It is in this zone that you will find organisations such as Becta, DCSF and the Training and Development Agency for Schools. There is also a full programme of free, 20-minute inspirational forum sessions in this area too – located on the Becta stand. Hear from the policy partners, award winning schools and teachers, and of course the learners themselves, about how technology has had a positive impact. There is no need to prebook, but sessions will be in demand, so turn up early to secure a seat.
The Special Needs Zone at BETT continues to be the largest, most comprehensive gathering of educational ICT providers for special needs in the UK. Committed to helping every child reach their full potential, the zone is focused on new techniques, new information and new resources to help reach that goal.
The Special Needs seminar theatre, located within this zone, will discuss a wide range of issues featuring expert speakers and practitioners. The sessions include a look at new innovations in assistive technology and show the full potential of ICT in inclusive teaching.
The Software Zone is often one of the busiest of the show and is invaluable for schools. Visitors to this zone can evaluate the latest software products and increase their understanding of their existing software in the seminar theatre.
All of these sessions are available free of charge on a first come, first served basis, simply go along to the Software Presentation Theatre stand SW5 to participate.
The TEEM Software Information Point is located right next to the Software Zone, and is the place to come for independent answers, advice and evaluations about the latest software and digital content.
The importance of play in education cannot be underestimated. Survey after survey suggests that our UK schoolchildren may be some of the least happy in Europe. Secondary age children mourn the loss of play from their primary years and yet play is something that ICT has brought into learning from the very beginning. For schools interested in developing learning through play, a visit to the Playful Learning Zone is essential.
This year’s BETT Playful Learning Zone will feature a host of play based activity - with plenty of screens and a whole class of children who will be playing, learning, challenging, tweeting and provoking BETT guests using a diversity of hardware, software, devices and ideas.
Finally, the Future Learning Spaces (FLS) Zone will bring together key stakeholders involved with BSF and PCP projects. Here, it is possible to see some of the latest designs for the learning spaces of the future. Exhibitors in the FLS pods will be giving out information and advice on the BSF process. There is also a FLS seminar theatre where schools will be able to hear directly from those who matter in the field of BSF.
The BETT organisers have arranged a number of lounges for visitor to take a break or arrange meetings while at the show. These include the International Lounge, where all overseas visitors are invited to use the facilities and network with other education professionals from around the globe. A special new service has been introduced this year in the International Lounge to help visitors find the services and products to suit their personal requirements.
Also new for 2010, is the MYBETT Café which will be situated on the National Hall Gallery level. This will act as the internet café for the show and will also provide an additional self-service information point for BETT. The Leadership Lounge is also back in 2010. This is a space for Head Teachers, Deputy Heads and Bursars to relax and network with their peers.
For many visiting the BETT show, the seminar programme is a real draw. It is incredibly comprehensive, with two seminars taking place every 15 minutes throughout the entire duration of the show. There is something of interest to everyone. For a full timetable of seminars visit the BETT website on www.bettshow.com
The website also provides a mine of information about the exhibitors who will be taking part in the 2010 show, plus a handy online MyBETT planner which can be used create a personal route around the show by creating an individual floorplan that highlights the exhibitors that match specific interests. This floorplan can be saved and printed in pdf format.
Education Today has spoken to a number of BETT exhibitors about what they will be showing in 2010.
The British Dyslexia Association will be exhibiting on Stand Number SN2. The B.D.A. New Technologies Committee stand and seminars will give general dyslexia information; impartial and objective evaluations of dyslexia-friendly ICT products, and examples of good ICT practice for dyslexic children, young people and adults. These include assessment, literacy, numeracy and assistive technology.
Direct Communications Radio Services (DCRS) may be new to BETT but the company is well known to schools, colleges and universities throughout the UK. For a number of years, DCRS has supplied two-way radio products and communication solutions for increased staff security. Visit DCRS on stand number N36, shared with its parent company Direct Communications (which will show a range of interactive whiteboards, sound field systems, sound reinforcement, class change i.e. bells, IP telephony, disable refuge and security options, such as door entry and CCTV). Experia designs, manufactures and installs sensory equipment with a fresh, new and fun approach.
Experia offers everything from sensory rooms and pools, soft play environments and outdoor sensory equipment to the very latest in sensory experiences, such as the Multisensory Interactive Learning Environment (MILE) on stand SN72.
On stand B51, Dataspire Solutions will show a specialist suite of IT solutions for education establishments. In particular at BETT, the company will be showcasing its expertise in the delivery of Citrix thin client solutions and demonstrating how its solutions can radically improve the delivery of ICT within schools.
