A few weeks ago I had the fortune of speaking at an event alongside Dr Jordan Nguyen. And I was even more fortunate that we were able to catch up for a chat once his talk was done. Jordan is a biomedical engineer, inventor, TV host and general all-round good bloke. Having already invented a […]
This is an edited version of my latest School of Thought Column in Australian Teacher Magazine. I started teaching in 1999, when within the school, communication was via the morning staff briefing and through memos or the like posted in my pigeonhole, that I might – or more likely might not – get to every […]
In February this year, I had the opportunity to ask over 1000 senior students from about forty schools across Australia, which statement best summed up how their school taught social media. I’m assuming schools would do this, as I can definitely recall a subject called Media Studies when I was at school back in the nineties… I asked… Which of […]
A couple of months ago I was – along with other bloggers and “industry influencers” – invited by a large tech company to attend a free workshop showcasing their new tablet and software. They were happy to “donate” to me (and by extension I assume others) a tablet worth over $1000 in return for my blogging about […]
What’s in this post: How I used Minecraft to discuss Mindset with kids for whom mainstream education doesn’t work Access to the materials I created in order for you to do similar if you wish Of late I’ve found myself working with kids from some fairly tough backgrounds. Whether it’s kids who are wards of the […]
1. We’re innovative. The kids all have iPads. To do what? To do what you already did quicker, more efficiently or on a larger scale? In many schools the power of the iFad or whatever technology has been wheeled into the school is compromised by the way in which they’re allowed or – more importantly – […]
One of the most common questions I get asked by schools, is along the lines of how can we teach “Cyber-Safety?” Leaving aside the fact I’m not keen on the use of the work cyber as whilst it may have suited our needs a decade ago, nowadays it’s pretty much irrelevant. Why do I say irrelevant? Because […]
A couple of weeks ago, I asked a room full of Australian teachers if they’d heard of Sir Ken Robinson. One person tentatively raised their hand – and even then, he didn’t seem too sure. I was seriously taken aback, not least because I use Sir Ken’s name in some of my promotional material! Dan […]
There’s a reason I started to take my then three-year-old son to swimming lessons. It’s because, left unattended, he would have – most likely – jumped in the deep end without the pre-requisite skills to live to tell the story. Neither he or his mum were too keen on that scenario. Hence the weekly lessons. Just […]
Imagine for a second you’re booked in for elective surgery, and six months before the operation you’re told it’s your responsibility to provide the hospital with the surgical tools and technology required for your operation. The Department of Health suggests if you can’t afford to pay for the equipment, perhaps you could organise a cake […]
“The Robots Are Coming!” – Chatting with Dr Jordan Nguyen
A few weeks ago I had the fortune of speaking at an event alongside Dr Jordan Nguyen. And I was even more fortunate that we were able to catch up for a chat once his talk was done. Jordan is a biomedical engineer, inventor, TV host and general all-round good bloke. Having already invented a […]
Read More🎶 Tonight I’m gonna email like it’s 1999 🎶
This is an edited version of my latest School of Thought Column in Australian Teacher Magazine. I started teaching in 1999, when within the school, communication was via the morning staff briefing and through memos or the like posted in my pigeonhole, that I might – or more likely might not – get to every […]
Read More[Still] struggling to get our head around social media in schools…
In February this year, I had the opportunity to ask over 1000 senior students from about forty schools across Australia, which statement best summed up how their school taught social media. I’m assuming schools would do this, as I can definitely recall a subject called Media Studies when I was at school back in the nineties… I asked… Which of […]
Read MoreDI$CLO$URE
A couple of months ago I was – along with other bloggers and “industry influencers” – invited by a large tech company to attend a free workshop showcasing their new tablet and software. They were happy to “donate” to me (and by extension I assume others) a tablet worth over $1000 in return for my blogging about […]
Read MoreDeveloping a Minecraft Mindset
What’s in this post: How I used Minecraft to discuss Mindset with kids for whom mainstream education doesn’t work Access to the materials I created in order for you to do similar if you wish Of late I’ve found myself working with kids from some fairly tough backgrounds. Whether it’s kids who are wards of the […]
Read More3 Common Myths About Innovation in Education
1. We’re innovative. The kids all have iPads. To do what? To do what you already did quicker, more efficiently or on a larger scale? In many schools the power of the iFad or whatever technology has been wheeled into the school is compromised by the way in which they’re allowed or – more importantly – […]
Read MoreHear No Evil, See No Evil
One of the most common questions I get asked by schools, is along the lines of how can we teach “Cyber-Safety?” Leaving aside the fact I’m not keen on the use of the work cyber as whilst it may have suited our needs a decade ago, nowadays it’s pretty much irrelevant. Why do I say irrelevant? Because […]
Read MoreWhen teachers say they’ve not heard of Sir Ken
A couple of weeks ago, I asked a room full of Australian teachers if they’d heard of Sir Ken Robinson. One person tentatively raised their hand – and even then, he didn’t seem too sure. I was seriously taken aback, not least because I use Sir Ken’s name in some of my promotional material! Dan […]
Read More“Just jump in the deep end!” – Worst Advice Ever!
There’s a reason I started to take my then three-year-old son to swimming lessons. It’s because, left unattended, he would have – most likely – jumped in the deep end without the pre-requisite skills to live to tell the story. Neither he or his mum were too keen on that scenario. Hence the weekly lessons. Just […]
Read MoreIn the Sydney Morning Herald today…
Imagine for a second you’re booked in for elective surgery, and six months before the operation you’re told it’s your responsibility to provide the hospital with the surgical tools and technology required for your operation. The Department of Health suggests if you can’t afford to pay for the equipment, perhaps you could organise a cake […]
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