Here is a brief listing of some of the topics covered in the forthcoming edition of my ezine, Digital Education.
Read MoreComputing books received in March 2019
These books, which I received recently, look interesting, and I’m looking forward to reading and reviewing them. All book links are Amazon affiliate links.
How to think like a coder was shortlisted for an educational writers’ award, which you can read about here: The 2018 Educational Writers Award. I didn’t receive this in March, but have only now started to look at it in depth. I’ve already penned a few notes about it here: Books in Brief: How to think like a coder.
Monitored, which I’ve just started reading, is an examination of big data and surveillance from a Marxist perspective. I haven’t looked at any Marxist literature for a very long time — not since I tried to read Das Kapital when I was 17 (I got as far as page 23, which was 8 pages further than one of my teachers!) — so it’s a completely new perspective for me, which makes this an interesting, if difficult, read.
It covers similar ground to other books on the same subject matter that I have to review — indeed it references some of them — but with a clearly different take on the whole thing. I have to say that from the little I’ve read so far I remain unconvinced, and happily so.
Mission Python has been sent to me by Teach Secondary magazine. As the title suggests, it’s a book that teaches you how to program in Python. All I can say about it so far is that it looks colourful, and that I’m looking forward to reading it.
How to run a consultation
If you don’t want a consultation to give you answers you won’t like, here’s what to do. And if you’re a respondent to that kind of disingenuous process, here’s how to have your say anyway.
Read MoreHalf-price offer on my guide to getting the most out of conferences
UPDATED! For one week only, my guide to getting the most out of education conferences is available for half price.
Read More5 interesting technology sessions at the London Book Fair 2019
UPDATED! Here are 5 talks and one event at the London Book Fair that you may be interested in. Plus, a free personal selection from myself.
Read MoreConference: Next steps for education technology - improving educational outcomes
This conference, in London in April 2019, looks at a range of issues around education technology.
Read MoreDisconnectionism
UPDATED! What is disconnectionism — and why might one be attracted to it?
Read MorePolitics and education technology reviews
To what extent is bias in reviews unavoidable? And does it matter anyway?
Read MoreDiscipline in the classroom: what, why and how (Updated)
UPDATED What is classroom discipline? Why is it needed, especially in lessons where technology is being used? How can it be established?
Read MoreWhat do kids get up to online?
Here are several research reports on kids’ behaviour online.
Read MoreDigital Education: Safer Internet Day
With Safer Internet Day just around the corner, the latest issue of Digital Education contains several links to resources and reports.
Read MoreWhat kind of ed tech house is your school?
If the ed tech in your school is horrible, and mistreated, then perhaps this article, inspired by a talk by A J Crabill, Deputy Commissioner for the Texas Education Agency, will help.
Read MoreThe 4 stages of Bett
The four stages of Bett, illustrated.
Read MoreBett 2019: some photos
Here are some of the photos I took at Bett 2019.
Read MoreBett 2019 News Bulletin 2019-01-25
(Very) quick looks
Here are a couple of the things I’ve seen at Bett so far.
Robots
Kubo: teach younger children coding by placing physical objects (“tactiles”) on to a special board, thereby making a small robot travel. You can build up surprisingly complex programs. Concrete learning definitely has a place, though you will need to be very hot on classroom management to make sure bits don’t go missing.
DF Robot: They make and sell kits for the Micro:bit and other such devices. I liked the modular aspect: you can add sensors of various kinds, and there is an add-on which gives the Micro:bit internet access. Impressive.
More news soon, probably after Bett. Look out for more product reviews, and an interview with Mitch Resnick, probably in my newsletter Digital Education in the first instance.
In the meantime, I’ve compiled a list of hints and tips for Bett, along with the seminars I find most interesting, and various organisations’ ed tech predictions for 2019. You can download the free pdf from here:
Bett 2019 News Bulletin 2019-01-20
Read on for information about a free pdf guide to Bett and the Education show, and some news about a particular product.
Read MoreThe ways m-learning is transforming online education
Allowing students to use their phones certainly brings with it some challenges. However, the potential benefits are great.
Read MoreThe Education Show 2019
The Education Show is going on next door to the Bett show this year, on 24th and 25th January. Here are pointers about a few of the sessions going on.
Read MoreBett2019 Pointers: a personal perspective
There is tons to see and hear at the Bett show this year — even more so than usual I think. Here are the things I’ve earmarked for myself, based on the assumption that by next week I will either have mastered the technique of being in several places at once, or somehow acquired a team of ten people.
Read MoreGetting the best out of Bett2019
Here are a few words about the revamped (I think) Bett show in London, and some tips on how to get the most benefit from attending.
Read More