BETT 2007, 10 - 13 January Olympia London

Videos from BETT 2007

2007-01-20T17:30:00.000Z

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!

What others have said about BETT 2007

2007-01-13T14:52:00.000Z

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?

2007-01-13T08:31:00.000Z

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.

The Guardian changes the name of its educational technology supplement.

2007-01-12T15:28:00.000Z

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!

more....

School leaving age to rise to 18

2007-01-12T11:46:00.000Z

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......

View Film Clips of BETT Award Winners 2007

2007-01-11T16:13:00.000Z

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

2007-01-11T13:00:00.000Z

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.

more.....

Creative and Constructive Tools

2007-01-11T09:31:00.000Z

Creative and Constructive Tools

Gridmagic

Q4 Technologies Ltd

e-Assessment for Learning

2007-01-11T09:29:00.000Z

e-Assessment for Learning

MAPS eQUALIFICATIONS

TAG Learning

Supporting Institutional Leadership and Management Solutions

2007-01-11T09:27:00.000Z

Supporting Institutional Leadership and Management Solutions

SAM Learning Plus

SAM Learning Ltd

Post 16 Education and Training Digital Content

2007-01-11T09:25:00.000Z

Post 16 Education and Training Digital Content

AutoLAB

LJ Group

2007-01-11T09:22:00.000Z

Special Educational Needs Solutions

Clicker 5

Crick Software

Primary and Secondary Hardware

2007-01-11T09:20:00.000Z

Primary and Secondary Hardware

TurningPoint 2006

Turning Technologies /Steljes Ltd

Digital Content – Secondary (Other)

2007-01-11T09:19:00.000Z

Digital Content – Secondary (Other)

SoundJunction

Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music

Digital Content – Secondary (Core Subjects)

2007-01-11T09:16:00.000Z

Digital Content – Secondary (Core Subjects)

Cabri 3D

Cabrilog/Chartwell-Yorke

Digital Content – Primary (Other)

2007-01-11T09:14:00.000Z

Digital Content – Primary (Other)

ArtisanCam

Artists@work in partnership with CLEO (Cumbria and Lancashire Online)

Digital Content – Primary (Core Subjects)

2007-01-11T09:10:00.000Z

Digital Content – Primary (Core Subjects)

Interactive Literacy Year 3 & 4

Smart Learning Ltd

Early Years Solutions

2007-01-11T09:08:00.000Z

Early Years Solutions

Simple City

2Simple Software

ICT making the news.....

2007-01-10T14:10:00.000Z

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

2007-01-10T13:15:00.000Z

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

2007-01-10T12:18:00.000Z

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

Not long to go now

2007-01-09T18:55:00.000Z

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.

2007-01-08T09:56:00.000Z

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?

Raising achievement seminar

2007-01-03T13:52:00.000Z

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

2007-01-03T13:43:00.000Z

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

2007-01-03T13:33:00.000Z

Friday

14:00
Games for Learning: Cutting Through the Hype

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

14:15
Fun and Games online to Inspire Learning in Primary School Children

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

2007-01-03T12:57:00.000Z

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.

12:30
SSAT at BETT: New School - Old School?

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.

15:15
SSAT at BETT: Virtual Learning - Real Solutions

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

2007-01-03T12:48:00.000Z

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.

13:00
How to improve your primary school using Becta’s self-review framework

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

2007-01-03T12:35:00.000Z

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.

11:00
Making best use of data to improve learning and teaching

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.

12:30
How to improve your primary school using Becta’s self-review framework

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

12:30
ICT Excellence in Action Day for Leaders session

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)

14:00
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.

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.

15:15
How to improve your secondary school using Becta’s self-review framework

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

16:15
ICT Excellence in Action Day for Leaders session

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

2007-01-03T12:29:00.000Z

Thursday
12:45
How to improve your primary school using Becta’s self-review framework

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

16:15
How to improve your secondary school using Becta’s self-review framework

Andrew Sierant, Becta

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

2007-01-03T12:12:00.000Z

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.

15:15
Teaching ICT, the Next Three Years

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.

16:15
Digital Content

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.

Vocational Qualifications seminars

2007-01-03T11:54:00.000Z

Thursday
12:45
Digital Repositories in Further and Higher Education: Their Implementation and Value

Dr Neil Jacobs & Amber Thomas, JISC

The session will arm delegates with up-to-date information on how and why UK colleges and universities are implementing repositories. Repositories allow effective management of, and access to, learning and research materials by working together, using common standards and agreements, so that users have access to a distributed national electronic resource.

14:00
Designing Spaces for Effective Learning

Ros Smith & Dr David Rathe, JISC

This session will present findings from JISC research into effective technology-enabled learning space design for HE and FE. The principal of an FE college featured in the publication, 'Designing Spaces for Effective Learning' (JISC 2006) will illustrate an innovative new build designed to support blended wireless-enabled learning on post-16 vocational courses.

Friday
16:15
Lessons Learned from Implementing a Virtual Learning Environment Across Two Local Authorities in England

Ian Usher, NAACE/Bucks CC

Visitors will gain an overview of school and local authority-level issues associated with implementing a Virtual Learning Environment, discover what works and what doesn't in using VLEs schools at both primary and secondary level - all this will be illustrated by work carried out in a variety of schools across two Local Authorities.

How will attendance at these sessions improve your understanding of Vocational Qualifications? Are the FE and HE sectors adequately covered at BETT? Post your views to stimulate debate and help shape future programmes.

Special Needs, Inclusion seminars Saturday

2007-01-03T11:43:00.000Z

Saturday
11:45
Using ICT to Inspire!

Tim Rylands, Chew Magna School

Back by popular demand, after 'sell-out' sessions last year, Tim Rylands will give you the opportunity to explore accessible ways of inspiring creativity in music, writing, speaking and listening with children of all abilities. Tim has been described as an extremely gifted and inspirational teacher, with a love of the creative potential of technology. He believes that ICT is about communication rather than technology...and that it should be FUN!!!!

What creative and inspirational practice would you hope to see delivered by attendance at this session? Post your own thoughts and join the BETT community debate on the professional development opportunities available at BETT.

Special Needs, Inclusion seminars Friday

2007-01-03T11:28:00.000Z

Friday

10:45
Helping Children with Autism Recognise Emotions - The Transporters

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen and Claire Harcup, NASEN/DCMS

The Transporters is a ground-breaking animation series featuring a lovable cast of vehicles with real human faces designed to help children with autism recognise emotions. Episodes centre around a key emotion to help children recognise and understand emotions in context. The session shares findings from the project evaluation and describes how carers can get the best out of this free resource.

12:00
Introducing Children with Learning Difficulties to the Computer

Bob Black, Downs Syndrome Association

Developing the link between reading and spoken language skills, Bob will explore software that can assist with this. He will discuss the types of programme available and demonstrate tried and tested programmes used in homes and schools including new resources.

12:30
ICT Excellence in Action Day for Leaders session

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

John Galloway, Tower Hamlets LEA

Making every child matter can be difficult when their behavioural and emotional difficulties mean they find a school a difficult place to be. This session will look at the ways in which ICT can support changes in information sharing and approaches to learning that can help to change this.

What examples of good practice would you hope to take away with you by attendance at any of these sessions? Could more be done to support the Inclusion agenda at BETT? Post your views and help shape future BETT seminar programmes.

Special Needs, Inclusion seminars Thursday

2007-01-03T11:14:00.000Z

Thursday
10:45
Learning to Read with ICT

Duncan Milne, PATOSS

Use the power of ICT to develop better readers in your class! Discover how to teach synthetic phonics effectively with ICT. Examine concepts including: understanding reading acquisition, utilising ICT and multi-sensory learning, recognising and overcoming reading problems and developing a successful reading programme.

12:00
Making the Best Use of ICT to Support Dyslexic Learners

Victoria Crivelli, BDA

Ways in which ICT can help overcome barriers to learning, including: Making the best use of existing technology, How ICT can help create Dyslexia friendly environments, Guidance on selecting programs and tools to support planning, organisation and recording of information, access to the curriculum and literacy skills.

