Matt Perks
@dodiscimus.bsky.social
11-18 physics teacher, now at University of Southampton in Initial Teacher Education. School governor. Mostly edu-guessing.
By teaching, we learn!
By teaching, we learn!
Being intelligent is primarily a matter of genetics and luck.
There's no doubt good thinking habits make a difference to how you handle information but only within those contraints.
There's no doubt good thinking habits make a difference to how you handle information but only within those contraints.
This is I think an underrated truth: being intelligent is I think primarily a matter of habit. Do you actually listen and try and take on board what you've heard or read before responding? Do you go 'okay, is that true?' about your own thoughts and prejudices? These are learnt, not innate.
and ultimately I think if you’re constantly saying stupid stuff then it just makes you stupid.
November 13, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Being intelligent is primarily a matter of genetics and luck.
There's no doubt good thinking habits make a difference to how you handle information but only within those contraints.
There's no doubt good thinking habits make a difference to how you handle information but only within those contraints.
Now this👇IS rocket science.
I don't have a useful answer, do you?
I don't have a useful answer, do you?
1: Toward the central body
2: Perpendicular to that
3: Toward the local center of curvature
4: Perpendicular to that
I feel like people call both 1 and 3 centripetal/radial, but obviously they're different. One can cause speed changes and the other can't! #ITeachPhysics #AstroEdu
2: Perpendicular to that
3: Toward the local center of curvature
4: Perpendicular to that
I feel like people call both 1 and 3 centripetal/radial, but obviously they're different. One can cause speed changes and the other can't! #ITeachPhysics #AstroEdu
November 11, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Now this👇IS rocket science.
I don't have a useful answer, do you?
I don't have a useful answer, do you?
Remarkable, the way some on the left are leaning into this as an opportunity to destroy the BBC.
Excellent perspective from @iandunt.bsky.social
I genuinely think if the BBC is lost, we're all lost. Just have to look west to see that.
Excellent perspective from @iandunt.bsky.social
I genuinely think if the BBC is lost, we're all lost. Just have to look west to see that.
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
November 11, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Remarkable, the way some on the left are leaning into this as an opportunity to destroy the BBC.
Excellent perspective from @iandunt.bsky.social
I genuinely think if the BBC is lost, we're all lost. Just have to look west to see that.
Excellent perspective from @iandunt.bsky.social
I genuinely think if the BBC is lost, we're all lost. Just have to look west to see that.
Haven't read the report, yet, from Peter Hyman and Shuab Gamote, but one thing I'm sure of: if we're worried about young people being influenced by SM, we should be 💩-ing ourselves about older people getting sucked in by FB algorithms and Daily Mail Online.
peterhyman21.substack.com/p/its-time-t...
peterhyman21.substack.com/p/its-time-t...
It's time to end the moral panic and start listening properly to young people
This week we launch 'Inside the Mind of a 16-Year-old,' a year-long listening project with young people across the country
peterhyman21.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Haven't read the report, yet, from Peter Hyman and Shuab Gamote, but one thing I'm sure of: if we're worried about young people being influenced by SM, we should be 💩-ing ourselves about older people getting sucked in by FB algorithms and Daily Mail Online.
peterhyman21.substack.com/p/its-time-t...
peterhyman21.substack.com/p/its-time-t...
For as long as both the hard left and hard right continue to disparage the BBC as irretrievably biased, I'm going to think they're about as good as it gets.
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 10, 2025 at 10:03 PM
For as long as both the hard left and hard right continue to disparage the BBC as irretrievably biased, I'm going to think they're about as good as it gets.
Found Slaughterhouse Five a bit meh, tbh. But definitely an interesting human.
Kurt Vonnegut is the subject of Tuesday's TGT. Discuss his experience as a soldier or his satirical novels. But I think it's worth discussing his view that there is joy to be had in walking to the local shop for a single envelope. We are dancing animals born to fart around.
bit.ly/TutorGroupThink
bit.ly/TutorGroupThink
November 10, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Found Slaughterhouse Five a bit meh, tbh. But definitely an interesting human.
I appreciate it's possible to be a specialist without much in the way of common sense but I wouldn't let this guy anywhere near my prostate, that's for sure.
Does the word "insurance" not give the game away?
Relates to my earlier post, ofc.
Does the word "insurance" not give the game away?
