Back to the office on a grey Monday morning and it almost seems like my two days at BETT last week were some sort of dream...
I arrived at BETT Thursday 12th. I'd never attended the show before, and found it a really overwhelming experience: for a start, Olympia is absolutely huge with the air of an archaic railway station or, alternatively, massive greenhouse (apparently it used to be called the National Agricultural Hall and it's 19th century). But the sheer amount of exhibitors and stands available to see at BETT would soon take anyone's mind off the architecture.
Below is a view from the Gallery, just in front of Stand M60 where Kent County Council's display was based. This is only one of two huge halls.
Over my two days I was glad to be able to take a break from manning our stand to walk around the exhibition and talk to the other exhibitors. I don't think any visitor to BETT could leave without the impression that education technology is not only advancing at a rate of knots, it's also evolving in many varied and in some cases unexpected directions. Who knew primary age children could now use racing cars to learn quicker mental arithmatic or that playing the Neverwinter Nights video games could help older children with fractions and grammar? (probably some of you did...but I'd not encountered it before!)
Our own stand had its fair share of visitors and it was pleasing to be able to discuss KCC's own contribution to supporting education technology with teachers and professionals not only from schools across the county but from all over the world! Because I'm not personally involved in my line of work with seeing the direct impact technology can have in the classroom, it was a real experience for me to see (and try out) education technology in action.
I'm sure the others of my team who also attended BETT this year will have their own views to share.