“It never occurred to me at the time that we have zombies amongst us in the form of ex-Secretaries of State — not just in education, but in other areas too.”
Read MoreA zombie, by Terry Freedman
Just a section of the Freedman archive collection (artist’s impression)
Computers in Classrooms #10: The end of the line
Here’s a rum thing. While trawling through the Freedman archives looking for something exciting to read (actually, an excuse for not getting on with the work I’m meant to be doing), I came across this old newsletter.
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The Bett Show. Photo by Terry Freedman
Bett 2022: What if you CAN’T go?
The Bett Show is the world’s largest education technology show. Sadly, the seminars are not going to be recorded this time. However, all is not lost. Here are some ways you can keep abreast of what’s happening.
Read MoreWhen technology goes wrong (Updated)
Just a couple of cogitations – hopefully worthy -- about technology and our relationship with it.
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The Case For Bullet Points (Updated)
Just because awful presenters use bullet points, it doesn't necessarily follow that all presentations containing bullet points will be terrible.
Read MoreReading efficiently is a must for teachers of Computing and information technology (Updated)
With more and more to read, and with the ever-changing landscape of education technology, teachers of Computing and related subjects need to be able to read more in the same amount of time. Here are some tips that I’ve found useful.
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I should have booked in person. Liverpool Street Station, by Terry Freedman
A web-based labyrinth that would have made Borges or Kafka delighted
Can using a computer be injurious to one's health? If you're trying to book a particular rail journey via a particular website in the UK, the answer is a resounding "Yes".
Read MorePerverse incentives in assessment (Updated)
Trying to be helpful to pupils while assessing their understanding could actually be counter-productive.
Read MoreQuick look: Book Wars
As its subtitle indicates, Book Wars covers the analogue and digital battlefield in the world of books.
Read More"Facilitators" or "guides on the side"? No thanks
When the Computing Programme of Study was introduced in England, some people seriously suggested that the lack of suitably qualified teachers (i.e. not able to understand computing concepts or to do computer programming) was not a problem because classes could have “facilitators” instead.
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Quick look: The self-taught computer scientist
It’s a bit of a tall order, I think, to teach yourself computer science, as opposed to computer programming, because of the need to understand particular concepts.
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The scream by Terry Freedman, with apologies to E.Munch.
How to retrieve an older version of an Excel spreadsheet
Someone we know was in a bit of a panic recently because he had mistakenly deleted part of his Excel spreadsheet, and then saved over it. Was there, he wanted to know, a way of getting back the spreadsheet as it was before he made those ill-advised changes? As it happens, there often is.
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Image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay
The benefits of an open door classrooms policy
Should classrooms be open, in the sense that anyone might see what's going on, and perhaps even take part in them?
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Testing testing
this is a test
Read MoreIn case this website disappears...
I am experiencing domain issues…..
Read MoreA Teen's View of "Their Space" and Internet Safety (Updated)
“I won’t say that [this paper] was an interesting read for me though: it is like asking a religious person to read a book about why they should believe in God.”
This report is the result of nine months of work that focused specifically on understanding how children and young people use new technologies.
The review below was written soon after its publication, by Sarah Hillier, who was at that time a teenager. I’ve just re-read her article, and I think its observations and incisiveness – not to mention the beauty of her writing – have stood the test of time. The article which follows has only been modified slightly from the original. I hope you enjoy it.
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