13:15
Making Learning Special

Pete Wells, Sunderland City Learning Centre

Join Pete Wells, winner of Becta's ICT Practitioner of the Year for Inclusion, for a fun filled seminar! Pete will show how you can use ICT in a variety of ways to engage all learners. Experience a disgusting sensory story, a range of sensory based lesson ideas and watch some fantastic Chromakey films! Come along and prepare to be gunged!

14:30
Is It Accessible? Choosing and Using Software Titles

Adrian Higginbotham, Becta & David Colven Ace Advisory Trust

In these enlightened days of the DDA and SENDA all software should be accessible to everyone shouldn't it? But what to we mean by Accessible, how do we know when we've found it and what happens when we can't find it. A Becta lead discussion on what Teachers and suppliers can expect of each other to support personalisation when using ICT.

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 support the Inclusion agenda at BETT? Post your views and help shape future BETT seminar programmes.

Special Needs, Inclusion seminars Wednesday

2007-01-03T10:53:00.000Z

Wednesday
10:45
Technology in Transition

E A Draffan, BDA

Introducing ways of helping students with dyslexia to make the most of the assistive technologies available to enhance coping strategies throughout their educational career. Examples will be provided to show how to use specialist software alongside general technologies found in schools, colleges and universities - some free, some expensive!

12:00
Personalised Learning for All

Carol Allen, NASEN

Personalised learning has been a key feature of effective working practice for students who experience barriers to learning for many years. This session will look at how the same principles can be extended to support staff and voluntary helpers to provide an inclusive learning environment for all by using ICT and technology. Practical examples and ideas will be demonstrated.

13:15
The Right to Read: Reasonable Adjustments for Reading Impaired Students

Ian Litterick, BDA

What does the law say? How can you help your visually and other reading impaired students, including those with dyslexia to access the written curriculum under SENDA? Present reality and future vision for services, techniques and technology for providing reading materials in accessible alternative formats throughout education.

14:30
Special Schools - Becta's Self-Review Framework and the ICT Mark

Chris Stevens and Sally McKeown, Becta

Chris and Sally will outline the ways in which special schools should approach using the Self-review framework to reflect their good practice and how they will achieve recognition through the ICT mark for work they do with pupils who have the most complex needs.

What ideas or practice would you hope to adapt and incorporate into your own classroom practice from attendance at any of these sessions? Are there enough SEN/Inclusion sessions in the BETT seminar programme? Post your thoughts and help shape the discussions about the future of the BETT seminar programme.

School improvement seminars

2007-01-03T10:43:00.000Z

Friday
11:00
Becta Keynote: Nearly isn’t good enough!

Stephen Crowne, Chief Executive, Becta

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.

Do you believe that attendance at either session will clarify some of the issues surrounding the school improvement agenda? Should the BETT seminar programme devote more to this area? Post your thoughts to the rest of the BETT community.

Literacy Seminars

2006-12-30T15:03:00.000Z

Saturday

10:30
Emap Education Keynote: Problems with Teaching Literacy? Inspiring Achievers and Under Achievers - A master class of ideas for all teachers

Alan Gibbons & Stephen Heppell

Two major speakers - One from the world of Literacy and the other from the world of IT, joining together to highlight how the traditional teaching can benefit from using ICT.

The Literacy Classroom
Alan Gibbon will examine the kind of educational environment that can encourage pupils to engage with all aspects of literacy. He will offer practical strategies to get pupils of all abilities to read for pleasure and to achieve self-expression through writing poetry, fiction and non-fiction.

A New Literacy
Stephen Heppell will highlight how ICT is offering new opportunities that broaden our definition of literacy. Authoring podcasts together, parking their video on YouTube, TXTing and blogging, from computers and from phones, from complex threads on MSN to Story Clusters on FlickR, and right across the world our children are rushing back to narrative with a sophisticated ability to tailor their communication to media available. This session explores some the evolution of this new literacy and through viewing their work examines where children are now, and are going, with narrative inside the classroom and beyond.

What are your expectations for this keynote address? Are you aware of the work of Alan and Stephen prior to attendance? What keynote speakers would you like to see address BETT delegates at future events. Post you comments and help develop the programme for the future.

Cross Curricular Seminars

2006-12-30T14:32:00.000Z

Wednesday

14:45
Internet Safety - Who is responsible?

Karl Hopwood: Headteacher, Semley CE VA Primary School

This session will outline some of the risks and benefits associated with the use of communication technologies in the primary classroom. It will showcase some resources for both key stages and suggest ways in which to integrate the teaching of internet safety into the everyday curriculum.

Learning Objectives: to understand some of the possible ways of delivering internet safety messages within the classroom. to know where to access resources to help to deliver aspects of internet safety in order to keep children safe. to have a raised awareness of the risks and benefits of using communication technologies to support teaching and learning in the classroom

16:15
Mobile Learning: Breaking Down the Barriers

Lyndsay Grant and Tash Lee, Futurelab

Mobile technology offers enormous potential for young people to learn in new and exciting ways, at home, school or in the community. This seminar challenges our preconceptions of how, when and where we learn and explores innovative ideas for enabling learners to learn wherever they are, using mobile technology.

Thursday

15:15
Social Technologies and Learning in Your Classroom: Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and More

Miles Berry & Terry Freedman, British Computer Society

Emerging 'web2.0' applications have the potential to transform e-learning, by giving central place to social learning through communication and collaboration and opening up choice and voice dimensions of personalisation. The session explores case studies of how wikis, blogs, podcasts and folksonomies are being used in the classroom and beyond.

15:15
Digitisation and the Changing e-Content Environment

Catherine Grout, JISC

This session will introduce the JISC's two Digitisation Programmes that are creating an exciting range of new digital resources of value for life long learning and research. It will also comment on trends in the e-content environment for user access to resources and on how public sector funders of e-content are beginning to work together to address some of the gaps in e-content provision and to improve the users experience when accessing digital resources.

16:15
Learning Design Tools to Support Practitioners' Innovation with Learning Technologies

Diana Laurillard and Dr Harvey Mellar, Institute of Education

A summary of lessons learned from collaborative research projects on the pedagogic design of learning technologies, across FE and HE institutions in London. The focus is on the tools and mechanisms for ensuring that research links through to its use in teaching. Participants will be invited to engage in the practitioner community.

Friday

16:00
Primary Learning Network collaboration to create a personalised learning website

Chris Jukes: Headteacher, Mount Pleasant Lane JMI and N School

This workshop will be looking at how a number of primary schools have collaborated with each other.

15:15
What Does Good ICT Look Like?

Terry Freedman, Janet Roberts & Russell Ingleby, NAACE

What does good ICT look like and how do we achieve it? Several leading classroom practitioners pass on some tips - prepare to be challenged!

16:15
Lessons Learned from Implementing a Virtual Learning Environment Across Two Local Authorities in England

Ian Usher, NAACE/Bucks CC

Visitors will gain an overview of school and local authority-level issues associated with implementing a Virtual Learning Environment, discover what works and what doesn't in using VLEs schools at both primary and secondary level - all this will be illustrated by work carried out in a variety of schools across two Local Authorities.

Saturday

13:15
New Tools '07 - Forget the Horizon Enjoy the Here and Now - Ways to Make a Difference using ICT

John Davitt, British Computer Society

12 practical and proven ways to make a difference to the quality and range of student's learning with ICT as a catalyst.

13:00
Digital Media Education

David Baugh, Denbighshire LEA

Using Digital Media in education has huge potential for encouraging creativity in classrooms. There is extensive evidence that shows that using digital media with students increases: motivation, on task time, thinking skills and collaborative skills. This session will show how digital media can be integrated into everyday school activities.

What ideas or practice would you hope to adapt and incorporate into your own classroom practice from attendance at any of these sessions? Are there enough cross curricular sessions in the BETT seminar programme? Post your thoughts and help shape the discussions about the future of the BETT seminar programme.

