mgoldsmith Posted December 11, 2017 Posted December 11, 2017 I am interested in attending BETT in London in January. I am looking for information from anyone that has attended before. I am a lower school technology integration teacher in Texas and am wondering if BETT would be a good fit for me. I am also interested in visiting innovative schools in London while I am there. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Edu-IT Posted December 11, 2017 Posted December 11, 2017 Is there something in particular you're looking for? It's a long way to come from the USA! BETT is usually a great showcase of products and a good networking opportunity but unless there's something specifically you are looking for or companies you really want to meet, I would say you would get just as much from reaching out to companies directly through their websites.
elsiegee40 Posted December 11, 2017 Posted December 11, 2017 Hello and welcome. I moved this into the BETT forum... Don't panic, I have also pointed out to the webmaster that it should be called 2018 not 2017 There are is a massive number of visitors at the show from overseas every year. It is a very big show and it very much depends on your interests as to whether it's worth a visit. It is a mixture of trade stands where you can see and compare products, listen to talks on a very diverse range of things and network with others.
DJ-1701 Posted December 11, 2017 Posted December 11, 2017 Obviously some products and prices would be targeted more at the UK curriculum, market and currency but with some overlap, so without knowing what you particularly want from it, I would imagine ISTE would be a better fit. https://conference.iste.org/2018/ If your coming to London anyway to look at other schools, then I so no harm in going to BETT, could be... educational ... at the least to see what companies here are focusing on, where on the curve they are, and compare to the methodologies your using. You could also laugh about common core mathematics.
elsiegee40 Posted December 11, 2017 Posted December 11, 2017 The Department for Trade and Industry has a big area for international visitors. Being a local, so to speak, I have no idea what goes on there.
GrumbleDook Posted December 11, 2017 Posted December 11, 2017 Welcome and pull up a chair. BETT has changed a lot over the last 5 years, since it moved to ExCeL (from the more homely Olympia) and that has brought some good and bad. The startup zone is usually full of exciting ideas, some of which (like Night Zookeeper) have stood the test of time within schools. For those with the heart of a Maker, the Pi village also bring a range of opportunities. For many other parts of the show there are good opportunities for CPD, but they are not as grass-roots based as they used to be. Both Google and Microsoft have strong partner presence, and it is often here you find some gems. For local schools to visit, I’d follow things like #caschat or #adechat over on Twitter and see if anyone is open for a visit. 1
Dos_Box Posted December 12, 2017 Posted December 12, 2017 We exhibit at both BETT and ISTE each year and BETT is by far the biggest expo (it does market itself as the worlds largest education IT show for good reason). It does have a different ethos from ISTE though (not so teacher/instructional orientated), but if you want to see the latest and greatest in education tech then BETT is the place to be. BETT is also held over 3.5 days as opposed to ISTE's 2.5 and to see everything you'll need them all!
crc-ict Posted December 12, 2017 Posted December 12, 2017 To my mind, no BETT isn't really worth the time. I question the value of it from a 2hr train ride away, so certainly wouldn't travel from the US just for it. It's a decent enough showcase, but as a techie I always feel too far removed from the curriculum side of things to get a value from a large proportion of it. It seems to be much more about the content and resources these days than the kit. I may be shot down in flames here, but I feel that many of the exhibitors are not really interested in you unless they can see that you are a 'decision maker' with the authority to sign up to large orders there and then. The CPD content is quite wide-ranging, but much more teacher-focused than anything else. That said, if you are on the teaching side, and have the power to influence strategic curriculum decision across your school, then it may well be worthwhile for you. I have to say I do find it hard to separate my feelings about BETT from the fact that I completely loathe ExCeL - it's a horrible place and a nightmare to get to due to its relative 'middle of nowhere' location and woefully inadequate transport links.
