MANAGING ICT MANAGING ICT
BETT 2010 is
year or two, regardless of the political party at the helm
after 2010’s general election.
almost here.
After the pre-budget report announcement that
schools need to make “efficiencies”, there is little
doubt that we will all need to make wise procurement
Ray Barker
decisions in the future.
However, the funding is still here for the foreseeable
from BESA,
future, and plenty of schools are telling us through our
recent ICT research that they still have specific ICT
co-founders of the show,
needs – ranging from updating computers through to
securing new content for recently installed learning
platforms.
discusses how BETT can
The funding is being spent on learning and improving
the life-chances of young people. Now that schools
help you to navigate the
have been given greater control over their spending,
BETT can really help budget-holders to make informed
current financial squeeze
procurement decisions, not just about best value, but
also about educational impact.
As technology has become more prevalent, the costs
associated with purchasing new software and hardware
have reduced. Take a look at the consumer market – the
HIS YEAR marks the 26th BETT cost of a laptop has dropped significantly, just like
T
Show, which has grown to become digital cameras and handheld technology. The same
the world’s premier educational is true for educational technology, as it has become
technology event. cheaper to manufacture and supply.
Founded back in the mid-1980s by At BETT this year, many exhibitors are taking the
Dominic Savage, the current director economic affect on schools into consideration and
general of the British Educational offering a range of special rates, offers and discounts to
Suppliers Association (BESA), the show was born out help schools that need new resources.
of a desire to introduce computers and other technology All under one roof, there is no easier way to make
into UK classrooms and see how learning could be informed comparisons between ICT suppliers to ensure
improved and enhanced. you are getting not only the best resource, but the best
Fast forward two and a half decades, and now just deal for your school.
about every school across the country uses computers BESA is very proud of its role as co-founder and co-
of all shapes and sizes, interactive whiteboards, organiser of the show, and to ensure a successful visit
the internet, and many are introducing handheld for many of the educators that enter BETT’s doors, we
technologies, learning platforms and new software to run a free Information Point in the centre of the Grand
enhance lessons. Hall (stand D46).
BETT’s role is to help all educators, not just those I can honestly say that I have not witnessed a show
from the UK, to connect with each other and the quite like BETT – exhibitors use the show as the place
industry to witness how technology can allow today’s to launch new products onto the market, and invest in
learners and teachers to reach new goals. making their presence at the event exciting, innovative
Unless you have been hiding under a rock (and I and interesting to visitors.
cannot blame you if you have), 2009 was a turbulent As a result, it can be very hard to figure out who
year for all, and this was also felt within the education you should visit. If you walk into BETT and are feeling
sector. a little overwhelmed, drop by the BESA Information
Economic uncertainty, leading into a full-blown Point and one of the team will be there to help you
recession, has seen the government bail out banks and create your own personalised route around the show, or
push a “spend our way of the recession” approach to to find that special resource, seminar or exhibitor that is
handling the crisis. a must-see for your school. SecEd
While things may be starting to look up, we
somehow need to recoup the money spent over the last • Ray Barker is director of BESA. Visit www.besa.org.uk
Countdown
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David Taylor
Across the globe, there is an increasing emergence
of online communities of teachers using the internet to
takes a look at
share best practice and stimulate innovative teaching
projects.
E-communities are booming, and education sites are
one of a growing
no exception. With each offering a distinct perspective
on educational issues, these knowledge-sharing
number of
resources are attracting growing numbers of teachers.
One site that is relaunching in early 2010 is
PrometheanPlanet, a community of nearly half a million
Stands B30 and N23
websites that allow teachers
teachers who use the site to access more than 16,000
downloadable lessons, tips, online training, forums,
to share best practice,
and blogs. Teachers are also using the site to connect
Discover
to other teachers.
lesson plans and ideas, or
Members can browse and download teacher-
generated resources, and also upload their own subject-
• Classroom Audio • Community • Interactive Tools
chat about classroom issues
specific materials for the use of others. On another,
they can connect their classrooms to those of teachers
• Interactive Whiteboards • Learner Response Systems
– all for free
they meet online enabling live cultural exchanges for
students, supporting modern foreign language teaching,
• Resources and Training • Software
and government initiatives such as eTwinnings.
PrometheanPlanet was conceived as a non-
With hands-on demonstrations, exclusive show offers and experienced commercial site, and its goal is to promote best practice
advisors on-stand, come along to explore your truly interactive world.
T IS now commonly accepted that the internet has and support teachers, regardless of the brands and
formed communication and the way people manufacturers that schools use.
access information. What is more remarkable is Dughall McCormick, e-learning consultant at
www.PrometheanWorld.com/bett
I
trans
the rate at which the internet is itself developing, Kirklees Children and Young People’s Service, is a
generating new communication phenomena, regular user of the site, and is passionate about using
such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and wikis forums for professional collaboration.
on a regular basis. She said: “PrometheanPlanet was the first online
The perception is that young people are leading forum for teachers that I came across. Although in the
the way in using these new channels, with teachers early days, there was a relatively small core group of
struggling to keep up. But is this really the case? 10 to 15 regular contributors, we nevertheless quickly
10 SecEd • January 7 2010
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