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The Doughnut of Social and Planetary Boundaries

See on Scoop.it - Global Sustainable Development Goals in Education Coming into the world of design and innovation, the Design Council’s double diamond diagram really helped me to make sense of what everyone was talking about. In a simple picture, it linked a conceptual approach to problem-solving (with a focus on empathy, rapid ideation and iterative prototyping) to a really practical process that I could … Continue reading "The Doughnut of Social and Planetary Boundaries"

'AI Is a Dangerous Distraction From the Pressing Issues Defining Our Generation'; A Conversation with Liam Young | Features

See on Scoop.it - AI in Education #AIinED

AI is a dangerous distraction from the pressing issues defining our generation. The world is on fire and we are worried about whether AI is going to write the first draft of our screenplays. The scale of climate catastrophe enveloping us right now is crazy. It is happening so slowly that we are relatively comfortable ignoring it, but that just makes it harder to spot. It doesn’t mean it is less important.

Near-complete depolymerization of polyesters with nano-dispersed enzymes

See on Scoop.it - Global Sustainable Development Goals in Education Successfully interfacing enzymes and biomachinery with polymers affords on-demand modification and/or programmable degradation during the manufacture, utilization and disposal of plastics, but requires controlled biocatalysis in solid matrices with macromolecular substrates1–7. Embedding enzyme microparticles speeds up polyester degradation, but compromises host properties and unintentionally accelerates the formation of microplastics with partial polymer degradation6,8,9. Here we show that by nanoscopically dispersing enzymes with deep active sites, semi-crystalline polyesters can be degraded primarily via chain-end-mediated processive depolymerization with programmable latency and material integrity, akin to polyadenylation-induced messenger RNA decay10. It is also feasible to achieve processivity with enzymes that have surface-exposed active sites by engineering enzyme–protectant–polymer complexes. Poly(caprolactone) and poly(lactic acid) containing less than 2 weight per cent enzymes are depolymerized in days, with up to 98 per cent polymer-to-small-molecule conversion in standard soil composts and household tap water, completely eliminating current needs to separate and landfill their products in compost facilities. Furthermore, oxidases embedded in polyolefins retain their activities. However, hydrocarbon polymers do not closely associate with enzymes, as their polyester counterparts do, and the reactive radicals that are generated cannot chemically modify the macromolecular host. This study provides molecular guidance towards enzyme–polymer pairing and the selection of enzyme protectants to modulate substrate selectivity and optimize biocatalytic pathways. The results also highlight the need for in-depth research in solid-state enzymology, especially in multi-step enzymatic cascades, to tackle chemically dormant substrates without creating secondary environmental contamination and/or biosafety concerns. Nanoscopic dispersion of enzymes with deep active sites enables chain-end-mediated processive biodegradation of semi-crystalline polyesters with programmable latency and material integrity.

Biodegradable plastic that can break down in your compost developed by scientists - ABC News

See on Scoop.it - Global Sustainable Development Goals in Education Biodegradable plastic bags, cutlery, and coffee cup lids may seem like a win for the environment, but they often introduce more problems than solutions. But now a research team from the US may be able to change that.

UNEP Launch Earth School

See on Scoop.it - Teaching during COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, an unprecedented coalition has come together to launch “Earth School,” which provides free, high-quality educational content to help students, parents and teachers around the world who are currently at home. Initiated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and TED-Ed, Earth School takes students on a 30-day “Adventure” through the natural world.

Kim Flintoff's insight:

Normality at Australian universities unlikely to return before 2024 with accumulated losses of at least $13-15 billion | Campus Morning Mail

See on Scoop.it - Higher Education Teaching and Learning

The fact that Australian Universities are facing long-lasting financial and academic stresses has been highlighted in an earlier article . Universities Australia has now estimated a revenue shortfall across the sector of between $3 – 4.5 billion for 2020. The larger Group of Eight universities are severally estimating revenue losses of between $200 – $600 million. Beyond 2020, how long will this COVID-19 crisis last and what will be the financial costs to Australian universities? These are two key questions that must currently be focusing the minds of government education planners and university leaders.