elsiegee40 Posted December 12, 2017 Posted December 12, 2017 To my mind, no BETT isn't really worth the time. I question the value of it from a 2hr train ride away, so certainly wouldn't travel from the US just for it. It's a decent enough showcase, but as a techie I always feel too far removed from the curriculum side of things to get a value from a large proportion of it. It seems to be much more about the content and resources these days than the kit. I may be shot down in flames here, but I feel that many of the exhibitors are not really interested in you unless they can see that you are a 'decision maker' with the authority to sign up to large orders there and then. The CPD content is quite wide-ranging, but much more teacher-focused than anything else. That said, if you are on the teaching side, and have the power to influence strategic curriculum decision across your school, then it may well be worthwhile for you. I have to say I do find it hard to separate my feelings about BETT from the fact that I completely loathe ExCeL - it's a horrible place and a nightmare to get to due to its relative 'middle of nowhere' location and woefully inadequate transport links.Now for me, ExCeL is a million times better to get to than the old Olympia location. The hall is spacious. The temperature control is better... I much prefer it. 2
Dos_Box Posted December 12, 2017 Posted December 12, 2017 Now for me, ExCeL is a million times better to get to than the old Olympia location. The hall is spacious. The temperature control is better... I much prefer it. When it was Olympia it used to take us the best part of an hour to get there from our hotel which was only just over a mile away due to London congestion and it's poor tube links. ExCel is a mere 15 min DLR journey and we get to 'drive' the train most days With Crossrail just about ready it will also be a lot easier to get to from other parts on London too. 2
GrumbleDook Posted December 21, 2017 Posted December 21, 2017 When it was Olympia it used to take us the best part of an hour to get there from our hotel which was only just over a mile away due to London congestion and it's poor tube links. ExCel is a mere 15 min DLR journey and we get to 'drive' the train most days With Crossrail just about ready it will also be a lot easier to get to from other parts on London too. But I miss my breakfast butty and nipping up to Frank's to have a catch up with people.
Dos_Box Posted December 21, 2017 Posted December 21, 2017 But I miss my breakfast butty and nipping up to Frank's to have a catch up with people. There was a certain 'homelyness' about Olympia, and I do miss the facilities outside the Holiday Inn on Gloucester Road, but just remembering about how bad it was to get transport to and from the place makes me like ExCel so much more.
Zoom7000 Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 (edited) Now for me, ExCeL is a million times better to get to than the old Olympia location. The hall is spacious. The temperature control is better... I much prefer it. I definitely prefer ExCeL... Because it's a 15 minute drive from my house! 😜 And I can also use my car to store all the excess freebies when the bags get too heavy! Edited January 3, 2018 by Zoom7000 1
john Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 I definitely prefer ExCeL... Because it's a 15 minute drive from my house! 😜 And I can also use my car to store all the excess freebies when the bags get too heavy! BETT 2019 will be better for me... 1 stop on the Crossrail then I'm home However I'm not so sure the plan of the EduGeek stand staffing kipping in sleeping bags on my floor will go down that well... it may make @Dos_Box think he's in the army again.... 1
elsiegee40 Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 BETT 2019 will be better for me... 1 stop on the Crossrail then I'm home However I'm not so sure the plan of the EduGeek stand staffing kipping in sleeping bags on my floor will go down that well... it may make @Dos_Box think he's in the army again.... I’m going home mate. Dunno about the rest. I sleep in my own bed for BETT 1
Dos_Box Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 BETT 2019 will be better for me... 1 stop on the Crossrail then I'm home However I'm not so sure the plan of the EduGeek stand staffing kipping in sleeping bags on my floor will go down that well... it may make @Dos_Box think he's in the army again.... It's character building. I don't know what you lot are complaining about! It's like last time with your 'All you ever buy us to eat is Pot Noodles' gripe. 2
elsiegee40 Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 It's character building. I don't know what you lot are complaining about! It's like last time with your 'All you ever buy us to eat is Pot Noodles' gripe. What pot noodles?! * Flounces off in a sulk * 1
bald_pig Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 Ooh, I think I can use crossrail too! Anyway, time to say:focus:??? :heh:
GrumbleDook Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 BETT 2019 will be better for me... 1 stop on the Crossrail then I'm home However I'm not so sure the plan of the EduGeek stand staffing kipping in sleeping bags on my floor will go down that well... it may make @Dos_Box think he's in the army again.... I should have cadged a space for me ... I still have my stuff sack somewhere with an old sleeping bag in ...
john Posted January 4, 2018 Posted January 4, 2018 I should have cadged a space for me ... I still have my stuff sack somewhere with an old sleeping bag in ... Space reserved Do you need one for 2018 my rates are totally reasonable
bald_pig Posted January 4, 2018 Posted January 4, 2018 I don't think I could fit anyone in my flat, not enough room as it is!
GrumbleDook Posted January 4, 2018 Posted January 4, 2018 Space reserved Do you need one for 2018 my rates are totally reasonable Actually, might do if I come on the Tuesday night ... Will chat with you later about it.
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