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EdTech investment alone is not enough: teachers need more training

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  • 1 in 3 schools have already invested in new technology this academic year, compared to just 1 in 5 for the whole of the previous school year
  • EdTech is a clear priority for schools, as just 1 in 10 have not purchased any new EdTech since September 2019
  • But while 87% of teachers are using this new technology every day, some are making better, more frequent use of it

LONDON, 28.03.23 – Education technology, known as EdTech, is a top priority for schools as they continue to rebuild after the pandemic, according to data released today by Bett, the world’s largest EdTech event. The research, which polled more than 8,000 teachers in England, including private schools, revealed a third (32%) of schools have already invested in new technology this academic year, compared to just one in five (19%) in the previous school year and only 11% of schools have not invested in new EdTech since September 2019.

No data suggested that schools of different sizes, phases or Ofsted ratings have invested more or less in EdTech than on average. However, private primary schools were the most likely to have new EdTech installed this academic year (52%) while state primary schools were the least likely (30%) – suggesting that funding remains a significant limiting factor.

Despite the universal increase in EdTech investment, the research also revealed that some schools are better at deploying technology than others. 87% of teachers use EdTech in their classrooms every day, however some teachers tend to use it more than others. Private schools are the most likely to use EdTech on a daily basis (93% vs 87% average) and the same is true for “outstanding” Ofsted-rated schools (89% vs 85% for “good” Ofsted-rated schools), suggesting that some schools are in need of better support and education to make the best of the tools they have.

Louisa Hunter, Portfolio Director for Bett at Hyve Group comments: ‘While it is fantastic to see schools investing more in EdTech, the data has highlighted how teachers need more support in how to use technology effectively in the classroom. If schools and governing bodies take the time to learn how to make an impact with tech and really upskill teachers on the EdTech they have introduced, we will see a greater return on investment in terms of tech implementation in classrooms and, in turn, greater student achievement.’

 

This is particularly topical as this year Bett will be debuting its new offering, Connect @ Bett, which will allow educators to meet, knowledge-share and connect with solutions providers to help integrate the right technology in schools.

BETT 2023: ViewSonic to Debut Expanded EdTech Solutions Across UNIVERSE Virtual Campus and myViewBoard Ecosystem

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ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual and education technology (EdTech solutions), has
revealed the latest iteration of UNIVERSE by ViewSonic the virtual learning platform at the BETT Show
2023 (British Educational Training and Technology Show), with the immersive 3D platform now
incorporating subject-specific Thematic Classrooms and class performance metrics for educators
In the pursuit of providing educators with total solutions for digital learning, the company is also
showcasing diverse pre-made digital lesson content from ViewSonic Originals, along with the latest
ViewBoard interactive displays and myViewBoard software suites. Attendees will be able to
experience cutting-edge solutions across different scenarios.

“ViewSonic is continuing to implement our “Ecosystem as a Service (EaaS)” strategy to create a
digital education ecosystem. While we’ve seen increased digitization in education, the technology
being used doesn’t necessarily make full use of what’s possible,” said Kevin Chu, Director of
UNIVERSE Business Unit at ViewSonic. “We want attendees to see just how powerful a 3D virtual
campus can be when incorporated into digital learning. UNIVERSE ensures students and teachers
have access to solutions that harness the latest and most innovative technologies to enhance
online learning experiences.“

A Virtual Campus for Online Learning

ViewSonic has launched UNIVERSE in 2022 – a virtual learning platform that brings the benefits of
in-person learning to an online environment. Combined with intuitive controls and diverse features,
UNIVERSE has been helping to increase student engagement, encourage collaboration, and foster
a sense of belonging.

On the last UNIVERSE’s update, a new type of virtual space has been launched. The Thematic
Classrooms allow participants to explore interactive 3D environments built to help students learn
about specific school subjects. The first thematic classroom was designed for biology classes, where
students can interact with biological structures like blood platelets and nerve cells, providing a
more immersive way of understanding how these elements function in the body. Following the
release of the biology-themed room, ViewSonic will also launch thematic rooms based on subjects
like English, math, geography, and history. The new feature will be showcased during BETT.
ViewSonic has also introduced the new Portfolio tool in UNIVERSE, enabling teachers to access
class insights such as test results, attendance, and participation records with ease to streamline
class management.
Furthermore, UNIVERSE’s Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) integration allows educators to
seamlessly exchange information between different Learning Management Systems (LMS). Aiming
to provide a seamless learning experience and greater flexibility for both teachers and students, the
platform will soon be integrated with LMS such as Canvas and Blackboard.

