Saturday 20 January 2007

Videos from BETT 2007

Well it has taken a week but Learn 4 Life has uploaded about 25 video interviews with innovative personalities and key products at the show.

Go to www.L4L.co.uk to see, download and share them as CPD for anyone who didn't make the show!

Saturday 13 January 2007

What others have said about BETT 2007


Fortunately there have been a few other bloggers at BETT so here are some of their views and links.


John Connell

I was only in the exhibition at the massive BETT Show for a very short time today, but ........ more

Andy Watson

The hot product this year is the Virtual Learning Environment with several companies offering competing technologies. Whatever the weaknesses of Glow, at least in Scotland we will have one system and will be able to share across the country. Without some strong guidance from Becta, England’s schools will become isolated within propriatory systems........ more

Theo Kuechel - Digital Signposts

One of the highlights, of the show, for me, has been meeting Steve Powter and the students of Castle Manor Business & Enterprise College in Suffolk; on the Centerprise stand. The students are carrying out live research, interviewing visitors to the stand about their views on social software. I was really excited to be able to to take part, and I look forward to reading their findings. This is indeed a timely piece of work as it comes hot on the heels of two major pieces of research on students online spaces from Pew Internet in the US and the DEMOS report, released yesterday......more

Derek Robertson

A few weeks ago I watched the Gadget Show on Channel 5 (The only show I watch on the that channel) and I saw a robot challenge. The presenters had series of challenges that three different robots had to carry out. It was really interesting to see what could be done with the robots that are commercially available now but I was really quite captivated by the LEGO competitor on the show.

The first stand that I visited today was the LEGO one and I met a Physics teacher who told me how he had developed a programme that allowed LEGO to be used throughout his school. I must say that t looks rather exciting......more
And no doubt there are many more.

What has inspired you at BETT 2007?

If you have seen anything exciting at BETT 2007, anything that is inspirational or something simple that you can take back to the classroom on Monday then let us know?


What have been your impressions of BETT 2007?


How could BETT 2008 be even better?




We want to know your opinions as we begin the process of developing the 2008 programme.

Friday 12 January 2007

The Guardian changes the name of its educational technology supplement.

Editorial

Richard Doughty
Tuesday January 9, 2007


EducationGuardian.co.uk
Today marks the 40th edition of the Guardian's educational technology supplement, which has covered the rapid changes taking place across the curriculum over the past eight or so years. But it also marks a radical change in our page format, a new title and expanded coverage of an area in education that never stands still.

In this first issue of Link - a name we think reflects our readers in a growing online education community - we are including a new review section of the latest hardware and software on the market.

We will also take a regular look at research, focusing on some of the numerous surveys and projects on the use and impact of technology in education. We also aim to increase coverage across the education sector, provide a platform for opinionformers and tackle key policy issues, along with increased news coverage and our usual mix of columnists and practical features. All reactions welcome!

School leaving age to rise to 18

School leaving age to rise to 18

Young people will have to be in training or education until the age of 18Young people will be required to stay in school, training or workplace training until the age of 18.
The Department for Education and Skills has confirmed plans to raise the school leaving age - to be introduced by 2013.



This will not mean that pupils have to stay in the classroom or continue with academic lessons - but they will have to continue to receive training.

It would mean raising the leaving age for the first time since 1972, when it was raised to the present 16 years old.

The proposals would seek to tackle the problem of young people leaving education without qualifications or workplace skills.


more......

Thursday 11 January 2007

View Film Clips of BETT Award Winners 2007


Film Clips of Winners 2007

The annual BETT Awards represent a partnership between Becta, the Government’s lead agency for ICT in education, BESA, the trade association representing the educational supply industry and Emap Education, the organisers of BETT – the largest educational technology show in the world.
The awards also recognise outstanding education sector products and learning solutions. Judges review the entries based on criteria including design, cost-effectiveness, support of higher order skills and effective learning and teaching styles. The technical criteria against which the awards were judged focused on the robustness and resilience of each product, and its accessibility for those with specific needs.


more.....

