Having to make the case for actually registering for an event is, in my opinion, treating teachers as if they were (a) non-professionals and (b) children.
Read MoreWho is responsible for a company’s image?
The answer to the question “Who is responsible for a company’s image (or a school’s image)?” is, of course, everyone who works for it. But what does this mean in practice?
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The horror, the horror! N-Noooo!!!, by Terry Freedman
The inspector cometh
Being told that the inspectors are coming is pretty scary, but I would say that some people respond in ways that are counterproductive, including to their own health. These are the things I’ve either come across first-hand or experienced when I was an Ofsted inspector myself, or when I was being inspected.
Read MoreArticles published in the week beginning 1st November 2021
In case you missed them, here’s the list of articles I published here last week — in reverse chronological order.
Read More12 ways to prepare for teaching Computing
If you're told you'll be teaching Computing from now on, but don't feel competent to do so, what practical steps can you take in order to get up and running? Here are 12 suggestions.
Read MoreWhat should a newsletter contain?
What are the attributes of a good newsletter, and what should it contain? The list in this article will, hopefully, give you some ideas.
Read MoreThe value of ebooks
If you’re a teacher, and especially if you’re a head of department, ebooks are a great way of making available key information.
Read MoreBeing too pushy simply does not work
“… not only will it be informative to those colleagues who wish to be informed, it will save you from being an insufferable bore to those who don't.”
Read MoreWhy Is The Curriculum Like a bus Timetable (updated)?
I’ve observed lessons in which the teacher feels obliged to race on in order to get through the scheme of work. That results in some, if not all, students being left behind.
Read MoreWhat should a customer newsletter contain?
Once a school buys your product or service, a newsletter is a great way of keeping them informed of new developments. In this article, we look at what kind of content works well.
Read MoreHow to help schools avoid common mistakes with your product -- full article
The next time you’re looking for a book on Amazon, spend some time perusing the one-star reviews.
Read More7 Ways to Involve Parents with Computing
Even the most technophobic adults can be persuaded to engage with their child’s Computing studies.
Read MoreHow to use pupils to evaluate education technology resources
What people say, and what they do, can be two different things. I have had a situation in which pupils tell me materials are “boring”, having just spent 45 minutes working intensively with those materials without a break!
Read MoreWhy your Computing department needs a library
Like all educators, computing specialists should read more than just material directly related to what they’re teaching. It’s about being, and being seen to be, an expert in the subject.
Read MoreManaging technical issues
It has long been the case that the teacher in charge of education technology has been expected to keep everything ticking over with virtually no budget and very little time -- especially in primary schools.
Read MoreWhat Does It Take To Run A Successful Computing Department?
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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