Day Two at Willesborough Infant School, Ashford, Kent, and it has been a true delight to spend two days with such open minded, creative, up-for-a-challenge group as these Foundation Stage and KS1 teachers here at Willesborough. Thank you all for a great time.

A short drive from Dover to Ashford, and a special thank you to Liz Clarke for inviting us to  Willesborough Infant School in Ashford for two days of training, today working with the infant classes, then tomorrow working with the teachers and visiting colleagues. In the morning lessons we had the pleasure of meeting Ben Mehrabian, a [...]

Now down south, for a return trip to Whitfield and Aspen School, Dover, Kent. We enjoyed a trip to Whitfield and Aspen before, to work alongside the staff, investigating different ways of inspiring their pupils. Today, we had the opportunity to work alongside those children and wander in the world of words.

More miles, but how well worth it, to get to the East Riding Inspiring Creative Technology Conference at Bridlington Spa in Bridlington. I was asked to give a keynote speech, and a few workshops, to the nearly 200 delegates here today.

A few years ago, Jakub Dvorsky released his first “instant classic” game called Samorost. Soon after that Samorost 2 was released to frustrate and challenge us even more. Both games enjoyed tremendous success. Now comes Machinarium. A few hours in Machinarium‘s mysterious steampunk landscape could compared with the other activity I am challenged with at [...]

OK! So you have collaborated in text, at great speed, using Etherpad. How about adding a visual element? Try Dabbleboard to enable you to draw, at speed, and collaborate in real time, with others across the web. Tried this with a group of children and watched in amazement as they whipped up a diagram, for [...]

We were joined, today,  by Helen Bowen, Curriculum Improvement Adviser for English/Literacy for Newport, and she kindly recorded her reflections on the morning. I have had the pleasure of seeing Tim and Sarah presenting at conferences a few time now…but today was the first time I have seen them work their magic with children. Was [...]

What fun today, at St. Woolos Primary School, Newport. During the morning, we had the chance to work with two groups of children who had the style to turn up at school ON THEIR DAY OFF! We were very impressed with all of these valiant volunteers. They showed great energy in the way they were [...]

The MapZone website aims to present British and European Geography in a fun and eye-catching mannner which will appeal to children. The majority of the information is accessed through interactive activities, animations, quizzes and map-based games. There are also printable resources. Pupils are able to practise skills such as using grid references, compass directions and [...]

Today we are at Nant Y Ffin Hotel working with a focus on SEN with teachers and support staff from the Pembrokeshire area. The morning session providing training for the teachers and the support staff, then the afternoon working with a delightful bunch of Y3 – Y6 pupils from Brynconin Primary School.

We often work with schools using the hidden and magical parts of the “Control Toolbox” toolbar in PowerPoint. To me, a white screen and little black writing and reading it all out is PowerPointless! But, there are some remarkable elements to the hidden “developers” section that have proven to get teachers and students fired up [...]

Back to the Thinking Dice used over the last two days… These incredibly simple, but thought provoking, cubes make a powerful tool for use in any classroom, and at many ages. Thinking Dice is a brand new, fun product which enables pupils to develop higher order thinking and questioning skills. Teaching children thinking Skills can [...]