Bett, the leading education technology show, returns to London’s ExCeL centre on 25-28 January for its 2017 edition. This year, the focus is on game-changers within education – the people, products and organisations that create an impact on the way teaching and learning takes places across the world.
There’s a wealth of features at the show. Potential game-changing businesses will be spotlit at Bett Futures, a platform designed to nurture emerging edtech start-up companies. It is returning to Bett following a successful launch in 2015 and impressive growth last year.
Practitioner-led ‘Learn Live’ seminars and workshops will address key issues in contemporary education – providing useful insight into the latest research, practices and policies affecting education worldwide. The STEAM Village will once again play host to a number of organisations supporting learning in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. It’s an interactive space for visitors to try out STEAM solutions and products while considering how they can be assimilated into the classroom to enhance education. The Bett Arena offers sessions that mix practical advice, insight, inspiration and tools. For 2017, speakers include Heston Blumenthal, Sir David Carter, Elspeth Finch and returning keynote speaker Sir Ken Robinson.
Seminar picks
Here’s our pick of the seminar sessions.
• Wednesday 25 January, 12:00 – 12:30
Wall to Wall Learning – Developing Collaboration and Showcasing Student Digital Creations
This session outlines how to utilise education technology to liberate the digital creations of students out of the hidden depths of their online or server-based folders to showcase them on a day-to-day basis in the heart of the
school and beyond.
Location: Learn Live – Primary
• Thursday 26 January, 12:20 – 12:55
Getting to Know You: Showcase Sessions from Emerging Edtech Start-ups
Two-minute showcase sessions from some of the world’s most exciting edtech start-ups, offering a first glimpse of the next big classroom tech trends.
Location: Bett Futures
• Saturday 28 January, 10:30 – 11:00
Demystifying Virtual Reality: Exploring VR’s Potential to Transform Teaching and Learning
Virtual reality’s value as an educational tool is becoming apparent. This session will explore VR’s potential to provide immersive learning experiences and give a window into how some schools are using VR now.
Location: Bett Futures
Showfloor highlights
Solutions for distance learning, classroom breakout space, active learning interaction and lecture presentations will be highlighted on the Crestron stand.
These include the CaptureLiveHD system, which streams or records live lectures, including the presenter and the content; and the HD-MD-400-C-E auto-switcher and extender which, when combined with Crestron’s Airmedia presentation gateway, provides a cost effective BYOD.
Additionally, the 3-Series 4K DigitalMedia Presentation System 50 will also be available for visitors to try for themselves. This works seamlessly out of the box with up to four Crestron Connect It Cable Caddies, and when paired with Airmedia, uses the built-in Crestron .AV Framework technology to connect every visible device in a room on to a managed network.
Clevertouch is promising a busy stand at Bett, featuring live tutorials and demos of the latest technology and software innovations. Visitors can explore the new LUX interface – with superfast Android and what the company says is the smoothest and most intuitive user experience to date. Cleverstore 2.0 enables apps to be integrated seamlessly into lessons, with advanced subject filtering and new language options. The all-new Lynx 5 presentation software (or the Lynx app in Android mode) can be used to create inspiring lessons for the whole class.
Visitors to Nureva’s stand at Bett will be able to learn about the Nureva Span visual collaboration system – and watch teachers demonstrating a 6.15m-wide version.
Span transforms a wall into an expansive, digital workspace. It uses a solid-state projector to beam on to a wall an intuitive cloud-based canvas that is simultaneously accessible from personal devices. Users can create, share and edit ideas and information by working directly on the wall or on their own devices via the Span app. All changes made on the wall or from a device are instantly visible to all users.
We understand that the company will also be announcing a new product in the Span family.
Sony’s Bett 2017 line-up is deigned to enable educational institutions to create and present engaging content that inspires students to work collaboratively both on and off campus.
Among the equipment on display will be projectors, lecture capture solutions, high-quality cameras and BRAVIA professional displays. The new Vision Presenter collaboration solution has been developed to help educators make greater use of active learning methods, with the ability to share multimedia like videos, presentations and web content, and quickly connect from mobile devices or USB – and enabling students and teachers to discuss their work on a main screen in front of the class.
Finally, NewBay will be holding its Best of Show Awards at Bett – exhibitors can find entry details at www.newbay-awards.com.
