In essence, the term “net neutrality” refers to the idea of everyone having equal and unfettered access to the services provided by internet service providers (ISPs), but in recent years it has often come to refer more specifically to tiered services and pricing. Basically, some people and companies advocate reserving fast internet traffic to those who are willing to pay, whilst everyone else enjoys a free, but slower, service.
Read MoreThe Danger of Stats-Watching
I don’t think statistics relating to the number of visitors to a website or blog are the be all and end all, but they’re important for at least three reasons.
In Praise of Entropy
Entropy, as I’m using it here, is a synonym for chaos or, at least, disorder. We strive against the onset of entropy in our lives, and nowhere is this more so than in our attempts to control the learning environment. That sounds eminently sensible. Is it?E-Moderation
It is a matter very much to be regretted that, over the years, management types have usurped perfectly innocuous phrases and converted them to euphemisms or, worse, their precise opposites.
Read MoreDo the Same Thing Differently
We’re always exhorted to do something different, but what if the basic principles of what you’re doing are pretty sound? Perhaps sometimes putting old wine into new bottles is better than producing new wine.
Automatic Writing?
The technology I crave has yet to be invented. A fairly frequent conversation in our household runs thus:
Me: I wrote an article on the way home today.
Mrs F: Ooh. Let’s read it.
Me: It’s all in my head at the moment.
Mrs F. It’s a pity we can’t print your head.
7 More Rules for ICT Teachers, Co-ordinators and Leaders
All over the country, indeed all over the world, ed tech evangelists are bending over backwards helping, training and cajoling their colleagues into adopting the use of technology in their own curriculum area. Let’s be honest, most of the time it’s a thankless task. The hapless ICT Co-ordinator
Conference Concessions and Other Goodies
As last year’s Handheld Learning Conference drew to a close, I wrote one word in the notebook I carry with me at all times: “Exhilarating”. I’m therefore delighted that Graham Brown-Martin has kindly offered subscribers to Computers in Classrooms a 10% discount on the booking fee –
Read MoreIs Freedom Always a Good Thing?
As you may know, there’s a bit of a revolution going on in the UK as far as education is concerned. Schools can apply to become
Yes, But What Do I Actually Have To Do?
I read an article about writing yesterday. It contained information about how to succeed in one particular genre. It included quotes and tips from some established experts
Making It To Christmas: Starting Well
Well, the new term -- indeed, school year -- has started or is about to start, so you may think it is somewhat premature to be thinking about Christmas already!
However, in my experience the autumn (Fall) term is the toughest of the lot, and the final few weeks can be purgatory.
Formalising meetings
Meetings should be run in a professional manner. I've written quite a bit about how to make meetings more effective and purposeful, but mainly from the perspective of the whole team. There are, however, more personal reasons to make meetings more formalised.
Friday Photo: Cycle Hire
In London we now have a cycle hire scheme. The idea is to get people going by bike rather than car, bus or train. Not a bad idea
E-Safety from a Self-Management Perspective
Last year I was invited to talk to a group of school students aged 16-18 years on the subject of keeping yourself safe in online social networks. An easy task, you might imagine, except that it has two main difficulties.
In The Picture: Stop!
I quite like this picture of a street near the Barbican, London, at night, mainly because it has that three o'clock in the morning feel to it. All that's missing is a newspaper billowing down the street and the sound of a lone saxophone.
Friday Photo: Fans
I took these photographs of a domestic fan – one in colour, the other in black and white – simply because I liked the look of the pattern.
Review of the Dell Latitude 2110
“Oooh!” “Ah!” “Oh my!”. Such were the collective gasps emanating from the Freedman household when I unpacked the Dell Latitude 2110 Netbook I’d been sent to review. Slim, striking and silent (but enough about me), the Latitude certainly makes the grade as far as aesthetics are concerned. But how does it actually perform?
Is ICT in Schools Damaging to the UK’s Economic Health?
This is the gist of the question posed by the Royal Society, which, as promised in a previous article, has just launched a call for evidence.
Kids Aren’t Stupid
I overheard a great conversation yesterday. Two girls were chatting behind me in the queue in the Post Office. From their discussion about school options and examinations, I’d say they were around 14 and 15 years old. Here’s part of the conversation, it really made me smile.
In The Picture: Help!
I’m a firm believer in helping youngsters (and colleagues) to become as self-sufficient as possible. As well as being healthy, in my opinion, it is also a requirement of some examination courses.