It's often in the least likely circumstances that we discover astonishing things about others, and possibly ourselves.
One day while teaching I saw Maryanne, a 14 year-old pupil, walk past my room. I asked her what she was doing out of her lesson.
Read MoreICT Briefing Evenings
When the Headteacher told me that he would like me to run an ICT briefing evening for parents, I thought it was a great idea, although I didn’t agree with his suggested approach. He thought the parents should be given a talk for about 20 minutes, and then be allowed to wander around. I thought, let’s cut the talk part: the kids can do that, on a one-to-one basis. Who wants to sit and listen where ICT is concerned?
Read MoreTwo-tier email system
Teachers looking for material with which to furnish their lessons on how technology affects society need look no further than email. This form of communication has affected in at least three ways what might be called “disposable time” – the time one has left after the essentials like eating and sleeping have been taken care of.
25 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.
Review of the Kodak Zx1 Pocket Camcorder
The Kodak ZX1 may not be pretty, but boy, is it robust!
Read MoreCome back, computer lab, all is forgiven
Why is it that all innovators seem to have an “either-or” mentality, an all-or-nothing approach? “Out with the old, in with the new!” seems to be their call to action, yet sometimes – I would say often – the new is not as good as the old. At least, not so much better that the old should be dispensed with altogether.
The Transparency Initiative
I recently attended a Westminster eForum seminar about PR and journalism, where I met Dr Martin Moore, of the Media Standards Trust. In his 4 minute talk, Martin mentioned the Trust’s involvement in something called The Transparency Initiative. The Trust has teamed up with the Web Science Research Initiative for this grant-funded work. I caught up with Martin a few days ago and we discussed it.
Here’s the situation which, as either a citizen, a teacher or a blogger you will understand only too well. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between commercial and, for want of a better word, factual, content in the news.
Read MoreIntegrity, journalism and PR
Having integrity is not simply a luxury, it is an economic necessity.
Read MoreThe power of blogs and the perils of email
I originally wrote this article on 13th April 2009. Although the story that inspired it is no longer news (although the problem it relates to, about losing data, hasn’t gone away), I think that the interplay and rivalry between “mainstream media” and blogging is still interesting. This has been brought into sharp focus by the withdrawing from blogging by two political bloggers.I think when investigative journalism is done well, such as Watergate, the Expenses Scandal, it is second to none. But increasingly I find myself frustrated by “flimsy” reporting in the press.
Read More5 Tips for recording pupils’ progress in ICT
As well as assessing students' understanding at any given time, you will also need to record their progress over time. Here are five suggested ways of doing this.
Read More13 reasons to use educational technology in lessons
Sometimes you need to convince colleagues to think about using educational technology in their lessons, or to identify where in their scheme of work they could incorporate it.
This list is a starting point: you may find one or two points that would "resonate" with your co-worker, and grab his or her attention.
Read MoreA conversation
What is so significant about an insignificant conversation between two cousins?
Read MoreThe Blank Paper
When I read Terry’s article ’25 Ways to make yourself unpopular – Be Flexible’ I have to admit to feeling embarrassed! I was that person who had been invited to contribute an article and I was that person who asked lots of ‘what about...’ questions!
I have reflected on why that was the case and this is my defence!
The effects of technology on lifestyle, and techno-romanticsm
I watched an interesting TV programme last night. Called Electric Dreams, the programme followed the fortunes of a family whose home had been transported back in time to the 1970s. Each day brought a new year, and the technology that went with it.
Read MorePictures across the curriculum: After the tourists have gone
In this article, English, Economics, culture, geography and tourism are highlighted.
Like most of the pictures I take, this one was unplanned. I saw all these boats in the evening, as I crossed over the bridge in York town centre. The scene struck me as rather poignant.
But then I got to thinking, it would make a great starting point for several avenues of study, such as:
Analysis of a poster
Actually, the title is a bit of a misnomer because I don’t intend to analyse this poster! I thought it might be something to discuss with students from an ICT point of view. I saw it whilst travelling on a Docklands Light Rail train recently. Your literacy colleagues may be interested too – can they spot the grammatical error?!
Pictures Across the Curriculum: Missing Monks
In this series I'm looking at how well-chosen digital photos can be used in different areas of the curriculum.
Today I'm looking a some photos that might have sparked off an historical investigation if I'd had more time.
25 ways to make yourself unpopular: #15 Don’t be perfect
If there is one thing that’s guaranteed to intimidate a newcomer to educational technology, it’s the perfection and poise of the long-established practitioner. “I’ll never be able to do that”, they think to themselves – and that thought in itself can prevent them learning anything new, or at least learning it as quickly as they might do.
Read MorePictures across the curriculum: portrait of an artist
In this series I'm looking at how well-chosen digital photos can be used in different areas of the curriculum. In the first one, I looked at the problem of litter.
This one, however, is about a much more pleasant subject: a local artist.
I visited a beach in Suffolk recently, and came across someone painting the landscape. It was a great occasion to have my camera with me!
So who was it? Read on to find out, and to consider some possible curriculum links.
Subtlety in the ICT Programme of Study
The ICT Programme of Study is both short and non-specific as far as the technology it references is concerned. It’s easy, therefore, to fail to appreciate some of the subtleties in it. This is especially true of the Attainment Targets towards the end of the document, in which often the same phrases are used and it’s difficult to identify why one skill is deemed to be higher or lower than a similarly-worded one.
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