Relates to my earlier post, ofc.
Tell me you don’t understand risk pools without telling me you don’t understand risk pools
November 10, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I appreciate it's possible to be a specialist without much in the way of common sense but I wouldn't let this guy anywhere near my prostate, that's for sure.
Does the word "insurance" not give the game away?
Relates to my earlier post, ofc.
Does the word "insurance" not give the game away?
Relates to my earlier post, ofc.
A colleague just shared this with me.
I suppose it may just be serendipitous that it's chiming with half-a-dozen things I've been thinking about or working with recently.
There are ideas I love and ideas I hate.
It's an exceptional piece of writing.
webspace.royalroads.ca/llefevre/wp-...
I suppose it may just be serendipitous that it's chiming with half-a-dozen things I've been thinking about or working with recently.
There are ideas I love and ideas I hate.
It's an exceptional piece of writing.
webspace.royalroads.ca/llefevre/wp-...
webspace.royalroads.ca
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A colleague just shared this with me.
I suppose it may just be serendipitous that it's chiming with half-a-dozen things I've been thinking about or working with recently.
There are ideas I love and ideas I hate.
It's an exceptional piece of writing.
webspace.royalroads.ca/llefevre/wp-...
I suppose it may just be serendipitous that it's chiming with half-a-dozen things I've been thinking about or working with recently.
There are ideas I love and ideas I hate.
It's an exceptional piece of writing.
webspace.royalroads.ca/llefevre/wp-...
I understand the political difficulty but Council Tax really is a boil that needs to be lanced.
It just felt like a rushed sticking plaster when it was slapped on the end of the Poll Tax debacle 30 years ago.
It just felt like a rushed sticking plaster when it was slapped on the end of the Poll Tax debacle 30 years ago.
NEW: Reported plans to double tax rates on the top two council tax bands would cause huge distortions and unequal treatment between owners of expensive homes across England
One area where homes cost £500k would barely be touched
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
One area where homes cost £500k would barely be touched
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Why Council Tax Reform Is Fraught With Difficulty
New analysis shows why council tax reform is such a hard task for the government as it faces widespread calls for the system to be updated.
www.politicshome.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:26 PM
I understand the political difficulty but Council Tax really is a boil that needs to be lanced.
It just felt like a rushed sticking plaster when it was slapped on the end of the Poll Tax debacle 30 years ago.
It just felt like a rushed sticking plaster when it was slapped on the end of the Poll Tax debacle 30 years ago.
I think it probably behoves us, as science teachers, to have a bit of a handle on the whole double-helix thing.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Was Franklin's work exceptional and essential - yes.
Was it appropriately acknowledged in the Watson & Crick (1953) paper - no.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Was Franklin's work exceptional and essential - yes.
Was it appropriately acknowledged in the Watson & Crick (1953) paper - no.
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:30 AM
I think it probably behoves us, as science teachers, to have a bit of a handle on the whole double-helix thing.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Was Franklin's work exceptional and essential - yes.
Was it appropriately acknowledged in the Watson & Crick (1953) paper - no.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Was Franklin's work exceptional and essential - yes.
Was it appropriately acknowledged in the Watson & Crick (1953) paper - no.
I was vaguely wondering what happened after all those adverts for something straight out of Banks' The Culture series.
arthursnell.substack.com/p/neom-was-n...
arthursnell.substack.com/p/neom-was-n...
Neom was never real.
This was obvious in July 2023. It's obviouser now
arthursnell.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I was vaguely wondering what happened after all those adverts for something straight out of Banks' The Culture series.
arthursnell.substack.com/p/neom-was-n...
arthursnell.substack.com/p/neom-was-n...
Nice 👇
This isn't exactly GenAI covering itself in glory, but I think it says more about how science has changed in three-quarters of a century than anything else.
This isn't exactly GenAI covering itself in glory, but I think it says more about how science has changed in three-quarters of a century than anything else.
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
November 3, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Nice 👇
This isn't exactly GenAI covering itself in glory, but I think it says more about how science has changed in three-quarters of a century than anything else.
This isn't exactly GenAI covering itself in glory, but I think it says more about how science has changed in three-quarters of a century than anything else.
