential in education. Girls outperform boys in creativity due to differing study focuses. Experts emphasise the need for ongoing efforts to integrate creativity into the curriculum to prepare students for future work challenges.
What 40 Million Messages Tell Us About Parent-Teacher Communication
By Nadia Tamez-Robledo | EdSurge
A study of 40 million messages by TalkingPoints and Google highlights the importance of parent-teacher communication in addressing chronic absenteeism. Most messages focus on logistics rather than academics. Improving these learning-centered conversations is essential for student success. Research shows that such engagement can significantly impact student outcomes, especially for those from immigrant and low-income families
How Do We Provision Learners With Better Life-Ready Signals?
By Kristine Chompff | Edalex
Students often lack practical skills for the workforce, necessitating life-ready signals to showcase their abilities. Personal Evidence Records (PER) and digital tools like badges and skills wallets provide a comprehensive view of a student's skills and achievements, moving beyond traditional resumes to offer a more holistic picture. Connecting and interpreting skills data through specific EdTech platforms such as Credentialate, enables a detailed, contextualised view of skills. These technologies support a skills-based economy and help students present their skills effectively to employers, educational institutions and others.
HSPA honoured Secretary’s Award for School Achievement for their Mastery Learning System
By Edalex
On 5 August 2024, the Hunter School of Performing Arts (HSPA) received the Secretary’s Award for School Achievement at the 2024 Public Education Awards for their Mastery Learning System. This system, developed in collaboration with Edalex and Learning Vault, has garnered both national and international recognitions. The award recognises HSPA's exceptional contributions to public education, highlighting innovative programs that enhance student progress and outcomes. HSPA's system focuses on transformative, evidence-based pedagogy, fostering a growth mindset and learning community engagement.
Release of AI-generated Rich Skill Descriptors (RSD)
By Edalex
Edalex has released over 270 Rich Skill Descriptor (RSD) skill clusters, totaling 1,686 RSDs, onto the openRSD platform. A GenAI project converted the Australian Skills Classification 3.0 into a digital format to enhance skills data interoperability and availability. This release supports the development of a National Skills Taxonomy by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) and aims to provide a common language and better connection between education, skills and employment.
