4 things I've learnt about assessing Computing and ICT

June 7, 2016

Assessing pupils' ability in Computing or ICT is not easy. Here are four things I've learnt about it.

7 reasons to teach coding through problem-solving

June 6, 2016

Should you start with the raw components when teaching coding, or get the kids problem-solving immediately? This article argues in favour of the latter.

A history lesson, circa 1991. What are the small things that helped to make the atmosphere so vibrant?

Quick wins in the Computing classroom

June 3, 2016

You don't need to spend a fortune or wait for years in order to make some big improvements in your school's Computing provision.

Computing discussion topic 2016-05-25: The algorithm that is too effective

May 25, 2016

Here's an example of a computer program that prevents people buying stuff, based on their address.

A word cloud of the GCSE options that schools are offering in Computing and related subjects

Computing options at GCSE: interim survey results

May 24, 2016

What are schools going to be offering their students by way of Computing options at GCSE? Here are the initial results of a survey I'm conducting.

Computing discussion topic 2016-05-23

May 23, 2016

A topic to discuss with your students perhaps: the hidden bias in algorithms.

Will he dictate even more of what you see?

Immersive journalism: a VR nightmare?

May 20, 2016

VR technology has come of age (more or less) and suggests some exciting possibilities. But how will reportage be affected, and is it wholly a good thing?

10 things to do in 5 minutes in your computer lessons

May 18, 2016

What can your students do in the odd five minutes in computing lessons? Here are ten suggestions.

7 must-attend conferences for ed tech teachers

May 6, 2016

UPDATED! Here are 7 conferences that will appeal to any ed tech teacher wishing to improve their practice and broaden their horizons.

Such a shame that we can't look inside kids' heads. It would make assessment so much easier!

5 articles on assessment and assessing computing

April 28, 2016

How to assess pupils in Computing, marking, evaluation -- here are 5 articles that I hope you'll find challenging, thought-provoking and perhaps even useful!

Crosswords and coding

April 25, 2016

If you like coding, you should enjoy doing cryptic crosswords too. If it was good enough for Alan Turing...

Oh joy! The next issue of Digital Education is out today!

Coming soon: Digital Education!

April 21, 2016

Another bumper edition of the Digital Education newsletter! Due out later today.

My 10-point marking strategy

April 19, 2016

Marking is an important part of assessment, but it need not be unduly arduous.

Robot editor up against a deadline -- by Terry Freedman

AI: Could a bot write your next book?

April 13, 2016

What's the role of artificial intelligence in the writing of books, games and apps?

Hollywood here I come. Or maybe not. Picture from pixabay.com CC0

Terry's 2 minute tips #1 Marking with coloured pens

April 12, 2016

Is marking with different coloured pens a good idea? That's the topic I cover in this edition of Terry's 2 Minute Tips.

An observation sheet should be more than a checklist. Picture from www.pixabay.com CC0

The checklist approach to assessment

April 7, 2016

An interesting article on assessment in an Australian magazine for teachers leaves a few questions to be answered.

David Brown gets to the heart of the matter

Ofsted's views of the Computing curriculum

March 14, 2016

David Brown, Ofsted's National Lead for Computing, answers some common questions.

For those not in Britain, Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, aka the inspectorate.

15 reasons to use education technology in your classroom

March 11, 2016

Here's a list of benefits of using education technology in lessons.

STEM and Governmental micromanagement

March 9, 2016

The Department of Education's recent "clarification" on the deployment of exclamation marks has taken micromanagement to a new level. They've issued edicts on textbooks and worksheets, now exclamation marks. Will they turn to the Computing curriculum next?

Should kids dictate the lesson? Photo from Pixabay.com CC0

6 reasons that computing lessons shouldn't be driven by kids

March 4, 2016

The idea of allowing kids to decide what they learn in Computing lessons is simply wrong.

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.