Comments on: BETT show 2006

By: FlashICT.net » Virtual trade shows

FlashICT.net » Virtual trade shows — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 17:08:10 +0000

[...] How about if the BETT show was like this? [The BETT show is the British Education Technology Show that takes place in London every January] You certainly wouldn’t have an opportunity to gain as many pens for your classroom, but I think there might actually be benefits from taking things in a different direction. I remember not being incredibly impressed with the whole thing this year. [...]

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 16:11:54 +0000

WE had to leave at 6:30am, to catch the train to London. When we got the London Olympia, which was after the race between the two cabs we took to see who could get there first, we quickly walked to the exhibitor’s entrance and were allowed in. we got a bit lost when we got in as we didn’t know the way to the Adobe stand.

When we eventually found Adobe and met all the team there, we got our passes in to the wallets and placed out stuff in the back. We all went our separate ways in search of some pens and freebees, when it was finally time to get back Adobe in time to talk about what we were going to say at the 10:30 show, Jordan and James had already managed to a mug, leaflets and about 25 pens, while Kim and I hadn’t got anything apart from a bag which contained leaflets.

At 10:30 our time had come, it was time for Mr Field to say his speech about Contribute, and then afterwards surprise the audience with a game, which made the audience leave. We then went off in search for more pens, and met Sir Bob Geldof, an emotional time for Mr D’ Cuna, and an embarrassing one for Jordan.

We then had lunch and did our other show, which involved a speech from all of us, and again went off to get some more pens, and software. At 5pm we went to pizza Express for a pizza and so missed our train. We then got the taxi back to King’s Cross and caught our train.

By: James Ellington

James Ellington — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 16:04:16 +0000

It was my second BETT Show, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

We met Bob Geldof!!

Our presentations went well. The first one, about Contribute 3.1 went well … until the part where we tried to test the audience, they all scarpered!!! Maybe that was because they weren’t listening, either way, our second presentation about the uses of Studio 8 in after school clubs went much better (maybe that was because I actually had sometyhing to do!)

Anyway, I must get back to counting my snaffled pens in bottomless Adobe bag! 1 … 10 … 100 …200 … 300…

By: Jordan Lilley

Jordan Lilley — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 15:56:34 +0000

On Friday 13th January, I went to the BETT Show to do two mini presentations for Neale Wade with a few other students.

We started the day at 5:30am and got on a train at 6:30am. Throughout the day we went around Olympia obtaining free pens.

We were supposed to return home at 7:30pm, but we were slightly late – 9:30

By: News from other blogs » mrbelshaw.co.uk/teaching

News from other blogs » mrbelshaw.co.uk/teaching — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 08:12:20 +0000

[...] Finally, whilst we’re looking at the future of educational technology, Andrew Field comments on the BETT Show 2006 over at FlashICT.net. He says that the show left him feeling as if something was missing in the world of educational technology: Perhaps it is because I’ve been for a few years now, but I didn’t really discover anything there that I felt could change the way we teach using ICT. In the past I’ve been amazed at new technology and innovations. This year it felt much more like ‘more of the same’. All the major companies were there, each showboating their latest innovations. I personally feel I learn much more online that I do at these events. [...]

By: Doug Belshaw

Doug Belshaw — Sun, 15 Jan 2006 19:41:05 +0000

I’ve always been really interested in using software that is ‘open ended’, or not especially made for educational purposes. I’ve found so far that this kind of sofware has enabled me to teach better and students to learn better. They are also more likely to encounter this software in the ‘real world’.

I couldn’t get to BETT, unfortunately, but I completely agree with what James says. I think educators have a duty to use software and resources that pupils can access not only in their future lives but at their current age outside the classroom. Open-source applications are the way forward, therefore! ( if enough educational developers/programmers can be found…)

By: James Potter

James Potter — Sun, 15 Jan 2006 12:56:45 +0000

This was the first BETT show I’d been to, and I thought it was a very intense experience. I found myself wandering wide eyed thought the halls and galleries, scanning each of the stalls to see if they had anything our school might be interested in. When I left the show, I realised that I had only blinked three times during the whole day!

I second Andy’s comment on the something missing. I’ve always been really interested in using software that is ‘open ended’, or not especially made for educational purposes. I’ve found so far that this kind of sofware has enabled me to teach better and students to learn better. They are also more likely to encounter this software in the ‘real world’. What I saw at BETT was lots of companies pushing products that were specific to certain subjects. The products were excellent, but I thought that three, four or five years down the line, would we still be using something so specific in the classroom?

Having said that, the technology on display was amazing, and with a blank cheque you could kit your school out pretty well.

I went to see the two Adobe (Macromedia) presentations mentioned in Andy’s comment and I thought they were excellent. This is the kind of presentation I like – to the point with practical examples that I can relate or adapt to my own teaching – it’s a pity more INSET isn’t like that!!

James Potter