11 reasons to make this year’s Bett Show

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Image credit: The Bett Show Facebook page. Image credit: The Bett Show Facebook page.

Unsure about whether or not to head to Bett (ExCeL London, 24th - 27th January) this year? Here are 10 scheduled sessions showing how essential the exhibition will be for schools in 2018...


1. Mountain or molehill? GDPR in perspective / 24th January, 12:30-13:05, Bett Arena


Many of you will have seen Groupcall’s advice regarding the upcoming EU General Data Protection Regulation laws on this website. Here, Groupcall data protection officer Steve Baines is joined by philanthropist / rockstar Bob Geldof, Link2ICT’s Karen Crowston and Michelmores Solicitors’ Russell Holland to offer delegates an insight into what GDPR will mean for schools.


Check this out if… You want to be fully-prepared for 25th May.


2. Learning through play, and why we shouldn't teach to test / 24th January, 13:15-13:45, Bett Arena


The LEGO Foundation’s head of connecting play and education programme, Halima Begum, will host this seminar looking at how play can be a vital part in a child’s development. The discussion will examine how play-based learning can nurture different skills important for both school and later life.


Check this out if… You want to make the most of that pupil creativity.


3. Tackling the Computing curriculum with computational thinking / 24th January, 13:30-14:00, Schools Theatre


Shahneila Saeed is director of the Digital Schoolhouse, a programme all about inspiring teachers and pupils to tackle common misconceptions within the British Computing curriculum. Tony Gilbert is an ICT leader and Computing lecturer at Swindon’s New College, “a friendly, inclusive learning environment for learners of all ages and abilities” who offer a choice of over 150 courses. The two will look how how, by leveraging innovation and expertise through collaboration with academia and industry, schools can find new ways to enhance cross-curricular learning.


Check this out if… You want to discover exciting new activities for the classroom (including dance).


4. Inclusive classrooms: tackling dyslexia & improving learning / 24th January, 15:45-16:15, Schools Theatre


How are accessible technologies changing the way that young people with dyslexia are being supported with their learning? The British Dyslexia Association and Microsoft are collaborating on an exciting new project to embed innovative, new learning tools across the whole school. Here, they’ll be presenting exciting resources that you can take away and use right away.


Check this out if… You’re after new ways to enhance your school’s inclusivity.


5. Flipping the future - students share global perspectives / 25th January, 11:15-12:00, Bett Arena


Legendary newsreader and television presenter Natasha Kaplinsky joins SMART Technologies and six savvy students (from both the UK and other European nations) to discuss learner leadership. The younger hosts will share both their experiences with edtech and their views on the future of the classroom.


Check this out if… You want to see how instructional practices can evolve to meet the changing needs of students and technology.


6. BESA panel: International STEAM, exporting Britain’s expertise in engaging students in creative science & design / 25th January, 12:15-13:00, DIT Export Theatre


Here, BESA (led by director general Caroline Wright) take a look at STEAM learning around the world. Which countries have a STEAM focus? What are they looking for? To lend their expertise on stage will be Dr Becky Sage (CEO of Interactive Scientific), Gareth James (micro:bit’s chief of education and strategy), Chris Burgess (founder and MD of CBIS), and Christopher Mathews (VP, global partnerships at Discovery Education).


Check this out if… You want to know how to facilitate creative, project-based learning through digital tech.


7. How to train your pupils to write / 25th January, 14:15-14:45, Bett Arena


How best to spark a love of writing in young people? Award-winning headteacher Chris Dyson, How To Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell, and Pobble cofounder Henry Smith discuss the whether reading and writing is at risk in this digital age, and examine the potential opportunities that are afforded to schools via edtech.


Check this out if… You want ideas for enhancing literacy through creativity and purpose (and maybe tips on dragon-training, if we’re lucky).


8. International schools procurement: Sharing the findings of the 2018 BESA report / 26th January, 13:00-13:15, DIT Export Theatre


Innovate My School partners BESA (British Educational Suppliers Association) have some major findings to share. Director Patrick Hayes will be showing just how the UK curriculum influences international schools, as well as the appetite for UK education products and services abroad. How do these schools make procurement decisions? Find out here.


Check this out if… You want an essential overview of international schools’ development.


9. Workload relief / 26th January, 13:45-14:15, Bett Arena


Professor Stephen Heppell, will take to the stage to consider how technology might make teacher lives more, well, liveable. This session will see the CEO of Heppell.net discuss how low wellbeing is causing a real retention crisis in education, and how technology, coupled with social change, might help reduce exhaustion and boost morale.


Check this out if… You want to find out what edtech will be instrumental in making the future better for both learners and teachers.


10. Telepresence robots: Game-changing technology for students who can’t attend school / 27th January, 12:15-12:45, Bett Arena


A great education system involves meeting the needs of those who can’t attend school due to physical or mental illness. Norwegian entrepreneur Morten Jacobsen will demonstrate the robotics-based edtech enabling learners to be a part of class even though they’re is at home. This exciting presentation will be based on a case study of a 12-year-old Danish boy who hasn't been to school for more than two years, but has instead been beamed in on a robot everyday.


Check this out if… You want to see how much of a difference robotics can make in SEN education.


11. Department for Education / Stand C211


Damian Hinds, secretary of state for education, says:


"The Department for Education is delighted to be a part of Bett 2018 and we welcome you to the event.

"We recognise that digital technology is increasingly supporting improved delivery and outcomes in education across England and internationally. The benefits of digital technology are, however, often seen as innovation that only digital experts can achieve, but that shouldn’t be the case. Digital technology offers teachers and school leaders a wealth of opportunities to support effective and proven teaching practices as well as increased support for themselves, their institutions, and their students. However, we know it can sometimes be difficult to implement new technology or gain access to the evidence and equipment educators need.


"Representatives from the department will therefore be on hand at the show this year to talk to teachers, leaders and developers about the excellent practice and change we’re already seeing across the sector (on topics including teacher workload, pedagogy and financial management).


"We also want to hear from you about the challenges you’ve faced and the good practice you might have implemented in your school or college. Please come and visit us at Stand C211!"


You can find Damian's recent speech at the Education World Forum (EWF) here.


Visit www.bettshow.com for more information.


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