James Watts
@jamesbwatts.bsky.social
Assistant Head; T&L, AI, CogSci; Head of Computer Science; CAS Oxon Community leader; Google tools #GoogleEDU; FIRST Champ Org ambassador @FTC_UK
I’m surprised ‘cognitive offloading’ wasn’t an option in this @teachertapp.bsky.social question today
November 26, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I’m surprised ‘cognitive offloading’ wasn’t an option in this @teachertapp.bsky.social question today
I happened to check my @teachertapp.bsky.social stats today - turns out it’s quite a big day! (Edu geekery revealed!!)
September 13, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I happened to check my @teachertapp.bsky.social stats today - turns out it’s quite a big day! (Edu geekery revealed!!)
Reposted by James Watts
What are the most powerful levers of learning we can use in the classroom? Download our free science of learning guide here ⬇️ htalh.com/download-tea...
June 21, 2025 at 9:18 AM
What are the most powerful levers of learning we can use in the classroom? Download our free science of learning guide here ⬇️ htalh.com/download-tea...
Is everyone ok @amymayforrester.bsky.social @adamboxer.bsky.social? No pod??! Or is it just me?
June 6, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Is everyone ok @amymayforrester.bsky.social @adamboxer.bsky.social? No pod??! Or is it just me?
A summary of the current state of popular AI chatbots…fast moving and unhelpfully named!
Every few months, I write an opinionated guide for general purpose users about which AI to pick, especially for newcomers.
Here is my brand new one, which I actually had to update multiple times in the few days I was writing it. Things are changing fast. open.substack.com/pub/oneusefu...
Here is my brand new one, which I actually had to update multiple times in the few days I was writing it. Things are changing fast. open.substack.com/pub/oneusefu...
Which AI to Use Now: An Updated Opinionated Guide
Picking your general-purpose AI
open.substack.com
January 26, 2025 at 6:35 PM
A summary of the current state of popular AI chatbots…fast moving and unhelpfully named!
Reposted by James Watts
About 8 years ago, @siobhanleahy50 and I prepared a Quick Reference Guide for Embedding Formative Assessment. It's now out of print, so the copyright has reverted to us, and we are free to share it with anyone who wants it: bit.ly/EFAQRG (pdf).
Dropbox
bit.ly
December 26, 2024 at 5:24 PM
About 8 years ago, @siobhanleahy50 and I prepared a Quick Reference Guide for Embedding Formative Assessment. It's now out of print, so the copyright has reverted to us, and we are free to share it with anyone who wants it: bit.ly/EFAQRG (pdf).
Reposted by James Watts
Recently talked to a student who admitted to using ChatGPT as a study device - by feeding it all of the class lecture slides and having it generate summaries. So now OpenAI has ownership of all the slides my co-instructor and I created from scratch…
December 23, 2024 at 5:22 PM
Recently talked to a student who admitted to using ChatGPT as a study device - by feeding it all of the class lecture slides and having it generate summaries. So now OpenAI has ownership of all the slides my co-instructor and I created from scratch…
Reposted by James Watts
Teachers using ChatGPT, alongside a guide to support them to use it effectively, can reduce their lesson planning time by 31 per cent.
This is according to the findings from a new trial published by @theeef.bsky.social today. 1/6
This is according to the findings from a new trial published by @theeef.bsky.social today. 1/6
December 12, 2024 at 5:13 PM
Teachers using ChatGPT, alongside a guide to support them to use it effectively, can reduce their lesson planning time by 31 per cent.
This is according to the findings from a new trial published by @theeef.bsky.social today. 1/6
This is according to the findings from a new trial published by @theeef.bsky.social today. 1/6
“There are also very, very few technologies that are so wildly impactful that it’s definitely worth disrupting the expert routines of some of our most effective teachers, so we need to be cautious about blanket imposition” @informededu.bsky.social
"Artificial intelligence will very likely shake up education, but not in the way or at the speed that many of its proponents or detractors imagine."
