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Apple books ebooks ed tech Facebook future Games and gaming internet iPads Mental health pedagogy popular culture robots and drones sociology

ICT news and other trends

Why technologists are limiting their families’ screen time

Michelle Simmons, physicist and 2018 Australian of the Year, does not allow her teenage children to use smartphones or social media. She sees benefits in doing something else with a spare half hour, rather than using a smartphone. In December 2018, the ACCC completed an investigation into Google and Facebook, warning of the danger of ‘filter bubbles’ in public discourse. A final report is due this year. In the UK, a parliamentary committee recommended regulation of big tech companies and making them legally liable for content shared on their websites. Sean Parker, Facebook’s first president, says the company is exploiting vulnerabilities in human minds and children’s brains.

https://www.smh.com.au/technology/why-technologists-are-limiting-their-families-screen-time-20190226-p510bh.html

https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/competition-watchdog-suggests-new-ombudsman-to-handle-google-and-facebook-20181210-p50l80.html

 

Teens ‘not damaged by screen time’

An Oxford University study found there is little evidence of a link between the amount of time teenagers spend on devices and their general wellbeing. Data was used from 17,000 adolescents in the UK, US and Ireland via self-reporting and time-diary techniques.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47825826

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0956797619830329

 

Fortnite: Is Prince Harry right to want game banned?

Prince Harry believes the game is ‘created to addict’. He added that social media was “more addictive than alcohol and drugs”. China’s tech giant Tencent has tightened checks on the age of people playing online games – checking identities and ages against a police database. Children under 12 are only able to play for an hour a day. Older children can play for up to two hours, but not during a night-time curfew.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47813894

 

‘Major distraction’: school dumps iPads, returns to paper textbooks

Reddam House primary and lower secondary classes have used e-textbooks on iPads for 5 years, but students have consistently said that they preferred pages to screens. Teachers found that the iPads distracted students and now the school is reverting to print textbooks. Students in Year 11 and 12 always had print textbooks.

https://www.smh.com.au/education/major-distraction-school-dumps-ipads-returns-to-paper-textbooks-20190329-p5191r.html

 

Trends shaping education – Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills OECD

1.Higher expectations of education: Within the next 10 years, the majority of the world’s population will be middle class, with high expectations (China and India will make up 90% of the entrants to the middle class). 2. Digitalisation: A dilemma for education is that the kinds of things that are easy to teach and test have also become easy to digitise, automate and outsource. Students will need skills to navigate the uncertainty of the gig economy. ‘Education has won the race with technology throughout history, but there is no guarantee it will do so in the future. The future is about pairing the artificial intelligence of computers with the cognitive, social, and emotional skills and values of human beings. It will be our imagination, our awareness and our sense of responsibility that will enable us to harness digitalisation to shape the world for the better.’ (Schleicher). 3. The need for continuous learning: Students will need to think for themselves, work with empathy and also collaborate. They will need to understand other cultures and how others think. They must learn to sort fact from fiction. Longer working lives bring changing skill demands. ‘For those with the right knowledge and skills, digitalisation and globalisation have been liberating and exciting; but for those who are insufficiently prepared, they can mean vulnerable and insecure work, and a life without prospects.’ (Schleicher)

https://www.teachermagazine.com.au/columnists/andreas-schleicher/trends-shaping-education?utm_source=CM&utm_medium=bulletin&utm_content=March5

 

A whole school approach to inquiry learning

Mother Teresa Primary in Westmead NSW use an inquiry-based approach in all areas of teaching and learning. Students work through 3 phases of learning: the Explore Phase, the Investigate Phase and the Building Phase, where students test, play and create possibilities. ‘Inquiry learning allows students to develop their skills in communication, collaboration, creativity, reflection and critical thinking.’ (AP Katherine Stennett). Staff also use the approach in their learning. The learning program itself is not written in advance, it is co-written with students as they journey through the learning. The inquiry-based approach allows teachers to understand exactly where their students are at in their learning.

https://www.teachermagazine.com.au/articles/a-whole-school-approach-to-inquiry-learning

 

