Books of 2020

December 31, 2020

These are the books I’ve encountered in 2020.

The importance of reading in education technology: 3 books to read and recommend

May 22, 2017

Why background reading and reading around the subject are good things to do, plus three books I recommend for students (and teachers).

Getting the most out of Education Conferences -- now available on Kobo!

May 18, 2017

Information about my ebook, Education Conferences, plus where to buy it on Kobo.

7 books for teachers of computing and ICT

July 25, 2016

Micro reviews of 7 books. Inspired by a particular branch of "flash fiction", these reviews are just 6 words long! Ideal if you don't have much time to read a full length review, but would like a heads-up on what's out there. However, longer reviews are available if you prefer. Details are in the article.

What I've been reading: What's yours is mine

July 21, 2016

This book provides an interesting -- and disturbing -- perspective on the so-called sharing economy.

What I'm reading: Bounce

July 7, 2016

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

What I'm currently reading in the world of technology

May 26, 2016

Here are three thumbnail sketches of books I'm reading at the moment or have recently read. I hope it's useful.

What I've been reading

February 16, 2016

Some educational research books are better written than others. "Making a difference in education" is one of them.

Books for teachers of Computing and ICT

January 9, 2016

News about the ever-expanding Books Recommendations page on the ICT & Computing in Education website. This complements the book reviews that I publish fairly regluarly.

Recent book reviews

Review: How 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”.

Review: Nuts and Bolts: How Tiny Inventions Make Our World Work

It's rather disconcerting when one considers that buildings like The Shard are essentially held together by nuts, bolts and washers.

Review: Love Triangle: The Life-changing Magic of Trigonometry

Like, I suspect, many people, I have never knowingly come across an isosceles triangle in my life, and wouldn’t know what to do with it if I did. However...

Review: Making Sense Of Chaos – A Better Economics for a Better World

Before you rush off on the grounds that this book has nothing to do with Computing, let me reassure you that it does.

Bjork & Bjork’s Desirable Difficulties in Action

The original work on which this volume is based has perhaps been honoured more in the breach than in the observance.

Review: Coderspeak – The language of computer programmers

This book won’t necessarily help a student pass a computing exam, but it will almost certainly make them a more aware, and thus better, programmer.

Review: Quiet Power, by Susan Cain

Introverts thrive by being allowed to be quiet, having time for reflection and not being required to 'perform' all the time.

Quick look: Desirable difficulties in action

The idea of desirable difficulties has always appealed to me. In my teaching I’m partticularly in favour of applying Vygotsky’s concept of the zone of proximal development.

Review: The Collaboration Book – 41 Ideas for Working Better

Most people would agree that collaboration is a good thing – so how can we collaborate more effectively in school settings?

Review: Listen: On Music, Sound and Us

This book might not directly address obvious aspects of the music curriculum, but it can certainly give teachers access to a rich seam of facts and anecdotes with which to embellish their lessons.