Using & Teaching Educational Technology
Who needs educational technology shows?
By Terry Freedman
Fri, 29 May 2009, 09:37

We take it as axiomatic that we need to attend shows like the Education Show or the BETT show in order to find out what’s new in technology. But are we unduly limiting ourselves?

In a sense, that’s what Graham Brown-Martin seemed to imply when he spoke at the Naace 2009 Conference. He said that a visit to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas will tell you more about what you need to be thinking about technology-wise than a visit to the BETT show. I don’t know if that is literally true, but it does chime with my experience in general:

 
• I always read the technology section of my newspaper, even though it seldom features anything directly concerned with education.
 
• I watch technology shows on TV for the same reason – although, I have to say, infrequently because I find the style of presentation irritating.
 
• I listen to, and watch, technology podcasts which are not categorised as ‘Education’.

The problem with attending a consumer electronics show, whether in Las Vegas or not, is convincing colleagues that it’s a legitimate excursion. It’s hard enough getting permission to take a day or two out of school to attend the BETT show, a trip which, bizarrely, some people regard as a junket. Obtaining the go-ahead to attend something which, on the face of it, has nothing to do with your work would test your powers of persuasion to the limit.

Wordle summary:

Why have I used Wordle? See Five reasons to use Wordle in education.

This is #18 of 25 reflections on the Naace 2009 Conference.

© Terry Freedman Fri, 29 May 2009