Drones now delivering in Canberra

Google’s drone company Wing is launching this week in Canberra, with drones delivering coffee, bread, ice cream, pharmacy items and other things. This is a world-first permanent operation after trials across Canberra. There has been some concern about drone noise and a quieter model has been unveiled. Drone deliveries could inject up to $40 million into the ACT economy.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6011496/drone-delivery-service-gets-the-green-light/

 

Categories
Mental health sociology

Mental health news and resources

Be You – new mental health program for schools

Julia Gillard and Johanna Griggs are teaming up to launch ‘Be You’, a mental health support initiative for every Australian school. The program will be delivered by Beyondblue in partnership with Headspace and Early Childhood Australia, beginning 2019. It will provide teachers with the skills and resources to teach students how to manage their mental health and wellbeing, build resilience and support the mental wellbeing of other students. Minister for Health Greg Hunt: ‘Be You will teach educators to identify any students who may be experiencing mental health difficulties, and to work with the families and local services to get the right help early on. It will also help educators look after their own mental health. As half of all mental health disorders in Australia emerge before the age of 14, schools and early learning services in Australia represent one of the best opportunities for mental health issues to be detected early and managed. ’

https://au.news.yahoo.com/julia-gillard-joh-griggs-join-221232135.html

https://www.miragenews.com/new-school-based-program-to-support-children-s-mental-health/

 

Anxiety Disorders in Young People

Free webcast led by Professor Jennie Hudson. Tues 20 November – different time choices for different states, including evening. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders and emerge the earliest. This presentation explores the development of anxiety, treatment options and how to best support young people.

https://mailchi.mp/generationnext/2bq3pk7od2-1550149?e=f830c84692

 

Infographic: Personal concerns of young Australians

Based on the 2017 Youth Survey by Mission Australia. The biggest concern was coping with stress, followed by school or study problems, body image and depression. This year’s results are due next month.

https://www.teachermagazine.com.au/articles/infographic-personal-concerns-of-young-australians

https://www.missionaustralia.com.au/what-we-do/research-evaluation/youth-survey

 

Talking to someone you’re worried about

Ask, listen, support. Practical suggestions for conversations.

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/have-the-conversation/talking-to-someone-you-are-worried-about

Useful phrases people who have experienced anxiety or depression say are most helpful to hear during difficult times:

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/have-the-conversation/what-to-say-and-why

 

5 lifestyle changes to enhance mental health

Nature, sleep, exercise….

http://theconversation.com/five-lifestyle-changes-to-enhance-your-mood-and-mental-health-102650

 

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books censorship ed tech future Games and gaming Google human rights internet literature Mental health mobile phones popular culture Science resources sociology websites

Social credit in China, ICT and book news

Social credit in China

You may have seen the intriguing Foreign Correspondent program on ABC 18 Sept. China is undertaking the most ambitious social engineering program the world has ever seen. Their ‘social credit’ system is designed to engineer better individual behaviour. By 2020 China’s 1.4 billion citizens will get a personal digital scorecard, with good behaviour rewarded and bad behaviour punished. Some say it is the world’s first digital dictatorship.

Excellent article with video. Looks at a young woman with a good social credit score and a journalist who lost his social credit and had his access to various services disabled: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-18/china-social-credit-a-model-citizen-in-a-digital-dictatorship/10200278

Foreign Correspondent ABC 18 Sept: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/foreign-correspondent

Black Mirror in China?: https://www.newstatesman.com/world/asia/2018/04/no-china-isn-t-black-mirror-social-credit-scores-are-more-complex-and-sinister

 

Women in physics

The new HSC physics syllabus for NSW will contain no mention of the contributions of female physicists to the field. The syllabus has 25 scientists mentioned 56 times and focuses completely on male physicists and their work. It is also believed that the gender gap in the science workforce will persist for generations, particularly in surgery, computer science, physics and maths. The gender gap was measured using data on 36 million authors of 10 million articles in 6000 scientific journals published since 2003. Globally in science and medicine, women make up 40% of the workforce, but some fields will take many years before the gender gap disappears.

https://theconversation.com/year-11-and-12-students-in-nsw-will-no-longer-learn-about-womens-contributions-to-physics-102988

https://theconversation.com/new-study-says-the-gender-gap-in-science-could-take-generations-to-fix-95150

 

URLs – is it time for something new?