Good piece here from @informededu.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
Good piece here from @informededu.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
Where we’re really at with AI and schools
After speaking to hundreds of education and tech experts about the use of AI in schools, David Monis-Weston has found doubts creeping in among the hype
www.tes.com
December 2, 2024 at 6:50 AM
“There are also very, very few technologies that are so wildly impactful that it’s definitely worth disrupting the expert routines of some of our most effective teachers, so we need to be cautious about blanket imposition” @informededu.bsky.social
Reposted by James Watts
#EDUSKY Thread: Why deliberate practice and habituation might accidently lead to reduced teacher motivation.
There is a strange phenomena in teaching. In some cases new teachers join the profession and over a few years we teach them all the best ways to do things and they become amazing teachers...
There is a strange phenomena in teaching. In some cases new teachers join the profession and over a few years we teach them all the best ways to do things and they become amazing teachers...
December 1, 2024 at 8:43 AM
#EDUSKY Thread: Why deliberate practice and habituation might accidently lead to reduced teacher motivation.
There is a strange phenomena in teaching. In some cases new teachers join the profession and over a few years we teach them all the best ways to do things and they become amazing teachers...
There is a strange phenomena in teaching. In some cases new teachers join the profession and over a few years we teach them all the best ways to do things and they become amazing teachers...
If you’ve never listened to this podcast, this is an excellent one to start with - fascinating insight into a range of education issues and history from @samfr.bsky.social
NEW EPISODE
Absolutely fascinating podcast with special guest
@samfr.bsky.social!
This is absolutely 100% not to be missed. A deep dive into how education policy is made, why everything is broken, and how we fix it. Tune in and share!!
open.spotify.com/episode/0Pm0...
Absolutely fascinating podcast with special guest
@samfr.bsky.social!
This is absolutely 100% not to be missed. A deep dive into how education policy is made, why everything is broken, and how we fix it. Tune in and share!!
open.spotify.com/episode/0Pm0...
Why is everything broken, and how do we fix it? With special guest Sam Freedman
They Behave For Me · Episode
open.spotify.com
November 29, 2024 at 6:56 PM
If you’ve never listened to this podcast, this is an excellent one to start with - fascinating insight into a range of education issues and history from @samfr.bsky.social
Reposted by James Watts
New post and podcast episode on how multitasking sneaks into our classrooms and messes with learning.
www.cultofpedagogy.com/multitasking/
www.cultofpedagogy.com/multitasking/
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Multitasking in School
Multitasking sneaks into our classrooms and interferes with learning, and it happens in ways you may not even notice.
www.cultofpedagogy.com
November 25, 2024 at 1:20 AM
New post and podcast episode on how multitasking sneaks into our classrooms and messes with learning.
www.cultofpedagogy.com/multitasking/
www.cultofpedagogy.com/multitasking/
Reposted by James Watts
Tracking the Traces of Metacognition
How can we check that pupils are acting ‘metacognitively’?
researchschool.org.uk/bradford/new...
How can we check that pupils are acting ‘metacognitively’?
researchschool.org.uk/bradford/new...
Tracking the Traces of Metacognition
Mark Miller looks for the tangible signs that metacognition is happening
researchschool.org.uk
November 24, 2024 at 4:36 PM
Tracking the Traces of Metacognition
How can we check that pupils are acting ‘metacognitively’?
researchschool.org.uk/bradford/new...
How can we check that pupils are acting ‘metacognitively’?
researchschool.org.uk/bradford/new...
Reposted by James Watts
Teacher/administrator/professor friends: the differences between what "AI"/large language models (like ChatGPT) do and what we humans call "thinking" seem important to me (and might be important for students to know!)
robmcentarffer.net/uncategorize...
robmcentarffer.net/uncategorize...
Whatever AI is, it sure ain’t human
I first learned how Large Language Models work from this provocatively titled article: ChatGPT is Bullshit. When I saw the title, I clicked through because I thought it would be a fun, "joke" article,...
robmcentarffer.net
November 22, 2024 at 3:28 AM
Teacher/administrator/professor friends: the differences between what "AI"/large language models (like ChatGPT) do and what we humans call "thinking" seem important to me (and might be important for students to know!)
robmcentarffer.net/uncategorize...
robmcentarffer.net/uncategorize...