Kim Flintoff's insight:

"The fact that Australian Universities are facing long-lasting financial and academic stresses has been highlighted in an earlier article . Universities Australia has now estimated a revenue shortfall across the sector of between $3 – 4.5 billion for 2020. The larger Group of Eight universities are severally estimating revenue losses of between $200 – $600 million. Beyond 2020, how long will this COVID-19 crisis last and what will be the financial costs to Australian universities? These are two key questions that must currently be focusing the minds of government education planners and university leaders."

Google Engineers 'Mutate' AI to Make It Evolve Systems Faster Than We Can Code Them

See on Scoop.it - Data Science and Computational Thinking [inc Big Data and Internet of Things]

Much of the work undertaken by artificial intelligence involves a training process known as machine learning, where AI gets better at a task such as recognising a cat or mapping a route the more it does it. Now that same technique is being use to cre

Introducing Kiva U: the homeschooling solution during the COVID-19 pandemic | Kiva

See on Scoop.it - Teaching during COVID-19

With schools halting in-person meetings, we understand that many parents are currently looking for activities to provide their children with while they are at home during this time. That's where we've got you set.

Kim Flintoff's insight:

"Kiva U is an easy opportunity to share Kiva with your family! Spend time together while educating young ones about the power of microfinance. There’s a wide array of content and supplemental material provided to maximize effectiveness and involvement. Kiva U lessons involve: - Hands-on activities

- Engaging videos

- Family discussions

- Games for every age group Included with Kiva U are 8 easy, streamlined lessons, divided by topic and age group. Find lesson plans in the links below!"

The James Dyson Foundation: Challenge Cards / Rethinkging D&T

See on Scoop.it - Teaching during COVID-19

"Dyson engineers have designed these challenges specifically for children. Ideal for home or in the classroom, they encourage inquisitive young minds to get excited about engineering." "We have used our experience from the James Dyson Foundation schools project to develop a series of free schemes of work for all schools wanting to teach a project-led Design and Technology curriculum." https://www.jamesdysonfoundation.co.uk/resources/rethinking-design-and-technology-in-practice.html

Kim Flintoff's insight:

The Rethinking D&T pages on this site offer extended engagement through structured programs of learning. The Challenge pages are 44 simply explained hands-on engineering projects that can be started by any one - from K-12.

Virtual Reality in Curriculum and Pedagogy: Evidence from Secondary Cl

See on Scoop.it - Augmented, Alternate and Virtual Realities in Education

Book Description Virtual Reality in Curriculum and Pedagogy explores the instructional, ethical, practical, and technical issues related to the integration of immersive virtual reality (VR) in school classrooms. The book’s original pedagogical framework is informed by qualitative and quantitative data collected from the first-ever study to embed immersive VR in secondary school science, ICT, and drama classrooms. Students and scholars of technology-enhancing learning, curriculum design, and teacher education alike will find key pedagogical insights into leveraging the unique properties of VR for authentic, metacognitive, and creative learning.

Kim Flintoff's insight:

Erica Southgate is Associate Professor of Emerging Technologies for Education in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle, Australia, and Lead Researcher of the VR School Research Project.

IMAGI-NATION {TV} - a mentor in the home for every kid, every day

See on Scoop.it - Teaching during COVID-19

IMAGI-NATION {TV} is for marginalised kids across the earth’s surface to have a daily mentor in their lives. It takes the magic of AIME’s Imagination Factory to laptops, phones, and homes across the world.

Kim Flintoff's insight:

One of the really important offerings for students who might otherwise find it hard to build connections.

AMEB | Online Theory Courses

See on Scoop.it - Teaching during COVID-19

Theory of Music online courses now FREE As a part of efforts to support music education through the COVID-19 outbreak, we're providing FREE online Theory of Music courses. View all the other support on offer here. AMEB's Online Theory courses allow students to learn music theory at their own pace, independently or supporting what is taught in the classroom or private music studio. Our online courses for Grades 1 to 3 Theory of Music are now free until June 30 from exams.ameb.edu.au. AMEB has made their Theory Courses free for the time being while we all adapt to learning from home and we hope that teachers, parents and students find this a useful resource. AMEB is a self-funding organisation that relies on exam fees and book sales to fund the activities that we undertake. For that reason, it is not possible to make exams free.