Internet pioneer Tim Berners-Lee regrets developing the double slash after ‘http’. A growing group now think the URL is increasingly complicated and too easily compromised. Google said they are rethinking URLs as they are hard to read and hard to know if they can be trusted. Even the ‘https with a padlock symbol’ doesn’t mean much as both good and bad sites can be encrypted.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-09-16/google-time-to-reinvent-the-url-web-browser/10238296

 

Phenomenal success of Fortnite

Launched in Sept 2017, the online video game Fortnite now has over 125 million players and has made $1.6 billion for Epic Games. It has also been linked to 200 divorces. Fortnite’s success is due to 3 principles: accessibility (it’s free with in-app purchases, on all platforms and simple to play); sociality (players can express themselves and play with others) and spectacle (failure is fun and a spectator sport). Tyler ‘Ninja’ Blevins, a gamer on YouTube and Twitch, has made up to $500 000 a month streaming Fortnite sessions from his bedroom.

https://theconversation.com/stay-alive-and-if-something-moves-shoot-it-one-year-of-phenomenal-success-for-fortnite-103528

Could playing Fortnite lead to ‘gaming disorder’ (video game addiction)? The World Health Organisation says yes, others disagree.

https://theconversation.com/could-playing-fortnite-lead-to-video-game-addiction-the-world-health-organisation-says-yes-but-others-disagree-98458

 

3 things we can learn from people who don’t use smartphones or social media

They spent more face-to-face time with others – connecting, talking, touching and supporting. They know that switching off is not missing out – it is exhausting to sustain numerous online connections, endless exchanges of trivial information and keep up with the overwhelming flow of information and tasks. They enjoyed new-found vitality because they connected with the world around them, helping them to reset and relax. They also had more free time.

https://theconversation.com/three-things-we-can-all-learn-from-people-who-dont-use-smartphones-or-social-media-103468

 

Man Booker Prize Shortlist 2018

Winner announced 16 Oct 2018. Includes previous winners.

https://www.bookdepository.com/Man-Booker-Prize?utm_source=NL-Body&utm_medium=email-Newsletter&utm_term=button&utm_content=MANBOOKER&utm_campaign=20180920_MANBOOKER_SHORTLIST

 

Man Booker Prize – best of the rest

The bestselling shortlisted titles that didn’t win from 50 years of the Booker Prize. Includes The handmaid’s tale; A fine balance; Cloud atlas; The secret river; Atonement; Empire of the sun; Dirt music; Notes on a scandal….

https://www.bookdepository.com/dealsAndOffers/promo/id/1876

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ed tech future Google internet Mental health mobile phones popular culture robots and drones sociology

ICT news, top tools and tech trends

We need to talk about kids and smartphones

US statistics and a variety of expert opinion..…. but are increasing rates of teenage depression and suicide linked to smartphone use and social media? Since the advent of smartphones in 2007, mental health issues have increased dramatically and anecdotal evidence from Australian schools seems to support this hypothesis. Even if smartphones aren’t the cause of mental health issues, they can fuel teenage angst. With phone use, young people are constantly distracted, less sensitive to the emotions of others, feel disinhibited about saying things and see whitewashed lives that seem perfect. Staring at screens also limits social interaction and its benefits.

http://time.com/4974863/kids-smartphones-depression/

 

Top 200 tools for learning 2017

Compiled by Jane Hart in the 11th annual survey of 2 174 learning professionals from 52 countries. Includes top 100 tools for personal and professional learning, workplace learning and education.

