5 interesting technology sessions at the London Book Fair 2019

February 28, 2019

UPDATED! Here are 5 talks and one event at the London Book Fair that you may be interested in. Plus, a free personal selection from myself.

Conference: Next steps for education technology - improving educational outcomes

February 18, 2019

This conference, in London in April 2019, looks at a range of issues around education technology.

Reading efficiently is a must for teachers of Computing and information technology

February 16, 2019

With more and more to read, and with the ever-changing landscape of education technology, teachers of Computing and related subjects need to be able to read more in the same amount of time. Here are some tips that I’ve found useful.

Mitch Resnick at #Bett2019 — ink drawing effect. Photo by Terry Freedman

Interview with Mitch Resnick

February 8, 2019

What is a kindergarten approach to learning, and what are its characteristics? What are its advantages? Could adopting such an approach work in our education system? Here’s what Mitch Resnick said when I interviewed him at the January 2019 Bett show in London.

A new framework for judging teachers

February 5, 2019

Fears about the unintended consequences of the proposed new Ofsted framework — have your say — plus links to other articles about Ofsted-related fears.

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.

Recent book reviews

Two reviews in one: Turner and Constable: Rivals and Originals -- art and history

One for your colleagues, perhaps: art, art history, ploitics with a small ‘p’.

Two reviews in one: State of Ridicule: A History of Satire in English Literature -- politics, history, English

One for your colleagues, perhaps. Sperrin has provided a wealth of information that can be used to provide a rich experience for students of politics, history and English literature.

Two reviews in one: A Little History of Mathematics

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

The Learning Rainforest Great Teaching in Real Classrooms Great Teaching in Real Classrooms.jpg

Review: The Learning Rainforest: Great Teaching in Real Classrooms

This is a great book for dipping into in order to read about different teaching and assessment strategies, backed up by research.

Outstanding Formative Assessment Culture and Practice.jpg

Review: Outstanding Formative Assessment: Culture and Practice

This book contains numerous assessment for learning techniques.

New Media in the Classroom Rethinking Primary Literacy.jpg

Review: New Media in the Classroom: Rethinking Primary Literacy

This provides a great deal of information about the different aspects of "literacy” and how digital tools can be brought into the service of literacy in the primary school.

Review: Designing the internet of things

This book takes you through the process of designing connected devices from prototyping to launching.

Quick look: (Un)educated: My Life as a Teacher, and Why You Should Never Become One

“Some of it is laugh-out loud funny, but some of it, about his reference being spiked, made me angry …”

A Heads-up: Hot Type: The Magnificent Machine that Gave Birth to Mass Media and Drove Mark Twain Mad

This is about the invention of linotype, and its consequences.

Are we in, or entering, a post-literate society?

I know that there are people who think that Tik-Tok videos and other (very) short-form content is a kind of literacy that’s on a par with reading, but I have my doubts.