Mathematician turned educator
I don’t usually mix maths with morality, but two events collided recently to force the issue. On Tuesday, I awoke to the horrific news of events in Manchester. Early indications were a terror attack; 22 dead, scores injured, all innocent. On the train ride into the office, I found myself probing the deeper meaning to... Continue Reading →
What does mathematics look like to you? Do you see a wondrous landscape filled with connected ideas, or a sprawling mess of symbols? The distinction matters a great deal, because your mathematical worldview is inextricablytied to your success in the subject. We are all familiar with the multiplication grid, a centrepiece of classrooms and home... Continue Reading →
We have our clearest indication yet that the cyborgs are coming. Elon Musk has formally accepted his invitation to the AI party the only way he knows how: by founding a company. Neuralink will create brain-enhancing digital implants; the first step on the road to merging humans with software. Musk has taken on the mantel... Continue Reading →
As the quest for strong AI unfolds, are we losing our grip on human intelligence? You are in a closed room. A passer by slips a sheet under the door containing a list of questions written in Chinese. The bad news is that you do not understand a word of Chinese (only you know this).... Continue Reading →
π through the ages I devoted some of my vacation to perusing the Rhind papyrus. It makes for fascinating reading. Dated 1650 BC (and now housed in the British Museum), this five-metre long scroll captures the rich mathematical legacy of Egypt. The pyramids of Giza stand tall as testimony to the Egyptians’ amazing skill and temperament... Continue Reading →
Education technology has a public relations problem. In a space where words carry wide currency, our choice of language matters. That’s why I’m troubled by Artificial Intelligence (AI). At a time when educators need assurances that digital innovations will work for them, the fundamental premise of this technology may imply just the opposite. The term... Continue Reading →
Some of my earliest memories reside in Ward 4 of the Derby Children’s Hospital. At the age of eight, I was diagnosed with a chronic stomach condition that resulted in two surgeries and frequent hospital stays. These visits lasted for months at a time, through to the end of my primary years. This is not... Continue Reading →
It is decision time for educators. As the new academic year looms large, teachers and school administrators can expect to be bombarded with the latest EdTech products. Promises abound of how these shiny new innovations support lesson planning, enrich instruction and raise achievement (often all at once). Before setting your purse strings loose, you take... Continue Reading →
(Trick question: the problems with testing run much deeper) I’m hungry. I am fasting for Ramadan, with five hours to go before food and drink are back on the menu. My concentration is slipping. I’m typing words but running on empty. A small nap is in order. See you shortly. *30 minutes later* I’m back, slightly... Continue Reading →