Building Schools for the Future seminars

2006-12-30T14:25:00.000Z

Thursday
16:15
Aiming for Transformation - the Role of ICT in Building Schools for the Future

Steve Moss, Partnerships for Schools

The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme will rebuild or remodel all secondary schools in England. This session will give delegates a clear understanding of the ways in which ICT can help to bring about a transformation of secondary education and how the capital available in the BSF programme can be used to achieve this.

Friday
12:30
SSAT at BETT: New School - Old School?

Tony Parkin, SSAT

What ideas or practice would you hope to take away from attendance at either of these sessions? Is the subject matter, Building Schools for the Future adequately covered at BETT?Post your thoughts and help shape the discussions about the future of the BETT seminar programme.

Assessment Seminars

2006-12-30T14:17:00.000Z

Friday
13:00
Is Your School Ready? Preparing Staff and Pupils for the Onscreen KS3 ICT Test

Sue Walton, NAA

The KS3 ICT onscreen test will become statutory from 2008 with results published in achievement and attainment tables. Many schools are already participating in the pilots. This session explains why all schools should participate in the final pilot in 2007 to be fully prepared for the statutory test in 2008.

15:15
ICT Excellence in Action Day for Leaders session

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

What ideas or practice would you hope to adapt and incorporate into your own classroom practice from attendance at either of these sessions? Post your thoughts and help shape the discussions about the future of the BETT seminar programme.

Music seminars

2006-12-30T14:07:00.000Z

Thursday

12:00

Creating loop based compositions using original material

David Ashworth: Lead Music & ICT Education Consultant - National Association of Music Educators (NAME)

Delegates will learn how to record original sound samples directly into a computer. They will then be shown how to edit samples before importing them into a loop based sequencer programme to create a piece of music. Two freeware software applications (Audacity and Acid XPress) will be used in this workshop.

As a music teacher what would you hope to gain from attendance at this seminar? What resources do you use to embed ICT into the curriculum? Are there other aspects of teaching and learning this aspect of the curriculum, and the role ICT has to play, which could be covered within a future BETT seminar programme? As a subject, is music adequately covered at BETT? Please post your views to the wider BETT community.

Mathematics Seminars

2006-12-30T13:50:00.000Z

Wednesday
13:30
Reaching the Core of AS Mathematics

Ruth Tanner: Secondary Teacher with post 16/ATM ICT group member

This session take a fresh look at some key topics in AS Mathematics. It is designed to encourage understanding and enjoyment of mathematics at post GCSE level; to promote confidence particularly by consolidating algebraic skills and to help with reasoning. Successful GCSE candidates will be helped to take the next step in their mathematical education through this varied approach including computer files.

Saturday

13:30
Interactive geometry

Jenni Ingram: Association of Teachers of Mathematics (ATM) ICT Group Co-ordinator

This session shows the use of excel to teach the understanding of geometrical concepts. Perimeter, area, symmetry, angle and shape properties are explored in a way designed to help geometrical reasoning; promote discussion about geometrical topics and encourage students to apply their geometrical knowledge to solve problems.

14:15
Embedding ICT - New tools to use in the Mathematics classroom

Alison Clark-Wilson, The Mathematical Association

The Mathematical Association works to support and improve the teaching of mathematics. The session will feature the MA/Intel BETT Award winning software (available free to all from the LGfL website) and a range of materials, advice and support developed in partnership with the DfES and others.

As a mathematics teacher what would you hope to gain from attendance at any of these seminars? What resources do you use to embed ICT into the curriculum? Are there other aspects of teaching and learning this aspect of the curriculum, and the role ICT has to play, which could be covered within a future BETT seminar programme? As a subject, is mathematics adequately covered at BETT? Please post your views to the wider BETT community.

Modern Foreign Language Seminars

2006-12-29T15:00:00.000Z

Saturday
12:00
Wikimania, or using wikis to encourage spontaneous and accurate creative writing in MFL
Peter Morris: Senior Teacher & AST, Gordano School - The National Centre for Languages (CILT)

Wikimania invites pupils to contribute on a voluntary basis to a collaborative story writing exercise using a wiki that has been set up so that everybody in the class can read, write and edit. Pupils access the site when they wish, from home or from school, to edit and or continue the story. The teacher monitors the accuracy of the writing and guides improvement through targeted tips, labelled Tipp von PLM on the wiki pages.

Saturday
14:45
ICT … so what? - Using technology to enhance learning outcomes across all four language skills
Joe Dale: Lead Practitioner for The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and French co-ordinator - ASSOCIATION FOR LANGUAGE LEARNING (ALL)

Freeware, self-authoring exercises, customisable templates, PowerPoint, podcasts and blogs! This practical session is designed to show how ICT can assist the learning and teaching of modern foreign languages by: practising reading and listening skills, extending speaking and writing activities, making spelling fun and reducing teacher preparation time

Saturday
10:30
Funky Flipcharts, Wicked Websites and Interesting Interactivity in MFL
Lesley Welsh, English Martyrs School & Sixth Form College, Hartlepool

Are you a primary or secondary MFL teacher seeking to make the most of the IT resources you have in your classroom? Come along and discover practical examples of how you can exploit a variety of websites, flipcharts and more to engage and motivate your pupils.

Saturday
13:00
Living Languages - Using ICT to Promote the Productive Skills in MFL
Chris Harte, Teaching Awards

A practical overview of ICT in the MFL classroom. The focus is on children producing high quality resources for their own e-portfolio and other children; including podcasts, videos and 3D games.

As a modern foreign languages teacher what would you hope to gain from attendance at any of these seminars? What resources do you use to embed ICT into the curriculum? Are there other aspects of teaching and learning this aspect of the curriculum, and the role ICT has to play, which could be covered within a future BETT seminar programme? As a subject, is MFL adequately covered at BETT? Please post your views to the wider BETT community.

ICT Seminars

2006-12-29T14:54:00.000Z

Wednesday
12:45
BESA Keynote: Power and Responsibility - the Disruptive Role of Technologies in Learning

Angela McFarlane

No description available at this time.

Thursday
12:45
Digital Repositories in Further and Higher Education: Their Implementation and Value

Dr Neil Jacobs & Amber Thomas, JISC

The session will arm delegates with up-to-date information on how and why UK colleges and universities are implementing repositories. Repositories allow effective management of, and access to, learning and research materials by working together, using common standards and agreements, so that users have access to a distributed national electronic resource.

History Seminars

2006-12-29T14:44:00.000Z

Wednesday
12:00
Using ICT to teach Black and Asian British History

Dan Lyndon: AST, Head of History, G&T co-ordinator, Henry Compton School - History association (HA)

The focus of the session will be to show how ICT can be used to integrate the teaching of Black and Asian British History into the mainstream curriculum. The delegates will be shown the resources available on www.blackhistory4schools.com. The session will also explore what a webquests is, with a focus on ‘The Black and Asian Soldiers of the First World War webquest’ and will take delegates through a quick way to write webquests online.

Objective 1: to introduce delegates to www.blackhistory4schools.com.

Objective 2: to introduce delegates to webquests on Black and Asian British History.

Objective 3: to briefly outline how to write your own webquest

Thursday

16:00
The educational possibilities of museum/historic site websites for KS2 & 3

Colin Hyson: Freelance Educational Consultant and Writer

The purpose of this seminar is to look at the educational possibilities that museum websites have to offer both classroom teaching and as a preperation for a class visit to museum or historic house. It will cover history, art and design and citizenship at both Key Stages 2 and 3.

As a history teacher what would you hope to gain from attendance at any of these seminars? What resources do you use to embed ICT into the curriculum? Are there other aspects of teaching and learning this aspect of the curriculum, and the role ICT has to play, which could be covered within a future BETT seminar programme? As a subject, is History adequately covered at BETT? Please post your views to the wider BETT community.

English Seminars

2006-12-29T14:33:00.000Z

Wednesday
16:00
Exciting writing with ICT

Trevor Millum; NATE ICT Committee; English and ICT writer and trainer

Trevor Millum, himself a children's writer, will demonstrate some of the techniques he uses to get pupils writing. The careful and creative use of ICT is part of this endeavour, but never the reason for it. In his view, ICT can enhance and extend effective English teaching at all levels.

