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BETT Review
to enable families to create documents, spreadsheets and more. Additional
pre-loaded Assistive Technology software is also included to support
language and literacy, easing access to the internet for people with a wide
range of needs including dyslexia, visual impairments and learning
difficulties. Once a family signs up to the scheme the support is there, the
difficulty perhaps moving forward will be in ensuring take up remains high
once the current news stories die out. Constant monitoring and
encouragement from Becta and the schools themselves will be Key to its
success.
Supporting Professional Development
Steljes used BETT to launch the IRIS connect, a web application and mobile
camera system that claims to revolutionise the process of lesson observation
and sharing best practice. Based on extensive research into effective ways
to support teacher Professional Development, it has been developed as a
versatile, community based CPD platform, allowing colleagues to make
time-linked verbal or written notes about the practice they are observing.
These notes are automatically added to the lesson recording at the relevant
point to support professional dialogue. As immediate feedback has been
identified as a critical factor in supporting teacher development, IRIS networking sites are part of everyday life for GCSE students and by blurring
connect facilitates direct communication between mentor and teacher. This these boundaries it suddenly becomes ‘cool’ to be good at a subject, simply
either happens in real-time or via an in-ear link, or later via a dialogue on by making it socially relevant. Schools can stream the information contained
the IRIS connect network. on the iPod so that students can continue their learning at home - much
The great thing about this product is that it stores the information forever, more appealing than lugging a heavy textbook in its place, I’m sure!
allowing teachers to view it at leisure - perfect for time poor members of staff Hannah Young dropped by the Education Today stand on behalf of the
who want to improve their own performance, or that of their team. If the Equality and Human Rights Commission to tell us about the Young Brits at
management structure of a school is supportive, rather than feeling Art programme, which, utilising painting, drawing, soundscapes, textiles and
scrutinised, teachers will see it as key to their development. It is also useful as glass, asks students to convey a world without prejudice. This is another fine
a means of behaviour control as, removed from the situation, an observer is example of the Commission engaging students with issues that are relevant
in a much better position to help deal with a potentially difficult situation to them now and in the future.
without their actual presence changing the classroom dynamic or
undermining the teacher in charge. “We have had people saying they have Introducing marketing techniques
been looking for a product like this for three years,” said a spokesperson. Talisma used BETT to present its Higher Education CRM modules. Designed
And it’s not only teachers that will benefit from the use of this technology, to improve student prospecting and recruitment programmes, engagement
students can use it to develop their own skills, in debating societies and and retention efforts, while offering components to manage that
mock job interviews, for example. relationship, it can be used alongside existing software and charged as a
I was keen to take a look at the GCSEPod, a product that uses audio and standard expense, rather than a capital investment. “This is a highly
visual techniques to aid in learning. Covering eight subjects and over 330 configurable and flexible service,” said Managing Director Rajendra C.
titles it represents the next generation of study notes, on an iPod. Is it there to Mruthyunjayappa. Enabling campuses to store information on a central
replace books? Not at all said co-founder and director Anthony Coxon: “It is database, just as the GCSEPod blurs the lines between education and social
there to re-enforce learning in a way a student can digest. You can even activity, the direct marketing techniques used in the business world are
create leader boards to put on facebook.” Going back to my earlier point being applied here to optimise results in education. If a student is getting
about making education relevant, here is a product that does just that. Social low grades in maths, the software can identify that student - and others like
February 2010 www.education-today.co.uk
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