All 3 lists, including new tools with info: http://c4lpt.co.uk/top100tools/

Top 100 tools for education: http://c4lpt.co.uk/top100tools/rankings/

  1. Google Docs/Drive 2. Word 3. PowerPoint 4. YouTube 5. Google Search 6. Excel 7. Wikipedia 8. Prezi 9. Twitter 10. Kahoot. Interesting to see WhatsApp at #13 – great for backchannelling, projecting via web, collecting material, sharing resources, no text limitation. Canva, the very simple and effective graphic design tool, is at #19. http://c4lpt.co.uk/top100tools/canva/

WhatsApp: http://c4lpt.co.uk/top100tools/whatsapp/

Analysis: http://c4lpt.co.uk/top100tools/analysis/

 

Top 10 technology trends 2018

From research firm Gartner – foremost are artificial intelligence and machine learning, used in many areas. Intelligent apps that use AI have the potential to transform the nature of work. Other intelligent ‘things’ such as autonomous vehicles and drones will see rapid growth. Conversational platforms (eg.Siri) will be the main goal for user interaction. Virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality are of high interest but need much more development. Blockchain technologies, a core component of the digital currency BitCoin, are still in their infancy, but will have a huge impact on the future of the internet.

https://www.crn.com.au/gallery/here-are-the-top-10-technology-trends-of-2018-according-to-gartner-474796/page1?eid=61&edate=20171007&utm_source=20171007&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=crnweekly_newsletter

 

Blockchain

Blockchain is a kind of ‘vast, global, distributed ledger running on millions of computers and available to everybody, and where every kind of asset from money to music can be stored, moved, transacted, exchanged and managed all without powerful intermediaries’ (Don Tapscott). Blockchain technologies enable ‘exchange of value without intermediaries acting as arbiters of money or information’. They will enable excluded people to enter the global economy, protect privacy, allow people to monetise their own information and ensure creators are compensated for their intellectual property. Uses of blockchain include cryptocurrencies, online voting, insurance, Internet of Things, medical records, smart contracts, music industry and copyright payments.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain

http://au.pcmag.com/amazon-web-services/46389/feature/blockchain-the-invisible-technology-thats-changing-the-world

 

Robots to mark NAPLAN?

From 2018, NAPLAN writing tasks will be marked by an automated essay scoring system and then double-marked by a teacher. Fully automated testing and marking will be introduced by 2020. Some experts believe it is impossible for a robot to score the subjective aspects of writing. Perelman (ex MIT) notes that algorithms tend to reward ‘verbose gibberish’ and give higher marks to essays with complex words and sentences. ‘Assessment of creativity, poetry, irony or other more artistic uses of writing is beyond such systems.’ Rabinowitz (from ACARA) believes automated essay scoring for NAPLAN tasks ‘works as well as human markers.’ Robots vs humans…it’s happening.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-12/us-academics-warn-against-automated-naplan-english-testing/9039408

 

School Library Journal Tech Trends 2017

Free webcasts, available live or on demand. 1. Build a makerspace 2. 60 tools in 60-ish minutes 3. Take the plunge: STREAM (add reading).

https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=reg20.jsp&referrer=&eventid=1488038&sessionid=1&key=5AEEB5CADFA4BAD227B0D13CB1C29AE8&regTag=155881&sourcepage=register

 

18 good Chromebook apps for education

Kahoot, Socrative, Canva, PiktoChart, Haiku Deck, Tiki-Toki….

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2017/10/18-good-educational-chromebook-apps-to.html

Categories
Mental health sociology

Anxiety the most common mental health condition in Australia

Today is World Mental Health Day.

 

From Beyondblue (Julia Gillard is now the Chair):

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. In any one year, around 1 million Australian adults have depression, and over 2 million have anxiety. In Australia, it is estimated that 45 per cent of people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime.”

One in 14 young Australians aged 4-17 experienced an anxiety disorder in 2015.

 

Beyondblue are now running the Know when anxiety is talking campaign. Excellent info about anxiety; checklist; signs and symptoms; management: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/10/09/world-mental-health-day-julia-gillard-and-beyondblues-mission-to-help-anxious-australians-get-well_a_23237128/

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts

 

From Black Dog Institute:

20% of Australians will have a mental illness in any year. In Australia, youth 18-24 years old have the highest prevalence of mental illness, with the onset of mental illness typically around mid to late adolescence.

https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/default-source/factsheets/facts_figures.pdf?sfvrsn=10

 

Interesting articles about anxiety from Generation Next: http://www.generationnext.com.au/?s=anxiety

 

10 anxiety management strategies: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/treatments-for-anxiety/anxiety-management-strategies

 

Finding help: https://www.ruok.org.au/findhelp

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/national-help-lines-and-websites

 

Understanding anxiety in young people – Prof. Jennie Hudson (Macquarie Uni): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbEAoDrT5fo

 

Clicks and likes contributing to a teen anxiety crisis

An increasing dependency on activities associated with the brain’s excitement-pleasure circuitry contributes to rising levels of anxiety and depression in teenagers today.