Thursday

14:45
Using the news to teach literacy

John Galloway - Educational Consultant and Adviser for Tower Hamlets

Learning Through Newspapers. We can learn a lot from newspapers, not just from what’s in them but also in creating them. In this session John Galloway, an educationalist and journalist will look at the different disciplines involved and how we can bring them together in the classroom.

Friday

14:45
Using the news to teach literacy

John Galloway: Educational Consultant and Adviser for Tower Hamlets

Saturday

11:00
Using ICT to increase pupil motivation and enthusiasm

Julie Meiner, Assistant Headteacher: The United Kingdom Literacy Association/ Barnsley Learning Services

This session will demonstrate how using a unique multi-user virtual environment has impacted on the achievement of boys in their writing through increased motivation and enthusiasm. The session will explain what the multi-user virtual environment was, how it was used effectively in class and the impact that it had on boys' writing.

As an English teacher and in terms of your own continuing professional development, what would you hope to gain from attendance at any of these seminars? What resources do you use to embed ICT into the curriculum? Are there other aspects of teaching and learning this aspect of the curriculum, and the role ICT has to play, which could be covered within a future BETT seminar programme? As a subject, is English adequately covered at BETT? Please post your views to the wider BETT community.

Design and Technology Seminars

2006-12-29T12:38:00.000Z

Wednesday
11:00
Embedding ICT in D&T (Working towards e-confidence – a joint D&T Association/NAAIDT/Becta project)

Richard Green: Chief Executive - The Design and Technology Association (DATA)

The session will focus on the national training programme planned and delivered by the Design and Technology Association and NAAIDT as part of a BECTA funded project. To provide clear advice tips and guidance on the use of ICT within specific focus areas of Design and Technology in secondary schools and in primary Design and Technology. The session will also provide background information on developing e-confidence within Design and Technology in both primary and secondary phases. Delegates will have an increased awareness of: A diverse range of ICT applications in Design and Technology, How ICT enhances work in specific focus areas, The concept of e - confidence in relation to D&T teaching and learning.

Thursday
13:30
E - portfolios, IWB and voting technologies supporting quality learning in D&T

Louise T Davies: Deputy Chief Executive - The Design and Technology Association (DATA)

A quick guide to some of the latest technologies and how they might transform teaching and learning in D&T over the next few years. How e-portfolios, interactive whiteboards and voting systems can support and improve learning in D&T. Examples of student and teacher E portfolios from KS, KS2,KS3, GCSE and A level

Saturday

14:15
Making IT Happen in Walsall Academy in Design and Technology

Jonathan Boyle, Walsall Academy

Jonathan will be presenting a variety of approaches in the aim of getting the attention of others. Once the audience are hooked then the teaching begins. The approaches are not necessarily exclusive to Design and Technology.

As a design and technology teacher and in terms of your own continuing professional development, what would you hope to gain from attendance at any of these seminars? What resources do you use to embed ICT into the curriculum? Are there other aspects of teaching and learning this aspect of the curriculum, and the role ICT has to play, which could be covered within a future BETT seminar programme? As a subject, is Design and Technology adequately covered at BETT? Please post your views to the wider BETT community.

Inspection seminar

2006-12-29T12:32:00.000Z

Wednesday
15:15
Improving ICT - findings from inspection

Cathy Morgan, OfSTED

This session will provide a summary of the findings from ICT inspections and surveys undertaken by HMI during 2005/6.

As a manager or teacher and in terms of your own continuing professional development, what would you hope to gain from attendance at this seminar? Post your thoughts and join the BETT online community.

Gifted and talented seminar

2006-12-29T12:22:00.000Z

Saturday

14:15

Smart Tools for Smart Students: How New Technologies Can Personalise Learning

Fiona Cleary and Dan May, London Gifted and Talented

An interactive session exploring a range of e-teaching and learning tools developed by London Gifted and Talented. It demonstrates how these flexible tools can be used across key stages and curriculum areas to support a variety of teaching and learning styles.

How can ICT support gifted and talented pupils? What strategies have you deployed to support able pupils? Post your comments to the BETT Community.

National Strategy Seminars

2006-12-29T12:14:00.000Z

Friday
10:45
Early Years Foundation Stage - Bringing it All Together

Ruth Pimentel, National Strategy

An overview of the consultation findings around Early Years and Foundation Stage and the future plans for training support and development before its official implementation in September 2008.

Friday
11:45
ICT in the National Strategy, Primary

Catherine Foley, National Strategy

This session will explore current developments within the Primary National Strategy to further strengthen appropriate use of ICT in learning and teaching. This will provide an opportunity for colleagues to be updated about available support and resources in order to inform further development in schools, settings and local authorities.

How has the National Strategy impacted on your teaching practice to date? What ideas or practice would you hope to adapt and incorporate into your own classroom practice from attendance at either of these sessions? Post your thoughts and help shape the discussions about the future of the BETT seminar programme.

eLearning Seminars

2006-12-29T12:03:00.000Z

Thursday
10:45
LSN Lead Session: e Learning in the Post 16 Sector

David Hunter, LLL UK , John Stone, LSN and Karen Price, e-skills

Changing world, changing curriculum, changing structures - the role of ICT This session will explore the role of ICT in delivering the skills agenda. An agenda which, following the Leitch review, will increasingly come to influence how schools, colleges and work-based learning providers work, and work together in partnership.

Saturday
12:15
Developing the e-confident Learner in the Foundation Stage

Rachel Ager, Northamptonshire CC

The session will define the model of good practice in which ICT is truly embedded in the Foundation Stage curriculum. It will explore how the delivery of an 'emergent' ICT education develops an e-confident learner. This will be exemplified by video from a range of Foundation Stage settings in Northamptonshire.

What can we learn from our education colleagues in different sectors? What ideas or practice would you hope to adapt and incorporate into your own classroom practice from attendance at either of these sessions? Post your thoughts and help shape the discussions about the future of the BETT seminar programme.

Geography Seminar

2006-12-29T11:55:00.000Z

Friday

11:00
Spatially Speaking: GIS to enhance Geography

David Mitchell: ICT projects coordinator - Geography Association (GA)

This session is for all geography teachers (no computer expertise necessary!). It shows how GIS can be easily and effectively used to enhance geography.

Objectives:

1. To understand how GIS can enhance geography learning.

2. To self assess your current level with GIS.

3. To know how to get started with GIS.

As a geography teacher and in terms of your own continuing professional development, what would you hope to gain from attendance at this seminar? What resources do you use to embed ICT into the curriculum? Post your thoughts and join the BETT online community.

Good Practice Seminars

2006-12-29T11:34:00.001Z

The seminar programme hosts a number of seminars which highlight good practice across the whole seminar programme with ICT Excellence Award Winners showcased on Friday and the seminars below on Saturday.

10:30
Funky Flipcharts, Wicked Websites and Interesting Interactivity in MFL

Lesley Welsh, English Martyrs School & Sixth Form College, Hartlepool

Are you a primary or secondary MFL teacher seeking to make the most of the IT resources you have in your classroom? Come along and discover practical examples of how you can exploit a variety of websites, flipcharts and more to engage and motivate your pupils.

Are you looking for inspiration within your MFL classes? What would you hope to gain from attendance at this seminar? Post your comments to share with the BETT community.

11:45
Using ICT to Inspire!

Tim Rylands, Chew Magna School

Back by popular demand, after 'sell-out' sessions last year, Tim Rylands will give you the opportunity to explore accessible ways of inspiring creativity in music, writing, speaking and listening with children of all abilities. Tim has been described as an extremely gifted and inspirational teacher, with a love of the creative potential of technology. He believes that ICT is about communication rather than technology...and that it should be FUN!!!!

Are you looking for the creative spark within your class? How can Tim inspire you when you go back into the classroom? Give your views and join the BETT community.

13:00
Digital Media EducationDavid Baugh, Denbighshire LEA

Using Digital Media in education has huge potential for encouraging creativity in classrooms. There is extensive evidence that shows that using digital media with students increases: motivation, on task time, thinking skills and collaborative skills. This session will show how digital media can be integrated into everyday school activities.

