Comments on: Is BETT really where it’s at? http://advisorymatters.naaceblogs.org/2009/01/16/is-bett-really-where-its-at/ In 1992, I was involved in an exciting ICT and learning conference with this title. I'm assuming that Steve Heppell, who was one of the main organisers for the conference, came up with this phrase to express the theme of the conference. Although a great deal has happened in education since, we've still got a long way to go to make this question irrelevant. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:47:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Never mind the technology, where’s the learning? » Blog Archive » I was wrong last year. BETT is where it’s at, but not where you think http://advisorymatters.naaceblogs.org/2009/01/16/is-bett-really-where-its-at/comment-page-1/#comment-1271 Never mind the technology, where’s the learning? » Blog Archive » I was wrong last year. BETT is where it’s at, but not where you think Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:53:38 +0000 http://advisorymatters.naaceblogs.org/2009/01/16/is-bett-really-where-its-at/#comment-1271 [...] year I asked whether BETT was where it was truly at, this year my doubts were swept away, not by the hundreds and thousands of products on show, but by [...] [...] year I asked whether BETT was where it was truly at, this year my doubts were swept away, not by the hundreds and thousands of products on show, but by [...]

]]> By: Colin Maxwell http://advisorymatters.naaceblogs.org/2009/01/16/is-bett-really-where-its-at/comment-page-1/#comment-1137 Colin Maxwell Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:29:17 +0000 http://advisorymatters.naaceblogs.org/2009/01/16/is-bett-really-where-its-at/#comment-1137 Been to BETT for last 4 years and tired of seeing interactive whiteboards. The one to many approach in teaching is past its sell-by-date. I see more and more people switching from whiteboards to screen sharing software which better supports more personalised learning and sharing in the classroom. I like the idea that the fringe events are becoming more popular, wanted to be at Teachmeet, but had to go home Thursday. It all seems very Edupunk to me, and breaking out of the traditional mould of teaching is what gets results in the classroom - maybe BETT needs to follow suit. Been to BETT for last 4 years and tired of seeing interactive whiteboards. The one to many approach in teaching is past its sell-by-date. I see more and more people switching from whiteboards to screen sharing software which better supports more personalised learning and sharing in the classroom. I like the idea that the fringe events are becoming more popular, wanted to be at Teachmeet, but had to go home Thursday. It all seems very Edupunk to me, and breaking out of the traditional mould of teaching is what gets results in the classroom - maybe BETT needs to follow suit.

]]> By: Gareth Davies http://advisorymatters.naaceblogs.org/2009/01/16/is-bett-really-where-its-at/comment-page-1/#comment-1136 Gareth Davies Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:12:17 +0000 http://advisorymatters.naaceblogs.org/2009/01/16/is-bett-really-where-its-at/#comment-1136 Don't get me wrong James, you would have found lots of things you would have been interested in, and although plentiful, free Web 2.0 tools won't provide a complete range of software needed to meet the needs of a 'national curriculum' such as ours, subject content for example. My point is that we are unlikely to see such tools showcased at a major exhibition unless services for schools are built around them, as such presence require finance. At the moment there is no adopted business model for this. TeachMeets are interesting in they provide a 'alternative' but these rely on a great deal of goodwill and to some extent sponsorship, and they attract the maverick in us all (hence the notion of them being part of an 'unconference' culture). Without a change in context therefore it is unlikely that they are sustainable. Gareth Don’t get me wrong James, you would have found lots of things you would have been interested in, and although plentiful, free Web 2.0 tools won’t provide a complete range of software needed to meet the needs of a ‘national curriculum’ such as ours, subject content for example. My point is that we are unlikely to see such tools showcased at a major exhibition unless services for schools are built around them, as such presence require finance. At the moment there is no adopted business model for this. TeachMeets are interesting in they provide a ‘alternative’ but these rely on a great deal of goodwill and to some extent sponsorship, and they attract the maverick in us all (hence the notion of them being part of an ‘unconference’ culture). Without a change in context therefore it is unlikely that they are sustainable.

