BETT ( http://www.bettshow.com/
) now in its 30th year opened yesterday and again was a packed affair
with over 680 exhibitors and visitor numbers expected exceed last year. This
year the show coincided with the Education World Forum http://www.ewf2014.org/ and delegates were
invited to the opening with Michael Gove (UK Secretary of State for Education)
delivering the keynote. He, as you would imagine, talked about the use of
technology in schools and how students and teaching have been shaped with the
advances in technology and will continue to be shaped as we prepare our
students to tackle the ever changing world of technology.
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| Michael Gove addressing BETT 2014 delegates |
He highlighted the
government looking to industry and shows like BETT to understand the ways in
which the educational technology landscape is changing and how the government
can support these changes within schools and the education sector in general.
Of particular interest to TESS-India http://www.tess-india.edu.in and other
international visitors was the success of other global BETT events and the
announcement that BETT South East Asia will be launched in 2015, will people as
far afield as Hanoi tweeting their approval.
As with all “trade” shows there seems to be one key thing
that dominates most stands, a few years ago it was 3D technology in televisions
this year it was 3D technology in printers with almost 10% of exhibitors
bringing some kind of 3D technology onto their stands. This is of course very
impressive and the opportunities this brings to schools in integrating this technology
into their curriculum is boundless but I am not sure how many more unusually
shaped plastic vases and pots the BETT show needs.
There was of course the usual “big players” Microsoft,
Intel, Dell, hp etc; showcasing some very impressive tech but one of the most
important pieces in my opinion was to see the representation of open badging being
brought into the classroom and the amazing popularity this had with students
and teachers alike.
Open badging is the idea that you can gain credit for the
learning you do outside of more formal structures http://openbadges.org my experience has really been in the realm of
HE, further and adult education so to see the implementation of this in the
classroom was very inspiring. It also brought to mind the potential importance
for some students of “bridging” their learning between secondary and higher
education and how recognition for this could be gained even if they don’t continue
to more formal credit in that particular area. It was great to see that the Openness
agenda is alive and kicking in education at all levels (as perhaps some might
argue it always has been).
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| Stand on Open Badges at BETT 2014 |
