gail dyer

BETT 2007 was  4 days jam packed with all manner of ICT paraphenalia. What was seen, heard and felt covers a broad spectrum: exhilaration, excitement, challenged, stimulation, tired, affirmation, depression, disappointment, claustrophobia, freedom, overwhelmed, fascinated.

The majority of the seminars attended were well worth queuing for at the ticket desk as early as possible in the day.

Angela McFarlane’s analysis of the impact of technology upon education as being “disruptive”. She suggested Technology becomes disruptive when it moves the power balance  away from the teacher and into the hands of the students.

A fine example of how this theory has been used positively was shared at the Dfes stand by Dan Buckley and the crew who worked on the Islands of Scilley Project. It was a fine example of how the schools in this area moved the emphasis from the teacher to the student. Probably the very best practical guidelines as how this can be done to be found at the Show.

The emphasis in Professor McFarlane’s presentation and Keri Facer’s were both loud and clear. There needs to be learner to learner interaction to move power and responsibility from tutor to learner. Children should have control / say when it comes to their learning and know their contribution will make a difference.

Many students outside of school use the Web 2.0. They are used to making choices, taking control, creating, communicating and participating in a wide variety of communities on line. Much of this is adhoc.

To facilitate student control the social aspect of technologies could be used in schools to support learning.  As educators we need to learn from the best of what is happening in online creative spaces and apply these in the classroom.

This is a most frightening proposition for many educators. It is disruptive to traditional views of how a classroom should work.  

This is where I was disappointed and depressed about what I saw at BETT. It seemed that much of the commercially produced material were based on blackline masters, teacher directed, test oriented and a dumbed down curriculum. The presentations whilst colourful and animated showed a total lack of respect for the capabilities, capacities and interests of students who are digitally savvy. Then there were all the platforms designed to control information flow and determine what can and cannot be seen by students.

Don’t get me wrong there is obviously a place for commercially produced material of quality. The most refreshing innovative and exciting student centred software packages that were at the Show were the Shoofly Publishing Connected Curriculum Literature materials: Moon Buddies, Jack and the Beans Talk and Angel Boy. They are great stimulus materials. Anne Curtis and her colleagues show flair and an understanding of how to motivate young people. The Stage 3 teachers at Belmore South have been quick to pick up on this upon our return to Sydney. It is good to see Shoofly’s software  nominated for the prestigious upcoming awards.

The other software that was appealing is the Shakespeare Works package because it’s novel approach is designed to engage and stimulate students.