I gave students the chance to paint on my walls and it went really, really well.

https://blog.ohheybrian.com/2025/11/adopt-an-atom/

#teaching #chemistry #science

Some thoughts on a surge of #AI papers in my English classes and how I am adjusting my #teaching practices: https://hpkomics.com/2025/11/dealing-with-ai-in-english-classes

#writing #education

Today is the first time that I've read a term paper that cites a host of fake references (six out of ten)... Such a shame because it was actually a very interesting topic, which I know that the student is genuinely passionate about... Anyway, I now urgently need to find something to cheer me so I don't end my Saturday in a bad mood. Any suggestions?

#GenAI #teaching #HigherEd

So how is using teachers' time on yet more testing going to improve pupils reading level?
It won't.
Pre Covid I used to do 1 to 1 reading support. The teachers knew exactly what level every pupil was at, and I got the ones who needed most support.

Another stick to beat schools with will not help. SATs already divert teachers into force feeding pupils to temporarily learn Gove's pre frontal adverbs, etc. instead of teaching.
We don't need more tests. We certainly don't need more burned out teachers leaving.
What schools need is money, for urgent repairs, for proper SEND support, and enough teachers.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/nov/01/bridget-phillipson-unions-oppose-reading-tests-year-8s

#Teaching

Such an inspiring story from #penpotfest about how online educators in #hongkong are using #opensource #foss because it's simply the most pragamatic solution, now even more so, due to global #embargos #tarriffs for such products as #adobe in #china

Freeing imagination to empower the next generation of artists

https://peertube.kaleidos.net/videos/watch/bcdcd0db-dd1b-49c1-90be-8f2f5f8c7217

#peertube #blender #teaching #mastoart

Today in the classroom:

First year chemistry is doing a lab modeling how to calculate average atomic mass from isotope data.

Second year chem did their emission spectra data collection yesterday, observing emissions of hydrogen, helium, and neon. They're analyzing that data today. Next week, we'll talk about the deficiencies of the Bohr model and line it up with quantum model (subshells, orbitals, etc).

#chemistry #teaching 

After just shy of 14 years living here, I will begin tomorrow to give (math) lectures in Dutch.

#teaching #dutch #graphtheory

Today in the classroom:

First year chem students are doing some high-level notes on atomic models and the structure of the atom. Then they'll practice describing atoms based on given subatomic particle data (isotopes, ions, etc)

Second year chem is doing their emission spectra lab today with hydrogen, helium, and neon samples to calculate electron energy changes when excited.

#chemistry #teaching