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/clicks-and-likes-contributing-to-a-teen-anxiety-crisis-20170726-gxjhcs.html

 

Young, stressed and depressed

Standardised tests, social media and cyberbullying all contribute to stress for young people.

https://www.australiascience.tv/young-stressed-and-depressed/

Categories
future Games and gaming Mental health pedagogy popular culture sociology

Work, Society, Youth and Education

Some interesting social info…..

 

The New Work Smarts: thriving in the New Work Order

This report from the Foundation for Young Australians notes that the way we work is increasingly affected by three key economic drivers – automation, globalisation and flexibility. The research analysed 20 billion hours of work completed by 12 million Australian workers each year to predict the skills and capabilities that will matter most in 2030. “It is predicted that we will, on average, spend 30% more time per week learning skills on the job; spend double the time at work solving problems, spend 41% more time on critical thinking and judgment, and 77% more time using science and mathematics skills; utilise verbal communication and interpersonal skills for 7 hours a week each (up 17 per cent); and develop an entrepreneurial mindset due to having less management (down 26 per cent), less organisational coordination (down 16 per cent) and less teaching (down 10 per cent).”

https://www.fya.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/FYA_TheNewWorkSmarts_July2017.pdf

https://www.fya.org.au/

Interesting articles: https://www.fya.org.au/category/all-articles/

 

If Australia was a street of 100 households

Interesting stats from the census. 20% baby boomers; 22% Gen Y; 11% Gen Alpha (from 2010). 47% both Aust. born; 34% none Aust. born; 11% one Aust. born. Average house price 11x average full-time earnings.

https://mccrindle.worldsecuresystems.com/blog/2017/07/Australia-Street-2017-McCrindle-DIGITAL.pdf

Australia’s population map and generational profile: https://mccrindle.myportfolio.com/pop-map

Other interesting visuals and infographics from McCrindle social research group: https://mccrindle.myportfolio.com/

 

Generation Next

Generation Next has excellent resources to protect and enhance the mental health of young people. Subscribe to the newsletter.

http://www.generationnext.com.au/

Blog – many interesting articles including: Want to rebound from failure?; When to push a child; Working memory boosters for kids.

http://www.generationnext.com.au/inform/blog/

 

Generation Next YouTube channel:

Videos include: How to support teens in distress; How can we support someone with a gaming addiction? Encouraging boys to be respectful and caring; How resilient are young people today?

https://www.youtube.com/c/GenerationNextCommunity

 

The potential of pro-social media

Generation Next video by Dan Haesler. Social media is not all bad news. What strategies can be used to enhance digital literacy, understanding of the world and even job prospects?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5tPHZVfQKE

 

Schools need to slow down

Australian schools are caught up in the cult of speed, driven by NAPLAN reporting and the evidence of improvement. ‘Slow schooling’ is needed to support learning for all. Teachers and school leaders need time to work together to find effective and creative ways of educating hard-to-reach learners, considering carefully the individual interests and aspirations of students. There should be no pressure for quick responses.  https://theconversation.com/for-long-term-improvements-schools-need-to-slow-down-83222

 

Business of addiction: how the games industry is learning from casinos

Video gaming on mobile devices has led to a massive expansion of the games industry. The industry uses psychologists, neuroscientists and marketing experts to turn customers into addicts. The ‘free to play’ (FTP) model allows the majority of players to play for free, while a few players will become addicted and spend huge amounts on extra content. The latest trend is the creation of ‘whales’ – people so addicted to games that they spend their life savings buying in-game content.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-13/video-game-addiction-how-the-industry-is-learning-from-casinos/8941114

 

Categories
Mental health

RUOK? Day Thursday 8 Sept

RUOK? Day is tomorrow Thursday 8 September and World Suicide Prevention Day is on Sat 10 Sept. We have a display of mental health resources in the library. It’s a great day to check in with someone you care about – students, family, friends and colleagues. And it’s ok to say “No, I’m not ok”.

https://www.ruok.org.au/365-day-resources

Inspiring conversations and stories: https://www.ruok.org.au/stories

World Suicide Prevention Day: http://wspd.org.au/

 

Getting help

 Lifeline https://www.lifeline.org.au/ 24hr crisis support on 13 11 14. Suicide prevention, crisis support and mental health services.

beyondblue  https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Information about depression to consumers, carers and health professionals.

