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ICT & Computing in Education

Articles on education technology and related topics
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9 Expectations for Computing lessons

July 8, 2025

I don’t think rules, as commonly formulated, are very useful in the context of Computing lessons.

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In Computing Tags Expectations, Responsible Use Policies, responsibility
Photo of a history lesson in a computer lab

Photo by Terry Freedman

6 routines for Computing lessons Revisted

July 7, 2025

Routines are good, because pupils know what to expect. They are able to predict what is going to happen, and when. Some pupils, whose home lives are chaotic and unpredictable, may even feel safe because of routines.  Here are some routines that I think are useful for Computing lessons.

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In Computing, On this day, Using and Teaching Computing & ICT Tags Michael Marland, routine, structure

On this day: The (digital) revolution comes to the London Barbican

June 18, 2025

I remember this exhibtion: it was pretty good, and I’m not somebody who is easily impressed. I thought the ideas were very creative, and I liked the interactivity.

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In Computing, Digital Education, News & views, Professional development Tags Barbican, Digital Education, Digital Revolution, exhibition

Reasons to teach coding through problem-solving

June 6, 2025

Should you start with the raw components when teaching coding, or get the kids problem-solving immediately? This article argues in favour of the latter.

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In Computing Tags problem-solving, coding, programming
Illustration of algorithmic objectivity

Illustration of algorithmic objectivity, generated in ImageFX

Computing discussion topic

May 23, 2025

A topic to discuss with your students perhaps: the hidden bias in algorithms.

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In Computing, News & views, Discussion topic, AI Tags discussion, algorithms, bias, objectivity, AI, Artificial Intelligence

Pupils working on computers, by Terry Freedman

On this day: How can a programming language be boring? (Plus Update)

April 16, 2025

Someone told me of an X exchange that took place a few weeks ago in which teachers were saying that their kids found Scratch boring. Well (he says, arms akimbo), here are my views on that.

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In Computing Tags Scratch, boring, programming, why is ICT boring

Click the image to see this book on Amazon (affiliate link)

Review: Coderspeak – The language of computer programmers

September 18, 2024

This book won’t necessarily help a student pass a computing exam, but it will almost certainly make them a more aware, and thus better, programmer.

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In Bookshelf, Computing, Reviews Tags reviews, Coderspeak
ENIAC. U.S. Army Photo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Picture credit for Eniac: This image is a work of a U.S. Army soldier or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the …

ENIAC. U.S. Army Photo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Picture credit for Eniac: This image is a work of a U.S. Army soldier or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain. URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eniac.jpg

Getting touchy and feely about Computing -- illustrated

September 3, 2024

Making it possible for students to come face to face with real things from times gone by can have an electrifying effect on them. This is especially so when teaching Computing.

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In Computing Tags Eniac, Science Museum, Difference Engine, Babbage, Ada Lovelace

Why you should collaborate on a Computing scheme of work (Updated)

March 29, 2024

In the article 12 Characteristics of a good Computing Scheme of Work I said that people should work with other people on their Computing scheme of work. Why?

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In Computing, Leading & Managing Computing & ICT Tags collaboration, scheme of work

Come back! Drawing by Terry Freedman

Computing in Schools, UK

November 8, 2023

I've been reading the transcript of a conference called Computing in England's schools, from July 2022. Yes, I'm a bit behind the times on this, so I apologise. However, I think anyone who has been involved in educational computing for any length of time…

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In Computing Tags computing in schools

Using spreadsheets or Python to process words

October 4, 2023

A couple of people and I started to discuss how we might use technology to process a block of text.

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In Research, Computing, Using and Teaching Computing & ICT Tags spreadsheet, spreadsheets, Python, synchysis

Photo by Julius Drost on Unsplash

The Magic of Human-Computer Communication (revisited)

June 26, 2023
Palming Card Trick Magic Macro 10-19-09 3Magicians demonstrate that some kinds of human mistake are not down to stupidity or negligence but about how our brains are wired. Computer Scientists have to understand this too but instead engineer systems so no one makes mistakes – especially in critical situations like a hospital. The machines need to help not hinder. Professor Paul Curzon explains...
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In Computing, Digital Education Tags PPaul Curzon, computational thinking, magic

Driverless car, by Terry Freedman

Driverless cars: technology trumps experience - again (Updated)

May 30, 2023

If you want an excellent example of the triumph of hope over experience, look no further than the optimism surrounding driverless cars.

