Writing software manuals or books, or even mini tutorials on how to do something in a particular program comes with a huge occupational hazard.
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Christmas at Selfridges, by Terry Freedman
End-of-year message from ICT & Computing in Education
Unfortunately, my end-of-year message got a bit mangled, but I’m posting it here anyway. See if you can figure out what it is supposed to say.
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DigEd xmas, by Terry Freedman
Coming soon: Digital Education Christmas 2021
Coming soon (probably tomorrow, 21st December 2021), a bumper small edition of my esteemed newsletter. It contains some interesting stuff, including advanced notice of a fantastic prize draw in which you can win a ‘credit card'-sized microprocessor that allows you to create projects and then download them to the device. It includes 25 LEDs and a sounder allowing you to create music.
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Too protective by half?
Why I dread the thought of benign algorithms (Updated)
Science fiction writers would have us believe that intelligent machines will either enslave us or get rid of human beings altogether. But what if they were extremely benign and protective towards us? What could possibly go wrong?
Read MoreComing soon (ish): my top ten education books of 2021
I’m thinking that even if I gave a book I reviewed a rave write-up and five stars, it might still not make the list if a book I deemed deserving of four stars is comparatively better.
Read MoreWho needs "21st century skills"?
Has there ever been such a frenzy of thinking and activity over a concept which does not even exist? I am referring, of course, to the ridiculous notion of so-called '21st century skills'
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Hazardous area! Photo by Terry Freedman
Must you always obey instructions?
The short answer to the question that forms the title of this article is “Yes”. Even so…
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Burglar! By Terry Freedman
The Great Training Robbery
There must surely be few things more annoying than, having put a lot of work into a course, you discover that someone has ripped you off. They are using your materials in their course. They might even be selling your materials somewhere online.
Read More14 ideas for edtech company incentives
I was once offered discounts on buying a suite of computers for my school if I persuaded my colleagues to take out an insurance policy!
Read MoreFake news and media literacy
I like to try and give people the benefit of the doubt, but is that always the right approach? Ambrose Bierce defined a cynic as someone who sees things as they are, and not as they ought to be.
Read MoreOf COURSE classrooms have changed in the last few hundred years!
Is it really true that classrooms haven’t changed since the year 1600?
Read MoreA perfect example of why you should keep copies of your articles...
Your article is not available at the moment. Ain’t that a shame?
Read MoreOn this day: Robot rights
You can just imagine the family rows of the future, should technology ever reach the point where it isn't possible to distinguish between humans and non-humans merely by looking at them.
Read MoreIs it worth doing an MA? Continued
In June 2021 I wrote an article called Is it worth doing an MA? I listed several reasons why I think the answer is “yes”, but forgot to include one or two really important ones!
Read More7 questions about blogging
You can build up a body of work without having to try going through gatekeepers.
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Reflecting, by Terry Freedman
I don't agree with Cognitive Load Theory (CLT). Here's Why
A question: is Cognitive Load Theory another example of the emperor’s new clothes?
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Who needs a robot assistant? Photo by Terry Freedman
On this day: Thoughts about Alexa
I can’t get used to just barking orders at someone. Whatever happened to courtesy?
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Take responsibility, by Terry Freedman
Responsible Use Policies
The general thrust of education these days is on student-centred learning. This is often expressed by depicting on the teacher’s role as being the guide on the side rather than the sage on the stage. Regardless of whether you agree that that’s how things should be (and as it happens I don’t!), the often-stated philosophy these days is that students know best.
But does stating that philosophy mean that it is observed in practice?
Read MoreAsk the expert: a Zen-inspired view
What can a Zen outlook teach us about education technology etc?
Read MoreChoosing the right education conference
Anyone who announces that we need change, but without going any deeper into it, is an idiot as far as I am concerned. Either that, or they assume that I am.
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