What is your experience of the gains made through creative use of ICT? What information would you hope to take back to school with you by listening to this seminar? Join the discussion by posting your thoughts.

14:15
Making IT Happen in Walsall Academy in Design and Technology

Jonathan Boyle, Walsall Academy

What would you hope to gain from attendance at this seminar? Do you have your own views about the approaches taken within the Design and Technology curriculum? Post your comments to share with the BETT community.

Becta Seminars, Saturday

2006-12-29T11:10:00.000Z

Each day at BETT, Becta will be delivering a number of seminar sessions.

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

Paul Shoesmith and Nia Sutton, Becta

What would you hope to gain from attendance at this seminar? Post your comments to share with the BETT community.

11:45
Nuggets of advice: what works with ICT

Alison Boyle, Becta

A group of practitioners from Becta’s embedding pilot Science Through ICT will present seeds of a new culture of practice associated with the use of technology.They will offer advice that can be adapted and adopted in primary and secondary contexts. Nuggets of good advice will incorporate these themes:

• Learner independence

• Peer tutoring and learning

• Self-assessment for promoting self-reflection

• Planning, and power relations in the classroom.

What is your experience of the gains made through confident use of ICT? What information would you hope to take back to school with you by listening to this seminar? Join the discussion by posting your thoughts.

13:00
How to improve your primary school using Becta’s self-review framework

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

What is your experience of the self-review process? What information would you hope to take back to school with you by listening to Philippa? Let us know what you think before and after the seminar.

Becta Seminars, Friday

2006-12-29T10:33:00.000Z

Becta leads the national drive to improve learning through technology. They do this by working with industry to ensure we have the right technology for education in place. They also work to support the education workforce to make the best use of technology to improve learning. So that every learner in the UK is able to benefit from the advantages technology brings, thereby helping them achieve the best they can.

Each day at BETT, Becta will be delivering a number of seminar sessions.

11:00
Making best use of data to improve learning and teaching

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.

What would you hope to gain from attendance at this seminar? Do you have your own views about learning platforms and e-assessment? Post your comments to share with the BETT community.

12:30
How to improve your primary school using Becta’s self-review framework

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

What is your experience of the self-review process? What information would you hope to take back to school with you by listening to Claire? Let us know what you think before and after the seminar.

12:30
ICT Excellence in Action Day for Leaders session

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.

How do you benefit from listening to other teachers explain their good practice? What information would you hope to take back to school with you by listening to both the above presentations? Let us know what you think before and after the seminar.

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.

What is your experience of the gains made through confident use of ICT? What information would you hope to take back to school with you by listening to Longfield School? Join the discussion by posting your thoughts.

14:00
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.

How can this seminar help meet your needs in identifying the support required with respect to the school's ICT infrastructure? By posting your views you can help shape the debate and the development of the BETT seminar programme in the future.

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.

What would you hope to gain from attendance at this seminar? What are your own views about self assessment? Post your comments to share with the BETT community.

15:15
How to improve your secondary school using Becta’s self-review framework

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

As a secondary teacher, what is your experience of the self-review process? What information would you hope to take back to school with you by listening to John? Let us know what you think before and after the seminar.

16:15
ICT Excellence in Action Day for Leaders session

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 further knowledge and understanding would you wish to take away with you by attendance at this seminar? What are the key challenges to schools when constantly embracing new technologies? Join the discussion by posting your thoughts.

16:15
Emerging Technologies for Learning: Collaboration, Personalisation & the Read/Write Web

David Ley, Project Manager – Technology Research & Delivery, Becta; Lee Bryant, Consultant - Headshift

This session will give a brief overview of some emerging technology trends and then focus on the educational potential of social software applications and other Web 2.0 technologies.

What are the key challenges educators face when identifying the opportunities available through social software tools? What are your views and how would attendance at this seminar aid your understanding?

Becta Seminars, Thursday

2006-12-29T10:08:00.000Z

Mark Wallbank and Chris Faulkner, Becta

This seminar will cover the best value purchasing arrangements that Becta is setting up to deliver infrastructure, learning and data services to the schools sector. It will consider the role that Local Authorities and Regional Broadband Consortia can play in aggregating procurement to provide schools with quality and value for money in their ICT systems.

What would you hope to gain from attendance at this seminar? What is your experience of your own Regional Broadband Consortia ? Post your comments to share with the BETT community.

12:45
How to improve your primary school using Becta’s self-review framework

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

What is your experience of the self-review process? What information would you hope to take back to school with you by listening to Bernie? Let us know what you think before and after the seminar.

14:00
How to drive and develop quality in FE using ICT

Andy Black, Becta

This session will explore how Further Education leadership teams can improve the provision that they provide through self-review and planned use of ICT. This session will offer guidance on the best practice processes and principles that can assist you in improving the quality of your provision, through review of ICT and the developing quality standards. This will be illustrated and supported by exemplars and experiences from college leadership teams on how quality frameworks have helped them make improvements in ICT. Be prepared to help your college by registering on the Learning and Skills frameworks now at: http://matrix.becta.org.uk

What would you expect to gain by attending this seminar? What are your views about the use of the Learning and Skills frameworks ? Share your thoughts with the wider BETT community.

15:15
Planning for personalised online learning: what does it mean for my school

Robin Ball, Becta & John Morris, Headteacher, Ardleigh Green Junior School

This session will consider how to plan for the use of learning platforms to support personalised learning including developing the strategic vision, preparing for and managing change, and transforming learning and teaching.

What further knowledge and understanding would you wish to take away with you by attendance at this seminar? What is your view about Personalised Online Learning? Join the discussion by posting your thoughts.

16:15
How to improve your secondary school using Becta’s self-review framework

Andrew Sierant, Becta

http://matrix.becta.org.uk/selfreview

As a secondary teacher, what is your experience of the self-review process? What information would you hope to take back to school with you by listening to Andrew? Let us know what you think before and after the seminar.

Becta Seminars, Wednesday

2006-12-22T11:51:00.000Z

Each day at BETT, Becta will be delivering a number of seminar sessions.

11:00
How e-portfolios can support personalisationStuart Jones, Assistant Director, Becta

This session will explore how e-portfolios assist in realising the learner journey and how they can integrate with learning platforms, e-assessment and the developing strategies regarding personalisation. It will explain the current position regarding e-portfolios in government thinking and offer examples of how they have made an impact to learner achievement. Discussions will be invited around how to introduce the concept of learning logs and individual learning plans into delivery methodologies, and will look at the general benefits and issues of introducing e-portfolios into learning.

What would you hope to gain from attendance at this seminar? Do you have your own views about learning logs and individual learning plans? Post your comments to share with the BETT community.

12:45
Evidence of ICT impact and progressDr Vanessa Pittard and Malcolm Hunt, Becta

The seminar will present evidence from the Becta Review 2006 combined with emerging findings from Becta’s 2006-07 research programme, such as Test Beds and the Becta Survey of ICT in FE. The aim is to provide an overview of the progress of ICT developments in schools and colleges in the context of the key themes and objectives of the E Strategy.

What further knowledge and understanding would you wish to take away with you by attendance at this seminar? What is your view about the E Strategy? Join the discussion by posting your thoughts.

14:00
Making use of Becta’s Infrastructure Services Framework AgreementPeter Hughes and Chris Faulkner, Becta

This session will outline the Infrastructure Services Framework Agreement and explore some of the ways that customers can make use of the framework in order to improve the effectiveness of ICT provision in their schools. It will also look at the wide range of advice materials available from Becta to assist customers in using the framework.

How can this seminar help meet your needs in identifying the support required with respect to the Infrastructure Services Framework Agreement? By posting your views you can help shape the debate and the development of the BETT seminar programme in the future.

15:15
Transforming learning – Impact on the Schools sectorNorman Crawford, Assistant Director, Becta

This session will explore how technology can be used to drive forward educational reform in the school sector. Looking at how technology can be better used to narrow the achievement gap and connect with hard-to-reach learners, the session will also focus on benefits to the learner and barriers to achieving system reform.