Reposted by James Watts
Useful starter pack! go.bsky.app/E7SUj17
November 23, 2024 at 9:09 PM
Useful starter pack! go.bsky.app/E7SUj17
Reposted by James Watts
‼️ 🔔 Competition
Want to win a copy of my book Is Leadership A Race?
Repost this post
Winner announced Sunday at 10pm
Want to win a copy of my book Is Leadership A Race?
Repost this post
Winner announced Sunday at 10pm
November 22, 2024 at 8:38 PM
‼️ 🔔 Competition
Want to win a copy of my book Is Leadership A Race?
Repost this post
Winner announced Sunday at 10pm
Want to win a copy of my book Is Leadership A Race?
Repost this post
Winner announced Sunday at 10pm
Part of what is covered is mentioned in this article “3 Critical Problems Gen AI Poses for Learning” hbsp.harvard.edu/inspiring-mi...
November 10, 2024 at 6:10 PM
Part of what is covered is mentioned in this article “3 Critical Problems Gen AI Poses for Learning” hbsp.harvard.edu/inspiring-mi...
I listened to this www.learningscientists.org/learning-sci... from @learningscientists.bsky.social yesterday. Lots to think about. Made my brain hurt and will need to listen again…maybe more slowly!
Episode 86: EdTech and AI with Jared Cooney Horvath (Recorded Live from ResearchED) — The Learning Scientists
This episode was funded by listeners like you. For more details on how to help support our podcast and gain access to exclusive content, please see our Patreon page . Show Notes: In episode...
www.learningscientists.org
November 10, 2024 at 5:51 PM
I listened to this www.learningscientists.org/learning-sci... from @learningscientists.bsky.social yesterday. Lots to think about. Made my brain hurt and will need to listen again…maybe more slowly!
Reposted by James Watts
Can we do a little thread where people post blogs they read a while back and think others should read?
Mine is this by Efrat Furst. Post yours below!
sites.google.com/view/efratfu...
Mine is this by Efrat Furst. Post yours below!
sites.google.com/view/efratfu...
EfratFurst - Understanding Understanding
What is understanding from the "learning brain" point of view?
Exploring the components of 'understanding' (with some visual examples)
What can be applied in the classroom? and how can we help stu...
sites.google.com
October 29, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Can we do a little thread where people post blogs they read a while back and think others should read?
Mine is this by Efrat Furst. Post yours below!
sites.google.com/view/efratfu...
Mine is this by Efrat Furst. Post yours below!
sites.google.com/view/efratfu...
Argghhh I can’t answer one of today’s @teachertapp.bsky.social questions - 2 hours?! 😂😂😂
October 23, 2024 at 3:38 PM
Argghhh I can’t answer one of today’s @teachertapp.bsky.social questions - 2 hours?! 😂😂😂
Reposted by James Watts
'Neuroplasticity' is everywhere, but what do we really mean when we talk about the ever-changing brain?
Let's dive deeper than the buzzword and explore the evidence with a model.
Let's dive deeper than the buzzword and explore the evidence with a model.
October 20, 2024 at 7:37 AM
'Neuroplasticity' is everywhere, but what do we really mean when we talk about the ever-changing brain?
Let's dive deeper than the buzzword and explore the evidence with a model.
Let's dive deeper than the buzzword and explore the evidence with a model.
Exam Nation by @sammywright.bsky.social is currently 99p on Kindle - looks good! www.amazon.co.uk/Exam-Nation-...
Exam Nation: Why Our Obsession with Grades Fails Everyone – and a Better Way to Think About School eBook : Wright, Sammy: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
Exam Nation: Why Our Obsession with Grades Fails Everyone – and a Better Way to Think About School eBook : Wright, Sammy: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
www.amazon.co.uk
October 20, 2024 at 2:30 PM
Exam Nation by @sammywright.bsky.social is currently 99p on Kindle - looks good! www.amazon.co.uk/Exam-Nation-...