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In Computing, News & views, Unintended consequences Tags Google, computing, digital literacy, driverless cars, unintended consequences, autonomous cars

Kettles and algorithms (Updated and expanded)

April 18, 2023

Like many English people, the most important thing to me is having a decent cup of tea. So I was delighted when we bought a variable temperature kettle. This doesn’t just heat up the water to boiling point. It lets you select the right temperature for the kind of drink you have. But how does it work?

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In Computing Tags algorithms, computing, flowchart, kettle

How can CHatGPT be used in education? And can it write decent book reviews?

January 10, 2023

I asked ChatGPT, and here’s what it said…

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In Discussion topic, Computing, Reviews Tags AI, artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, book reviewing

Click the cover to see the book

Quick look: Strange Code

November 3, 2022

Strange Code looks at esoteric languages and also atypical languages, which are those that are not mainstream.

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In Bookshelf, Quick Looks, Computing Tags esolangs, Programming, programming languages

Question mark - Terry Freedman

National Coding Week: why? (Updated)

September 21, 2022

I’ve always been of the strong opinion that (a) people should talk about programming, not coding, and (b) people learn best on a kind of need to know basis.

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In Computing, News & views Tags National Coding Week, coding

7 Expectations for Computing lessons (update)

July 13, 2022

I don’t think rules, as commonly formulated, are very useful in the context of Computing lessons.

Read More
In Computing Tags Expectations, Responsible Use Policies, responsibility

Just because everyone says something is good, doesn't mean it is.

Making and programming

April 18, 2022

Is 'making' really an effective -- or cost-effective -- way of learning programming?

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In Computing, News & views Tags making, maker, maker movement, coding, programming

Review: A student’s guide to Python for physical modelling

March 3, 2022

The book’s primary concern is enabling Python to be used for manipulating and plotting large datasets, dealing with image “noise” and other advanced topics.

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In Bookshelf, Computing, Using and Teaching Computing & ICT, Reviews Tags Python, physical modelling, computing, programming, review
Older Posts →
Recent book reviews
Backlist: The Written World
Backlist: The Written World

Writing was invented ‘only’ a few thousand years ago. It’s a fascinating story.

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Backlist: What I'm reading: Bounce
Backlist: What I'm reading: Bounce

What does it take to become an expert? And what can the Computing teacher do about it?

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Backlist: The Fourth Education Revolution
Backlist: The Fourth Education Revolution

The title of this book invites curiosity: what were the other three ‘revolutions?

Read More →
A book review for your English department colleagues perhaps
A book review for your English department colleagues perhaps

Some of these stories are so richly told, it can almost seem as though you’re right there with him.

Read More →
Review: Pen Names
Review: Pen Names

OK, so this has nothing to do with education technology, but we all read (I hope!). A very interesting examination of the pen names some authors have adopted, and why.

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Review: The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History
Review: The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History

There's a really interesting section in this book about how ceramic storage of data and information is probably the most likely medium to stand the test of time.

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A book review for your biology colleagues perhaps
A book review for your biology colleagues perhaps

The subject under discussion here is how human physiology has developed in different ways, in response to different conditions around the world.

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Review: Social Media for Academics
Review: Social Media for Academics

This book is very readable, and if I sound surprised that is because it’s not always true of academics!

Read More →
Quick looks: VIBE Coding by Example
Quick looks: VIBE Coding by Example

For the time being, this book is free in Kindle format.

Read More →
Review: The Game Changers: How Playing Games Changed the World and Can Change You Too
Review: The Game Changers: How Playing Games Changed the World and Can Change You Too

Despite the relative paucity of immediately obvious National Curriculum links, teachers will find several of sections of this book to be highly engaging.

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