BETT in the newspapers

Future perfect


The Bett show is packed with futuristic educational technology. Nadine Clarke went to check it out

Thursday January 11, 2007EducationGuardian.co.uk

"I come here every year to get a vision into the future. I want to see in which direction to go with ICT for the next 10 to 20 years," says primary school headteacher Petula Allen at Bett, the annual educational technology show.

The event was officially opened with a speech from the minister of state for schools and 14 to 19 learners, Jim Knight. He admitted that government needs the industry's help to solve what it calls the "digital divide". He hopes that industry will come up with specific proposals that will allow all pupils, particularly those from disadvantaged families, to get home access to computers and the internet.

The MP is setting up a home access taskforce, so "classroom practice will have to adapt to the knowledge that children can access at home," he said.

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Wednesday 10 January 2007

ICT making the news.....

School computer test scrapped

In the test, pupils face a limited series of practical ICT tasks A compulsory computer test for teenagers in England has been abolished, ministers have confirmed.

A statutory test in ICT (information and communication technology) for Key Stage 3 pupils (14-year-olds) was due to be made compulsory from 2008.

more.....


Pupils get home internet access

Ministers say pupils need internet access at home as well as schoolThe government is to set up a taskforce to ensure all children have access to the internet outside of school.


The government says more than 800,000 children and young people in England are currently not online at home and wants to close the "digital divide".

more......


Mini-computers 'bring test boost'

Hand-held computers are popular with pupils Boys who under-perform at school could be greatly helped if they used hand-held computers at home and at school, a study suggests.
A pilot scheme in Wolverhampton has reported improved results in maths and science after children were given the devices to use around the clock.


more .....

Ministerial speech now online

Transforming Education Through TechnologySpeech by Jim Knight 10 January 2007 , BETT Conference

It’s great to have this chance to reflect on the recent years of transformation through technology. In that time, floppy disks have become obsolete, air-line tickets have become outdated and video players a thing of the past. Technology is even moving faster than James Bond. He was seen texting in his latest film, though perhaps there technology is going backwards – I seem to remember him using a mobile to drive a car a couple of films ago. Our daily lives have been transformed through technology. Nowhere is that seen more clearly than in our classrooms. more.....

What is your opinion of what the Minister said? Will it help transform the teaching and learning process for you?

Education Minister delivers key address at Moving Young Minds Conference

The DfES has just published the speech by Alan Johnson at yesterday's Moving Young Minds conference, one of the precursor events to BETT.


Equipping children for a technological tomorrow, by providing schools with technology today

Speech by Alan Johnson

09 January 2007 , Moving Young Minds Conference

In recent years, the pace of technological advance has been startling. A sixteen year old child in London going to school on the Underground today might easily witness a passenger listening to a podcast on their IPOD, someone else drafting an email on their blackberry and another person editing a photograph on a laptop. All on their way to work None of this would have been possible just ten years ago, when that child was beginning their education. In Africa, change has been particularly evident: with internet cafes springing up in once isolated villages, and a rapid growth in mobile phone usage, as many communities bypass land-line use completely. We will only equip children for the technologically advanced world of tomorrow by supplying our schools with vital computer equipment today.
For the full speech visit latest speeches

Tuesday 9 January 2007

Not long to go now

Only about another 15 hours until BETT 2007 begins and like every year I've been here its absolute bedlam on the exhibition floors as workmen, presenters and all sorts of other interested people busy themselves in preparation for the doors opening.


Its hard to imagine as you walk through the doors at mid afternoon the day before the event that the whole place will be transformed into a really top notch exhibition with huge stands bursting with the latest technologies mingling with the smaller stands with equally valuable education resources.

I'm in the Pillar Hall which will accommodate the International, NAACE and Leadership lounges and here too there has been hectic activity all day getting things just right.
What will be the most inspirational aspect of BETT 2007? Well only time will tell over the next four days when over 20,000 people will visit this event to gather information, be beguiled by all the rich resources and share experiences with colleagues from across the world.
If you see anything of note why don't you post your comments here.




