It’s coming up to that time of year, when companies unveil their new ed tech goodies, old friends and colleagues meet up, people give and attend talks and demonstrations, and we all go away either inspired or cynical, and completely shattered, in equal measure. Yes, it’s the BETT show, a 4 day conference-stroke-exhibition-stroke-meet-fest which attracts people from all over the world. This year it starts on the 12th January, ie next week, and I thought it might be useful to make my own suggestions about what you might like to see. These suggestions are all based on my knowledge of the people involved or past personal experience, so I don’t pretend to cover all possibilities: check out the BETT website for the full programme, and register for free in advance. Today, I’m looking at Day 1, Wednesday 12th January.
Free Leadership Event
Here’s an interesting conundrum: why is it that, given the trend towards distributed leadership and collaborative change, a lot of conferences targetted at leaders seem to consist of a succession of people lecturing to the audience?
Christmas Greetings
I’d just like to wish readers of this blog and the Computers in Classrooms newsletter a happy and peaceful break over the next couple of weeks.
This is not (hopefully) the last post this side of the new year, but I wanted to make sure I caught people before they all disappeared! I still intend to write for this blog, as well as Writers’ Know-how and Technology & Learning. In fact, the weather is such (worst winter since 1962 apparently) that I may have no other choice: it’s hard to get out and do shopping and stuff in this weather. (I’m heartbroken).
But my most pressing piece of writing right now is my e-Christmas cards!
Time to grow up?
Here’s a thought. I like to think of myself as a glass half full type of person. So why all the doom and gloom about the apparent lack of Governmental support, in the UK, for technology in the classroom?
Join the discussion!
This evening, for the last time this term, Drew Buddie and I will be discussing matters ICT, from 7pm till 8pm, UK time (though as always we will leave the room open until 9pm). We will see what comes up, but one thing we may be chatting about is why I’ve decided to exclude links to Wikipedia in my articles, as far as I can, for now. Also, why I think it’s a good idea to close down the ICT facilities for the last week or so of term.
Read MoreIs this the newspaper I’ve been looking for?
A short while ago I expressed the view that paper.li, the Twitter-based newspaper, was no longer for me. I don’t like the lack of control over what is published, and it started to look a lot like spam. I experimented with a couple of other similar services, and they did nothing much for me.
But Microsoft's Montage looks promising. Although you still don’t have control over what appears in particular streams, you do have a say in what types of stream are featured, and (to an extent), the layout.
The sledgehammer as a tool for innovation?
Can the sledgehammer, an instrument usually associated with destruction, be enlisted as a tool of innovation? Educational Technology consultant Doug Woods puts forward a case for this unlikely-sounding approach. His position is that a good use for the sledgehammer would be to break up all the ICT suites (computer labs) that can be found in schools.
Read MoreDigital storytelling resources
I was completely bowled over last night, by Steve Bunce’s talk on resources for Digital Storytelling. There were quite a few that I hadn’t come across before, but which I am now looking forward to exploring. Most of them are free.
Read MorePrize Draw
In the very near future (read on) I will be running prize draws for the following:
* MissionMaker.
* Xobni Plus.
* Global Conflicts subscription.
* Scholastic’s Child Education Resource Bank subscription (UK residents only).
* PIMS reporting software subscription.
Read MoreProgress report on the writing website
A little while ago I reported in Computers in Classrooms and here that I had started a new blog. Called “Writers’ Know-How”, its mission, if I may use so strong a word, is to make technology for writers more accessible. Clearly, the term “writers” includes bloggers of all descriptions, and the focus on technology will have relevance to teachers too.
Read MoreDigital Storytelling
With Christmas just around the corner, what could be more timely than a discussion on Digital Storytelling? Steve Bunce looks at some of the great (and free) resources available. Join us here, at 7pm UK time this evening, Tuesday 7th December 2010.
Read MoreIs it rude to comment?
A big plus factor in blogging is, of course, the facility to have people comment on what you say -- and the ability to comment on what other people say. But should you comment back?
Read MorePlease! No More Mantras!
If there’s one thing that really bugs me it’s people coming out with stuff with no thought whatsoever, but which they assume is profound. I’ve been to some conferences where a couple of speakers recited such mantras as
Read MoreNo More Twitter News
I’ve been using the http://paper.li/ service for several months, but a few days ago I decided to cancel it. What is it, and why did I cancel?
Update on The Amazing Web 2.0 Projects Book
In case you haven’t heard of it, or just to remind you if you have, The Amazing Web 2.0 Projects Book contains:
Personal Learning Networks
What a wonderful connected world we live in! Thus it was that a group of us were able to listen to, and chat with, Chris Smith about, appropriately enough, learning networks.
Personal Learning Networks–An Online Discussion
Chris Smith, of that vast repository of links, Shambles.net, knows all about personal learning networks. He lives in Thailand, but runs workshops globally via Skype, Second Life and, of course, in person. He’s also active on Youtube and contributes to many online discussion lists. Who better, then, to talk to us about Personal Learning Networks?
Read MoreNo Comment?
Do you have a policy about publishing comments on your blog posts?
Getting Teachers Engaged With Technology
Listen to Shelly Terrell giving us her ideas on how to get other teachers using technology in their subjects. Drew Buddie and I are running a series of Teachshares -- online discussions with guest speakers.
Read MoreSpreadsheets Across the Curriculum
<Yawn> <Groan><zzz><Snort><Grunt> If that’s the sort of thing that greets you when you tell a class that “we’re going to be looking at spreadsheets”, then maybe – just maybe – you ain’t doing it right. I mean, I think spreadsheets can be exciting, a window into some really lively discussion. OK, I admit it: I don’t get out nearly as much as I should, but even so….