11 attributes of the ideal ICT and Computing inspector

September 20, 2016

If ICT or Computing is inspected in your school, what attributes would you like the inspector to have?

A useful book for your education technology library

What I've been reading: Academic writing and grammar for students

September 19, 2016

A well-structured book that will prove a handy reference in the secondary classroom and beyond.

To put it Bluntly: Ofsted jargon

September 16, 2016

Derek Blunt takes issue with inspectors' jargon.

Articles on Ed Tech: Retrospective #4

September 15, 2016

Here's a collection of articles you may have missed, on a variety of subjects including Brexit, Master teachers and ebooks.

What I've been reading: How to read journal articles in the social sciences

September 14, 2016

While not specifically concerned with Computing or education technology, this is a very useful book for students undertaking research in journals.

Computing discussion topics 2016-09-14: Brexit and biometrics

September 14, 2016

It's very important to cover the Computing curriculum in a way that relates it to what is actually going on in the real world. Here are two more discussion topics to help you to do that.

Project-based learning in Computing: micro and mini projects

September 11, 2016

You can't just give kids half a term to solve a problem and expect them to be able to just get on with it. This article suggests a simple approach that will help them get used to working on projects.

EducationTechnology News: 4 forthcoming events

September 9, 2016

News of 4 forthcoming events, including one that takes place tomorrow.

9 uses for checklists in education technology

August 23, 2016

A checklist is one of the handiest tools at your disposal, and won't cost you a penny. How might you use checklists in your Computing or ed tech lessons?

7 articles about ebooks

August 17, 2016

Here is a short selection of articles I've written about ebooks, self-publishing and related matters.

Education hashtags

August 16, 2016

Here's a link to a post containing a comprehensive list of Twitter educational chats, compiled by Simon Johnson.

Articles on Ed Tech: Retrospective #3

August 15, 2016

Here are 5 articles from last week that you may find interesting, covering writing, blogging and education technology.

Hubris in the world of education technology

August 12, 2016

I believe that there's a fine line between letting people know you're an expert, and displaying too much self-regard. If keeping on the right side of that line proves a bit of a challenge, here are three "rules" that could help.

Articles on ed tech: Retrospective 02

August 8, 2016

A selection of articles on education technology you may have missed, from last week, last year, and the Digital Education newsletter.

24 must-have features of computer labs

August 4, 2016

If you still have, or are planning to have, a computer lab, then these 24 things are essential to include.

70 kinds of educational blog posts -- offer

August 3, 2016

I've created a crib sheet of 70 types of blog post. These ideas have been selected on the basis of how well they can be adapted to educational blogs -- either the teacher's or the school's.

Read on to find out how to get it.

What if "she" decided whether or not you got the job?

7 ideas for story-writing in Computing

August 2, 2016

Here are 7 ideas for encouraging pupils to write stories on Computing and related topics -- and the announcement of a brilliant new and free resource: 70 Kinds of Blog Posts.

Photo by Anna Demianenko https://unsplash.com/@annademy

Articles on ed tech: Retrospective #1

August 1, 2016

Here are links to some articles about Computing and ICT from last week, and one from last year and also information about an article on the subject of teaching Computing in our newsletter.

10 things to do with old IT equipment

July 29, 2016

Just because a laptop, tablet or printer isn't good for general or intensive use any more doesn't mean it cannot serve any purpose at all. Here are a few suggestions you may wish to consider.

Ode to Code

July 28, 2016

"I wonder if it's possible to write a poem about coding", I thought to myself. Well, it is, and here it is. First Chaucer, then Shakespeare, and now me. No doubt schoolchildren of the future will be studying this for their Eng Lit exams, but in the meantime you can read it here first! Enjoy.

Recent book reviews

Review: The Shortest History of AI

How is it that ChatGPT, Claude and other Al models appear to perform so well at certain complex tasks that some people become convinced that they're sentient — only for them to then promptly fail at simple tasks that even a child could handle?

Review: Teacher Geek

Every so often I like to take a look, or another look, at a book published a while ago, and today I’ve been looking at Teacher Geek, by Rachel Jones.

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?