Good Practice Seminars

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

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.

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, 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?

Becta Seminars, Thursday

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
The role of Local Authorities and Regional Broadband Consortia in aggregated procurement

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

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 Andrew? Let us know what you think before and after the seminar.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 - Secondary Core, TI-SmartView, Texas Instruments

The TI-SmartView™ emulator is an easy-to-use, demonstration tool for leading the classroom instruction of math and science concepts. Based on the popular TI-84 Plus family of graphing calculators (compatible with the TI-83 Plus family), the TI-SmartView emulator complements classroom calculator use by displaying an interactive representation of the calculator, plus offers many unique instructional capabilities.

What are your views as to its usefulness in the classroom?

BETT Awards Shortlist - Secondary Core, Sunflower for Anywhere, Sunflower Learning

Sunflower Multimedia for Science is a suite of curriculum-focused programmes designed to help teachers tackle tricky topics in secondary biology, chemistry and physics. e.g.
Atoms & Ions
Bonding
Diffusion
Cells
Circulation
Digestion
Colour
Forces and Motion
Motors and Generators


No doubt tricky subjects for students to master so how does this resource help them?

BETT Awards Shortlist - Secondary Core, GCSE Science Whiteboard, Collins Education

The GCSE Science Whiteboard Resources CD-Rom provides highly stimulating digital material for your classroom. It uses state-of-the-art digital technology and design, and is so simple, anyone can use it!


Is this a stimulating resource and is it as simple to use as Collins Education claim? Post your views on this if you have experience of using the tool in school.

BETT Awards Shortlist - Secondary Core, ClipBank Science,Channel 4 Learning

Channel4 Learning tell us that video clips can enhance lessons in a way that no other teaching resource can. If you want to use television in the classroom but don't have the time for sourcing, cueing and viewing videos, then use ClipBank – all the hard work is done for you and this ClipBank library is packed with around 250 high-quality television clips.

What enhancements in the classroom did you find when using the resource?

BETT Awards Shortlist - Secondary Core, Cabri 3D,Cabrilog/Chartwell-Yorke

Cabrilog/Chartwell-Yorke tells us that Cabri 3D is interactive solid geometry software. Using Cabri 3D, in a few clicks, you can construct and manipulate the following solid geometry objects:- · points· lines, line segments, rays · vectors· circles and conic sections· planes, triangles, polygons· spheres, cylinders, cones· polyhedrons

What do you think? If you have used this in the classroom let us know what you and your pupils thought.

BETT Awards Shortlist - Secondary Core, The Write Kit Key Stage 3, 186Media

The Write Kit Key Stage 3 contains 17 video-based exercises which require pupils to meet a variety of challenges in writing stories, poems, dramas, letters and adverts. Students learn to observe, listen and empathize. Using the exercises will develop an understanding of structure and form, character development, dialogue, motivation, genres, imagery and 'special effects'.

Tell us your experience of using this resource in the classroom and how it helped pupils.

BETT Awards shortlist for Digital Content (Secondary Core)

The following resources have been shortlisted for the Digital Content (Secondary Core) award.

The Write Kit Key Stage3, 186MEDIA
Cabri3D, Cabrilog/Chartwell-Yorke
ClipBank Science, Channel 4Learning
GCSE Science Whiteboard Resources CD-ROM, Collins Education
Sunflower for Anywhere, Sunflower Learning
TI-Smart View, Texas Instruments