-
Designing ZNotes Live
I can’t do justice in words to what we’ve all been through but it’s safe to say that the world as we know it, has completely transformed. And with all the heartbreaking losses and challenges we’ve all faced, many new things have emerged and the status quo has been changed. One thing that struck me, although it always has been present, is the amazing energy one could feel at live events. With the lock-down in place, attending live concerts and events with hundreds of thousands of people around the world felt like I was a part of something much bigger than the laptop screen and my flat in London. Another…
-
Developing a Platform on a Shoestring Budget
It. Was. Hard. To quote Hamilton, I had “to beg, steal, borrow, or barter” to bring my vision to reality. And I made many, many mistakes along the way. So if you are setting off or have just started the journey of trying to build some kind of platform or website, here are a few things I learnt the hard way and I’d like to share. What can you do yourself? Whether you consider yourself a programmer or not, there is a whole lot of stuff you can and need to do for this to be a successful endeavour. Before you even get started, indulge me by considering these fundamental…
-
An Open Letter to Students Worldwide
Dear freaked-out student, Hi – it’s me, a freaked-out human too. At this moment, we are probably living in the most remarkable and craziest of times that the world has seen in probably a good while. Every structure and foundation that seemed unshakable concrete has begun to fragment and sway. Never before have we been so connected and informed in a catastrophe of a global scale. Many of you will be unable to attend classes and lectures due to lock-downs and social distancing. It is imperative for us to be supporting our community and the healthcare systems by behaving sensibly and not leaving our homes where not necessary. However, it…
-
Reindeers, Skating and lots of Salmon
My spring reading weeks have been increasingly more exciting over my time at university. Last year was a trip to Paris and this time, I was heading out furthest North than I have ever been: to the coastal city of Oulu in Finland. Representing UCL EDUCATE and as an Erasmus student, I was joining the European Edtech Network Intensive Study Programme. After delayed flights due to Storm Dennis and precariously catching a connecting flight from Helsinki, I ventured into this beautiful city. On the second day, bleary-eyed at 8am, we got on a bus and headed into a remote village called Yli-li where we were to visit a comprehensive school.…
-
Thinking through the challenges of building an evidence base for edtech
Most Sunday afternoons are spent in limbo as we reminisce about the too-short weekend and think of everything that needs to be done in the coming week. Not this particular week though! In the run-up to the Reimagine Conference, the Imperial Business School was buzzing with experts and enthusiasts from the education sectors to attend some of the exciting workshops being run by some of the leading experts in their fields. The EDUCATE workshop was designed from the outset to truly learn from the attendees, each with their unique experiences and hailing from all parts of the world. It is not often that you have such an opportunity! Premeditatively, we…