Accessible Digital Learning Content

With increased digitization, teachers are faced with new challenges, particularly in developing and
implementing content for a digital curriculum. To accommodate the digital revolution, ViewSonic is
also demonstrating its newest feature for the myViewBoard platform, Originals, which provides
teachers with pre-made content to help them build engaging digital lessons.
ViewSonic Originals is broken down into four categories: Original Content, Backgrounds, Graphics,
and Online Games. In addition to an extensive library of teaching materials for all ages and subjects
ranging from interactive modules to full lesson plans, the database features an extensive collection
of backgrounds, images, and animations that are perfect for a range of topics and themes, allowing
teachers to add safe, copyright-cleared media to their lessons. By offering thousands of interactive
modules to full lesson plans, the company makes planning and running lessons easier for all those
in the K-12 age groups.

Innovation Across ViewSonic’s Range of Solutions

As a leading EdTech solutions provider, ViewSonic’s ViewBoard interactive displays and
myViewBoard software suites are being adopted by educational institutions around the world. At
ViewSonic’s booth, visitors can experience the latest 5K 105” ViewBoard IFP105S for hybrid
collaboration and the 24” touch monitor for “smart podium” solutions. In addition, visitors can also
check out the VB-CAM-201, which just got Zoom Rooms USB Camera Certification, improving
productivity and communications when videoconferencing. Meanwhile, the esports for education
zone will also be showcasing the latest Elite XG320Q gaming monitor during the show.
Furthermore, ViewSonic will be exhibiting an industry-leading 135” All-in-One LED Display Solution
Kit with a foldable screen. This design innovation significantly reduces the packaging size, making
transportation more convenient and easy to move, and ready for immediate use, which is perfect
for a range of short-term usage scenarios, such as lectures, events, and hybrid classrooms.
About ViewSonic
Founded in California, ViewSonic is a leading global provider of visual solutions with a presence in
over 100 cities around the world. As an innovator and visionary, ViewSonic is committed to
providing comprehensive hardware and software solutions that include monitors, projectors, digital
signage, ViewBoard interactive displays, and myViewBoard software ecosystem. With over 30 years
of expertise in visual displays, ViewSonic has established a strong position for delivering innovative
and reliable solutions for education, enterprise, consumer, and professional markets and helping
customers “See the Difference”. To find out more about ViewSonic, please visit www.viewsonic.com.

ITN renews contract to produce Discovery Education kids’ news bulletins

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ITN has renewed its contract to produce Discovery Education’s news bulletins for primary school aged children for another five years.

 

The bulletins are produced by ITN’s news production team who have held the contract with Discovery Education since 2012. They form part of Discovery Education’s ‘Espresso’ digital learning platform for schools, which offers a variety of teacher tools for engaging students in learning, including videos and interactive resources that connect curriculum subjects to current events.

 

Called Espresso News, this tool brings the world’s biggest news stories to thousands of primary school classrooms every day.

 

ITN news production is one of seven distinct divisions at ITN, providing news footage and TV services for broadcasters, publishers and global video platforms. The team delivers a daily voiced bulletin to primary schools for the start of the school day, as well as a longer form weekly bulletin with studio links delivered in two versions that reflect the national curriculum key stages one and two.

 

The Espresso News bulletins cover a wide range of topics including climate change, the weather and natural events, fossils, archaeology, as well as PHSE and topical citizenship stories such as politics and migrants.

 

In 2023 so far, the bulletins have included a World Book Day special, which reflected events taking place in school across the UK; and heard from children about the books they love and why. As well as a signed bulletin to mark British Sign Language week. News stories covered this year have included the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the teachers strikes.

