I used to be packed and able to expertise all of the superb issues that Bett has to supply – assembly up with colleagues and associates, delivering a keynote, and watching others, and studying within the exhibit corridor…after I began to really feel feverish. Uh oh. You guessed it: proper earlier than I used to be resulting from fly out, I got here down with COVID-19. The FOMO (Fear of Missing Out, in case anybody’s questioning) kicked in instantly. I might miss out on seeing all of the superb work our staff has executed, and wouldn’t get to pay attention and find out about developments throughout the business. But worry not! Friends and colleagues world wide despatched texts, emails and footage to maintain me updated on the superb issues occurring on the occasion. So beneath is my view of BETT from afar – it was an amazing occasion, even residing vicariously as I did, and I can’t wait to get to return subsequent yr!
When we introduced Learning Accelerators in February at our digital occasion “Reimagine Education”, we have been already trying ahead to bringing them to Bett UK and welcoming the worldwide training group to strive them out in particular person. Bett is the biggest training know-how convention on the earth, and yearly it appears to develop. You’ve in all probability heard the favored saying, “If you know, you know.” Or “IYKYK” for the social media savvy. Well, for those who’ve been to Bett, you realize that it’s filled with someplace round 40 thousand educators, training leaders, and edtech suppliers, all of whom wish to discover new and modern methods to assist college students get probably the most out of studying. That’s the place Reimagining Education, and the Learning Accelerators are available.
Learning Accelerators are a brand new class of inclusive instruments powered by AI and constructed into Microsoft 365 for Education. They assist to streamline the creation, evaluate, and evaluation of observe assignments and supply real-time teaching for college students that may assist them catch up, sustain, and get forward, and unlock their full potential.
At Bett, our bustling sales space space had a piece devoted to the Learning Accelerators the place you could possibly get a hands-on take a look at them, and for individuals who needed extra data, there have been educator-led periods in our Microsoft Learn Theatre, and even deeper-dives in our filled-to-capacity Teachers Academy Workshops. Over the course of the convention, 1000’s of educators stopped by to examine them out, and joined the theatre periods to listen to first-hand how lecturers are utilizing these instruments within the classroom.
Another excessive level of the week was the keynote within the fabulous Bett Arena. The subject was “Reimagine: Esports, Education, Employability”, and it was introduced by a number of spectacular and galvanizing individuals who represented among the completely different points of the gaming and Esports world. James Fraser-Murison, a instructor and Director of Learning for Esports at Queen Mary’s College, Basingstoke shared his expertise of beginning the esports program at his faculty. James introduced alongside three of his college students who talked about how they’ve grown and developed abilities like confidence, strategic pondering, management, and entrepreneurship since becoming a member of the esports program. Next, India, an expert esports competitor and member of the Rocket League Women’s Team, reigning Commonwealth champions, stepped up. She talked about how competing and being a part of a staff has helped her overcome challenges, and develop a robust sense of accountability. Finally, Apurva, a software program engineer on the Minecraft staff at Microsoft shared by way of video how she found gaming at a really younger age, and now has turned her love of video games and storytelling via code right into a profession! And among the best components, all of them acquired their very own Minecraft characters!
Speaking of Minecraft, the Minecraft staff took over the Esports @ Bett space on Friday, and hosted a enjoyable competitors the place college students raced to construct modern and sustainable options for the town of London to fight climate-related points. It was unimaginable to see all the new concepts and vitality they dropped at the problem, and really illustrated the ability of partaking younger individuals in actions that stimulate their creativity, enhance their empathy, and expose them to the ideas and instruments that can assist them reside productive and fulfilling lives.
Some of the particular occasions and actions that attendees actually appeared to understand have been the Teachers Academy Workshops, the place they may get in-depth information about utilizing Learning Accelerators, creating an inclusive classroom with Microsoft Accessibility instruments, and fostering well-being with Reflect. Another widespread space was the Microsoft Certifications Testing lab, in partnership with Prodigy Learning. Here, lecturers might get in some skilled growth, and take as many Microsoft Certifications Fundamentals exams as they wished.
Ahead by Bett was a particular greater training part, designed for the upper training group to assemble and sort out challenges that face that sector. Microsoft introduced a number of periods, together with “Bringing the student experience together with Viva Connections for Education.” This was the primary time Viva Connections, a robust expertise platform inside M365 that brings collectively many capabilities and duties has had performance for training. The training functions of this instrument embody enhancing Teams assignments and courses, in addition to bringing capabilities like tuition, funds, profiles, and extra collectively in a single platform. Learn extra about Viva Connections for training within the Tech Community weblog.
All collectively, the numerous occasions and periods at Bett have been an invite to discover and innovate with instruments just like the Learning Accelerators, Minecraft Education, and plenty of extra. Thank you to the organizers and workers of Bett, and to all of those that visited our Microsoft space, and attended our periods. I hope you’ve returned to your school rooms and colleges with new concepts to profit from your edtech, and stay up for seeing you all in London subsequent yr.