NSW’s most inspired teachers announced, set sights on virtual classrooms

A geography teacher from East Maitland, a visual arts teacher from Condell Park, and a mathematics teacher from South Grafton are three of five educators who are on the path to becoming ‘classroom pioneers’ after being chosen from a statewide search to find NSW’s most creative digital educators.

The Learning Edge, a joint initiative by Teachers Mutual Bank and the NSW Department of Education, launched in May in a bid to find extraordinary teachers inspiring students beyond the classroom, and equip them with access to digital experts, tools, and training to engage whole new audiences online.

Some of those digital experts include leading content specialists from YouTube, with Google Australia supporting the project by hosting the five teachers at its Sydney headquarters for an exclusive workshop, to upskill and help build their presence as engaging online educators.

Teachers Mutual Bank General Manager Alan Waugh said organisers were thrilled to see such a strong groundswell of interest in the project from teachers, parents, and principals who want to see digital skills in their schools.

“As a longstanding supporter of Aussie teachers, we have been amazed by the quality of entries and the calibre of innovation seen in teaching across the state as part of The Learning Edge initiative.

“The extent to which NSW teachers went to record their video entries for this competition showed that many are already going the extra mile for their students, utilising digital platforms like YouTube to create and share their lessons and bringing their insights from the physical into the virtual classroom,” he said.

The five chosen recipients of The Learning Edge teacher search are:

• Nayomi Gribble, Visual Arts teacher, Condell Park High School: Nayomi brings robotics and visual arts together to encourage students to work in a 21st century context. She currently creates her own YouTube tutorials which allow students to become active learners as they move at their own pace.
• Emily McLachlan, PDHPE teacher, Chatswood High School: Developed a ‘Run Around Australia’ PDHPE challenge at Chatswood High which, through the use of technology and social media, is now implemented in more than 60 schools across the state.
• Holly Millican, Mathematics teacher, South Grafton High School: with a mission to make maths fun, Holly uses games, team-based learning and interactive techniques to better engage students in a universally challenging subject.
• Sam Coburn, Geography teacher, Maitland Grossmann High School: began using online tools and digital when based at an isolated school in outback NSW and now has her own YouTube channel, Geography Explained, which she uses to further her student’s learning beyond the classroom, with positive results.
• Jonathan Kim Sing, Mathematics teacher, Galston High School: uses games, interactive learning and demonstrations to bring maths to life.

“To work with YouTube and potentially extend my influence as a teacher on students’ lives is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” PDHPE teacher Emily McLachlan said of her win.

“Public high school teachers in NSW are already using digital technology. The two other vital ingredients are collaboration and creativity, as teachers serve many important purposes, none more important than sparking joy in learning.”

NSW Department of Education Deputy Secretary, School Operations and Performance, Murat Dizdar said The Learning Edge has worked to showcase teaching talent from across the state.

“This project spotlights the exceptional work done by secondary school teachers in public schools across NSW and supports strong learning outcomes for students,” he said.

“The five successful teachers are inspiring and committed educators who are positively impacting young lives every day. The calibre of our recipients is of the highest professional order and continues to demonstrate that NSW continues to lead the way in education excellence.”

Ashley Chang, Culture and Trends Manager at YouTube said: “More and more Aussies are coming to YouTube to learn, with educational videos generating hundreds of millions of views. The Learning Edge initiative is an incredible opportunity and we’re really excited to be able to support these five aspiring classroom pioneers who want to use YouTube to share their knowledge with the world.”

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For more information on The Learning Edge, visit the NSW Department of Education or Teachers Mutual Bank Limited’s website for more information.

For more information, please contact Access PR: Laura Minns, [email protected], 0431 375 990 or Rachael Hoy, [email protected], 0416 400 737.

About New South Wales Department of Education

The NSW Department of Education ensures young children get the best start in life by supporting and regulating the early childhood education and care sector. The Department is the largest provider of public education in Australia with responsibility for delivering high-quality public education to two-thirds of the NSW student population. education.nsw.gov.au

About Teachers Mutual Bank

For over 50 years Teachers Mutual Bank has provided key financial services to Australian educators. Now, Teachers Mutual Bank Limited is one of Australia’s largest mutual banks, comprising four brands: the original Teachers Mutual Bank, UniBank, Health Professionals Bank and Firefighters Mutual Bank, with more than 200,000 members and $7.5 billion in assets. Teachers Mutual Bank Limited assists members in securing their financial future through superior member support and banking products. tmbank.com.au