MANAGING ICT: BETT 2010 MANAGING ICT: BETT 2010
SecEd’s chief
reporter Chris
Parr visited
the annual
A glimpse into
BETT Show this week, the
world’s largest education
technology event. He
the future
begins his round-up with
a look at the new Home
Access scheme – one of the
main talking points
UST TWO days before this year’s BETT
J
Show officially launched, 270,000 low-
income families were told that they were if they’re eligible for free school meals and things like Elsewhere at the BETT Show, the e-Learning Valerie Thompson, chief executive of the e-Learning
entitled to a free computer, complete with a that, and if they fulfil the criteria then we send them a Foundation announced that assistance was available for Foundation, said: “This is a huge step towards ensuring
year’s internet access. single-use credit card that they can take to suppliers, schools wishing to aggregate in order to help parents that all children in the country have access to a
The national roll-out of the Home Access such as Comet, and pick up their computer.” get their Home Access entitlement. computer and the internet at home for their studies,
scheme could not have been better timed, The Home Access programme has received a Schools affiliated to the foundation will be able to giving them an equal chance to tap into a digital age
with the world’s largest education technology event £300 million investment from government and makes access the Home Access Grant Administration Service, and enhance their learning potential in a world where
gearing up to open its doors and unleash 14,000 square England one of the first countries in the world to ensure which will see schools working on behalf of families to technology surrounds us.”
metres-worth of exhibitor stands on an unsuspecting young people can use a computer at home to aid their help get the best possible deals. For details, visit www.becta.org.uk/homeaccess
teaching public. education.
The elephant in the room at the BETT Show has The computers also feature software packages to
long been the issue of families that simply cannot afford assist SEN students, and will be available for all
BETT Awards 2010: Selected winners
Pre-Raphaelite Online Resource
computers, who are not online, and therefore will not be families in years 3 to 9, along with looked-after children Leadership and Management Solutions Digital Devices
able to access a school’s learning platform and the work aged up to 18. Vivo Miles for Vivo Miles A1 Technologies for RapMan
schemes, attendance statistics, and disciplinary reports Mr McLean continued: “Understandably, schools Secondary, FE and Skills Digital Content ICT Exporter of the Year
that they hold. have big concerns about parents who aren’t online. Serious Games Interactive for Global Conflicts: Manic Monkey
Home Access seeks to change all that, and SecEd They are developing learning platforms, putting Palestine ICT Service and Support Award
met with Niel McLean, executive director for schools resources online, and if they can’t reach everyone, then Special Educational Needs Solutions Espresso Education
and families at Becta, to find out how more. the job isn’t finished. Royal National College for the Blind for RoboBraille ICT Education Partnership
He explained: “On the day we announced the “We don’t want to put a burden on teachers and Tools for Learning and Teaching Learning Possibilities (LP+)
national roll-out, there were 15,000 enquiries to the schools, but it is in their interests to promote the scheme British Broadcasting Corporation for BBC Learning ICT Company of the Year
telephone line set up to advise those applying. Within and make sure that those families that are eligible sign – Booknotes Inclusive Technology
two days, we had sent 200,000 packs out which include up. Some schools are helping parents to fill in their Digital Collections and Resource Banks Outstanding Achievement in ICT
the application forms. forms, while others are purchasing the computers on Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery and Tak for Annika Small, former chief executive of Futurelab
“The families have to fill in the forms, let us know their behalf.”
Margaret Allen, a
ad hoc questions to the class in order to test their
understanding and knowledge of a topic.
Promethean’s ActivExpression.
former teacher, gives us
Before and after
Repeating a question before and after an exercise,
her top tips for using
such as a debate or teaching point, can often provide
More choices for your money.
compelling data for students to compare. Discussion
learner response systems
can be generated by displaying both sets of results
and comparing responses to identify when and why
learners changed their mind during the lesson.
GROWING NUMBERS of schools are discovering
the power of the learner response system as a tool that
Predictive scenarios
affords greater insight into individuals’ understanding, Asking learners to predict what happens next can
knowledge and development. Moreover, as the stimulate imagination and is a great way of giving
handheld technologies available have evolved, so learners ownership of their work. In English lessons,
have the number of opportunities for their use. Here for example, teachers can ask students to finish a
are my top tips for using learner response systems. sentence, or create an ending to a story.
More than just black and white Save results
Some questions require more than just yes or no A huge benefit of learner response systems is
answers. Many learner response systems now allow that teachers can use the data gathered from one
a wide range of response formats, such as true/false, lesson in order to plan the next. By saving data,
free text including symbols and numbers, multiple- educators can analyse results for each question to
choice, and sliding scales so you can assess learners’ see which concepts were understood and which
knowledge and views in a variety of ways. needed revising or re-teaching.
4 sets for the price of 3 8 sets for the price of 6
12 sets for the price of 9
Share results and generate debate Spice up revision
& 50% off half-day on-site & 1 FREE half-day on-site
& 2 FREE half-day on-site
Results can be instantly displayed on an interactive Creating fun and engaging exercises such as quizzes
training session training session
training sessions
whiteboard (or on a screen if you don’t have one) can offer a more productive method of going over
and this is a feature which all educators can use material and can liven up revision lessons. If you
to their advantage, either to generate whole-class use a learner response system that records learners’
discussions or to explore learners’ opinions and response times, you can also introduce an element of
understanding. For example, by asking students competition and quick thinking into assessment.
to identify which response is correct (rather than
telling them) helps them to develop a much deeper
Use beyond the classroom
understanding, and makes the learning process more Learner response systems do not have to be confined
interesting and fun. to the classroom. Schools can provide opportunities
for other stakeholders such as parents and governors
Use anonymously
to share in the technology, and the portability of the
Get every learner involved and participating in systems also means they can be used in a range of
lessons. Handheld devices are a highly inclusive settings, particularly if the display of results is not
tool and offer an excellent way of eliciting responses required. We have even heard of them by being used
from everyone in the class, even the most reticent on board a “learning” bus.
students. By using the anonymous mode, educators
can reduce peer pressure and the fear of giving
Do your homework
For further information
a “wrong” answer. This also enables teachers to With the number of handheld devices available
approach sensitive topics such as bullying. on the rise, it is important to shop around for the
Visit www.activexpression.co.uk best system. Ideally you should choose one that is
Call 01254 298598
Improvise
compatible with any brand of interactive whiteboard,
You cannot plan for everything in a lesson; that is simple to use, contains a range of response and
why learner response systems and the accompanying analysis options, and comes with good support.
software are designed to be simple to use so that
Terms & conditions apply, see website for further details.
they can be incorporated into any lesson with little • Margaret Allen is a former teacher and Promethean’s
or no planning. Use this to your advantage by posing head of European market development.
10 SecEd • January 21 2010
10-11 Managing ICT .indd 10 19/1/10 14:39:37
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