How can we support the hard to reach learners? What are your views and how would attendance at this seminar aid your understanding?

16:15
Transforming Learning – Impact on the Post-16 sectorChristine Lewis, Assistant Director – E-strategy, Becta & Bob Harrison, Consultant, Becta

This session will explore how technology can be used to drive forward educational reform in the post-16 sector. Looking at how technology can be better used to narrow the achievement gap and connect with hard-to-reach learners, the session will also focus on benefits to the learner and barriers to achieving system reform.

What are the key challenges educators face when connecting out to post-16 learners who have proved difficult to reach? What are your views and how would attendance at this seminar aid your understanding?

International Seminars

2006-12-22T11:00:00.000Z

The seminar programme hosts a number of seminars with a distinct international flavour on Thursday.

11:00
Using Whiteboards to Develop Unit PlansDave Blemings, Prairie Rose School, Alberta, Canada & Kim Wright Service Children's Education, Germany

This session highlights how teachers can use a range of software that allows them to make varied and interesting interactive lessons. Units of study can be developed that can include web links, embedded audio, multi-media and video. Teachers attending this session will explore and watch the creation of a unit plan.

12:45
Using Moodle to Provide Online CPDBryn Jones, AISWA

AISWA supports schools across 3000kms of Western Australia including remote aboriginal, regional and urban schools. For 3 years AISWA has successfully provided it's teachers with online CPD in ICT Integration. Moodle is the chosen learning platform with Atomic Learning embedded. Come and explore some of the issues, challenges and opportunities.

14:00
Lead Session: Why technology is an important part of Africa’s vision for learning

Kobus van Wyk, Khanya Project, Western Cape & Hintsa Mhalane, Kwa Zulu Natal

As yet there is no description for this session but details about the project can be found at http://www.khanya.co.za. Kobus van Wyk's own blog can be found at http://www.khanya.co.za/blogs/

15:15
Video Conferencing in a Rural School DivisionLyle Roberts and Eli Merrick, Prairie Rose School, Alberta, Canada

Video conferencing is an emerging technology. In the Prairie Rose School Division it is an integral part of the day to day operation. The school division is the geographical equivalent to Switzerland. Within the jurisdiction there are 20 public schools that all have video conferencing suites. These suites allow teachers, outside professionals and students to interact live with one another.

16:15
Enciclomedia (Mexico): The World's Largest Interactive Classroom ProjectDr. Raul Medina-Mora, Enciclomedia Project, ILCE, Mexico

This session will present and discuss the Enciclomedia Project in Mexico. Enciclomedia is the most important project of Mexican President Fox' administration. It is the largest interactive classroom project in the world today and is to be implemented in all 5th and 6th grade classrooms in Mexican public primary schools. Enciclomedia is a system that makes the educational materials 'alive' and 'interactive' in the classroom providing a community of learning where teachers and children play active roles in the learning process.

What can we learn from our education colleagues in different countries across the world?

What ideas or practice would you hope to adapt and incorporate into your own classroom practice?

Does BETT offer enough exposure to international practice through the seminar programme?

Are there developments in other countries that you would like to see discussed and debated in future years?

Post your thoughts and help shape the discussions about the future of the BETT seminar programme.

Art an Design Seminars

2006-12-22T10:32:00.000Z

Peter Worrall and Kevin Mathieson from the Association for Advice and Support in Art and Design (A4) will be delivering the following two seminars -

Thursday at 11:00
Eportfolios in the Creative and Performing Arts

This workshop will provide an introduction to the key concepts and issues regarding the introduction, construction and development of eportfolios in the creative and performing arts.
The objectives of the session are to:

introduce the context and concept of eportfolio(s)
demonstrate the construction of multimedia eportfolios in the arts
present the creative development of eportfolios through learning platforms

and on Friday at 12:00
Embedding ICT in Art and Design Projects

This session explores key issues and processes in using ICT within the Art and design curriculum The three objectives of this session are

To explain planning and resource issues.
To provide a range of Art and ICT examples that extend the boundaries of creativity KS2 to 16+.
To explore ideas regarding planning and embedding ICT in Art and Design teaching and learning.

As an art and design teacher and in terms of your own continuing professional development, what would you hope to gain from attendance at either or both of these seminars?

What resources do you use to embed ICT into the curriculum?

Are there other aspects of teaching and learning this aspect of the curriculum, and the role ICT has to play, which could be covered within a future BETT seminar programme?

As a subject, is Art and Design adequately covered at BETT?

Please post your views to the wider BETT community.

BETT Awards shortlist for Supporting Institutional Leadership and Management,Viglen Learning Environment from it’s learning,Viglen Limited

2006-12-20T15:21:00.000Z

The Viglen Learning Environment is a powerful Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) specifically designed for schools and universities. Its’ defining characteristics are unrivalled flexibility and user friendliness. The intuitive platform allows everyone to master the technology in order to succeed with his or her learning activities. A strong focus on the implementation process ensures that each school gains an optimal set of pedagogic tools for reaching it’s particular objectives.

Is this your experience of the Viglen VLE? Please let us know.

BETT Awards shortlist for Supporting Institutional Leadership and Management, SAM Learning Plus,SAM Learning Ltd

2006-12-20T15:15:00.000Z

SAM Learning Plus includes:
Personalised teacher access with information for their own classes Manager accounts that make teacher usage easier to see, review and measure Simplified system for personalising student learning by assigning and reviewing multiple tasks and homework and setting ability levels to individuals or groups of students Use of EstimIt® technology to give potential grade indications for students in maths, English and science.

What is your experiences of this tool? We want to hear your views and shape the discussion on tools like this.

BETT Awards shortlist for Supporting Institutional Leadership and Management,Live Register,Cyclone Industries Limited

2006-12-20T15:11:00.000Z

Live Register™ is a revolutionary new approach to recording student attendance, replacing old school registers with a system that enables students to register for themselves.

Using the latest in biometric fingerprint recognition technology, Live Register™ eradicates wasted registration time and gives more time for teaching or for form tutors to deal with students' concerns.

Do you use this system at school? Is it a useful tool for managers in the recording of attendance? Post your comments for discussion by the BETT community.

BETT Awards shortlist for E-Assessment,Turning Point vPad 2006,Turning Technologies/Steljes Ltd

2006-12-20T14:54:00.000Z

TurningPoint is an Assessment for Learning tool that allows every child to be heard, so that his or her individual learning needs can be assessed and addressed, loud and clear. TurningPoint lightens the load of assessment by providing real-time, ready-to-use reports which can be used on the spot to amend lessons as you go. It enables teachers to practice personalised learning and potentially improves learning outcomes for every individual pupil in the class.

Does your use of the technology match with the statements above? Please share your views with other educationalists.

BETT Awards shortlist for E-Assessment,MAPS eQUALIFICATIONS,TAG Learning

2006-12-20T14:49:00.000Z

The benefits to teachers of using this resource are said to include

Easy online access to students’ coursework for review, marking and assessing.
Manage all your students’ assessment work centrally online.
Promotes robust assessment and moderation practices.
Requires no technical expertise.
Safe, secure and backed up daily.

Is this your experience? Let the whole BETT community know by posting your views.

BETT Awards shortlist for E-Assessment, Activote,Promethean

2006-12-20T14:41:00.000Z

Activote is Promethean’s integrated personal response system that is designed to encourage whole class participation and enhance learning. By enabling each pupil to “have a voice”, the opinions, thought processes or feelings of a whole class can instantly be shared and addressed accordingly.

Have you used Activote in the classroom and if so how successful was it in including all the class.

BETT Awards shortlist for E-Assessment, Digivey Suite,Research House UK

2006-12-20T14:36:00.000Z

Digivey survey software is a complete touch-screen survey management in three powerful modules.

The Digivey Survey Suite comprises three powerful survey software modules that work together seamlessly and manage all elements of the touch screen survey process:
Composer Touch Screen Survey Creation: Digivey Composer
Launcher Touch Screen Survey Data Collection: Digivey Launcher
Analyzer Touch Screen Survey Data Analysis: Digivey Analyzer

What is your experience of this suite of assessment tools?

