Learning a programming language, especially a text-based one like Python, can be hard going. Unlike a graphical programming language, which you can start to use straight away without knowing any technical terminology at all, Python demands such knowledge from the outset.
Read MoreBooks of 2020
These are the books I’ve encountered in 2020.
Read MoreReview of Scratch Programming in Easy Steps
The book starts with an introduction to the Scratch 3 environment, and in next to no time the reader is creating a program.
Read MoreQuick look: Science Fictions
It’s really rather annoying when a non-fiction book received for review is not only useful, but readable. And not merely readable, but enjoyable, even entertaining.
Read MoreReview: Scratch Programming in easy steps
This is book by Sean McManus is well set out, with clear print and plenty of illustrations. It starts with an introduction to the Scratch 3 environment, and in next to no time the reader is creating a program.
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Click the cover to see the book on Amazon UK (affiliate link)
Review: The Complete Learner's Toolkit
As far as I am aware, every cross-curricular initiative, at least in secondary education, has failed: ICT, maths, English, economic literacy… they all wind up with non-specialist teachers attempting to teach those subjects or skills. It is, at the risk of understatement, a big ask.
Read MoreReview of The Fourth Education Revolution Reconsidered
Will Artificial Intelligence help to transform education?
Read MoreQuick look: A Beginner's Guide to Learning HTML5 (and Smacking Zombies Upside the Web Development) (Undead Institute)
A quick look at this guide, which at the time of writing was free.
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Click the cover to see this book on Amazon UK (affiliate link)
Review: Learning Theories for Everyday Teaching
Is this book useful as a quick way in to educational research that’s relevant to classroom practice?
Read MoreReview: The Fourth Education Revolution
Will robots and AI take over from teachers?
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Book review: How Charts Lie (short version)
We are presented with charts all the time. But are they telling us how things really are?
Read MoreBook review: The Meritocracy Trap
I’ve gone slightly off-topic with this book review, but I thought it provided an interesting thesis which may be useful to consider as part of bigger picture than only technology.
Read MoreBook review: 50 Teaching and Learning Approaches
Can a book that summarises educational theories in a series of vignettes be a substitute for in-depth study?
Read MoreBook review: 100 Top Tips - Microsoft Excel, by Sean McManus
Could this book of 100 top tips for using Excel benefit heads of department or subject leaders?
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Click the cover to see the book on Amazon UK (affiliate link)
Review: Your Press Release is Breaking My Heart
Finding it hard to get the media to report your school’s achievements? You may find this guide useful.
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Paper work, by Terry Freedman
Book review bulletin 1
I’ve recently reviewed four ed tech-related books. Here are links to them. They are: Teachers vs Tech? * How charts lie * Little quick fix: finding the theme in your data * Hello world: how to be human in the age of the machine
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Click the cover to see the book on Amazon (affiliate link)
Book review: Teachers vs Tech?
Two cheers for this well-researched book. If I were still a head of department in a school I would buy a copy or two to lend to interested colleagues, especially NQTs, despite my criticisms.
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Click the cover to see the book on Amazon (affiliate link)
Book review: How Charts Lie
This is a good book to read, and definitely one you’ll want in your armoury of resources.
Read MoreBook review: Little Quick Fix: Find the theme in your data
How do you find out what main themes are coming through your qualitative research data? In short, how can you see the wood for the trees? This is the issue which this book addresses
Read MoreBook review: Hello World: How to be human in the age of the machine
Several books have been published over the last few years dealing with artificial intelligence. These books display varying levels of hysteria or anger, so it was a refreshing change to read a more balanced approach.
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