A Maze of Educational Tech for Tutors, Teachers and Students

A Maze of Educational Tech for Tutors, Teachers and Students We visited Bett (British Educational Training and Technology) show this year, and were amazed by the sheer mass of people, products and passion all in one room. Bett certainly was what it said on the tin: ‘The global meeting place for the educational tech community’, with over 700 exhibitors, over 400 speakers and over 300 hours of content. Bett 2014 brought educational thinkers, developers, entrepreneurs, students and teachers all-together to look to the future and discuss how technology really can make a difference in education. Tutorfair’s Edd Stockwell at Bett From the latest apps to audio ‘Teacher Feedback’, from video conferencing to using twitter as an educational resource, (and from 3D printers to MOOCs according to Michael Gove), the variety of educational innovation displayed was endless. Bett really did celebrate its 30th birthday of powering learning in style with fantastic guests such as Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the world’s greatest living explorer. Who could ask for more? Within this maze of educational technology, the Bett exhibition allowed everyone to take part in the debate with seminars and panels occurring all over   - in the real world and of course the virtual ‘twitter world’. Tutorfair was lucky to be a part of two of these discussion panels   - the edtech panel session and the EDUKWEST and Macmillan Digital Education panel . The latter panel was all about tutoring in the UK and held a lively discussion about traditional agencies, online marketplaces, face to face and online tutoring. Tutorfair’s very own Edd Stockwell loved being a part of the debate. Inside ExCeL at Bett “Inspiring the next generation” Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, opened the Bett show 2014 with a look to the future. He clearly expressed his enthusiasm for an education system “open to innovation, which can use technology creatively to advance learning”. He also emphasised the importance of the new ICT curriculum which will teach “not just how to work a computer; but how a computer works and how to make it work for you” so that our youth will be prepared and develop the skills needed for the jobs of the future - and the present for that matter. Gove wants not only equip to “young people with crucial computing skills and knowledge” but to “inspire them with incredible possibilities opened up by science and technology”. “Technology is transformational” Matthew Hancock, MP, Minister of state for skills and enterprise also shared his excitement for the prospects of technology in education. He listed a range of benefits that technology can bring to education so that the “drudge” of teaching will be removed, “allowing teachers to focus on inspiration”. Hancock was keen to highlight that when technology is used properly in education, standards will rise. Tutorfair is excited to be part of technology in education by using online technology to create educational opportunity. Our website is the first of its kind in the UK, allowing parents and students to find the best tutor for their requirements. Not forgetting our ‘child for a child’ promise of course â€" for every student who pays, Tutorfair supports one who can’t. As Matthew Hancock would wish, Tutorfair uses technology for the benefit of students. Want to book a Tutorfair tutor? Visit the website here to find out more. Feel like you need to be more clued up on computers and technology? Why not book a session with one of our computing tutors? Tony D - Experienced tutor creates an appetite for learning: Computing, Programming, ICT and Microsoft Office Ian M - Game and app developer: Computing, Computer programming, Computer graphics and game development