Visit DLK to see some outstanding new software and receive free software on stand SW166. DLK has a long tradition of producing reliable and educationally sound software to help teachers raise standards. The key strength at DLK is the quality and usefulness of the software, with the majority of their sales coming from personal recommendation and experience of using software produced by them in the UK.
Dolphin Computer Access Ltd – stand SN5 – is dedicated to improving the lives of people with vision and print impairments. Its range of software products, for people with low vision, dyslexia and other reading difficulties, exist to give independence - to make information accessible to everyone, wherever they are.
The company offers a complete range of software solutions, including screen readers, screen magnifiers, text scanners and readers, Braille translators, educational software to help with reading and writing, speech synthesizers, DAISY talking book software and mobile solutions for Windows Mobile enabled Smartphone’s. Dolphin also has the only complete solution, which includes speech, magnification and Braille in a single product.
On stand S100, e-safe education is showing a specialist solution dedicated to the protection and safety of children and young people in the ICT environment. Helping schools meet the escalating need for more effective e-safety guidance and advice for young people, e-safe education is the UK’s first company to offer forensic monitoring as a managed service.
Through the delivery of software, support and forensic managed services to schools, Local Authorities, Regional Broadband Consortia and parents, e-safe education provides the support and expertise needed in today’s ICT driven environment.
Edvotek is the world’s longest running biotechnology education company. It brings eminent scientists and educators together to develop hands-on DNA and forensic experiments for young people. Edvotek supplies high-tech equipment at affordable prices, exciting experiments relevant to today’s scientific issues. Visit Edvotek on stand P7.
Encyclopaedia Britannica is a leader in reference and education publishing whose products can be found online, in digital-media and in book form. As a trusted resource within a secure educational environment, it addresses the personalised learning agenda and helps to extend learning and teaching into the home. Stand L9 Focus Educational will be showcasing the following new releases on stand SW157: Bee-Bot Lesson Activities 2, Bee-Bot Shell Designer and Focus on Design Technology: Product Evaluation. For the first time the company will be demonstating Arabic, Greek, and Spanish language versions of products.
General Teaching Council (GTC) works to improve standards of teaching and the quality of learning in the public interest. GTC Networks provide support by linking teachers nationally and putting them in touch with the latest research and evidence. Stand L56
HCSS Education is a forward-thinking company dedicated to providing high quality financial and business planning solutions to the education sector. Through a combination of practical and effective software solutions, training and consultancy, it has become a market leader in financial management for the education sector. Find HCSS on stand A39.
On stand K1, Net-Ctrl presents IP enabled integrated school security for the first time at the BETT show. Encompassing Ruckus wireless solutions, Mobotix Hi Res megapixel cctv, Net- Genium pure IP access control and lighting systems, HID single card solutions, Milestone open platform IP video management all over Juniper network POE switches. Traditionally each system, be it CCTV, access control or intercom systems would be run over separate networks, all with their own at point power requirements. At the show you will be able to see all these market leading IP technologies working over a single network, using PoE (Power over Ethernet).
ParentMail is the UK’s leading school-to-home communication service. Its web-based email and text messaging system helps schools to significantly improve parental engagement. It also helps cut costs, reduce office workload and manage truancy. Parentmail integrates with SIMS, help schools manage their data - and through Buy4schools also help raise funding. Stand A16.
Visit ParentPay on stand B76 – the UK’s leading online provider of cashless income collection and management for schools, local authorities and caterers. With dynamic, integrated links to school MIS, finance and cashless catering systems, ParentPay offers a streamlined, innovative and inclusive service bringing a range of benefits to schools, students and parents alike.
Parliament’s Education Service (stand H49) works with schools and Members of both Houses of Parliament to support young people in developing their understanding of Parliament and Democracy. It aims to be the pre-eminent provider of high quality online resources for teaching and learning about Parliament and political literacy in the UK and internationally and offers free resources ranging from traditional lesson plans, educational articles and publications, to cutting-edge interactive white board resources and multi-level games.
Truancy Call is an automatic parent notification system that significantly reduces the administrative burden on schools by allowing them to implement first-day contact with parents of truants via email, SMS and automated phone call. The system will continue attempting to make contact until the parent has provided a reason for their child’s absence. Stand A76.
With now over 25 years of exhibiting at BETT, Videk (stand C10) is now officially one its longest standing exhibitors. The company will release its annual Computer Cabling & Networking catalogue at the show. The catalogue focuses on an extremely comprehensive range of UTP/STP Cat.5E and Cat.6/6A systems; from cabinet and cabling through to faceplate and patch panel – both copper and fibre.
