9 ways to make your Computing classroom 'immersive'

June 21, 2016

What is an 'immersive' computing or ICT classroom, why is it important, and how can you make your classroom immersive?

10 ideas for Computing or ICT lesson routines

June 20, 2016

Things may be going great, so why change them? You know the old saying: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

But there's another point of view too: who wants to become ossified? Read on for a few simple ideas to try now.

Computing and magic

June 16, 2016

What can we learn from magicians when it comes to designing computer software and equipment? In this article, Professor Paul Curzon explains all.

5 Outlandish things to do in your Computing lesson

June 9, 2016

Why not try something different in your Computing lessons? Here's a short list of suggestions.

4 things I've learnt about assessing Computing and ICT

June 7, 2016

Assessing pupils' ability in Computing or ICT is not easy. Here are four things I've learnt about it.

7 reasons to teach coding through problem-solving

June 6, 2016

Should you start with the raw components when teaching coding, or get the kids problem-solving immediately? This article argues in favour of the latter.

A history lesson, circa 1991. What are the small things that helped to make the atmosphere so vibrant?

Quick wins in the Computing classroom

June 3, 2016

You don't need to spend a fortune or wait for years in order to make some big improvements in your school's Computing provision.

Computing discussion topic 2016-05-25: The algorithm that is too effective

May 25, 2016

Here's an example of a computer program that prevents people buying stuff, based on their address.

A word cloud of the GCSE options that schools are offering in Computing and related subjects

Computing options at GCSE: interim survey results

May 24, 2016

What are schools going to be offering their students by way of Computing options at GCSE? Here are the initial results of a survey I'm conducting.

Computing discussion topic 2016-05-23

May 23, 2016

A topic to discuss with your students perhaps: the hidden bias in algorithms.

Will he dictate even more of what you see?

Immersive journalism: a VR nightmare?

May 20, 2016

VR technology has come of age (more or less) and suggests some exciting possibilities. But how will reportage be affected, and is it wholly a good thing?

10 things to do in 5 minutes in your computer lessons

May 18, 2016

What can your students do in the odd five minutes in computing lessons? Here are ten suggestions.

7 must-attend conferences for ed tech teachers

May 6, 2016

UPDATED! Here are 7 conferences that will appeal to any ed tech teacher wishing to improve their practice and broaden their horizons.

Such a shame that we can't look inside kids' heads. It would make assessment so much easier!

5 articles on assessment and assessing computing

April 28, 2016

How to assess pupils in Computing, marking, evaluation -- here are 5 articles that I hope you'll find challenging, thought-provoking and perhaps even useful!

Crosswords and coding

April 25, 2016

If you like coding, you should enjoy doing cryptic crosswords too. If it was good enough for Alan Turing...

Oh joy! The next issue of Digital Education is out today!

Coming soon: Digital Education!

April 21, 2016

Another bumper edition of the Digital Education newsletter! Due out later today.

My 10-point marking strategy

April 19, 2016

Marking is an important part of assessment, but it need not be unduly arduous.

Robot editor up against a deadline -- by Terry Freedman

AI: Could a bot write your next book?

April 13, 2016

What's the role of artificial intelligence in the writing of books, games and apps?

Hollywood here I come. Or maybe not. Picture from pixabay.com CC0

Terry's 2 minute tips #1 Marking with coloured pens

April 12, 2016

Is marking with different coloured pens a good idea? That's the topic I cover in this edition of Terry's 2 Minute Tips.

An observation sheet should be more than a checklist. Picture from www.pixabay.com CC0

The checklist approach to assessment

April 7, 2016

An interesting article on assessment in an Australian magazine for teachers leaves a few questions to be answered.

Recent book reviews

Review: Teach Fast

The book contains some interesting ideas.

A question of leadership

I have somewhat dichotomous views of this question of whether leaders make a difference, or much of a difference. I think my views can be classified as macro and micro.

Review: Making Good Progress?

Daisy Christodoulou carefully picks apart the pitfalls of various kinds of assessment, drawing on different subject areas to do so.

principles and practice of assessment.jpg

Review: Principles and Practices of Assessment

There is plenty in this book to like.

Review: Effective Teaching: Evidence and Practice

Although this is a few years old now (2018), it has stood the test of time.

Review: One for maths teachers

This wide-ranging book takes in probability, fractals, astronomy, Babbage, Lovelace and a host of other areas and people.

Reviews: Two for History teachers

Two books on the Nazi era.

Review: One for English teachers

No book about the craft of writing seems complete without a stern chapter on the importance of eschewing adverbs and adjectives - but what to put in their place?

Review: The Great Formal Machinery Works: Theories of Deduction and Computation at the Origins of the Digital Age

If you’re of a mathematical bent this could be just the book to delve into.

Review: How to lie with statistics

Although this book is over 60 years old, it is remarkably apposite for our times -- and especially in the fields of educational research and assessing pupils' understanding and progress.