Black Dog Institute http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/  Information, self-tests and resources about mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder.

Headspace http://headspace.org.au/ Support, information and assistance for young people aged 12 to 25 years who are experiencing emotional or mental health issues and/or a substance use issue.

eheadspace  https://www.eheadspace.org.au/ A confidential, free and secure space where young people 12 – 25 or their family can chat, email or speak on the phone with a qualified youth mental health professional.

Reachout http://au.reachout.com/ Support for tough times, wellbeing, toolbox.

e-couch https://ecouch.anu.edu.au/welcome  Self-help modules for depression, general anxiety, social anxiety, relationships, bereavement.

MoodGym https://moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome Learn cognitive behaviour therapy skills for preventing and coping with depression.

Kids Helpline https://kidshelpline.com.au/  24 hour telephone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. Ph. 1800 55 1800.

Living is for Everyone (LIFE) http://www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/ Suicide and self-harm prevention resource, dedicated to providing the best available evidence and resources to guide activities aimed at reducing the rate at which people take their lives in Australia.

Mens Line Australia  https://www.mensline.org.au/  A telephone support, information and referral service for men. Ph. 1300 78 99 78.

Suicide Prevention Australia https://www.suicidepreventionaust.org/   A public health advocate in suicide prevention.

Supportlink StandBy Response Service  https://www.supportlink.com.au/standby.aspxs  A community crisis response service for families, friends and associates who have been bereaved through suicide.

 

Living Is For Everyone (LIFE)

This Australian Government project is a suicide and self-harm prevention resource.

Excellent links, fact sheets and information: http://www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/

24 fact sheets:  http://www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/resources/individual-fact-sheets/

Brochure: Suicide – worried about someone?  http://www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/resources/suicide-worried-about-someone-brochure/

Excellent links to services for helplines, mental health, drugs and alcohol, youth, gender diversity, bereavement:  http://www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/links/

 

Categories
books films Mental health

Good books

More good reads…..

 

Australian Book Industry Awards 

These awards are decided by industry experts who select the best titles published in Australia each year. Last year the top award for Book of the Year went to the childrens’ book The 52-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton. This year’s winners include:

Book of the Year and Biography: Reckoning – Magda Szubanski.

General Non Fiction: Island home – Tim Winton.

Literary Fiction: The other side of the world – Stephanie Bishop.

Book of the Year for Younger Children: The 65-storey treehouse – Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton.

Book of the Year for Older Children: Illuminae – Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

Publisher of the Year: Allen & Unwin.

Independent Bookseller of the Year: Readings.

http://abiawards.com.au/current-winners/

http://abiawards.com.au/general/announcing-the-abia-book-shortlist/

 

Australian Book Industry Innovation Award

Winner: The Best of Friends Social and Emotional Learning Program. The program is aimed at primary school students, with stories and illustrations by Connah Brecon, Barbara Gonzalez and Lisa Diebold. Topics include making friends, social expectations, compromise, empathy, peacemaking, conflict resolution.

http://bof.quirkykid.com.au/

The program is part of Quirky Kid Psychology Clinic http://childpsychologist.com.au/

Lots of good fact sheets and info re child psychology and wellbeing: http://childpsychologist.com.au/resources/

Books and resources: https://therapeuticresources.com.au/

 

7 books to read before they hit the screens

The girl on the train – Paula Hawkins. Last year’s bestselling mystery – a woman watches a couple on the train each morning and one day sees something shocking. Emily Blunt to star. Opens September.

Me before you – Jojo Moyes. A young woman becomes a carer for a young man and their lives are changed forever. Emilia Clarke to star. Opens June.

