• Front Page
    • Digital Education
    • Terry Freedman's Books Bulletin
  • RSS
  • Search
    • Welcome
    • The "About" Page
    • Testimonials
    • CV/Resumé
    • My Writing
    • Published articles
  • Corrections Policy
Menu

ICT & Computing in Education

Articles on education technology and related topics
  • Front Page
  • Newsletters
    • Digital Education
    • Terry Freedman's Books Bulletin
  • RSS
  • Search
  • Info
    • Welcome
    • The "About" Page
    • Testimonials
    • CV/Resumé
    • My Writing
    • Published articles
  • Corrections Policy
A blast from the past.

A blast from the past.

ICT, Computing, Education Technology -- what's in a name?

April 1, 2016

Over the years there have been several terms ascribed to the subject now known as Computing. First, there was Information Technology (IT), then Information and Communication Technology (ICT, aka Information and Communications Technology by some, and in some parts of the world.

There is also education technology, technology (in the USA), e-learning, digital education, digital literacy, informatics....

Then there are the debates. For example, quite recently there was discussion as to whether the subject should be divided into IT, digital literacy and Computing. Twenty years or so ago there was debate as to whether the term "IT" should be reserved for the subject and ICT for ed tech used across the curriculum.

Such debates are useful, if not essential, at the time, but seem quaint, even amusing, in retrospect.

I was reminded of this when I came across the passage below in a book published in 1948. Bear in mind the recent decision by the Department for Education in England to turn all schools into academies. (The view expressed by many people that the decision was not recent at all, and that only the announcement of it was, is something I strongly suspect is the case, but I do not know for certain.)

Anyway, here is the passage I was referring to:

"... in future all schools for children over the age of eleven will be called Secondary Schools.
That is to say that whilst Secondary Schools will retain their titles and remain Secondary Schools, Senior Modern Schools will be renamed Secondary Modern Schools, and Technical Schools Secondary Technical Schools. ... From which, if you have followed my argument very closely, you will have deduced that all Secondary Schools are to be known as Secondary Schools -- a truly daring and revolutionary conception."

From All This and Turnham Too, by Jane Hope. Last time I looked, there were copies going for a penny on Amazon. Here's the link, which is an affiliate link. That means, if you buy a copy of the book for a penny, I will get 5% of the price. I am not sure what 5% of a penny is, but that is the situation as I understand it.

If you enjoyed this article, why not sign up to the Digital Education zine? It's now in its 16th year, so I just be doing something right! Details are here: Digital Education.

 

In On the lighter side Tags Jane Hope, names, history, computing history
← 7 Things that every serious blogger should doEducational Excellence Everywhere, and the Computing curriculum →
Recent book reviews
History lesson, by Terry Freedman.jpg
Is The computing Curriculum Too Masculine? Revisited 16 years later!

One of the apparently insoluble problems of the age is how do you encourage more girls to take up Computing? I think a lot can be done, and have done so myself, but I wonder how far a lot of the effort fails to get to the heart of the issue, which could be the curriculum itself, the way it is taught, or a combination of the two?

Read more →
best writing maths.jpg
Book review: The best writing on mathematics, 2016

I think this could be an excellent resource for teachers of mathematics.

Read more →
international short (2).jpg
For your Eng Lit colleagues? The Penguin Book of the International Short Story -- two reviews in one!

I submitted my review of this book to Teach Secondary magazine, an educational magazine in the UK. The first review below is what the magazine published. The second one is what I actually wrote!

Read more →
Turner and Constable (1).jpg
Two reviews in one: Turner and Constable: Rivals and Originals -- art and history

One for your colleagues, perhaps: art, art history, ploitics with a small ‘p’.

Read more →
satire (1).jpg
Two reviews in one: State of Ridicule: A History of Satire in English Literature -- politics, history, English

One for your colleagues, perhaps. Sperrin has provided a wealth of information that can be used to provide a rich experience for students of politics, history and English literature.

Read more →
a little history of maths.jpg
Two reviews in one: A Little History of Mathematics

I submitted my review of this book to Teach Secondary magazine, an educational magazine in the UK. The first review below is what the magazine published. The second one is what I actually wrote! In substantive terms there is little difference between the two, but you may find it interesting to see what the editor altered.

Read more →
The Learning Rainforest Great Teaching in Real Classrooms Great Teaching in Real Classrooms.jpg
Review: The Learning Rainforest: Great Teaching in Real Classrooms

This is a great book for dipping into in order to read about different teaching and assessment strategies, backed up by research.

Read more →
Outstanding Formative Assessment Culture and Practice.jpg
Review: Outstanding Formative Assessment: Culture and Practice

This book contains numerous assessment for learning techniques.

Read more →
New Media in the Classroom Rethinking Primary Literacy.jpg
Review: New Media in the Classroom: Rethinking Primary Literacy

This provides a great deal of information about the different aspects of "literacy” and how digital tools can be brought into the service of literacy in the primary school.

Read more →
Designing the internet of things.jpg
Review: Designing the internet of things

This book takes you through the process of designing connected devices from prototyping to launching.

Read more →
Dig+Ed+Banner.jpg

Contact us

Privacy

Cookies

Terms and conditions

This website is powered by Squarespace

(c) Terry Freedman All Rights Reserved