The next issue of the Digital Education will soon be out. Here's a brief guide to what's in it.
Read MoreDroning on: Review of Drones in Education
What a fascinating idea: using drones as part of the curriculum. This book tells you much of what you need to know.
Read MoreHow to get the most out of ISTE17 (and other conferences)
Listen to my interview with Vicki Davis about how to get the most out of #iste17 and other conferences -- and grab my book for £0.99/$0.99 or equivalent (plus VAT if applicable) -- a third of its usual price.
Read MoreWhat I've been reading: Everyday Sexism
I’ve just read Everyday Sexism [Amazon affiliate link] by Laura Bates. Before I go any further, I suppose I ought to explain why. What does this subject matter have to do with teaching computing and ICT?
Well, I don't think there can be any doubt about the fact that a lot of girls are put off going into computing, whether as a course in school or in their career choices. So I wondered how far the kinds of issues girls face in school, especially in subjects like computing which are seen by too many people as a male preserve, are part of a wider picture.
In many respects this book is pretty depressing. It's bad enough that grown women have to put up with unwanted attention, but children?!
I think girls and women would find the book useful, to help them realise that lots of others experience the same kind of thing. I think boys and men should read it too, to find out how it must feel to be on the receiving end of sexist comments.
One of the things that struck me was the complaint that male teachers say things like, "Come on, you don't want to be beaten by a girl do you?". I can see why girls would feel belittled by that sort of remark, even if it was intended as a lighthearted means of galvanising the boys into making a greater effort.
I remember doing the opposite: saying to the boys in my Computing class that I'd like them to be quiet and let the girls answer, as I'd rather listen to a well-thought out response than some half-baked comment shouted across the room. Was that unacceptable too, do you think?
Most of the book might be described as 'relentless': wave after wave of intrusive and even threatening comments. For me, the best chapter is the last one, because it portrays women as strong and powerful rather than as almost powerless victims.
In this context you might like to read my article, Where are the girls in ICT and Computing?
Related articles
In this, the last of a three-part series on girls and women in computing, PhD student and Further Education lecturer Amanda Wilson describes how an early interest in computing followed by picking up everything she could while working led to a dream job.
In this, the second of a three-part series about girls and women in Computing, school student Ellie Gregson suggests why girls tend not to choose STEM subjects.
Young people love to use technology. In school, we jump at the opportunity to use the iPads for research, or to use laptops for typing up essays or creating PowerPoints in class. In my school, when an iPad trolley is dragged into the classroom at the start of a lesson, there is always a race between the students to the front of the classroom, desperate not to have to share it with others, or be stuck with a tablet with a 10% battery life remaining.
This is the first of three articles about girls and women in Computing.
On March 8th it was International Women's Day.
At last! Or, to use the vernacular, woo hoo! The latest edition of the Digital Education ezine is now out. It contains a round-up of products seen at Bett, articles on girls and women in technology, loads of links and book reviews. Here’s a detailed list of the contents:
The book reviewer's desk, by Terry Freedman. For more book reviews, sign up to Digital Education, where this review first appeared.
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The importance of reading in education technology: 3 books to read and recommend
Why background reading and reading around the subject are good things to do, plus three books I recommend for students (and teachers).
Read MoreGetting the most out of Education Conferences -- now available on Kobo!
Information about my ebook, Education Conferences, plus where to buy it on Kobo.
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The Editor at work
Digital Education: what's in the latest issue?
Assessment, Book reviews, Ofsted: just three of the topics covered in the latest issue of our newsletter, Digital Education.
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Books erratum
In a recent article I said that a particular book was my first 'proper' book -- and then I remembered the previous half dozen or so! This article sets the record straight.
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The What Works Conference
Alongside the London Book Fair is the What Works education conference. As you may have surmised from its proximity to the LBF, it focuses on educational publishing.
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The book is available as an iBook or a PDF
What I've been reading: Thinking Critically with Digital Media
This book by Nik Peachey is an excellent resource book for teachers of media and digital literacy.
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So what makes you think I love reading? Photo by Glen Noble.
What I'm reading: books on digital literacy and Raspberry Pi
Three more books coming up for review -- on the subjects of the Raspberri Pi and digital literacy.
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A very readable book.
What I'm reading: Understanding the Digital World: What You Need to Know about Computers, the Internet, Privacy, and Security
My first impressions of a new book about computers, networks and data.
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My first Kindle book!
What's in "Education Conferences: Teachers' Guide to Getting the Most out of Education Conferences"?
Why did I write this book, and what does it contain? Here's a list of the table of contents, and a short extract. I must have got something right, because so far it's received seventeen 5 star reviews on Amazon. I'm holding the price at £0.99/$0.99 for a short while longer.
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What I've been reading: So you've been publicly shamed
A harrowing, but very readable, account of how public shaming affects the victims.
Read MoreEducation Conferences: my new book
I've written and self-published a guide to getting the most out of education conferences -- including how to increase your chances of being allowed to attend in the first place. Find out more by clicking on the title of this post.
Read MoreWhat I've been reading: Thinking Machines
A really engaging exploration into the development of AI and the problems it has had to grapple with.
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What I've been reading: Digital Literacy Skills for FE Teachers
Although this book is aimed squarely at teachers in Further Education, I think it would be a useful resource for school teachers too, and even university lecturers.
Read MoreArticles on Ed Tech: Retrospective #5
Here are some articles you may have missed in the past week or so. Topics featured include inspection, book reviews and Word macros.
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A useful book for your education technology library
What I've been reading: Academic writing and grammar for students
A well-structured book that will prove a handy reference in the secondary classroom and beyond.
Read MoreWhat I've been reading: How to read journal articles in the social sciences
While not specifically concerned with Computing or education technology, this is a very useful book for students undertaking research in journals.
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"As soon as I found out about how to write code, I was hooked. I realised that this was what I should have been doing all along." Anna Shipman, who works for the Government Digital Service, talks about her love of coding.