Kim Flintoff's insight:

The Australian Music Examinations Board is making available some of their Theory of Music courses online.

Primary School Science Activities: Glimpses of Science

See on Scoop.it - Teaching during COVID-19

Glimpses of Science is a collection of multimedia-enhanced science activities for Primary School Teachers and Students.

Kim Flintoff's insight:

Maintained by the Physics Dept at UNSW this collection of primary school science resources allows independent exploration and learning, as well as more structured and guidance engagement with many parts of the science curriculum.

Physics animations and film clips: Physclips.

See on Scoop.it - Teaching during COVID-19

The Physclips project provides multimedia education in introductory physics at different levels. Currently, it includes kinematics, mechanics, special relativity, waves, sound, electricity and magnetism. Resources may be freely used by teachers, while students may use the whole package, including interactive tutorials and support pages, for self instruction or for reference

Kim Flintoff's insight:

This is a high quality resource from the Dept of Physics at UNSW. All manner of physics concepts and principles are demonstrated through animated examples with informed narration and explanations. The package includes tutorials and other supports for independent learners.

Australia's Science Channel

See on Scoop.it - Teaching during COVID-19

Get new ideas to inspire and support your STEM teaching. We provide a regularly updated feed of free videos, articles, resources and teacher tools all linked to the Australian National Curriculum to inspire your students to discover how science shapes all our lives. Scroll down for the latest content and news stories, or search using keywords, topics or curriculum codes.

Kim Flintoff's insight:

Welcome to our free platform for Australian educators providing a regularly updated collection of videos, articles, and resources to support STEM teaching in class mapped to the Australian National Curriculum (v8.3). Our carefully curated content includes trending subjects and interviews selected from Australia’s Science Channel, our publication Ultimate Careers, and from our publishing partners. Australia’s Science Channel and Ultimate Careers are developed and operated by The Royal Institution of Australia, an independent charity and unique national science hub promoting public awareness and understanding of science. Founded in 2009, The Royal Institution of Australia is the sister organisation of the prestigious Royal Institution of Great Britain. We work with leading minds, universities and scientific organisations from around Australia to build and connect communities through our role as an authoritative but accessible source of information about current science. We are passionate about inspiring the next generation of innovators to discover how science shapes all our lives. The site has been developed in partnership with the Government of South Australia through the Department for Education."

Questacon at home — Fun science activities for kids

See on Scoop.it - Teaching during COVID-19

Wherever you are, be inspired by science and learn about the way our world works through a variety of fun experiments and activities you can do at home. Share your home experiments on social media using the #Questaconathome hashtag. We’re looking forward to seeing your results! We want to hear from you! If you have any feedback or ideas for your favourite at home science resources, please email us.

Kim Flintoff's insight:

Questacon, Australia's foremost Science and Technology Discovery Centre, and a long time member of the Learning Futures Network are making available a range of online resources to engage learners, teachers and families with Science and STEM. Resources are easily searchable and categorised by subject and level.

Xennial Digital makes climate change Xennial Digital makes climate change tangible | Magic Leap

See on Scoop.it - Augmented, Alternate and Virtual Realities in Education

"Our brain’s inability to deal with issues we deem too far into the future is one of the reasons why scientists say people are not addressing climate change faster — some don’t even think it’s real. Turns out, talking about a nondescript threat does not trigger the inherent flight or fight response necessary to take action. Rather, many environmentalists believe showing the scenarios is most effective. That’s what Xennial Digital is doing for K-12 education through a spatial computing experience on Magic Leap. The extended reality (XR) company was selected for Magic Leap’s Independent Creator Program (ICP), which supports cutting edge development. Xennial began working in the education space a few years ago when the U.S. Department of Education opened a challenge to propose transformative educational solutions. Their climate change application available on Magic Leap World presents different scientific predictions — from optimistic to nightmare — across five key data points: ice fraction, precipitation, air temperature, ocean temperature and sea level rise."

Kim Flintoff's insight:

"Solving a global challenge with spatial computing Xennial wants to address a pressing global challenge, and believes a spatial computing based learning experience focused on climate change will have long-term impact. Potential users agree, as the idea has already received a great deal of interest. For one, administrators and teachers are seeking more factual resources as part of K-12 Earth sciences and environmental courses."

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