@didau.bsky.social is spot on here:
It’s not that teachers are talking too much... but that students are doing too little with what is said.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
It’s not that teachers are talking too much... but that students are doing too little with what is said.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
The “Just Tell Them” Trap
How direct instruction gets mistranslated as 'teacher talk,' lecturing and all sorts of other dull bobbins
substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:19 PM
@didau.bsky.social is spot on here:
It’s not that teachers are talking too much... but that students are doing too little with what is said.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
It’s not that teachers are talking too much... but that students are doing too little with what is said.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
This is not how you win hearts and minds.
November 2, 2025 at 2:54 PM
This is not how you win hearts and minds.
It's not promoted by an algorithm, but here is just the same as Twitter, as in:
"I've got this idea I'm excited about. What do you think?"
"I think you're a nincompoop. How could you be so dumb?"
Plus sometimes,
"I'm an expert. Have some vitriol. Here's something I wrote."
"I've got this idea I'm excited about. What do you think?"
"I think you're a nincompoop. How could you be so dumb?"
Plus sometimes,
"I'm an expert. Have some vitriol. Here's something I wrote."
November 2, 2025 at 2:54 PM
It's not promoted by an algorithm, but here is just the same as Twitter, as in:
"I've got this idea I'm excited about. What do you think?"
"I think you're a nincompoop. How could you be so dumb?"
Plus sometimes,
"I'm an expert. Have some vitriol. Here's something I wrote."
"I've got this idea I'm excited about. What do you think?"
"I think you're a nincompoop. How could you be so dumb?"
Plus sometimes,
"I'm an expert. Have some vitriol. Here's something I wrote."
Oh, dear @komoot.bsky.social
New interface on laptop is classic enshittification. Looks a bit 'fresher'; much worse UX. Basically, the panels make it very difficult to see enough of the map. It's okay on a large screen but awful on a laptop.
New interface on laptop is classic enshittification. Looks a bit 'fresher'; much worse UX. Basically, the panels make it very difficult to see enough of the map. It's okay on a large screen but awful on a laptop.
October 31, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Oh, dear @komoot.bsky.social
New interface on laptop is classic enshittification. Looks a bit 'fresher'; much worse UX. Basically, the panels make it very difficult to see enough of the map. It's okay on a large screen but awful on a laptop.
New interface on laptop is classic enshittification. Looks a bit 'fresher'; much worse UX. Basically, the panels make it very difficult to see enough of the map. It's okay on a large screen but awful on a laptop.
Reposted by Matt Perks
Here’s something really graphic for Halloween:
October 31, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Here’s something really graphic for Halloween:
Not shedding any tears for the top 10% here, but this is quite a shocker.
In fact, the UK’s top 10% now have lower post-tax incomes than they did 25 years ago.
(That contrasts to the overall median, which has risen by about 25%)
(That contrasts to the overall median, which has risen by about 25%)
October 31, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Not shedding any tears for the top 10% here, but this is quite a shocker.
Reposted by Matt Perks
Cameron did double that and gave us Brexit, a crumbling public realm, 5 year waits for jury trials, extended waits for civil justice, record waits for NHS treatment, aircraft carriers with no planes and the smallest army ever and local government that just does social care. Where do I sign?
October 29, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Cameron did double that and gave us Brexit, a crumbling public realm, 5 year waits for jury trials, extended waits for civil justice, record waits for NHS treatment, aircraft carriers with no planes and the smallest army ever and local government that just does social care. Where do I sign?
I am so p****d off with the hassle cancelling auto-renew on insurance policies.
For example, the AA don't allow you to remove auto-renew until after you've taken out a policy and they've stored your card details.
OneCall / OneProtect you have to fill in details and then sit in a chat Q for ages.
For example, the AA don't allow you to remove auto-renew until after you've taken out a policy and they've stored your card details.
OneCall / OneProtect you have to fill in details and then sit in a chat Q for ages.
October 29, 2025 at 11:23 AM
I am so p****d off with the hassle cancelling auto-renew on insurance policies.
For example, the AA don't allow you to remove auto-renew until after you've taken out a policy and they've stored your card details.
OneCall / OneProtect you have to fill in details and then sit in a chat Q for ages.
For example, the AA don't allow you to remove auto-renew until after you've taken out a policy and they've stored your card details.
OneCall / OneProtect you have to fill in details and then sit in a chat Q for ages.
There can be only one?
