"The BETT show is emblematic of much that EdTech gets wrong"

[ICTLady]

https://medium.com/@fjmubeen/overwhelmed-by-size-underwhelmed-by-quality-a-review-of-edtechs-largest-show-bett-2018-4a98b71e4cf7

 

Another moany article by a disgruntled "educator"? (interestingly, he's not a classroom teacher but a Director of an online tuition software company - but describes himself in his bio as an Educator). Or does he have a point?

[simpsonj]

I think he has a point. There have been lots of fads that go through BETT. I remember when 3D printing was the absolute must have, and the time before that, 3D projectors were the way forward. Neither of these were a fit for my school. This year's theme seemed to be STEM, and I think the right tech would prove a big stimulus of interest in the subject, so we're going to be looking into the possibilities over the next few months.

 

But I would also argue that it is the job of educators to look at the tech available, and they make the decision about whether they fit in with the Teaching and Learning at their school or MAT. BETT showcases a lot of tools, not all of them are going to be useful, but some of them might be. The idea that BETT should only showcase the tools they feel are of benefit strikes me as wrong. I would agree that it would be better if BETT wasn't quite so sales focused, and that pedagogy should be higher up the priority list for a lot of vendors, it would help me as a non-teacher to see the benefits of certain tech in the classroom.

[smurfomatic]

How is "41,000 square metres" just shy of a marathon? That would only be the case if BETT was in one row, 41km long and 1 metre wide...

[elsiegee40]

How is "41,000 square metres" just shy of a marathon? That would only be the case if BETT was in one row, 41km long and 1 metre wide...

 

It sure feels like a Marathon!

[localzuk]

I think BETT is only as good as you make it as a visitor yourself. If you just go with wide eyes and no ideas, then you're just asking to be unimpressed. If you go with a rough idea of what you're wanting to improve in your school/trust then you may find what you're looking for.

 

Yes, there is a huge amount of "fad" at BETT, but that is somewhat the fault of educators of the past - head teachers who have bought into the nonsense peddled by pushy sales people without coming up with an actual proper use for it. So, companies are going to still look for those people to sell to. It works too, as a business model.

 

You can't blame the BETT show for giving the punter what they want.

 

I would say the fad of VR was apparent this year - things like ClassVR, for example. That product, to me, looks useless. It is basically a 360 panoramic photo/video video viewer. Not VR. I'm hoping they don't damage the actual future of VR in education with such a poor product.

 

He's not wrong about every second stand being IWB's though. They were everywhere. I particularly liked the *huge* ones like 100"+ sized ones. Hilarious as you can't reach the top of them unless you've got a ladder.

Edited January 30, 2018 by localzuk

[elsiegee40]

I think he has a point. There have been lots of fads that go through BETT. I remember when 3D printing was the absolute must have, and the time before that, 3D projectors were the way forward. Neither of these were a fit for my school. This year's theme seemed to be STEM, and I think the right tech would prove a big stimulus of interest in the subject, so we're going to be looking into the possibilities over the next few months.

 

But I would also argue that it is the job of educators to look at the tech available, and they make the decision about whether they fit in with the Teaching and Learning at their school or MAT. BETT showcases a lot of tools, not all of them are going to be useful, but some of them might be. The idea that BETT should only showcase the tools they feel are of benefit strikes me as wrong. I would agree that it would be better if BETT wasn't quite so sales focused, and that pedagogy should be higher up the priority list for a lot of vendors, it would help me as a non-teacher to see the benefits of certain tech in the classroom.

 

BETT is huge. There is no way you can take on board it’s entirety in one day.

 

I would argue that it is now too big for you to wander and seek inspiration. With no online map being available before the event these days, it means you cannot plan a route in advance to efficiently take in the stands you want to see and the presentations you want to attend.

 

All criticism aside, it is a good opportunity to see what others are doing and to meet like minds.

 

I can’t help wondering if the gentleman concerned booked one of the cheap outlying stands and failed to get many visitors as a result.

[simpsonj]

BETT is huge. There is no way you can take on board it’s entirety in one day.

 

I would argue that it is now too big for you to wander and seek inspiration. With no online map being available before the event these days, it means you cannot plan a route in advance to efficiently take in the stands you want to see and the presentations you want to attend.

 

All criticism aside, it is a good opportunity to see what others are doing and to meet like minds.

 

I can’t help wondering if the gentleman concerned booked one of the cheap outlying stands and failed to get many visitors as a result.

 

I assumed I was just being useless when I couldn't find a map beforehand... Yes, not being able to plan out your route is problematic, especially when I realised I had two things booked one after the other at opposite ends of the arena!

[witch]

With no online map being available before the event these days, it means you cannot plan a route in advance to efficiently take in the stands you want to see and the presentations you want to attend.

 

 

I went old school and printed out the map and drew all over it to show the stands I wanted to visit

[AJWhite1970]

I spent the first two days of BETT on a mission, had a shopping list of new stuff I wanted, had a list of current suppliers to see, friends to meet up with and didn't leave until 6pm. On the Friday I went in just to look round and I agree with what has been said above, it's just too big and too much of a sensory overload to just aimlessly walk round and by lunchtime I'd already had enough.

 

By utter chance while up in the cheap seats at the top end I came across a new internet filtering company that looks well worth an investigation (and having spoken at length to the stand holder I have a beta version box coming on site in the next couple of weeks to play with...) but other than that I really can't think of anything that has stuck with me since I got back (even the free pens aren't ringing any bells!!)

 

While BETT is invaluable to me as a means of looking at new solutions I know I already want and doing deals with companies I already use, I'm sure I've missed seeing at least half the stands that were there and I was there most of the week.

 

And don't get me started on the layout with the big arenas slap bang in the middle, several dead ends and some pretty awful dead spots that some companies found themselves in...

 

Saying that, see you next year

[unixman_again]

I would say the fad of VR was apparent this year - things like ClassVR, for example. That product, to me, looks useless. It is basically a 360 panoramic photo/video video viewer. Not VR. I'm hoping they don't damage the actual future of VR in education with such a poor product.

 

I was at a streaming media do hosted at UCL last year, and UCL and other universities are using 360 viewing in the browser for demonstrations, especially in things like medicine. The student can choose different angles for the demo. Cheaper than VR and more accessible - no headset required.

[localzuk]

I was at a streaming media do hosted at UCL last year, and UCL and other universities are using 360 viewing in the browser for demonstrations, especially in things like medicine. The student can choose different angles for the demo. Cheaper than VR and more accessible - no headset required.

Indeed! Especially when you consider the tech is actually just a cheap android device in a plastic headset with a piece of software on top. Google Cardboard + a cheap phone does the same thing!

[jmak]

Indeed! Especially when you consider the tech is actually just a cheap android device in a plastic headset with a piece of software on top. Google Cardboard + a cheap phone does the same thing!

Agree with the sentiment, but you're thinking of going that route, make sure that the phone has a gyro sensor; a lot of cheap phones don't...