BETT Awards shortlist for E-Assessment,InCAS (Interactive Computerised Assessment System),CEM Centre

2006-12-20T14:26:00.000Z

InCAS (Interactive Computerised Assessment System) is a personalised diagnostic reading assessment.

InCAS is fully adaptiveThe entry point into the assessment is tailored to each individual pupil according to his or her age. The difficulty of subsequent assessment items presented to the pupil is dependent upon their responses as they proceed through the assessment. Thus pupils each receive an individualised assessment according to their developmental level.

It would be useful for other to know how you have used this assessment device with your pupils and students.

Post your comments to continue the discussions.

BETT Awards shortlist for Creative and Constructive Tools,Gridmagic, Q4 Technologies Ltd

2006-12-20T13:54:00.000Z

With its powerful image-processing engine, Gridmagic enables all pupils to create superb quality computer art without resorting to clipart. Its unique printing capability instantly turns designs into creative D&T projects such as bookmarks, place mats, wallpaper and wrapping paper.

We want to know what you and your pupils experience of this tool is?

BETT Awards shortlist for Creative and Constructive Tools,LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT, LEGO EDUCATION/DACTA Ltd

2006-12-20T13:51:00.000Z

LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT is the next generation in educational robotics, enabling students to discover Science, Technology, Engineering and Math in a fun, engaging, and hands-on way. LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT helps students aged 8 and up to develop curriculum skills by building and programming smart robots in a natural, step-by-step learning process.

Share your views of the tools available with this resource. How do pupils develop the curriculum skills by engaging with the system?

BETT Awards shortlist for Creative and Constructive Tools, BuzzWebz, Indigo Learning Ltd

2006-12-20T13:43:00.000Z

So the pupils have just been on a class trip and they all had a great time. Why not share their experiences in the form of a website? The whole class can work on the same website at the same time. Now that's collaboration at its best.

What sets this tool apart from other web authoring tools? Share your experience of BuzzWebz with other educators by posting your comments.

BETT Awards shortlist for Creative and Constructive Tools, iLife 06, Apple

2006-12-20T13:39:00.000Z

Apple describe iLife ’06 as the easiest way to make the most out of every bit of your digital life. Using the Mac to collect, organize and edit the various elements. Transform them into mouth-watering masterpieces with Apple-designed templates. Then share the magic moments in beautiful books, colorful calendars, dazzling DVDs, perfect podcasts, and attractive online journals. All starring the users.

What's your experience of using this digital resource with pupils?

BETT Awards shortlist for Creative and Constructive Tools,2Connect,2Simple Software

2006-12-20T13:35:00.000Z

2Connect is a concept mapping and planning tool which will help children organise their thoughts individually or collaboratively on a network. It's a simple way to put ideas on a page!

How have you used this mapping tool in the classroom?

Post us your views to help other teachers wanting to use this or similar resources.

BETT Awards shortlist for Creative and Constructive Tools

2006-12-19T21:49:00.004Z

The following resources have been shortlisted for the Creative and Constructive Tools award

2Connect, 2Simple Software
iLife 06, Apple
BuzzWebz, Indigo Learning Ltd
LEGO MINDSTORMS Education NXT, LEGO EDUCATION/DACTA Ltd
Gridmagic,Q4 Technologies Ltd

BETT Awards shortlist for E-Assessment

2006-12-19T21:49:00.003Z

The following resources have been shortlisted for the E-Assessment award

InCAS (Interactive Computerised Assessment System) , CEM Centre
Digivey Suite , Research House UK
Activote, Promethean
MAPS eQUALIFICATIONS, TAG Learning
Turning Point vPad 2006, Turning Technologies/Steljes Ltd

BETT Awards shortlist for Supporting Institutional Leadership and Management

2006-12-19T21:49:00.001Z

The following resources have been shortlisted for the Supporting Institutional Leadership and Management award

Live Register, Cyclone Industries Limited
SAM Learning Plus, SAM Learning Ltd
Viglen Learning Environment from it’s learning, Viglen Limited

BETT Awards shortlist for Primary and Secondary Hardware, mimio Interactive with mimio Wireless, Sanford Brands – mimio

2006-12-19T21:25:00.000Z

With mimio Wireless you no longer need to worry about tripping over cables or whether the USB cable is long enough to reach your computer. mimio Wireless is one solution for presenting engaging interactive content to the classroom.

Have you got a mimio system in your class? if so tell us your experiences of using it with pupils.

BETT Awards shortlist for Primary and Secondary Hardware,TurningPoint 2006, Turning Technologies/Steljes Ltd

2006-12-19T21:19:00.000Z

TurningPoint is an Assessment for Learning tool that allows every child to be heard, so that his or her individual learning needs can be assessed and addressed, loud and clear. TurningPoint lightens the load of assessment by providing real-time, ready-to-use reports which can be used on the spot to amend lessons as you go. It enables teachers to practice personalised learning and potentially improves learning outcomes for every individual pupil in the class.

Are you a user of TurningPoint? What makes it impressive in your view?

Post your comments and share your experience of this classroom resource?

BETT Awards shortlist for Primary and Secondary Hardware,Pro-Bot,TTS Group Ltd

2006-12-19T21:04:00.000Z

TTS Group Ltd have developed a floor robot which could be used for teaching more advanced control techniques.
They have listened to and incorporated teachers' ideas to make Pro-Bot, an advanced floor robot with the following key features
Bright attractive car design, with child appeal
Robust and durable to withstand everyday use
Can operate independently or alongside your PC with our software
Can be used simply by programming arrows or accepts more complex commands
Voice activated functions
and a host of other functions.

Do you use the Pro-bot in teaching control techniques and if so what's your impression of this device?

BETT Awards shortlist for Primary and Secondary Hardware, SMART Board 600 series interactive whiteboard with SMART software 9.5, SMART Technologies In

2006-12-19T20:52:00.000Z

Use the standard SMART Board software to capture your work as a screen shot that can be edited, or save your notes directly into several software applications, including Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel, or into AutoCAD software. You'll have access to thousands of free images and templates, interactive and educational content and advanced drawing tools.

Pre-load your lesson plan to the SMART Board interactive whiteboard and make writing on a chalk board during class time a thing of the past.

Does the sales pitch match your experience in the classroom? What resources have you created with the technology to improve teaching and learning?

Add your comments to let everybody know your feelings.

BETT Awards shortlist for Primary and Secondary Hardware, Genee Vision 6100, Interactive Education

2006-12-18T16:25:00.000Z

This is a powerful new Digital Process Visual presentation and teaching tool. The Genee Vision Visualiser is the perfect solution for classroom teaching, presentations, recording lessons, and evaluation. Genee Vision's powerful zoom allows you to view text documents and 3D objects in the minutest detail. The powerful functions will enhance the way you conduct your lessons, saves time and money with the image and video capture facilities.

Have you used the Genee Vision with your class? If so please let us know how you used it and how successful it was in supporting the teaching and learning process.

BETT Awards shortlist for Primary and Secondary Hardware, DataVision, DCP Microdevelopments Ltd

2006-12-18T16:15:00.000Z

DataVision has been designed as a comprehensive instrument for the modern science lab, combining the following primary functions:
• Meter - displays live readings from any standard LogIT Microsense® sensor.
• DataLogger - logs data from up to 6 sensors & displays in graphical or numerical format.
• Sensor Interface - View and record data from sensors on a connected computer.
• Analysis and storage of results.

DataVision has been designed to be naturally
intuitive and easy to use with single press start and stop logging and no setting up required.

What has been your experience of using this hardware in the classroom?

Post your views and join in the discussions that follow.

BETT Awards shortlist for Primary and Secondary Hardware

2006-12-18T16:07:00.000Z

The following resources have been shortlisted for the Primary and Secondary Hardware award.

DataVision, DCP Microdevelopments Ltd
Genee Vision 6100, Interactive Education
SMART Board 600 series interactive whiteboard with SMART software 9.5, SMART Technologies Inc
Pro-Bot, TTS Group Ltd
TurningPoint 2006, Turning Technologies/Steljes Ltd
mimio Interactive with mimio Wireless, Sanford Brands – mimio

BETT Awards shortlist for Post 16

2006-12-18T15:51:00.000Z

The following resources have been shortlisted for the Post 16 award.

