Category: #TOLC

Open Badges – now with Endorsements

This thought was created for Doug Belshaw‘s DML blog entitled “Extending Badges“.
I am more than just my grades

When you hire a person what do you look for? I look for what I would call character, and a spark… Yet grades are so big that that although voices say that other qualities matter, its hard to hear them. Could Open Badges be a game changer in terms of recognising value, in all its…
Education Technology

I love Lego, and I wonder how much it played a part in feeding my creative (and constructivist) side. Problem solving, learning to pivot and change direction, creating new worlds with others. Needless to say my kids are all over it…
Badge Taxonomy

As part of our work for City and Guilds, Doug Belshaw and I decided to formulate a Badge Taxonomy – not in order to classify badges per se, but to evolve our understanding of how badges (and their intended purposes) differed. After a whole bunch of stickies and some brain crunching, this was the (half-baked)…
Why I love my MOOC

The last MOOC I completed (the science of everyday thinking, University of Queensland) was one of the best learning experiences I have ever had. Arguably, its the first course I have done solely for the learning as opposed to the credential…
Why can’t we be tested on what we learn?

This comment by a student at a college was overheard by Martin King – and so well put that I had to turn it into a drawing. The whole “teaching the test” vibe I find an unpalatable one, even though it suits game-playing strategic thinkers like me. I believe it ruins learning.
What makes good evidence?

I’ve learnt a lot about what makes good evidence from talking with people at City & Guilds (who are a knowledgeable lot). This drawing came out of a conversation with Patrick Craven, head of assessment.I’ve learnt a lot about what makes good evidence from talking with people at City & Guilds (who are a knowledgeable…
What if the shape of learning was to change?

I think that the shape of formal learning is held back by the other parts of the system that are dependent on it. But what if it’s shape were to change?
Which Culture for Education?

As an institution, it’s important what your top priority is. However, in my experience, this is usually dictated by the culture of the institution, rather than anything on a piece of paper. It’s in this context that I worry about the culture of Education in the UK.
We amuse young people

Yep – I think we probably do. This thought came from a Nesta Young Digital Maker session with Debbie Forster from Apps4Good.
The Skills Gap

The UK has a growing skills gap. There are predicted to be over 14 million skills shortages by 2020. Created for City & Guilds.
The Misleading Tower of PISA

I created this image for Pasi Sahlberg relating to their article in the Washington Post debating the need for PISA – the academic global league table. Read More