Just taken over your school's computing department? Here are my top 10 tips for ensuring success from the start.
Read MoreTo be an ed tech maverick, you need to be sensible (updated)
What does it mean to be a maverick? To me, it means not going along with the general consensus about something, just because it’s a consensus. There is always a natural tendency to think “all those people can’t be wrong”, or “there’s no smoke without fire”, but in fact all those people could be wrong and there could be smoke without fire.
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We can only please, by Terry Freedman. I think I saw this sign in a local hospital
What are good marketing communications? What are good communications (and what should your strategy include)?
When I took up a senior management position in a local authority, an irate headteacher phoned me on my second day. She had had her laptop taken away for repairs two weeks ago, and had heard nothing since. I told her I’d look into it. I had the following conversation with the relevant team…
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Learning together. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Creating a staff IT skills audit with Google forms
You would be forgiven for thinking that every teacher in the country has spent lockdowns being so immersed in technology that they have all become experts. There is no more need for staff training in IT skills — and so no need to conduct a staff audit.
If only!
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Edtech marketing, by Terry Freedman
The importance of branding Computing
Given that students in secondary schools can, when they reach a certain age, decide to give up Computing, marketing the department is an important thing to do. Even in primary schools, where options are not a consideration, it’s important to establish a brand for Computing.
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We will remember! The importance of great customer service
Given the difficulties brought about by Covid – staff on furlough or “let go”, orders drying up, workers self-isolating – customer retention becomes even more important than usual. Unfortunately, it may also become more difficult. After all, how can good levels of customer service be maintained if there are fewer people around to give it?
Read More10 Characteristics of a good Computing Scheme of Work
*UPDATED* What are the attributes of a good ICT and Computing scheme of work? Here's the list of characteristics I've always looked for.
Read MoreMission Statement? For heaven's sake!
If an organisation is so hung up on its image that it wastes time and resources on thrashing out a mission statement, what does that tell you about its priorities?
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Click to see this on Amazon (affiliate link)
Tiny Noticeable Things
The following list contains examples of things I did in school that made life much easier for those on the receiving end. What might you do?
Read MoreChecklist: 9 Guidelines for Managing a Technical Support Team (Updated)
You don't necessarily have to be a "techie" in order to be able to manage a technical support team effectively.
Read More9 uses for checklists in education technology (Updated)
A checklist is one of the handiest tools at your disposal, and won't cost you a penny. How might you use checklists in your Computing or ed tech lessons?
Read MorePlanning a digital strategy without a planned budget
In my experience, few headteachers feel comfortable about a rolling commitment to spending money in a particular area, and even if they do sign up to the idea, circumstances can change.
Read More14 ideas for edtech company incentives
What kind of “ethical bribes” might you offer potential customers?
Read MoreWho are the stakeholders?
We’re often told that, when embarking on a major project, we need to consult with the stakeholders. All very sensible, but who are the stakeholders?
Read MoreWhich online platform?
If you need to run webinars or video conference calls for your customers, or make recommendations regarding one for your schools, what are the options?
Read MoreThe future of edtech
Apparently, only 18% of schools say that they rely on the Department for Education for advice and guidance on what to use and for procurement. I’m surprised it’s that high.
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news by Terry Freedman
London Book Fair 2021
As always, the London Book Fair programme looks great.
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London Book Fair, by Terry Freedman
Research and Scholarly Publishing Forum 10 June 2021
It’s well-known that accessing academic articles can be a very expensive business. This year’s Research and Scholarly Publishing Forum, run in conjunction with the London Book Fair, is about developments in open access.
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London Book Fair seminar
What Works Conference
The London Book Fair people are once more putting on the What Works conference on 9th June 2021. The programme looks really interesting.
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Planning, by Terry Freedman
Implementing a whole-school IT policy
Here is the very first article of mine that was published in an education magazine. Not all of it is relevant today, but perhaps surprisingly much of it is.
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