What can we learn from a band about the characteristics of the expert ICT teacher?
On being a certified Google Apps trainer
Zoe Ross recently became the first, and until a short time ago the only, Google Apps for Education Certified Trainer in the UK. In this post she explains why, and what that means to her.
Read More25 ways to make yourself unpopular: #18 Don’t ask questions
You’d think that giving people in your team the freedom to teach ICT how they like would be met, by them a least, with unbridled enthusiasm. You’d think that the best way to get on with your boss would be to offer no resistance to his latest idea, even if you secretly believe it is completely nuts. You’d think that not challenging your students when they proudly show you the results of their programming or desktop publishing efforts would be much better than the opposite, lest their (supposedly) fragile self-esteem be damaged.
You’d be wrong.
Is More Too Much?
Terry’s article ’25 Ways to make yourself Unpopular – Too Much Information ‘starts by reminding us the phrase is often heard in a social setting when stories are being retold and get a little too near the knuckle for comfort. In terms of getting things done however, surely it is not possible to have ‘too much information’? The more you have, the easier the job will be – yes?
Read MoreAn Open Source Schools conference
In “austerity Britain” schools are faced with a rather large challenge: how do they continue to provide a good ICT service, for teachers, administrators and, above all, pupils? One possible solution is open source software, and whilst I do not subscribe to the Shangri La-like vision of some of its exponents, I do think it’s an option that demands to be explored and considered carefully.
Read MoreFound on the web: 02/17/2011 (a.m.)
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10 things I’ve learned in a year of blogging | JAMES MICHIE
Very useful post, which succinctly suggests 10 things to consider when blogging. I think the author, James Mitchie, should have added a #11: create list posts. These always go down well, as exemplified here!
Thanks to twitterers @zoeross19 and @largerama for mentioning it.
Online discussion about educational technology
At the time of writing this, there are 15 minutes to go before Drew Buddie and I conduct what may be our last Teachshare discussion. Some of the topics to be discussed are:
Read More25 ways to make yourself unpopular: #13 Do as you’re told
What could be worse than not doing as you’re told? The answer, of course, is doing what you’re told – and no more.
Read MoreThe importance of research for ICT teachers revisited
What’s the difference between action research, academic research and other types of research? Is it the case that in order to be seen to justify a research grant you have to couch your findings in terms which make them incomprehensible to the very people who might benefit from them? How does academic research “percolate” down into the classroom? And is there a case for saying that research findings should be reported in a “popular” style sometimes?
Read MoreThe importance of research for ICT teachers
How important is research for teachers in general, and ICT teachers in particular? One might be tempted to say that people learn in the same way now as they did thousands of years ago, so research, apart from keeping abreast of the latest developments in technology, is pretty redundant.
I think there are problems with that attitude.
Read MoreForthcoming articles and other stuff worth reading
This is a bit of an experiment, but I thought it might be interesting to flag up what’s coming up on this site soon, and also what I’ve come across on other sites that look interesting.
Read More25 ways to make yourself unpopular: #12 Be too flexible
One of the things I’ve discovered is that a lot of people need, or at least want, tightly-defined boundaries. I’ve found this to be the case not only in the management roles I’ve had, but even as an editor of Computers in Classrooms and the ICT in Education website.
Read MoreTechnology in the media
I'm interested in how technology is used in the media, and think that in many respects the media is more innovative than schools when it comes to using the technology.
I think it would be interesting to explore this, and perhaps a good way of starting off would be to join an online discussion this evening with Tony Johnston of the Press Association.
Read More25 ways to make yourself unpopular: #7 Do things properly
After a hiatus born of the Christmas holidays, followed by a week of intensive conference activity and then a desperate (and not entirely successful) attempt to catch up, this series is back! Thanks for your patience during its temporary absence.
Doing things properly is what I like to think of as “making haste slowly”. We live in an age where everything is expected to be decided upon, and then executed, extremely quickly. The problem is that without getting the detail sorted out in the beginning, the work can actually take longer as incorrect assumptions have to be confronted and corrected.
3 professional development opportunities, and they’re all free
In these austere times, free is good, right? Here are three sources of professional development that you will, I’m sure, find useful.
Another year, another BETT
It’s been a week of three conferences including, of course, the BETT show. I really enjoyed it, and will be writing about it in more depth in Computers in Classrooms in the very near future. But for now, here are some reflections.
Read MoreBETT Bulletin #2
This is a combination of "My personal BETT Day 2" and my BETT Bulletin.
Things to go to today, if you can:
Read MoreBETT Bulletin #1: ICT in the curriculum, plus first looks
This is a quick note, in effect, not an in-depth analysis. That will come in the newsletter Computers in Classrooms, after the show.
Read MoreGuidance for the BETT Show (and other conferences)
Last year I published a guide to BETT (and other conferences) for subscribers to the free newsletter, Computers in Classrooms. I think the advice is still relevant. I looked at the following:
- 9 reasons to attend.
- 4 arguments to put to your boss as to why you should be allowed to attend.
- 3 other kinds of colleagues who should attend.
- 13 things to do in advance.
- 16 ways to get the most out of the show.
- 7 ways to follow up afterwards (once you’ve recovered!).
You can read that online here.
Evaluation of Learning Without Frontiers Pre-Conference
I was looking forward to hearing some great presentations and startling revelations at the Learning Without Frontiers Conference. But I spent almost my whole time there talking to people. The way I figure it, if something is really good I'll get to hear about it anyway, so given the choice between listening to a talk, and discussing –and-catching up-and-networking type of activity, I choose the latter. At least, I did yesterday.
So, how was it for me?
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