MY BETT


We now turn our attention to three core subjects for which BETT will be offering a range of seminars and resources – maths, science and literacy


Seminars


Among the seminar highlights in these three crucial areas, “Using Mobile Technologies to Aid Learning” will be led by Craig Slater, head of e-Learning at Byrchall High School in Wigan, and Alec Titterton, national network co-ordinator for maths and computing colleges at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (3:35pm on January 14 in the Innovation Theatre). Mobile technology enables teachers to


enrich learning by taking ICT tools outside of the normal ICT environment. However there are challenges in funding pressures on ICT investment choices and the embedding of technology across the school. This session explores the challenges faced at Byrchall High and how they have been overcome, the successes and failures encountered, and the benefits to learning that the technologies have brought. Elsewhere, “ICT to Inspire: Raising


Levels of Creativity in Children of all Ages and Abilities”, offers attendees inspiring, accessible tools and ideas for raising the level of writing, speaking and listening, and creativity in children of all ages (1:15pm on January 14 in the Innovation Theatre), Led by Tim Rylands, education consultant,


the session explores a range of Web 2.0 and visual literacy elements that have had a huge impact on raising children’s confidence across the creative curriculum. Steve Rowley, key stage 2 and 3 curriculum


manager at Frankley City Learning Centre in Birmingham is holding a seminar entitled “Making eBooks, Improving Literacy” (3:35pm on January 14 in the Training and Development Theatre). In this session, attendees can learn more about using emerging technologies in literacy and creating and publishing your own eBooks with the children as authors.


Exhibitors at BETT


There are a wealth of companies at BETT offering resources in all three of these areas. Some of them are listed below.


Learnalot (stand SW80) This is an educational portal that uses case study problems to engage and challenge its learners aged between 11 and 16. One example is Settlers, a key stage 3 maths resource. In Settlers, Earth’s days are numbered, as


a giant asteroid is due to strike the planet in 12 months’ time. As the European Space Agency’s leading scientists, students are asked to ensure the survival of the species by completing three separate activities that will lead to the creation of a colony on Mars. The educational content includes converting fractions, decimals and percentages, and


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Maths, science & literacy


calculating the correct number of shipments of the cheapest resources needed.


3P Learning (stand C66) This company offers Mathletics, which is designed to inspire students with the desire to learn and the confidence to succeed. There are thousands of online activities, covering the full key stage 1 to 5 national curriculum. Students can complete activities and tasks at school or home. Performance data for each student and class is recorded and stored in an online teacher markbook, allowing teachers to personalise learning and address the needs of individuals.


AQA (stand D166) The awarding body is offering a full demonstration of AQA All About Maths, a new, free, online support for maths teachers containing hundreds of free teaching resources, designed to save both time and money. Features include the specification broken down into teaching topics, with a suggestion of teaching order and teaching time required, interactive route maps, lesson plans, and homework sheets for students. It also contains, free-of-charge, Exampro, containing hundreds of exam questions, allowing teachers to create their own practice papers.


Creating Careers (stand SW4) This is the UK’s leading provider of e-learning solutions delivered through vision2learn for schools. Vision2learn for Schools has developed comprehensive online teaching and learning materials to help schools deliver the BTEC Level 2 award in mathematical applications. BTEC maths gives learners with limited achievements in mathematics more confidence and motivation through its vocational approach to the subject, and is equally useful as a year 11 “rescue” option for hard-to-reach learners.


Alfiesoft (stand INNPOD4) Alfiesoft is an assessment technology and


services provider, the only source of fully online and onscreen past papers. Also provided are optional tests and mental mathematics covering digitised versions of national tests from the year 2000. It is launching two new products – the first, Alfie qbank 2.5, increases the number of past paper questions to over 7,000 and includes audio support and mental mathematics. Alfie testbank is also launching, which takes the product and puts it fully online while incorporating a range of progress tests created by assessment experts.


Roger Frost Organic Chemistry (stand S59) This is a package of useful interactive resources to teach organic chemistry in school. It contains 230 “slides” where nucleophilic substitution, infra-red spectroscopy, isomerism and other topics taught at ages 15 to 18 are explained using 3D models and animation. The resource works like a set of animated overhead transparencies; each screen is a chemistry puzzle, and content is presented in two-minute chunks.


Balázs-Diák (stand M20) This firm is showing its new software i-Doctum, for use with interactive whiteboards. The i-Doctum interactive software enables complicated topics to be expressed in a visual context. Subjects include physics, chemistry and biology where abstract concepts are brought to life through interaction. i-Doctum’s content is composed of regular and 3D animations, pictures, diagrams, exercises and teaching suggestions, allowing students to quickly comprehend complex matters such as the construction of the atom or the human cardio-vascular system.


Jaguar Cars Maths in Motion (stand SW27) For the first time, Jaguar Cars Maths in Motion will be exhibiting at BETT. The maths and science-based challenge has been running for over 10 years with around 150,000 students taking part with a view to becoming national champions each year. Using a motor-


SecEd • 5to7 Educator


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