Monday 8 January 2007

Words & Music is described as a new generation of music software which not only allows pupils to make music but also to write lyrics.It allows the creation of up to three tracks, for example a single treble, alto, bass or percussion track for simple rhymes, chants, raps, and melodies, or two/three-track compositions for work on harmonies, call and response, rounds, sound effects, layering, etc.



What has been your impression of this resource when used in the classroom?

Wednesday 3 January 2007

Raising achievement seminar

Saturday
11:45
Improving Home-School Links to Raise Pupil Achievement

Janet Felkin, Eastbourne Technology College

What can be achieved when schools focus on improving links with parents? Students spend more time at home than they do at school. How can schools tap this underutilised resource? How can your web site and management information system be used to give parents access to the information they need to support their child at home?

What is your understanding of home-school links? What information would you hope to leave with by attending this seminar? Share your thoughts with through the bett blog.

Policy Seminars

Wednesday
14:00
Catch me if you can!

Doug Brown, Deputy Director, Technology Futures Unit, Department for Education and Skills
All learners need the skills and competences required to succeed in the 21st century. Technologies that make learning more relevant to meet this challenge are widely available and many already have access to personal, mobile and interactive technologies – to play, learn, collaborate, communicate and create - yet formal use of such technologies is in its infancy. This presentation will explore the “readiness of the system” to meet this challenge.

Thursday
11:00
Keynote:Education in the Digital Age: Transformation and Social Justice

Keri Facer, Futurelab

How can we fully exploit the potential of digital technologies to transform education and create a fairer education landscape? How can we ensure that personalisation and innovation empower all young people and educational professionals and not just those who are already advantaged? Current approaches to education technology, which are focused on 'efficiency and improvement', may be increasing rather than reducing social inequalities - is the best way forward to stop tinkering at the edges and to radically reconceive education institutions, practices and goals instead?

12:45
Curriculum Design and ICT

Mick Waters, QCA

Thinking about curriculum design opens up new opportunities that can be exploited by ICT. From early years to the end of formal schooling, the curriculum is there to enable learning and ICT is there to help. Mick Waters will be joined by school representatives to offer an overview on curriculum design and demonstrate areas of good practice. Come along and enjoy the possibilities.

14:00
DfES session

Ralph Tabberer, Director General of Schools, DfES

No details available at present
What are your views on the policy directions currently being undertaken? How will attendance at any of the above sessions help your understanding of how ICT will support the teaching and learning process? Share your views with the wider community.

Games seminars

Friday



Tim Rudd and Mary Ulicsak, Futurelab
Computer games can provide powerful learning environments but it's too simple to say that all young people would like to use them at school but teachers have reservations. This seminar presents the reality from both sides and explores the practical issues concerning the use of games in the classroom.

Saturday


Damian Rafferty & Mike Saunders, DCMS

How do you make learning fun? By making 'fun' a learning experience. Starting with a set of playful content propositions, a handful of free, award winning resources have been developed. Making use of serendipity, sharing, collaboration and physical activity, the seminar will illustrate these proven learning experiences, provide valuable pointers for classroom use and discuss where the future may lie.
What would you expect to gain by attending either seminar, improving your understanding of how computer games can assist the teaching and learning process? What are your views about the use of computer games in the classroom? Share your thoughts with the wider BETT community.

Specialist Schools & Academies Trust seminars

Friday
11:00
SSAT at BETT: Leading School Led System Transformation



David Crossley, SSAT

This session will explore the impact and potential of the Raising Achievement Transforming Learning and Leading Edge Partnerships in school-led transformation.



Tony Parkin, SSAT

Building schools for the future, harnessing the technology, extended schools and community learning hubs, personalising learning - schools are transforming and turning visionary phrases into new realities - though we need reality checks!

14:00
SSAT at BETT: Working Together - Collaborative Technologies Raising Achievement in UK Schools

Dave Moran and Paul Hynes, SSAT

The session will showcase ideas for using cheap (and often free) technology to aid collaboration and impact on students learning. The theory and pedagogy of the new collaborative opportunities will be backed by real examples happening in schools now.