Gareth

]]> By: James http://advisorymatters.naaceblogs.org/2009/01/16/is-bett-really-where-its-at/comment-page-1/#comment-1135 James Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:20:56 +0000 http://advisorymatters.naaceblogs.org/2009/01/16/is-bett-really-where-its-at/#comment-1135 It's hard to pass judgement on BETT as I have never been. But I get the general impression that I would have found lots of useful resources. But, as you've suggested, such a wealth of free Web 2.0 tools are available, is the need for such an event still the same. Perhaps there should be an event where Web 2.0 tools are displayed to teachers. Like you I'm frequently inspired by the ideas of teachers who use such resources and who share their ideas. Or perhaps this was the purpose of the TeachMeet afterwards? In any case, I would love to go to BETT in 2010. It’s hard to pass judgement on BETT as I have never been. But I get the general impression that I would have found lots of useful resources. But, as you’ve suggested, such a wealth of free Web 2.0 tools are available, is the need for such an event still the same. Perhaps there should be an event where Web 2.0 tools are displayed to teachers. Like you I’m frequently inspired by the ideas of teachers who use such resources and who share their ideas. Or perhaps this was the purpose of the TeachMeet afterwards? In any case, I would love to go to BETT in 2010.

]]> By: Gareth Davies http://advisorymatters.naaceblogs.org/2009/01/16/is-bett-really-where-its-at/comment-page-1/#comment-1134 Gareth Davies Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:27:03 +0000 http://advisorymatters.naaceblogs.org/2009/01/16/is-bett-really-where-its-at/#comment-1134 I agree with you David in almost every respect. I'm actually for a thriving educational ICT-led commercial market, but I'm coming to think that commercial educational ICT suppliers are increasingly living in a bygone era. We need to start to create an emphasis on services, since 'tools' have always been better taught 'in context', and context has never been as good as a 'simulation' in a closed and perhaps sterile educational environment. Even the more innovative collaborative tools on show are but simulations of what's kids are doing online outside the classroom. Gareth I agree with you David in almost every respect. I’m actually for a thriving educational ICT-led commercial market, but I’m coming to think that commercial educational ICT suppliers are increasingly living in a bygone era. We need to start to create an emphasis on services, since ‘tools’ have always been better taught ‘in context’, and context has never been as good as a ’simulation’ in a closed and perhaps sterile educational environment. Even the more innovative collaborative tools on show are but simulations of what’s kids are doing online outside the classroom.

Gareth

]]> By: David Gilmour http://advisorymatters.naaceblogs.org/2009/01/16/is-bett-really-where-its-at/comment-page-1/#comment-1133 David Gilmour Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:21:57 +0000 http://advisorymatters.naaceblogs.org/2009/01/16/is-bett-really-where-its-at/#comment-1133 I'm much newer to this whole world, having only returned to education in 2004 after a 25-year career break in industry, but had a similar reaction. Over the last couple of years, I've been helping develop the use of blogs in East Lothian schools. We run a <a href="http://mu.wordpress.org" rel="nofollow">WordPress Multi-User</a> installation. Thanks to the generosity of the WordPress community, we have built an LEA-wide networked learning community, http://edubuzz.org, for sums that would not have bought us much at BETT. I'm sure many of the products on show were good in their own way, but that's no longer enough. They have to represent the best possible investment, in terms of educational return, of the very limited funds available. If the cost of the products is high enough to fund large, impressive stands potential buyers may question if they're getting value for money. I’m much newer to this whole world, having only returned to education in 2004 after a 25-year career break in industry, but had a similar reaction. Over the last couple of years, I’ve been helping develop the use of blogs in East Lothian schools. We run a WordPress Multi-User installation. Thanks to the generosity of the WordPress community, we have built an LEA-wide networked learning community, http://edubuzz.org, for sums that would not have bought us much at BETT.

I’m sure many of the products on show were good in their own way, but that’s no longer enough. They have to represent the best possible investment, in terms of educational return, of the very limited funds available. If the cost of the products is high enough to fund large, impressive stands potential buyers may question if they’re getting value for money.

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