I am heading down to BETT14 on Tuesday afternoon for some pre-meetings and then the usual busy diary of meetings in and around the conference. Staying back in familiar territory near Gloucester Road Underground this year, after last year's foray to Greenwich, so hope to be able to network longer without worrying about missing the last light rail train across the water. Reflections last few years here
http://www.joewilsons.net/search/label/BETT
I can't claim to have been at this event for last 30 years but I've attended since the mid 1990's
My diary is pretty full but - If you have something unique and engaging aimed at any part of the assessment , e-portfolio space or you have some genuinely open learning or you are looking for meaningful partnerships with school , college or vocational learning space either in Scotland or internationally then I would be interested in talking to you. I am easy to get hold of - just tweet something to @joecar and I'll respond.
Scottish Education really is very unique and very distinct to what is on offer in the school , college and vocational space in England. Remember if you have attended the The World Education Forum http://www.ewf2014.org/ you may have been persuaded that we only do things in one way in the UK . In fact the Scottish Education tradition has been distinct for centuries.
I am not even sure if there will be a Scottish voice at this pre-Bett Forum this year ?
My ambition of having a joint agency Scottish stand at Bett still has still to come to fruition - maybe one day.
When I arrive I'll share notes with colleagues who will have been down hearing about a major global learning project we have been tracking for the last three years
New Pedagogies for Deep Learning: A Global Partnership. https://npdllearningforum.eventday.com/ .On Thursday afternoon/evening I am attending the related strand on new modes of assessment. I am hoping that we and Education Scotland can plug into this project and a relevant juncture.
Around conference I am meeting usual suspects from Microsoft , Google and other global vendors . It is remarkable change that over last 12 or so years many of the big global vendors tend to be in and around the event but no longer take stands - I think this just reflects changing business models - the resellers fill the gap and the stands are no longer just about the technology but how the technology is deployed in classrooms.
Great too the folks now talking about how it is done are teachers who really use the technology with their learners.
I'll be dipping in and out of the various strands of the conference programme too
School Leaders Summit
Workplace Learning Summit
Technology in Higher Education Summit
Here is a snap shot
Wednesday morning I'll catch the ministerial address and then vendor meetings and then speaking at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mirandamod-moocs-for-international-cpd-tickets-9490017899 Talking about potential of harnessing massive open on-line courses for staff development incorporation into school and college classrooms - and probably a bit more too
Picking up some meetings in afternoon with some business partners.
Thursday morning meeting with vendor partners and in afternoon meeting some companies with new models for on-line assessment - then picking up New Pedagogies Conference . Meeting some folks who are into gamification and virtual worlds for assessment in evening.
Friday - Morning to explore exhibition area and catch some of the presentations - business lunch and catching up with James Fanning of Education Scotland before running back to Airport .
My top tip - you will hear a lot of self centred crap from those who have not spent a lot of time in front of real learners - if you work in Education policy - please do not feel inadequate in front of lots of expensive glossy technology .
If you really work in school , college or work based learning - then challenge these policy makers , tekkies and pseudo education leaders to deliver things that help the learners in front of you. Think ahead too what will help learners over next 3-5 years.
A learner without access to a browser and wifi - is at an educational disadvantage.
Have a mind open enough to see what you can do to change things for your learners .. but be street wise enough not to buy the latest gizmo with a fifty year lease back and a maintenance licence that will mortgage their future.