This a revised version of a previously-published article.
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Old technology, by Terry Freedman
14 things to do with old IT equipment
Just because a laptop, tablet or printer isn't good for general or intensive use any more doesn't mean it cannot serve any purpose at all. Here are a few suggestions you may wish to consider.
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Graphic by Terry Freedman
Professional Development in Technology (Updated)
The key question to ask about anything in education is “So what?”. If you can’t answer that question truthfully and convincingly in terms of students learning outcomes, then why are you undertaking that activity?
Read MoreOn this day: An example of how technology changes things
Nine-year-old Martha Payne writes a daily blog in which she uploads a picture of her school lunch and reviews it. Argylle and Bute Council has some sort of nervous breakdown.
Read MoreOn this day: The (digital) revolution comes to the London Barbican
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.
Read MoreAn invidious comparison
I can say without hesitation that the most costly students in terms of my time are the ones who do the work and hand something in each week.
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Be aware! By Terry Freedman
Robotics is STILL a waste of time
I’d rather teach pupils to program without going through the intermediary process of building a robot or anything else. Despite all the hype, I regard it as a massive waste of time.
Read MoreCollective nostalgia about computer programming
Almost nobody needs a gasp of computer programming, and even fewer need to know how computers actually work.
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Illustration of algorithmic objectivity, generated in ImageFX
Computing discussion topic
A topic to discuss with your students perhaps: the hidden bias in algorithms.
Read MoreOn this day: City Learning Centres: The end?
Some notes on failing in ICT and Computing
Failure seems to be the zeitgeist at the moment. How should schools deal with students’ mistakes?
Read MoreRules of Engagement Updated
Do we need gimmicks, new-fangled techniques to keep kids engaged in lessons?
Archival
I’ve created a special area of the Digital Educatioon Supplement, which is an online supplement to my newsletter, Digital Education.
Read MoreWhy I (almost) never revise old blog posts
One of the reasons I keep a blog is that it is still a great way of finding out what I think about things.
Read MoreDigital literacy is about asking the right questions Updated
Being digitally literate is not just about knowing how to use programs or being aware of copyright law. It’s also about being able to ask the right questions. This is another reason to have a news section in your Computing lessons
Click the pic to see my Substack newsletter
The trouble with Substack
There is a lot I like about Substack, but…
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Conference: Next steps for AI in Education in England
Last year I attended and reported on a similarly-named conference. The Westminster Forum is running another one this year.
Read MoreCompetition deadline situation: imminent
This collection of work by Gay Talese is utterly brilliant, and contains items that haven’t seen the light of day in a long time.
Read MoreOn this day: Hazardous Environments
Hazardous environments: I like to think of this as being a metaphor for any situation in which one is challenged.
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An unrestricted link
Last week I announced a competition to win a copy of A Town Without Time, the new collection of work by Gay Talese. Here is the link again, this time with an unrestricted link!
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