The light between oceans – M. L. Stedman. The award-winning tale of a lighthouse keeper and his wife who rescue a baby adrift in a boat and raise her as their own, with unforeseen consequences. Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander to star. Opens September.

Inferno – Dan Brown. Symbologist Robert Langdon must decipher codes within Renaissance artworks in order to save the world. Tom Hanks to star. Opens October.

Fantastic beasts and where to find them – J.K.Rowling. Set 70 years before Harry Potter; the adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York’s secret community of witches and wizards. Eddie Redmayne to star. Opens December.

The BFG – Roald Dahl. The adventures of Sophie and the giant will be released as a film in June, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Mark Rylance. Opens July.

Big little lies – Liane Moriarty. The lives of a group of middle class women and their partners start to unravel and many secrets are revealed. The HBO series comes out in 2017, starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon.

http://www.betterreading.com.au/book_list/seven-books-to-read-before-they-hit-screens-near-you/

Categories
ed tech future Games and gaming internet Mental health pedagogy popular culture TEDTalks virtual reality

ICT news

Digital Australia Report 2016 (DA16)

The video game industry in Australia is worth over $1 billion a year and sales exceed movie box office receipts. The Australian games industry is growing and video games are being used widely in education, health and ageing. Bond University and IGEA (Interactive Games & Entertainment Assoc.) surveyed 3398 Australians of all ages. 68% of the population plays video games – mostly on PCs but phones and tablets have seen increased use for adults. Children play on all devices. Average age of video gamers is 33 years. 47% of video game players are female. 98% of homes with children have video games. 35% of children have played games for the school curriculum. 24% have used video games at work for training. 89% say video gaming can improve thinking skills. 61% think video games could fight dementia. 49% of people over 50 play – the fastest growing segment.

http://www.igea.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Digital-Australia-2016-DA16-Final.pdf

 

PlayStation Virtual Reality headset

PlayStation VR, Sony’s virtual reality headset  for the PlayStation 4, will arrive in October 2016 for $AU550. Attached to a comfortable padded headset, special curved lenses stretch and magnify a 5.7 inch screen across your field of vision. It will come with 50 games, immersing you in a 3D world of virtual reality. You will also need a PlayStation camera and motion controllers (wands). It will be cheaper than the other 2 VR headsets coming this year – Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

http://www.cnet.com/products/sony-playstation-vr/?ftag=CAD1acfa04&bhid=23787909704659446143753669728655

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality were huge this year at TED in Vancouver and the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, with VR headsets now available with the latest mobile phones. Mark Zuckerberg: “VR is the next platform, where anyone can experience and share anything they want”.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ted-virtual-augmented-reality-1.3453884

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/mwc-2016-virtual-reality-steals-the-show-in-barcelona-20160224-gn24fq.html

 

Minecraft Education Edition

Minecraft (owned by Microsoft) is used in over 7000 classrooms in more than 40 countries. Microsoft recently acquired learning game MinecraftEdu from Finland, which has lessons for teachers using Minecraft with STEM, history, language and art. The new Minecraft Education Edition will be rolled out mid 2016 – free at first, then $5 pa per child.

http://education.minecraft.net/

 

Do games boost learning?

A 2013 French study of 27 000 Year 9 students found very little correlation between playing video games and cognitive/school tests. However, a new study from the Uni of Bristol found that progressive scoring systems in games deactivate the brain’s Default Mode Network and quieten down parts of the brain associated with unfocused mind-wandering. Students given a gamified quiz showed higher engagement and more goal-directed behaviour.

http://readwrite.com/2016/01/27/video-games-education-default-attention-mode/

 

Problem: Australia’s internet/broadband speed

In 2015, our download speed was ranked 49th in the world . By 2025, our broadband speed will be 75% of the world average, ranking 100th. The government’s Fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) network will struggle to accommodate all devices and their download requirements in the future (eg. 4K ultra HD video streaming).

http://theconversation.com/infographic-how-fast-is-the-nbn-54392

 

