I can't count the number of times I've sat in meetings and heard the team leader say, "OK, so by next month X will have happened. What's the next item on the agenda?", to which I've piped up: "Er, exactly how is it going to happen?".
Read More
Just because everyone says something is good, doesn't mean it is.
Making and programming
Is 'making' really an effective -- or cost-effective -- way of learning programming?
Read MoreReview: The Self-Taught Computer Scientist: The beginner’s guide to data structures & algorithms
As its name suggests, this book is aimed at those who want to teach themselves computer science.
Read MoreReview: Book Wars
The digital revolution was not just about books, but social factors, personal desires, institutional goals and more.
Read MoreA new newsletter from me
My public writing tends to be mostly about education technology, and the craft of nonfiction writing. My interests are more varied than that brief description would suggest, but to avoid muddying the waters I either attempt to skew an article so that it fits into one of those categories, or not publish it at all. But now that has changed…
Read MoreThe Government’s Online Safety Bill – good news matters, but what else needs to be considered?
Mark Bentley shares his views on the Government’s Online Safety Bill.
Read More
You don’t need an arrangement as elaborate as this! Photo: Press Association newsroom, by Terry Freedman
5 reasons to have a Computing news section of your lessons (Updated)
One of the ways in in which you can help enliven the Computing curriculum is to allocate some time in every lesson (yes, every lesson) to news. There are several reasons for this.Bett Bulletin (sort of): A new version of 2Publish is coming from 2Simple
Here is some news about an update to a program that enables children to write something and illustrate it. It was demonstrated at Bett.
Read MoreThe Online Harms Bill
The British government wants to make technology companies more responsible for policing online harms. It's one of those ideas that sounds great in theory but is fraught with difficulties.
Read MoreMy initial thoughts on the new education White Paper
You may not know this, but I really really try to greet pronouncements from the Department for Education in a positive manner. But, quite frankly, they make that impossible.
Read MoreArise, Sir Gavin
Just in case you weren't aware, the previous Education Secretary in England, Gavin Williamson, is going to be given a knighthood. Admittedly he had a rotten task, having to deal with education during a pandemic and lockdowns. Even so….
Read More
Bett. Photo by Terry Freedman
After Bett
There is always a danger that no matter how good an event like Bett is, it will turn out to have very little impact in the longer term, as you forget what you saw and more pressing concerns vie for your attention. Here are some suggestions for preventing that from happening.
Read More
Bett20, by Terry Freedman
Bett Bulletin: Life-sized augmented reality
Discovery Education has launched an AR app called SandboxAR. It makes things appear life-sized, and the LGfL is involved, providing content.
Read MoreHead of department notes: who are the key people?
Is the most important person in your school or team is the one who has the key to the stationery cupboard?
Read More
Bett Bulletin: a heads-up guide
Unfortunately, I am unable to attend Bett this year. However, as I received a few kind invitations from companies to meet look at products, I thought I could at least pass the information on to you.
Read More
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Coming up in Digital Education
Here’s what the next issue of the Digital Education newsletter contains….
Read More
An inspector calls
If there’s one thing that every teacher dreads it’s a visit from inspectors.
Read More
Explosive atmosphere, by Terry Freedman
Toxic leadership
It's all very well enjoying power, but ultimately power is only useful if it gets things done without unfortunate side effects.
Read MoreThe Society of Breakers
Too many brilliantly-working things are screwed up for it to be just accidental.
Read MoreUse your face?
If an article is ripped off, it’s much easier to prove that it was originally published by you if your face is embedded in it.
Read More