Negative reinforcements are not punishments. Punishments are another set of classroom management strategies that are least encouraged by research.
  Negative reinforcement and positive reinforcement are actually behavioural and psychology based scientific terms that now are being used in daily conversations. When you say the words “negative reinforcement”, it is often misconceptualised as punishing learners, this is inaccurate. Read more

The good news is that evidence is used widely by teachers and leaders across Australian schools to inform their teaching, but they need structure to gain confidence in using it effectively and value coaching and support from their leaders to get there.
   While they see the value in evidence, many teachers would hesitate to go so far as to encourage each other to change their practice based solely on the evidence.
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Consent education is in the Australian curriculum from 2023, aiming to inform children of an appropriate age about consent and respectful relationships, and providing education on gender stereotypes, coercion and power imbalances.
   Involving students in the conversation and how the curriculum is delivered is a no brainer and family services provider Kids First Australia has co-designed an online platform with young people. Read more

Predicting the future is never an exact science but there are certain themes emerging that will shape how education works in 2023.
   Foremost, be prepared to experience some turbulence from the wider environment and in technology as AI interfaces make their mark.
   There are two themes or megatrends that stand out this year: one, disruption; two, finding Purpose says Professor Donna Pendergast from Griffith University. Read more

It was only last week that Chat GPT was the new kid on the block but now there is a newer technology joining the AI fray, industry heavyweight Google’s offering Bard.
   This is just the start, look out for more, increasingly sophisticated AI to roll out in a development that experts have called the most significant event in the IT area since the PC and the internet and the signs of a fundamental change in how we “do” being human couldn’t be clearer. Read more

The Whitlam Institute’s annual What Matters? Writing Competition has opened for 2023 to students from Year 5 to Year 12.
   Inspired by Gough Whitlam's commitment to involving young people in the shaping of Australia's future, entrants respond to the question, “what matters?” and express their views on any issue that they care about. Entries should be 600 words or less, and can be in prose or poetry, of either fiction or non-fiction. Read more