Mike Cameron, SSAT
Taking the example of one (real) school, this seminar will look at the journey taken to get to where it is with their Virtual Learning Environment. With input from a senior leader at the school, the focus will be on the pedagogical, management and workforce changes that have made the venture a success.

16:15
SSAT at BETT: Making Personalised Learning an Everyday Reality

Guy Shearer, SSAT

Case studies from across the Specialist Schools and Academies network, signposting successful strategies that are helping to make personalised learning a practical reality.
In terms of your own continuing professional development, what would you hope to gain by attendance at any of the above sessions? Could more be done to showcase the Specialist Schools and Academies at BETT? Post your views and help shape future BETT seminar programmes.

Leadership seminars, Saturday

Saturday
10:30
School’s ICT Infrastructure – Planning for the future

Paul Shoesmith and Nia Sutton, Becta

This seminar will discuss how Becta’s common standards and best value purchasing arrangements can help you plan for quality and reliability in your school’s ICT infrastructure and help you improve your school.



Philippa Lee, Becta


This session will explore how school leadership teams can improve the Primary School through self-review and planned use of ICT. In Spring 2006, Becta launched the self-review framework. This session will offer guidance on the best practice processes and principles that can assist you in improving your school through ICT. This will be illustrated and supported by exemplars and experiences from Primary Schools on how the self-review framework has helped them make improvements in ICT. For some this has included achieving the ICT Mark. Be prepared to help your school by registering with the self-review framework now at: http://matrix.becta.org.uk/selfreview
How would attendance at either seminar improve your knowledge and understanding of how ICT can support the leadership agenda in education? How does the BETT seminar programme meet the needs ofeducation leaders and aspiring leaders? Post your comments to be part of the ongoing debate.




Leadership seminars, Friday

Friday
11:00
Becta Keynote: Nearly isn’t good enough!
Stephen Crowne, Chief Executive, Becta
Stephen will outline the challenge facing our leaders to keep raising standards and performance and to do the best for every learner. This will cover the morale and business case to increase the number of schools and colleges which make effective use of technology from the current level of 15% to at least 80% by 2011. He will outline what needs to be done and Becta’s role in making it happen.

Stuart Jones, Assistant Director, Becta and Roger Merritt, Consultant, Becta

This seminar will consider how the integration of systems and the effective use of data can help to improve learning and teaching. This will include the prospective use of learning platforms, e-portfolios and e-assessment.


Claire Gill, Becta

This session will explore how school leadership teams can improve the Primary School through self-review and planned use of ICT. In Spring 2006, Becta launched the self-review framework. This session will offer guidance on the best practice processes and principles that can assist you in improving your school through ICT. This will be illustrated and supported by exemplars and experiences from Primary Schools on how the self-review framework has helped them make improvements in ICT. For some this has included achieving the ICT Mark. Be prepared to help your school by registering with the self-review framework now at:
http://matrix.becta.org.uk/selfreview


Isobel Mair School, East Renfrewshire, Scotland & Horndean Infant School, Hampshire


Isobel Mair School, East Renfrewshire, Scotland (ICT Excellence Awards Inclusion Primary winner) Described as an “excellent” school, Isobel Mair believe that ICT enables their pupils to achieve things which would ordinarily be beyond their capabilities. Technology has been crucial in supporting the school community and provides an opportunity for everyone to share their expertise both in and beyond the school.



Horndean Infant School, Hampshire (ICT Excellence Awards Curriculum Primary Joint winner) A wide range of ICT equipment is used across Horndean to support every aspect of the curriculum. The school has undertaken a journey to transform learning, and ICT is seen as a natural part of the toolkit used to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities. The staff have a clear vision of how ICT supports their work and a strong commitment to innovation and professional development.

14:00
ICT Excellence in Action Day for Leaders session

Longfield School, Darlington. (ICT Excellence Awards Best Whole School Secondary Joint winner)
This secondary school have achieved resounding success across all aspects of school life with ICT at the centre of their work. There have been significant gains in exam results and staff confidence is high. ICT abounds in all areas of the curriculum and ICT champions ensure coverage across the whole school.