Update: All but one of the monkeys “have been destroyed,” the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department announced at 2:48 p.m.
Infected, aggressive monkeys escaped after crash in south Mississippi; all but 1 ‘destroyed’
A truck transporting infected and aggressive monkeys crashed in south Mississippi, and some of the animals reportedly escaped.
www.wsiltv.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:22 PM
There can be only one?
I've seen previous SE work suggest Montessori is above average effective. Seem to remember @profcoe.bsky.social saying this amongst others.
Same again here 👇
Also relatively cheap (win-win).
Doesn't affect the finding or possible policy implications but...
Same again here 👇
Also relatively cheap (win-win).
Doesn't affect the finding or possible policy implications but...
A national randomized controlled trial of the impact of public Montessori preschool at the end of kindergarten | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... 🧪
A national randomized controlled trial of the impact of public Montessori preschool at the end of kindergarten | PNAS
Although seminal studies from the early 1960s suggested quality preschool can have
lasting positive effects, agreement is lacking on the efficacy o...
www.pnas.org
October 28, 2025 at 7:48 PM
I've seen previous SE work suggest Montessori is above average effective. Seem to remember @profcoe.bsky.social saying this amongst others.
Same again here 👇
Also relatively cheap (win-win).
Doesn't affect the finding or possible policy implications but...
Same again here 👇
Also relatively cheap (win-win).
Doesn't affect the finding or possible policy implications but...
This is well worth reading 👇
A tiny bit of extrapolation around level of guidance, I think, but 98% spot on (and much better than I could manage).
A tiny bit of extrapolation around level of guidance, I think, but 98% spot on (and much better than I could manage).
In Search of Vygotsky: How the Zone of Proximal Development Became Education's Most Misunderstood Idea.
👉 carlhendrick.substack.com/p/in-search-...
👉 carlhendrick.substack.com/p/in-search-...
In Search of Vygotsky
How the Zone of Proximal Development Became Education's Most Misunderstood Idea
carlhendrick.substack.com
October 19, 2025 at 7:32 AM
This is well worth reading 👇
A tiny bit of extrapolation around level of guidance, I think, but 98% spot on (and much better than I could manage).
A tiny bit of extrapolation around level of guidance, I think, but 98% spot on (and much better than I could manage).
Some of this is El Niño but there's no doubt CO2 is still going up, and still going up fast.
Decarbonisation, renenwable electricity generation, etc. is making it less bad but I think +1.5°C is long gone, +2.0°C via net zero is a fantasy, and unless...
Decarbonisation, renenwable electricity generation, etc. is making it less bad but I think +1.5°C is long gone, +2.0°C via net zero is a fantasy, and unless...
This graph says it all: instead of starting to go down, the *annual increase* of atmospheric CO2 is setting new records. We're making climate change worse at a record rate.
Turning this around should be our top priority, and it's not.
From: www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
Turning this around should be our top priority, and it's not.
From: www.carbonbrief.org/met-office-a...
October 19, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Some of this is El Niño but there's no doubt CO2 is still going up, and still going up fast.
Decarbonisation, renenwable electricity generation, etc. is making it less bad but I think +1.5°C is long gone, +2.0°C via net zero is a fantasy, and unless...
Decarbonisation, renenwable electricity generation, etc. is making it less bad but I think +1.5°C is long gone, +2.0°C via net zero is a fantasy, and unless...
Interesting paper here academic.oup.com/jeea/advance...
Looks like full marks to Chile for genuine evidence-based decision-making.
Seems to indicate a substantial downside to an attempt to level the university-admission playing field for low-SES students.
Looks like full marks to Chile for genuine evidence-based decision-making.
Seems to indicate a substantial downside to an attempt to level the university-admission playing field for low-SES students.
The Persistent Effect of Competition on Prosociality
Abstract. We present the first causal evidence on the persistent impact of enduring competition on prosociality. Inspired by the literature on tournaments
academic.oup.com
October 18, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Interesting paper here academic.oup.com/jeea/advance...
Looks like full marks to Chile for genuine evidence-based decision-making.
Seems to indicate a substantial downside to an attempt to level the university-admission playing field for low-SES students.
Looks like full marks to Chile for genuine evidence-based decision-making.
Seems to indicate a substantial downside to an attempt to level the university-admission playing field for low-SES students.