Mary-Ellen Simper

Mary-Ellen Simper

24
Aug
Power & Progress: Technological Development isn’t Inevitable

Power & Progress: Technological Development isn’t Inevitable

I’ve recently been reading Power and Progress: Our Thousand Year Struggle Over Technology by Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson.
4 min read
22
Aug
On Convenience, Flourishing, and the (Sometimes Difficult) Good Life

On Convenience, Flourishing, and the (Sometimes Difficult) Good Life

I woke up at 6 am on Saturday morning, after a full week at work. I rolled out of bed,
4 min read
11
Jul
The Best Breakfast I’ve Ever Had: On Noticing Happiness

The Best Breakfast I’ve Ever Had: On Noticing Happiness

I didn’t give much thought to happiness for a while. I was too busy walking, jogging, and then running
4 min read
05
Jul
The Flower is Cut Before it Blooms: I Have a Starting Problem

The Flower is Cut Before it Blooms: I Have a Starting Problem

I have a starting problem. I think I’ve always had it.  When I was doing my GCSE art project
4 min read
10
Jun
Easier Options Exist: Teaching the Value of Struggle

Easier Options Exist: Teaching the Value of Struggle

I recently attended a talk by Professor Mike Sharples from the Institute of Educational Technology at The Open University. In
4 min read
06
Jun
The Cave of Depth (pt.2): A Framework for Technology and Humanity

The Cave of Depth (pt.2): A Framework for Technology and Humanity

Call me crazy, but there’s nothing better than spending a Sunday tackling one of the most fundamental questions in
9 min read
24
May
Red King's College London Flag

Reflecting on King’s AI Summit: Lego, Paradox, and Choice

(King’s AI Summit: Workforce Futures)  An email landed in my inbox at 12.23 pm on Tuesday. It was
3 min read
17
May
The Cave of Depth (pt.1): Never Underestimate the Power of Five Hours and Some Blue-Tac

The Cave of Depth (pt.1): Never Underestimate the Power of Five Hours and Some Blue-Tac

I had an existential crisis in 2025. It was brutal. It happened shortly after I graduated with an MSc. Looking
5 min read
10
May
Lost, Lonely, and Distracted. But is it Technology’s Fault?

Lost, Lonely, and Distracted. But is it Technology’s Fault?

I remember the ache of waking up every morning and living a life that I despised. I’d click the
6 min read
09
May
Higher Education: When Technology Changes at the Drop of a Hat

Higher Education: When Technology Changes at the Drop of a Hat

I was planning my visit to the Learning Technologies 2026 event in London when I first noticed it. As I
3 min read