 

Tami Hoffman, Head of News Production and Archive at ITN said: 

“I am delighted that ITN will continue to produce the kids bulletins for Discovery Education – it is a product we are proud of. Media literacy has never been more important to support children and young people’s learning as they navigate the online world of mis- and disinformation. The bulletins demonstrate how high quality, impartial journalism can enrich and inform their understanding of the world around them.”

 

Howard Lewis, Discovery Education’s UK and International Managing Director said: 

“Espresso News offers powerful opportunities to bring current affairs and world events to pupils of all ages. We’re delighted to continue our partnership with ITN, which brings a world-class news service to thousands of children every day, connecting the learning in the classroom to the world beyond the playground.”

 

Discovery Education’s Augmented Reality App Wins Bett Award

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Discovery Education—the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place – was last night announced as a winner at the 2023 Bett Awards.

Sandbox AR – Discovery Education’s cutting-edge augmented reality app launched at last year’s Bett  – was awarded first prize in the Hardware, AV, AR/AV, Robotics and Digital Device category.

The Bett Awards celebrate the inspiring creativity and innovation that can be found throughout technology for education. Recognised by many as the most important awards in the industry, BETT winners are seen to be at the forefront of edtech provision to schools.

Discovery Education’s Sandbox AR app empowers students and teachers to create, share, and even inhabit virtual environments. Within Sandbox AR, users can create virtual worlds and populate them with some of the hundreds of unique objects from history, the built world, science and nature, and more. Sandbox AR also gives students new ways to express themselves and demonstrate their learning through a feature that lets learners take photos or record a video walkthrough with their own voice over. Sandbox AR even offers a mode that allows users to scale up and inhabit their own life size virtual environments.

For those new to AR, Sandbox AR includes many pre-built sandboxes exploring diverse subjects such as ancient Egypt, space exploration, Mayan civilization, road construction, and more, with additional sandboxes coming soon. Discovery Education is also making available several free, pre-built lessons educators can use with the app to familiarize themselves with integrating AR into classroom instruction. Sandbox AR is available for download here.

The development of Sandbox AR was led by Discovery Education’s UK-based Immersive Learning team who have been pioneers in creating Virtual and Augmented Reality experiences for schools for over 30 years.

Sandbox AR received its world premiere at the BETT Show last year, where it was launched on the Main Stage with London-based educator Simon Pile sharing how he has used the app in his school.  

“We’re delighted to be presented with a prestigious BETT award, one of the highest accolades in the industry”, said Howard Lewis, Managing Director, UK and International, at Discovery Education. “Since its inception, Discovery Education has been an early mover in bringing innovative technologies—such as streaming video and digital textbooks—into the classroom. We’re excited to put the power of augmented reality into the hands of educators with the Sandbox AR app!”

Find out more about the Bett 2023 Awards at www.bettawards.com .

Explore Discovery Education’s award-winning digital learning services at www.discoveryeducation.co.uk.

 

ASUS Introduce New Student-Centric Laptops including World’s First 14-inch 2-in-1 Ruggedised Laptop

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Take the classroom anywhere with the world’s first 14-inch 2-in-1 ruggedised laptop for education

  • World’s first 14” 2-in-1 ruggedised laptop – The ASUS BR1402 and CR1102 series are designed for hybrid learning, in and out of the classroom.
  • Reliable and Built to Last – Military-grade certified for maximum protection against bumps, drops and spills.
  • Hybrid Learning & Collaboration – Convertible touch-screen designs with garaged stylus, two cameras and all-day battery life.
  • Easy Maintenance and Repair – Cost-efficient modular design for simple on-site repair of replaceable components.
  • Safe and Secure – Physical and digital protection, including ASUS Antimicrobial Guard coating to protect from 99% of harmful bacteria.

 

London, United Kingdom – March 28, 2023 – ASUS, a global technology leader renowned for continuously reimagining today’s technologies for tomorrow, introduces new education laptop solutions that feature rugged, serviceable and convertible designs to keep students engaged and put their safety at the forefront no matter where they are learning. With only 40% of learning taking place in schools, educators are looking to create more adaptable hybrid operations and campus models. As institutions adopt these new digital learning initiatives, they face new challenges in allocating resources, running online classrooms, integrating new devices and managing IT. Upgraded, student-centred laptop solutions from ASUS are designed to meet today’s digital education ecosystem and enhance immersive learning and collaboration to help students thrive in the digital age.

