Here is a set of links to the educational computing books I’ve reviewed up till 22 September 2019.
Read MoreReading and research, by Terry Freedman
Computing and computing-related qualifications
Here in England the Government, in its quest to put Computing on the map, did its best to make sure the rest of the map was blank – by getting rid of qualifications that lots of students took (especially girls).
Read MoreItem 327 -- Get rid of to-do list
The problem I find these days is that there seems to be a mismatch between myself and event organisers as far as planning ahead is concerned. For example, I am sometimes invited to conferences with 1 week’s notice: my diary contains bookings for almost the whole of next year.
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Click the book cover to be taken to its page on Amazon. (Affiliate link.)
Review of Practical Pedagogy
Are new technologies useful or merely a distraction? How do we give pupils the skills they need to navigate the world when they leave school when we’re not sure what that world will be like? What is the proper place for evidence-informed education and educational research?
Read MoreThe trouble with technology
To the adage "Never work with children or animals", I would add, "or technology" -- which is somewhat worrying given that I have been involved in educational technology for over 20 years.
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Exclamation mark, by Terry Freedman
Was it something I said? When an elevator speech falls on deaf ears
In one of my teaching jobs, I had to listen to a parent while he went on and on about how kids should taught how to take computers apart in their Computing lessons. When I pointed out that the course was about being literate in the uses of computers and also how to program them, rather than how they're made, he insisted that digital literacy could only be taught by taking computers apart.
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Robot made of Lego, at John Lewis, Photo by Terry Freedman
AI: It was a very active and engaging and free way of learning, in some ways
10 ways to encourage reluctant teachers to use education technology
If part of your job is to encourage other teachers to use technology in their lessons, this article, based on my own experiences, may help.
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Society of Authors Educational Writers Group
Vote for me!
A few years ago I put myself forward to serve on the committee of the Society’s Educational Writers Group. As my three year tenure will be coming to an end soon, I’ve put myself forward for election to the Management Committee of the Society. That’s the group that decides policy and strategy. I think it’s very important that that committee includes a person who has been a teacher, and is still heavily involved in education, and writing for educational publications.
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Blogger, by Terry Freedman
New blogging course
If you’ve thought about starting your own blog, but are not sure what to write about or what keeping a blog entails, then a course I’m teaching in December 2019 might be of interest.
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Be Aware!, by Terry Freedman
Never underestimate new pupils' computing skills
It’s an unfortunate fact of life that secondary school teachers underestimate how much their primary school colleagues have taught when it comes to computing and education technology. It’s true that in some cases it’s justified, but by and large in my experience it isn’t.
Read MoreComing soon in the Digital Education newsletter
The next edition of this esteemed newsletter has a cornucopia of links that will be of interest to teachers of computing and media literacy especially, and very little commentary! Read on to find out more.
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An awful shock, by Terry Freedman
My worst IT training days #6: The day my website was shut down
I wonder if there is anything more discombobulating than announcing, with great fanfare, a brilliant resource to a class full of teacher trainees, only to be greeted by a dreadful error message instead?
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It won’t be as bad as you think! Picture: Terrified, by Terry Freedman
8 Tips for NQTs
Your first day at school may seem terrifying, but hopefully it won’t be as bad as you think! Here are 8 tips you may find useful.
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The Science of Learning: click on the cover to view the book on Amazon (affiliate link)
Review of The Science of Learning
This book aims to solve the difficulties teachers face in accessing educational research through the approach of presenting each research study as a double-page spread.
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Imaginary Cityscape, photographed by Terry Freedman
Review of Imaginary Cities
The Imaginary Cities exhibition at the British Library is an interesting merger of art and programming. Here are my thoughts on it.
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Relax, by Terry Freedman. I’m trying to, I’m trying!
A call to Technical Support
A call to technical support that was only successful once I’d stretched the facts a bit.
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Presentation on a mobile phone, by Terry Freedman
Actually, it IS about the technology (partly)
“It’s not about the technology” sounds logical, but in my experience it is certainly not the whole story.
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Holo app, by Terry Freedman. This was drawn using Comic Strip Creator.
Articles from the ed tech archives
Here are three articles from the ICT & Computing website which you may find useful, inspiring or both.
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Click the pic to go to the book on Amazon (affiliate link)
Quick looks: Critical Media Literacy and Fake News in Post-Truth America
This is a very interesting, thought-provoking and readable book. I’ve only read 25% so far, but it’s looking good so far.
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