Social media and sleep

No surprise really…recent Uni of Pittsburgh studies of 19-32 yr olds found heavy use of social media was linked to sleep problems and a significantly greater risk of depression. A 2015 study of 11-17 yr olds found social media use was linked to diminished sleep quality, lower self-esteem and elevated levels of anxiety and depression.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleep-newzzz/201601/tweeting-not-sleeping-balancing-sleep-and-social-media

Categories
Mental health

RUOK? Day and World Suicide Prevention Day 10 Sept

RUOK? Day and World Suicide Prevention Day are both on this Thursday 10 Sept.

https://ruok.org.au/inspire-conversations

http://wspd.org.au/

 

Living Is For Everyone

This Aust. Govt project is a suicide and self-harm prevention resource. Excellent links, fact sheets and information.

http://www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/Home.html

24 fact sheets: http://www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/LIFE-Fact-sheets.html

Brochure: Suicide – worried about someone?: http://www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/Suicide-worried-about-someone.html

Excellent links to services for helplines, mental health, drugs and alcohol, youth, gender diversity, bereavement…. http://www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/Links.html

 

You may have seen this email today from the ACT Govt:

 

You can recognise the signs – Let’s Talk for Suicide Prevention

It is distressing to realise that someone close to you may be considering taking their own life. It is often difficult to know what to say or what to do. People need to know that it is OK to Talk. Recognising the warning signs is one way that you can support someone who you are concerned about.

Below are some suggested signs that you might look out for in someone you know who may be at risk:

  • Have you noticed any changes in their behaviour? For instance have they began giving away precious objects;
  • Has the person begun to withdraw? Do they make excuses not to go out with friends and family like they have in the past?
  • Has the person you are concerned about stopped engaging in the activities that they usually enjoy?
  • Why do people take their own life?
  • There are no simple explanations as to why people take their own life and often the reasons are not clear to others. A person’s desire to take their own life may be driven by a number of factors. It is often related to a desire to escape intolerable emotional or physical pain or a sense of hopelessness.

 

There are a number of factors that are known to increase a person’s risk (risk factors):

 

  • Poor physical or mental health;
  • A history of deliberate self-harm;
  • Social or financial problems;
  • Discrimination;
  • Low educational achievement;
  • Legal problems;
  • Imprisonment;
  • Lack of parental bonding;
  • Family violence or disharmony;
  • Lack of friends;
  • Experiences of bullying;
  • Experiences of harassment;
  • Experiences of abuse; and
  • Social isolation.

 

There are also some things that may reduce the possibility that an individual or group of individual’s will become suicidal (protective factors):

 

  • Good physical and mental health;
  • Economic security;
  • Self-esteem;
  • A spiritual or religious belief;
  • A personal sense of meaning or purpose to life;
  • Personal resilience and problem-solving skills;
  • Connectedness to family and school;
  • Responsibility for children;
  • Functional family communication patterns;
  • The presence of a significant other person in an individual’s life;
  • Community and social integration; and
  • Non-stigmatised community attitudes to mental illness.

 

Getting help

 

Living is for Everyone (LIFE) website is a world-class suicide and self-harm prevention resource. Dedicated to providing the best available evidence and resources to guide activities aimed at reducing the rate at which people take their lives in Australia.

The LIFE website is designed for people across the community who are involved in suicide and self-harm prevention activities.

Suicide Prevention Australia a non-profit, non-government organisation working as a public health advocate in suicide prevention.

Supportlink StandBy Response Service is a coordinated community crisis response service for families, friends and associates who have been bereaved through suicide.

Lifeline Australia 24hr crisis support on 13 11 14. Suicide prevention, crisis support and mental health services.

beyondblue Australian organisation provides information about depression to consumers, carers and health professionals.

Headspace http://headspace.org.au/ provides support, information and assistance for young people aged 12 to 25 years who are experiencing emotional or mental health issues and/or a substance use issue.

eheadspace is a confidential, free and secure space where young people 12 – 25 or their family can chat, email or speak on the phone with a qualified youth mental health professional.

Kids Helpline a 24 hour telephone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. Ph. 1800 55 1800.

Mens Line Australia a telephone support, information and referral service, helping men to deal with relationship problems in a practical and effective way. Ph. 1300 78 99 78.