Special Needs, Inclusion seminars Friday

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

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.

13:15
Even Difficult to Teach Children Matter

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.

School improvement seminars

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.

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.

Building Schools for the Future seminars

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

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!

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

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 )

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 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.

English Seminars

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

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.

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.

National Strategy Seminars

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.

Geography Seminar

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.

Becta Seminars, Friday

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?