Starting with a Bang! - A note from Tim
I've always known education to be a dynamic space bursting with ideas and gritty challenges. I started with the UTB team several weeks ago, at the ULearn conference at Auckland’s Sky City conference centre and what a privilege it was to meet teachers from across Australasia.
It seemed like every teacher I talked to was engaged in something innovative and exciting. Leonard Cohen said “If you don’t become the ocean you’ll be seasick everyday” and it was clearly evident that many schools are taking control of change and feeling empowered to make the most of it for their learners.
There are many amazing things happening in education right now and I am really enjoying being on the team as we continue to support the mastery of technology across various sectors.
I finished as a Senior Leader at Napier Girls High School and have taken over from Mark Herring who left the team last term. I'll be expanding on his work with the STEAM Ready programme as well as some other exciting projects.
- Tim Thatcher
something to make you think...
Want to gain back 8 days a year?
Are you someone who uses keyboard shortcuts?
Did you know you can save eight days of time per year if you do?
This article explains just how that's been calculated.
And if shortcuts are something you're not yet using take a look at 20 most commonly used ones. They're great ones to get started with - start saving yourelf some time!
blog posts you may have missed
Check out the practical, helpful tips in our blogs below.
Something you want us to blog about? Make a request here or check out our website to see all our posts.
Working offline in G Suite - Your G Suite account operates in the cloud, so does mean you can only use it when you’re online? Nope! G Suite has increasingly good offline functionality that enables you to access your Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Drive while offline. In this blog post, I’ll explain how to setup offline functionality for each of these applications. By Samantha Vardagnega
Improve organisational efficiency and effectiveness with the Results platform - Have you heard about one page plans, 12 week years, the 4 disciplines of execution, the Rockefeller habits? If you are looking at how to improve efficiency and need a tool or platform to bring your data to life, give visual cues to employees and keep everyone on track to hit your goals, then the results.com platform is exactly what you need. By Mike Reading
Four ways to access Google Sheets templates - Are you a Google Sheets novice? Does just the sound of the word ‘sheets’ send shivers down your spine? That used to be me. Then I discovered ready made templates that gave me the confidence to dive into the world of cells and formulas. Read on to find out about four easy ways to access Google Sheets templates. By Donna Golightly
Something we think you'll like...
A Great Feature in macOS Mojave
With the release of Mojave for Mac there are some great features that are worth using. The quick edit feature in Finder is great, especially when you pair that with the improved screen clipping capabilities.
To use this feature, find a compatible movie or sound file in Finder, hit the space bar and Quick Look will open with the capacity to do basic edits. On the top right hand side of the screen is a Trim tool, and you can trim the audio or video file.
An interesting read...
I recently came across this article by George Couros about the challenges for the future of education.
I found it a refreshing read! Rather than regurgitating the same old messages we hear peddled out at education technology conferences, he actually provides thoughtful insight into topics such as data, change and personalised learning.
One thing that really stood out to me was his words of warning about not letting our use of technology dehumanise education. Instead, he encourages schools to focus on relationships and humanity first.
Definitely worth a read! Check it out here.
- Samatha Vardanega
upcoming events
Did you know that we travel extensively and love going to regional areas to support teachers? Simply reply to this email, or click on the link below, to find out how easy it is to host an event in your region and receive some free tickets for doing so!
Technology has been evolving at a rapid pace, artists and designers are pushing the boundaries. New techniques and strategies have emerged which art teachers can harness to engage students in innovative projects.
In this fun, meaningful workshop teachers are supported to explore how new technologies and ideas can be integrated into the art room. Participants will enjoy hands on experimentation and lively discussion around how art, technology and innovative thinking can be integrated into the classroom.
Click on your location to find out more and reserve your spot!
These boot camps are fast paced, 2 day courses that cover a wide range of G Suite tools and how to use them in the classroom. You will also sit the 3 hour Google Certified Educator exam, where you will demonstrate your knowledge with multiple choice and practical scenario questions.
We've seen an increase in demand for our Google Certified Educator boot camps at both Level 1 and 2. This is great, as we think our two day courses have a lot to offer for everyone working with G Suite. There's several locations to choose from below. If you'd like to host one at your school, as always, feel free to get in touch!
GCE Bootcamps - Click on one of the locations listed below to find out more!
Alexandra - Level 1 - February 2019
Queenstown - Level 2 - March 2019
Can't make it in person or prefer to learn online, at your own pace? We now have both Level 1 and Level 2 available as online courses. Check them out here!
Credits:
Created with images by rawpixel - "untitled image" • Jamie Haughton - "untitled image" • JJ Ying - "untitled image" • Marc-Olivier Jodoin - "Space" • senjinpojskic - "connect jigsaw strategy puzzle pieces business solutions"