When my room was flooded at three in the morning while staying in a Marriott hotel in Los Angeles, an assistant helped me to relocate to a different – and drier! – room. As compensation for the inconvenience, she gave me a voucher for a free breakfast in the morning. Bleary-eyed, I accepted it. On waking…
Read MoreHow digital technology can improve mental health and wellbeing
There has been quite a bit of research carried out concerning the effects of technology on health, mental health and wellbeing. Although the picture is not 100% positive, there seems to be more on the credit side of the balance sheet than on the debit side.
Read MoreImage by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay
Two unexpected consequences of installing a calendar archive
When I set up a calendar version of the archive on this site, it didn’t occur to me that this would give rise to two incentives.
Read MoreFrustration, by Terry Freedman
An archival experiment
The archive on this website keeps disappearing, and while the problem is easily fixable (temporarily), it’s extremely frustrating. Here’s my workaround.
Read MoreHow I review books on edtech
My views on what constitutes a book on edtech are fairly catholic. Indeed, it would me more accurate to denote the books I review as books for teachers of ICT, Computing, digital literacy etc etc,, rather than books on edtech. The latter tend to have titles like “How to teach Computing”, or “How to use Excel in the classroom”.
Read MoreZoom meeting, by Terry Freedman
Virtual conferences: are they worth it?
It’s good that although many conferences have had to be cancelled, or at least deferred, some transitioned to being online. However, are such events worth your money or your time?
Read MoreWe will remember! The importance of great customer service
Given the difficulties brought about by Covid – staff on furlough or “let go”, orders drying up, workers self-isolating – customer retention becomes even more important than usual. Unfortunately, it may also become more difficult. After all, how can good levels of customer service be maintained if there are fewer people around to give it?
Read More10 Characteristics of a good Computing Scheme of Work
*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.
Read MoreReading efficiently is a must for teachers of Computing and information technology (Updated)
With more and more to read, and with the ever-changing landscape of education technology, teachers of Computing and related subjects need to be able to read more in the same amount of time. Here are some tips that I’ve found useful.
Read MoreMission Statement? For heaven's sake!
If an organisation is so hung up on its image that it wastes time and resources on thrashing out a mission statement, what does that tell you about its priorities?
Read MoreArchives, by Terry Freedman
On this day: my blogging course contingency plan
Like many other people, last year I was in the position of having to run my introductory course about blogging online. Just in case things went pear-shaped, I came up with a contingency plan.
Read MoreEdTech books, by Terry Freedman
EdTech books received for review
Look out for my reviews of the following books.
Read MoreTiny Noticeable Things
The following list contains examples of things I did in school that made life much easier for those on the receiving end. What might you do?
Read MoreChecklist: 9 Guidelines for Managing a Technical Support Team (Updated)
You don't necessarily have to be a "techie" in order to be able to manage a technical support team effectively.
Read More9 uses for checklists in education technology (Updated)
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?
Read MoreOld technology, by Terry Freedman
Choosing word processing software
It may be true, as we’re often told, that most people use only 20% of the features of Word and other “high-end” programs. That may tempt you to buy or rent less pricey software that do not have so many features. Although that makes sense, I think it’s a mistake.
Read MoreDomino effect
This blog post is dedicated to all those writers who are looking after elderly relatives, young children, holding down a job, dealing with gas bills, doing shopping etc etc etc.
Read MorePhoto by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
Teaching topics that rarely, if ever, come up in the exam
Do I want my students to learn this subject, or do I want them to become thinkers in this subject?
Read MoreBarbed wire, by Terry Freedman
Teaching behind bars
Not all teaching of classes of adults is equal. At the time I had had plenty of experience of teaching adults, but it had never occurred to me that there was a possibility I could be physically harmed by the people I was teaching.
Read MoreWhat does the future hold for the book?
Perhaps before we can see any major and widespread developments in books (beyond the innovation of audiobooks) we need to rethink what exactly we mean by “literature” and “book”.
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