Reversal: A New Thinking Tool for Problem-Solving and Designing Solutions
I’m always keen to promote new techniques in thinking skills, so this presentation put up by David Hall, Founder of the Ideas Centre, really rang my bell as a useful … Continue reading
Reading in a time of crisis…
Amidst a week of global uncertainty, one positive note for me … both my education based books are in the best sellers list: Future Proof Your School on Amazon, particularly … Continue reading
Prompting Improvements
Sound advice for young people… concentrate on the HOW and not the WHAT of learning.
School-based teacher-led educational research: how to get started
I’ve often been surprised at how reluctant senior leaders are in schools to engage in a little academic research to improve the provision in their schools and address the ‘in-house’ … Continue reading
Covid19, Learning and Social Responsibility
Speaking from the UK, the current situation with Covid19 is escalating. As with other countries the reported number of cases is now escalating daily and the government’s suggestion is that … Continue reading
Recognising Diversity in all its Facets
Diversity is the catch-all term for a whole range of differences, some having legal and statutory definitions, and some not. We need to be mindful of the full range of … Continue reading
International Learning Collaborations: What Can Be Achieved?
I’m generally a little sceptical of the potential of information and educational technologies to bring about decisive improvements in learning. My position has been forged over many years working with … Continue reading
A Neuroscience Game-Changer: Connectivity Issues and Learning Difficulties
I’ve spoken before about the disconnect between neuroscience research, with its complexity and nuance, and practical guidance for educators. A new report on the source of learning difficulties has … Continue reading
Recognising the Obvious in Reading!
When the curriculum is one dominated by knowledge transmission, an inordinate stress is placed on the literacy levels generally and the reading level in particular of pupils. This is so … Continue reading
Finnish Education Explained by Pirjo Suhonen
Our friend, Pirjo Suhonen, outlines the key features of Finnish education which make it both distinctive and effective:
How Nature Supports Children’s Learning
Perhaps the disconnect between nature and young people has revealed something that we all intrinsically know: that young people learn and thrive in nature. According to a world-first review by … Continue reading
Common Courtesy… Or Supporting a Neurodiverse Person?
Some more clear thinking from Professor Amanda Kirby on the issue of supporting neurodiverse people in your school or company. Nothing revolutionary here, simple a rational and consistent approach to … Continue reading
Which Countries Have the Smartest Education Systems, and in Which Direction Are They Headed?
Although the article by the World Economic Forum linked at the end of this piece is entitled ‘Which countries have the smartest kids?’ it shows nothing of the kind. The … Continue reading
Re-purposing Learning for Examinations
As teachers, we tend to be more about the WHAT rather than the HOW of learning. No point in a child’s learning journey is more critical to their future than … Continue reading
Three Pathways to Learning Transformation in Schools: Part 2: Change Management Solutions
In the first article in this series I outlined the key issues preventing the effective development of schools as learning organisations in the UK. In this article we will … Continue reading
A Template for Neurodiversity
Professor Amanda Kirby again makes the complex understandable in her chart of the common neuro-diverse conditions and how they impinge on each other. I consider reflection on this chart would … Continue reading
Just in Time for the Examination Preparation Period: Re-Examining Success by David Hughes
This is the new flyer to accompany my recently-released book: a systematic and learner-friendly way of digitising revision. There is a whole section on digitising revision and also making revision … Continue reading
Homework… What is it Good For? Absolutely Nothing!
The issue of homework has been a thorn in my side since I started teaching. The standard thinking is that it develops independent learning skills, extends the work of the … Continue reading
Digitising Revision: The Basis of a Student Performance Breakthrough in Your School
This article is an abridged version of techniques expanded upon in a new book: Re-Examining Success: Raising pupils’ examination performance at secondary school: systems, techniques, processes and partners by David … Continue reading
Three Pathways to Learning Transformation in Schools: Part 1: Identifying the Problems
From November 2019: Flagship city school rapped and downgraded by Ofsted for ‘removing’ pupils ahead of GCSE exams | Birmingham Live Holte School in Lozells was one of a number … Continue reading
Re-Examining Success launched!
Crikey, it has only been out for a couple of days and already a bestseller in Blackwells… No.3 in educational strategies and policy!
A Diagram of Student Engagement Patterns from Ruby Jo Walker et al
I am indebted to Daniel Sobel for bringing this infographic to my attention. It was compiled by Ruby Jo Walker and associates and seeks to describe the range of levels … Continue reading
Tomatis: Linking Sound Processing and Learning
I have become very interested in the work of Charlotte Davies in the field of Tomatis research. It is only in the last year that this significant aspect of learning … Continue reading
The 2020 Critical Publishing Catalogue: The Answer to Questions That Have Been Challenging Schools
It is a really exciting time to be part of the Critical Publishing stable of authors. They have tapped into a rich vein of experience and focus with their Practical … Continue reading
Learning Technologies and How to Develop and Deploy Them: Changing the Paradigm
I generally take a sceptical view of educational technology because the implementers tend to want to shoe-horn in new technologies without going to the trouble of the professional development required … Continue reading
Bett 2020… Learning Paradise Deferred?
The siren call of the BETT Conference, the world’s largest educational technology exhibition is sounding again at the ExCel Centre in the heart of London Docklands. It will showcase the … Continue reading
The Unequal Playing Field of Education
In my new book, Re-Examining Success, out in March 2020, I outline ways in which the current examination system disproportionately favours those from relatively settled and well off homes. To … Continue reading
