Stop Teaching the Textbook. Start Teaching Through the PAT.

Every year, the CAT PAT is treated like that dramatic plot twist nobody prepared for We calmly “cover” theory from the textbook… We teach formulas. We do isolated database exercises. We tick syllabus boxes. And then suddenly — boom. “Okay class, now independently complete a complex, integrated, multi-phase practical project

Using Canva and Canva Code to Support Teachers in the CAT Classroom

Happy 2026! I am sure your year started off in a bang — just like mine. As the academic year gains momentum, I have found myself reflecting on the tools, ideas, and professional conversations that are already shaping my teaching practice in meaningful ways. In recent months, I have discovered

Creative CAT Projects Inspired by Checkers Mini Shop Stickies

Turning Checkers Mini Shop Mania into Meaningful CAT Lessons It all started rather innocently. My wife and I began collecting the Checkers Mini Shop Stickies for our nine-month-old son — and before we knew it, we were completely hooked. Each new mini sparked a bit of excitement (and maybe a

Struggling to Come Up with Exam-Worthy CAT Theory Questions? Say No More, Teacher!

Let’s be honest — writing exam questions can sometimes feel like trying to get your printer to work five minutes before moderation. You’ve got the CAPS document open, Bloom’s taxonomy verbs all over your desktop, and somehow your caffeine level isn’t helping your creativity. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking,

Turning Theory into Adventure: Why I Gave This CAT Game as Homework (and Why You Should Too!)

As a CAT teacher, I’m always on the lookout for new ways to bring theory to life in a way that’s fun, memorable, and genuinely exciting for learners. Let’s be honest — we all know that explaining things like storage units or input/output devices can sometimes feel a bit dry

Burned Out and Logged On: The Untold Struggles of a CAT Teacher

We teach learners how to survive the digital world. But who helps us survive it?As CAT teachers, we often carry more than just lesson plans. We carry cables, crash reports, forgotten passwords, corrupted files, broken printers, and late-night panic messages from learners who “swear they saved their PAT.” We’re the