Paul Shoesmith and Nia Sutton, Becta
This seminar will discuss how Becta’s common standards and best value purchasing arrangements can help you plan for quality and reliability in your school’s ICT infrastructure and help you improve your school.

15:15
ICT Excellence in Action Day for Leaders session

Eccles College, Salford (Becta Beacon Award winner for e-enabling organisational development )

Eccles College describe themselves as ‘early adopters' of new technology, and have designed and developed a web based system for improving the handling of self assessment reporting and action planning for teaching and support staff which has been replicated across 18 other organisations.


John Taylor, Becta
This session will explore how school leadership teams can improve the Secondary School through self-review and planned use of ICT. In Spring 2006, Becta launched the self-review framework. This session will offer guidance on the best practice processes and principles that can assist you in improving your school through ICT. This will be illustrated and supported by exemplars and experiences from Secondary Schools on how the self-review framework has helped them make improvements in ICT. For some this has included achieving the ICT Mark. Be prepared to help your school by registering with the self-review framework now at: http://matrix.becta.org.uk/selfreview


Balsall Common Primary School, West Midlands (ICT Excellence Awards Best Whole School Primary winner)
Described as “a vibrant school, with real energy, enthusiasm and passion for ICT”, Balsall Common Primary are at the cutting edge of ICT development. The school constantly embraces new technologies to improve organisational efficiency and pupil achievement within school and beyond.
What does leadership mean to you? Will attendance at any of the above sessions guide you to becoming a better leader? Share your thoughts with the BETT community?

Leadership seminars, Thursday



Bernie Zakary, Becta

This session will explore how school leadership teams can improve their Primary School through self-review and planned use of ICT. In Spring 2006, Becta launched the self-review framework. This session will offer guidance on the best practice processes and principles that can assist you in improving your school through ICT. This will be illustrated and supported by exemplars and experiences from Primary Schools on how the self-review framework has helped them make improvements in ICT. For some this has included achieving the ICT Mark. Be prepared to help your school by registering with the self-review framework now at:
http://matrix.becta.org.uk/selfreview



Andrew Sierant, Becta

This session will explore how school leadership teams can improve the Secondary School through self-review and planned use of ICT. In Spring 2006, Becta launched the self-review framework. This session will offer guidance on the best practice processes and principles that can assist you in improving your school through ICT. This will be illustrated and supported by exemplars and experiences from Secondary Schools on how the self-review framework has helped them make improvements in ICT. For some this has included achieving the ICT Mark. Be prepared to help your school by registering with the self-review framework now at: http://matrix.becta.org.uk/selfreview

What strategies would you hope to be able to employ as a result of attendance at either of these sessions? Are your views shared by the wider BETT community? Post your thoughts on the BETT blog.


Leadership seminars, Wednesday

Wednesday
11:00
Technology and Leadership Futures





Mick Brookes and Carol Whitty, NAHT

This session will be an exploration of the use of technology as an enhancement for the leadership dynamic. The session will be in four parts: Transforming relationships; Transforming lives; Transforming structures and Transforming futures. The aim of the session will be motivational.

12:45
Working Smarter through ICT

Brian Lightman, ASCL


From the perspective of a practising headteacher, this session will share how technology can help school leaders to become more strategic in their role and have more time to focus on teaching and learning. It will look specifically at the ways in which ICT can support school self-evaluation and raising achievement.

14:00
Exploiting ICT to Support New Models of School Leadership

Toby Salt, NCSL
The session hopes to share some of the ways that ICT has been used to support new models of school leadership, developing collaboration, cross phase working, virtual schooling, 'Joined up Leadership', smart communication and networking.


Clare Johnson, National Strategy
This session will focus on the statutory testing regime and changes to the national curriculum and qualifications. How will this affect the teaching of ICT at key stages 3 and 4? The role of self-evaluation for improving teaching and achieving outcomes will be a key focus of the session.


Anthony Lilley, DfES
No session details currently available.
What would you hope to gain by attendance at any of the above sessions? What makes a good leader and what qualities are expected of education leaders? Share your views with the BETT community.