How can we use technology to amplify teaching? - a roundtable discussion

There’s no doubt about it. The COVID-19 school closures have been the catalyst to push education technology into the mainstream. So as schools across Australia return to some normality, how do we ensure that the technology that we take back to the classroom is grounded in sound pedagogy and not simply replacing one process with another?

Downloads of EdTech tools in Australia surged by 190% in March 2020 according to our research paper with educational analyst, ImpactEd. Technology has the potential to transform classrooms but only when it is designed and implemented in a way that focuses on improving outcomes for teachers and their students.

Images of panel members

Hear our thoughts

Catch up on our webinar with a panel of leading educators from across Australia and New Zealand. To learn how their schools are using technology to enhance teaching and learning.

During the discussion our speakers delved into their own experiences to provide listeners with actionable and practical advice. That will help you when selecting and implementing the right tools and EdTech strategies for your school, including:

  • What Senior Leaders and educators should be looking for in EdTech tools
  • How technology can minimise teacher workloads and maximise student outcomes
  • Using technology and data to guide instructional decision making

Sign up to watch the discussion

Meet the panel

Vanna Blucher, SENCo/Learning Support Leader at Hobsonville Point Secondary School, New Zealand

Vanna has been the SenCo/Learning Support Leader at Hobsonville Point Secondary School for over five years. Her journey into using technology to support learning started as she entered a very technology-rich school. With incredible support from the entire staff to ensure practice is inclusive of all learners, Vanna and her team continue to learn, refine and apply UDL into their teaching.

Danny Rankin, Inclusion Consultant, Learning Services for the Catholic Schools Office Diocese of Lismore

Danny has city, regional and rural teaching and principalship experience. His interest and study has been in the area of diversity. He currently has system responsibility for the education opportunities offered to students with diverse needs in the Catholic Diocese of Lismore, NSW.

Michelle Van Puyvelde, School Leader NCCD and Inclusion at the ACT Education Directorate, Australia

Michelle has worked for 31 years as an Early Childhood and Special/Inclusive Educator in Western Sydney and across the ACT. Michelle has a Masters of Inclusive and Special Education from Monash University and is passionate about coaching and mentoring fellow colleagues in the Universal Design for Learning framework to enhance differentiated classroom practice.

Greg O’Connor, AsiaPac EdTech Manager at Texthelp

Greg has been actively involved in education for over 30 years. During this time he has worked as a classroom teacher, school executive, consultant, regional manager with the New South Wales Department of Education, Australia and as a technology consultant and coach. As the Educational Technology Manager for Texthelp’s AsiaPac Team, Greg helps to make sure that the over half a million users of Texthelp products across the region get the most out of this technology.