What kind of ed tech house is your school?

January 31, 2019

If the ed tech in your school is horrible, and mistreated, then perhaps this article, inspired by a talk by A J Crabill, Deputy Commissioner for the Texas Education Agency, will help.

Bett 2019 — Created in Canva by Terry Freedman

Bett 2019: Useful tips

January 14, 2019

My annual guide to Bett is out. Here’s how to access it.

Education Technology 2018: A Personal Retrospective

January 4, 2019

The 25 articles listed in this post represent the main issues that were exercising my mind in each month of 2018. I was, of course, thinking about more than only 25 topics, but these are my personal favourites. A couple of themes seem to crop up more than others, these being automation (for example in marking), and better teaching or use of computing and technology. I hope you find them interesting, useful or both.

Evidence-based education revisited

December 23, 2018

A reflection on the contents of the 2017-18 annual Ofsted report as summarised in a word cloud.

Educational research reading, by Terry Freedman

Evidence-based teaching: what's striking or new about it?

December 13, 2018

In the latest Ofsted annual report, teachers using an evidence-based approach is something that “strikes” the Chief Inspector. But what is remarkable about it?

Ed Tech Predictions for 2019

December 7, 2018

What does 2019 have in store for us as far as education technology is concerned? And what challenges might we face? Read on for some interesting answers, and an opportunity to have your say too.

A Way to Raise money for Education Technology (UPDATED)

November 26, 2018

If you’re in a school in the UK and looking for a way to raise some money, you may find this article interesting.

It’s all go! Illustration by Terry Freedman

What's in the November 2018 issue of Digital Education?

November 25, 2018

Here at Freedman Works we’ve been throwing in ideas, reports, books, magazines, blog articles and pictures into the writing machine I invented some time in 2017, and out has popped the latest issue of Digital Education. Read on for a taster of what’s in it.

Coming soon in the Digital Education ezine

November 20, 2018

There are four books to be won in the next issue of Digital Education. There are also a few pretty useful articles and bits of information. Read on to find out more.

I love metadata, by Terry Freedman. The photo bears merely a tenuous relation to the subject matter: I always need a cup of tea to help me survive at conferences!

Forthcoming Education Technology-Related Events in London

November 1, 2018

Details of three useful-looking events related to education technology, coming up in London.

A daunting prospect, so what’s your motivation? Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

Encouraging other teachers to use education technology

October 15, 2018

Gretchen Rubin talks about four kinds of self-motivation. Might this provide a way of thinking about how to encourage colleagues to use education technology in their lessons?

My (somewhat jaded) view of most high-profile Government ed tech initiatives

The trouble with government education technology initiatives

October 12, 2018

A possibly cynical take on government-funded initiatives for education technology in schools.

When it comes to ed tech, trust is better than control

October 5, 2018

Checklists are often really good — but sometimes they are worse than useless. In my experience, one of those times is when it comes to ensuring that colleagues teach information technology in their own subject lessons.

There’s nothing like a good book — except maybe several good books! Photo by Elijah Hail on Unsplash Licence: CC0

14 ways to keep on being a learner

September 27, 2018

Learning is necessary, useful and pleasurable! Here are 14 suggestions for continuing to learn, ranging from some pretty easy almost costless ways to a major commitment. Hopefully there’s something for everyone in this article.

Yes, OK, I’ll try out the computers, but please leave me alone! Photo by Anh Nguyen on Unsplash

Bombarding colleagues with research results regarding ed tech doesn't work

September 21, 2018

Gathering research findings into how beneficial education technology could be, er, beneficial. But there are caveats.

This is what all ed tech co-ordinators should do if possible

September 20, 2018

In this new series, I look at 7 mistakes I made as an ICT-Co-ordinator. This first article is more of an omission, with the benefit of 20:20 hindsight!

Read all about it: what does the research REALLY say?

September 14, 2018

Even if a piece of education research is flawless (which itself is relatively unlikely), experience suggests that it's unlikely to be reported completely accurately, despite journalists' best efforts. Why does this happen?

Books in progress

September 7, 2018

A progress report on the three books I’m currently working on — and information about a freebie!

Education technology qualifications update

August 31, 2018

Computing and related qualifications: I’ve updated my spreadsheet of qualification at Key Stage 4 and 16-18. Please read on for details.

The cover of the latest issue of Digital Education

Digital Education AI edition

August 8, 2018

The latest issue of the free newsletter Digital Education is about to be published. It has a special focus on artificial intelligence, and there’s a chance to win a book in a prize draw. Read on for more details.

Recent book reviews

Review: Effective Teaching: Evidence and Practice

Although this is a few years old now (2018), it has stood the test of time.

Review: One for maths teachers

This wide-ranging book takes in probability, fractals, astronomy, Babbage, Lovelace and a host of other areas and people.

Reviews: Two for History teachers

Two books on the Nazi era.

Review: One for English teachers

No book about the craft of writing seems complete without a stern chapter on the importance of eschewing adverbs and adjectives - but what to put in their place?

Review: The Great Formal Machinery Works: Theories of Deduction and Computation at the Origins of the Digital Age

If you’re of a mathematical bent this could be just the book to delve into.

Review: How to lie with statistics

Although this book is over 60 years old, it is remarkably apposite for our times -- and especially in the fields of educational research and assessing pupils' understanding and progress.

Review of Blueprints

I submitted my review of this book to Teach Secondary magazine, an educational magazine in the UK. The first review 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.

Filming in progress by Terry Freedman.jpg

On this day: Review of the Flip Video

This seems like a hundred years ago! Since the introduction of the Flip Pocket Video Recorder a couple of years ago, several variations on the theme have been put on the market, both by rivals and Flip themselves.

Review: Cabinet of Curiosity - Developing a Superpower

School life ought to consist of far more than just a utilitarian pursuit of exam grades over all other considerations.

Review: Dr Bot - Why Doctors Can Fail Us-and How Al Could Save Lives

In this comprehensive and highly readable Dr Bot, Blease tackles a wide range of issues, including some that are apposite for those working in schools.