Blogging with AI

August 8, 2025

In preparation for a course on blogging that I ran a few years ago, I wanted to see how far I could get using AI tools to help me with my intended audience, outlining a post and drafting a whole article.

Photo of a history lesson in a computer lab — Photo by Terry Freedman

6 routines for Computing lessons Revisted

July 7, 2025

Routines are good, because pupils know what to expect. They are able to predict what is going to happen, and when. Some pupils, whose home lives are chaotic and unpredictable, may even feel safe because of routines. Here are some routines that I think are useful for Computing lessons.

A rubric for assessment? What a joke! Revisted

July 7, 2025

A lighthearted look at rubrics as a form of assessment.

AI guides, and student involvement

June 13, 2025

I keep seeing blog articles and guides about using AI in education, and they mostly seem to be a form of painting by numbers.

The value of constraints: a note about the Oulipo and computing

June 12, 2025

The early Oulipians in particular were interested in how mathematics and literature could be combined. Calvino, for example, wrote about using cybernetics in literature.

6 Outlandish things to do in your Computing lesson

June 9, 2025

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

On this day: Set trivial assignments for students of Computing stuck at home

May 28, 2025

Why set students real-world, life-changing, humanity-saving problems when trivial challenges are likely to prove equally, if not more, useful?

Free ebooks on teaching online

May 14, 2025

These pdfs, on converting a course to an online course, and tips for teaching online, were written a few years ago but still contain actionable suggestions.

Archival

May 4, 2025

I’ve created a special area of the Digital Educatioon Supplement, which is an online supplement to my newsletter, Digital Education.

History lesson, by Terry Freedman.jpg — History lesson, by Terry Freedman

Two more for the archive

April 22, 2025

I’ve just published a couple of documents in the Digital Education Supplement. This is a collection of free resources for subscribers to my newsletter, Digital Education, which is also free.

Should the Computing curriculum be ditched?

March 28, 2025

This is a serious question. What is the point of teaching kids computer programming, when AI can do all the hard work?

Safer internet day 2025

February 11, 2025

These resources cover various aspects of online safety, including protecting oneself from scams, understanding personal information sharing, and recognizing signs of online threats.

The human touch

October 3, 2024

I’ve been experimenting a lot with using AI, especially for summarising long documents. But the summaries lacked the human touch.

Using AI to mark students' work: postscript

September 16, 2024

I didn’t think AI's answer was good enough. I didn’t ask how ethical the proposals were. I asked it to mark an Economics essay.

Suggestions for using AI in education

September 11, 2024

I’ve been experimenting a lot with using AI. Not for creative writing I should add: I think AI has a long way to go before it will tempt me to eschew the likes of David Foster Wallace, Nabakov or Orwell. But for helping one think and, I’m sure, for admin, I think it’s a game-changer.

EdTech Diary: Talking the talk

August 23, 2024

Imagine the scene: a visiting dignitary, or an inspector, is shown into your classroom and, as is expected of anyone in that situation, walks around the room chatting to the pupils. She notices...

This is what Ideogrm.ai came up with in response to the prompt “Person using AI”.

Do kids still need to learn how to code?

April 30, 2024

A week or so ago we were chatting to a neighbour. She said she thinks her daughter, who looked about six years old, should learn how to code, as that’s the future. Didn’t I agree? I’m afraid I said that didn’t.

Get off of my lawn

April 9, 2024

One of the few good things about the emphasis on ‘coding’ now is that as most people acknowledge that they know nothing about it, they leave the people teaching it in peace.

12 Characteristics of a good Computing Scheme of Work

March 28, 2024

*UPDATED* What are the attributes of a good ICT and Computing scheme of work? Here's the list of characteristics I've always looked for.

AI discussion prompts from Wakelet

February 15, 2024

This resource comprises a number of prompts to kickstart a discussion in your classroom about AI and its effects in society.

Recent book reviews

Quick looks: Listen in: How radio changed the home

Back in the 1930s, radio was the cutting edge technology in the home.

Backlist: The Written World

Writing was invented ‘only’ a few thousand years ago. It’s a fascinating story.

Backlist: What I'm reading: Bounce

What does it take to become an expert? And what can the Computing teacher do about it?

Backlist: The Fourth Education Revolution

The title of this book invites curiosity: what were the other three ‘revolutions?

A book review for your English department colleagues perhaps

Some of these stories are so richly told, it can almost seem as though you’re right there with him.

Review: Pen Names

OK, so this has nothing to do with education technology, but we all read (I hope!). A very interesting examination of the pen names some authors have adopted, and why.

Review: The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History

There's a really interesting section in this book about how ceramic storage of data and information is probably the most likely medium to stand the test of time.