Going to BETT is always an exciting prospect. Will there be new interesting technologies that can enhance the teaching learning process? It is impossible to see everything at BETT, in fact sometimes I think it is impossible to find anything at BETT, it's so huge but I always hope to make new discoveries.
Waiting outside in the weak winter sun I talked to the people around me to understand who was coming to the exhibition. I talked to South Africans, Australians and I could see from the badges that this was a truly international exhibition. We should be proud and realise how lucky we are this event has such a draw.
This article is a personal view of some of the things that caught by eye and it is not meant to be representative of the whole exhibition.
Web 2.0 technologies
For me it was the first time that Web 2.0 technologies really came alive at BETT. Within minutes of walking in to the main gallery I seemed to be bombarded with podcasting, blogs and Moodle.
The Apple stand was showing off the latest version of GarageBand which has a sophisticated yet simple way of producing podcasts.
GarageBand has all the usual track editing facilities but also has the ability to divide the podcast into chapters and insert pictures as chapter headings. If you use Apple Macs this latest version is very enticing but whatever software you are using to record podcasts, a good investment is a decent microphone above all else.
Although PC users can use Audacity, a free, open source program that can be used to record, edit and export MP3 tracks, it can be quite tricky to use. 'Podium', from Softease could be a good alternative and has a good user interface. It does what GarageBand does for the Apple Mac but for PCs. The great advantage of Podium is that it has an in built tool for writing what you are going to say. So, on the same screen you can write your script, click record and then read out your lines. Each script can be allocated to different people. This makes the whole podcasting production much easier.
Last year Moodle had a real struggle to get to BETT but now it seems an established part of the scenery at
One such company, Advisory Matters were offering three day courses for beginners on Moodle and were selling 'Moodle on a stick' – a USB memory stick with a working model of moodle. Not that they were suggesting you run your system on a memory stick but as a good way of trying out the product and getting others to try out the system.
They also offer a set up of WordPress MU, the multi user version of WordPress blogging software. Although this is open source and you could set it up yourself for free. You may be tempted by the idea that someone will run, set up and theme the site for you and even offer support and training.
Opensource
More schools are beginning to think about using open source software. I have seen 'Edubuntu' in use in
Also worth looking at is the School-Forge-UK project which brings together many of the open source products that will be useful for schools and it was at this stand that I had my interest reawakened in the Ingots scheme which is good low cost IT skills certificate scheme and offers a way of using free e-portfolios.
Digital Worlds GIS 2
With the advent of Google earth people have taken a new interest and perhaps have a greater, well, misunderstanding of what Geographical Information Systems are all about. You may ask if you really need to buy anything else when Google Earth is freely available but this system takes over where Google Earth stops. All the Ordnance Survey information, aerial photography at high resolution, satellite imagery and Census data for the
Newsmaker
I have always been keen on turning the computer room into a working newsroom so the launch of 'Newsmaker' from The Guardian was one of the main stands I wanted to see. 'Newsmaker' is an application that can be used in the classroom to pull together the resources and allow pupils to submit stories to an editor who can work on the layout without having to deal with all the usual desktop publishing problems. The Guardian believes (well, it would do) that making a newspaper is a good way of teaching. It involves working on a collaborative project and involves high level thinking as students have to select and interpret evidence.
Space
Bring space into your classroom with Sarepta. The Norwegian Space Centre offers a way of using a whole host of resources including satellite imagery and this year they were advertising a space camp for youngsters that is surely going to capture your students’ imagination.
Interactive whiteboads
I can still remember seeing the first interactive white boards at BETT. There has always been the problem for people of different heights using the board. So I was very pleased to see the 600i front projection interactive smart board that can adjust up and down. It can only do this because the projector is attached by an arm to the top of the board. So, as the board is pushed up, the projector goes with it.
British Computer Society
Membership of the BCS is increasingly an option for ICT educationalists. I should know. As a member myself, I enjoy the benefits of the Society and the publications and talks are more geared to general audiences. Membership is now very accessible without having to sit specialist examinations and I am pleased that the industry is now recognising teachers as part of the professional body.
Whilst at the stand, I tried out the new e-Type software. A system for teaching and testing typing skills. It seems excellent and is low on administration and could be a useful qualification to do alongside the ECDL course for general ICT skills. Certificates are awarded at Bronze, Silver and Gold depending on your speed and the tests are conducted on-line and marked automatically. Comprehensive reporting is available to the teacher and the tests only last about 5 minutes each.
24 Hour Museum
Although accessing a museum on the web is not the same as a day out visiting the place. The 24 house Museum is a good website to use in the classroom. I had an interesting demonstration of the site and it’s free as it is government funded. Many of the exhibitions are on line and there is a good search facility so this is a useful website to use.
Similarly, the
Conclusion
New technology seems alive and well and there are plenty of ways of achieving a great deal from BETT, either by exploring new technologies or looking again at some old ones and taking the chance to talk to the suppliers. If all that fails, the Naace lounge is a comfortable place to rest those weary feet.
Websites
| Apple GarageBand | |
| Softease Podium podcasting software | |
| Digital Worlds GIS 2 | |
| Moodle on a stick | Advisory Matters Tel: 048702 415742 |
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| Schoolforge project | |
| Ubuntu | |
| Norwegian Space Centre | |
| 24 Hour museum | |
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| British Computer Society |