Sure Skills Literacy Entry Level 3 & Sure Skills Numeracy Entry Level 3, Harcourt
Autolab, LJ Group

BETT Awards shortlist for Post 16, Autolab, LJ Group

2006-12-18T15:46:00.000Z

AutoLAB provides a comprehensive series of instructional modules that cover the electrical/electronic and mechanical systems found in today’s vehicles. One of the unique features of AutoLAB is the comprehensive range of computer-based multimedia instruction that accompanies the modules.

What is your experience of this resource? Does it help students and if so how?

Post your views and thoughts as part of the discussion.

BETT Awards shortlist for Post 16, Sure Skills Literacy Entry Level 3 and Sure Skills Numeracy Entry Level 3Harcourt

2006-12-18T15:17:00.000Z

Sure Skills is a suite of fully interactive e-courses that match the National Curricula in Literacy and Numeracy, and have been designed especially to motivate adult learners.

Gives tutors the flexibility to work closely with each adult learner and tailor individual lesson plans to focus on their skills needs.

The content is designed to motivate adults by providing the learning in a variety of contexts that they are familiar with.

Do you use this resource with adult learners and if so how successful have you and they found it?

BETT Awards shortlist for SEN Solutions, Think About! 1,SEMERC

2006-12-17T22:38:00.000Z

Think About! 1 is designed for all learners, including those with specific learning difficulties associated with dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorders, language disorders, and concentration and memory lapses. The engaging and motivating presentation of animations also make it appealing for older and more reluctant readers.

What's is your opinion of this title? And what areas of the SEN spectrum was it able to support?

BETT Awards shortlist for SEN Solutions, Communicate: In Print 2,Widgit Software

2006-12-17T22:35:00.000Z

Communicate: In Print 2 offers a complete set of coloured Widgit Rebus Symbols in addition to the black and white symbols and other pictures supplied with the program. In Print is a flexible symbol-supported desktop publishing package for creating books, worksheets, newsletters and posters; so it is literally making the headlines. With all the functions of a symbol processor wrapped up in a DTP and full symbol functionality alongside freedom of layout, In Print is an exciting product for the Inclusion and SEN market.

If you use this software what strategies have you employed in the classroom to maximise its potential?

BETT Awards shortlist for SEN Solutions, Rapid Reading Assistant Software, Harcourt

2006-12-17T22:32:00.000Z

Rapid - a unique Special Needs reading resource which really supports and motivates your pupils. Providing you with your very own virtual reading assistant through exciting speech recognition software, it offers you an invaluable ‘extra pair of hands’ for your classroom.Rapid has been developed to help your struggling readers fast forward to reading success and provides that all important support to each pupil making sure every moment spent reading really counts.

Do the above comments match with your own experience of using the resource? Why don't you let us know what you think.

BETT Awards shortlist for SEN Solutions, Clicker Vision,Crick Software/Espresso Education

2006-12-17T22:29:00.000Z

ClickerVision is an exciting series of media-rich, video-based curriculum materials for early learners of all abilities.

A combined initiative from Crick Software and Espresso Education, this unique series of Clicker-powered materials offers a new approach to teaching and learning, perfect for use on an individual computer or an interactive whiteboard.

Why don't you give everybody else your impression of this tool if you have used it with your pupils?

BETT Awards shortlist for SEN Solutions, Trackers for Clicker,Crick Software and Oxford University Press

2006-12-17T22:26:00.000Z

Trackers For Clicker is a joint Crick Software and Oxford University Press publication for children aged 7+ who have a reading age of 5+. The series is based on the fiction books from Oxford's new Trackers structured reading series. It is particularly suitable for struggling or reluctant readers, and for English Language Learners.

Have you used this title with your pupils? If so let us know how you found working with it in the classroom?

BETT Awards shortlist for SEN Solutions,Clicker 5, Crick Software

2006-12-17T22:24:00.000Z

Clicker 5 is a writing support and multimedia tool - it enables you to write with whole words, phrases or pictures! It is a very powerful tool and is incredibly easy to use, and supports every area of the curriculum.

How have you used this resource in the classroom and what benefits has it given your pupils?

Post a comment and share your knowledge with the wider educational community.

BETT Awards shortlist for Early Years Solutions, Early Years ICT Series (Disc 1),Smart Learning Ltd

2006-12-17T22:15:00.000Z

The Smart Learning Early Years ICT series delivers the ICT curriculum for Nursery and Reception through fun, familiar topics, ensuring year-on-year progression across your early years. The topics are:- All About Me, Traditional Stories, Journeys and Holidays.

How successful did you find them in your own setting?

BETT Awards shortlist for Early Years Solutions, Number Run,Q&D Multimedia Limited

2006-12-17T22:11:00.000Z

Number Run addresses the early learning goals for counting and calculating and helps prepare children for maths at Key Stage 1. The activities are packed with fun animations and rewards. Number Run is very simple to use and offers endless opportunities for educational discussion.

Simple and fun. Was that how you found the materials when you used it with children? If you have used the resources let us know about it by posting a comment.

BETT Awards shortlist for Early Years Solutions,Garage Topic Pack - Early Vision,Early Vision Ltd

2006-12-17T22:09:00.000Z

The Garage Topic Pack lets children see working people in their environment including the mechanic speaking, listening and writing, salesman on the computer completing forms and the motorist singining some paperwork.

Is this a pack that you have used in the early years setting and if so what was your own impression?

BETT Awards shortlist for Early Years Solutions, Simple City, 2Simple Software

2006-12-17T22:06:00.000Z

According to 2Simple Software, Simple City helps stimulate listening, language, independence, collaboration and creative play in the Foundation Stage and Year 1. Adult experts and children guide children through 10 locations based on common curriculum topics while engaging on-screen activities promote children’s role play both on the computer and afterwards.

If you have used this title with your children how successful was it in developing their early skills?

BETT Awards shortlist for Digital Content (Secondary Other), Auralia 3,Rising Software Pty Ltd (distributed by Sibelius Software Ltd)

2006-12-17T21:48:00.000Z

Auralia's interactive tuition makes ear training easy and fun. It guides students through hundreds of graded exercises, and gives instant feedback. Teachers can even play or sing answers using a MIDI keyboard or microphone. Auralia automatically marks the exercises so students can use it on their own, freeing up hours of teaching time. It even records student results so you can monitor their progress over time.

Is this a resource you have successfully deployed in your teaching strategy?

If so let us know the outcomes you and your students achieved.

BETT Awards shortlist for Digital Content (Secondary Other), O-Generator,O-Music Ltd (distributed by Sibelius Software Ltd)

2006-12-17T21:45:00.000Z

O-Generator is the simplest way for students to understand the fundamentals of music and composition. The design engages students on a visual and aural level and most importantly stimulates them into trying and creating composition styles of their own.

That's the developers telling us how easy it is to use but what is your own personal experience? Did it engage students in the way it is intended?

BETT Awards shortlist for Digital Content (Secondary Other), PSHE & Citizenship Service,Espresso Education

2006-12-17T21:43:00.000Z

The Espresso PSHE & Citizenship Service is a comprehensive, easy-to-use, and constantly growing digital library of high quality, innovative, video-rich, cross-curricular resources, all tailored to the National Curriculum and cross-referenced to QCA Schemes of Work.

How have your students responded to the interactive nature of the resources provided and did it help raise attainment in the subject?

BETT Awards shortlist for Digital Content (Secondary Other),Cambridge Latin Course Book,Cambridge University Press/Cambridge School Classics Project

2006-12-17T21:40:00.000Z

This e-Learning resource is designed for use by students, non-specialist teachers and specialist teachers alike. Five courses through the activities allow students and teachers to follow built in lesson plans if desired and detailed help and explanation is provided in Notes for non-specialist teachers and for students learning independently.

What made this resource so special in the eyes of the judging panel?

If you have used it in the classroom let us know by posting your comments.