| Digital - teacher | Education in a technological world

It's official. Ofsted have spoken...

Finally, after what seems like an age, our recent Ofsted inspection can be talked about. Copies of the report have gone out to our parents today, and so it's now in the public domain. We did OK. Actually we did better than OK, we done 'Good'. We are officially 'Good' in all aspects of the official Ofsted report...

2DIY3D. A new gem from 2Simple.

If you subscribe to 2Simple's PurpleMash online resource, then you're in for a treat very, very soon. A version of 2DIY (the award winning game creation software) will very shortly be available in the gourmet mash package.

The Call

We knew it was coming. We just didn't know when. I suppose we were lucky that it has been deferred for a year - they wrote to us and said our results meant they wouldn't be coming until at least September 1st 2011. Well, it's September 12th and today we got....<shudder> that phone call.

Happy Snapping

Each time I use the iPhone to take a photo I get more and more impressed with just what it can achieve. Not only the quality of the image, but also how - through the use of the multitude of apps available - the image can be enhanced, tweaked, cropped, tilt-shifted, bordered, saved and even published whilst still out and about.

It's not what you tweet...

I am a frequent tweeter. I find it really useful to get ideas, inspiration and advice from others in, and on the edges of, the education community. I value the replies and responses from the variety of users to the many questions I have, and (when I can) I'll happily respond with advice to others when I know the answer. However, not everyone does the same.

It's almost over...

It's now September, summer(??) has gone, and it's time to get back into work mode. However, just before I return to my classroom I had one last relaxing visit to the local nature reserve on a lovely sunny September day. 

5 reasons why [some] teachers don't teach programming

Since being invited to a meeting at Bletchley Park to discuss the lack of 'computing' in schools, I've been thinking about several of the reasons given during the day as to why this is. Yes, there are exam constraints at secondary school, but not in primary, and not outside of school too, so what else could be a cause?

Programming in the Primary Classroom

Yesterday I drove down to a meeting at Bletchley Park. It was hosted by @jasongorman who had invited other primary ICT coordinators, independent school secondary ICT teachers, consultants, learning technologists, as well as representatives from Google, the BBCAcademy, Thoughtworks, and other companies too.

Nostalgia, updated

I've stumbled across the most wonderful little iPad / iPhone app in the appstore. It's called the "Ladybird Classic Me Books" app, and for those of a certain age that 'L' word conjures up wonderful memories of reading.

Spice up your fonts

Last year I created a microwebsite for some children in school who were working on a project based around the iPad app 'Epic Citadel', and a story start set within that land by Tim Rylands. I wanted the site to match the feel of the land, and that included how the writing looked on screen.

A new School. German Style.

I've recently returned from a short break in Germany staying with my wife's family, during which I had chance to see a special school that will open in September, replacing an older building. To say I was impressed is an understatement - the thought that has gone into the building is incredible...

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Wow - what a title! and what an app for the ipad too. After discovering this little gem this morning in the iTunes store I've been thinking about just how it could be used in literacy lessons at school.