EDUCATION-JAN10-PG21-22:Page 6 24/12/2009 13:32 Page 21
BETT Highlights
Plan before you buy at BETT
B
ETT is the world’s largest educational
technology event, attracting more than
30,000 UK and international visitors over the four
days. With more than 700 exhibition stands
promoting a range of products and services from
the ICT industry, it is wise to plan ahead for your
visit. Education Today spoke to a number of
schools to find out what they will be looking for
at this month’s show and liaised with Becta (The
British Educational Communications and
Technology Agency) to see what advice they are
offering to help buyers find the right products.
One of the great things about the BETT show is
the amount of free advice and products that can
be picked up! If this sounds like good news, then
the best place to start will be the range of
supporting and government organisations
including Becta, which will be located in the
Supporting Next Generation Learning zone in the well in advance so that I make the most out of my At BETT you can pick up demos of products to
National Hall (near the main entrance). time there. I pre-plan by customising the virtual try at home before you buy. Last year we were
“In my opinion, BETT is the best education floor plan on the website (My BETT planner) and sourcing a learning platform provider and BETT
show around and I have been going for the last by using the maths route planner that is available was the ideal place to compare systems and ask
16 years. BETT gives me the chance to have a first at the show. This details the exhibitors that are questions. My deputy briefed me on the
look at the technology that will affect teaching in showcasing maths resources. questions I needed to ask before I went, to ensure
the next couple of years, and I am able to find out If I don’t get round to a stand that I want to we chose the right provider. I make sure I visit the
about Government initiatives and issues, as well see, or only have time to stop and pick up a Government bodies to find out about particular
as learn about new ways of teaching. brochure, the showguide contains exhibitor new initiatives or issues and collect information
I used to go on a Saturday but now my school contact details that I can look up afterwards. packs. It is also good to visit the providers we
allows me to visit on a weekday. With over 700 Similarly the scanners work well as the exhibitor already work with to speak with the reps we
stands there is so much to see and I am unable to will scan your badge and this allows them to know and talk about upcoming products and give
visit every exhibitor, so I make sure I plan my visit contact you post show. feedback for future features.
BETT is a good source for learning new
teaching tips. The best seminars to go to are the
subject specific ones and the ones run by
associations, and they are a great chance to
expand on CPD. You can normally get free tickets
on the day but they do go quickly, so it is good to
book in advance.” Adam Creen Head of Maths at
Salesian School Chertsey
“I have not missed BETT in 14 years, and I don’t
intend to overlook any further shows as it keeps me
up-to-date with new, innovative devices that are
available in ICT for education. I look forward to
each and every BETT in relation to what it can teach
me and how it can develop my school further.
With BETT being such a bustling show, I attend
each year with a focus in mind about what I want
to see, and the BETT website and pre-show
publications are read carefully to plan my day(s). I
tend to target the many new innovations that the
exhibition showcases. To complement the large
amount of individual stands that are on offer,
seminars are held in different theatres, and these
are both very useful and interesting.
January 2010
www.education-today.co.uk
21
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54