 

World’s first 14-Inch 2-in-1 ruggedised laptop for education upgrades learning like never before

From hybrid learning to IT management and student collaboration, ASUS enables incredible learning experiences with its brand-new BR1402 series. The perfect companion for hybrid learning, BR1402-series laptops feature durable designs for today’s active students and an easy-to-service modular build that enables schools to be more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Designed to make the digital classroom interactive and easy to use, BR1402F features a 14-inch touchscreen and a 13-megapixel world-facing camera to enable professional-quality photos and videos. With up to 16 GB DDR4 RAM and 1 TB SSD, its accelerated computing speed makes for seamless learning and collaboration.

 

Intel® General Manager, Education Client Division, Michael. A. Campbell, said: “When students are equipped with the latest technology, educators can be better prepared to support students’ higher-order skills needed to succeed in education and the future workforce. This is why we’re excited about our partnership with ASUS and the world’s first 14-inch 2-in-1 ruggedised laptop for education. With Intel’s newest processors, students will be able to do more, and teachers will be able to focus on maximising their instructional time in class.”

 

In addition to the new BR1402, ASUS is announcing its new 11-inch ASUS Chromebook CR11 series to make both remote and in-person learning simple, interactive and engaging for the modern student.

 

Reliable education laptops, built to last

Hybrid learning has made durability more important than ever, as laptops travel with students daily between their homes, classrooms, after-school activities and other learning environments. Built to last, both BR1402 and CR11 series meet MIL-STD-810H military-grade standards, and BR1402F features a touchscreen made of damage-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass. Both laptops feature a wraparound rubber bumper and grip with reinforced components, tamper-resistant finish and water-resistant keyboard.

 

ASUS Vice President, General Manager of Commercial Computer BU, Benson Lin, said: “ASUS is addressing the challenges of implementing digital learning by offering upgraded solutions with student-centred designs. These designs aim to provide safe and engaging online learning experiences for students with user-friendly devices, catering to the needs of both educators and students in the digital classroom.”

 

Hybrid learning and collaboration made easy

The new ASUS education laptops deliver total mobility so students can learn and thrive anywhere. Designed for hybrid collaboration, BR1402F and CR11 Flip also feature a 2-in-1 convertible design, garaged stylus and long-lasting battery life of up to 12 hours. In addition, BR1402 series is equipped with AI-powered noise cancelling technology to isolate unwanted noise from human speech and eliminate up to 94% of random noise. With these new laptops, ASUS is empowering students to stay engaged wherever they learn.

 

Enabling easy maintenance and repairs

With a technician-friendly, modular design that makes maintenance and repairs easy for IT managers and educators to complete, ASUS is enabling less downtime and more learning. Key components of the BR1402 and CR11 series, such as the keyboard, battery, panel and mainboard, can be replaced in minutes using simple tools. The bottom covers are securely fastened using one-size, captive screws that eliminate worries about misplaced parts and encourage a more environmentally friendly repair process. By making maintenance easier, ASUS enables schools to be more cost-efficient and ensures that classrooms are always ready for learning with fewer disruptions.

 

Keeping students safe and secure

ASUS also designed the BR1402 and CR11 series to keep students safe and give educators and parents peace-of-mind. Both laptops feature keyboards treated with ASUS Antimicrobial Guard to inhibit the growth of bacteria by over 99% over a 24-hour period, TÜV-certified displays for eye comfort and safety, and a webcam privacy shield. For added security, BR1402 features hardware-level protection against sophisticated cyberattacks with Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM 2.0). With both digital and physical safety features, ASUS is helping to protect students from both digital and physical risks.

 

Worldwide reveal at Bett 2023, London.

The new ASUS BR1402 and CR11 series will be revealed publicly for the first time at Bett 2023, London ExCeL, on the 29th of March, alongside the full ASUS Education range of laptops, desktops, AiOs, monitors and networking solutions.

 

 

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Salaries fall in education sector: a worrying sign in a sector suffering unrest and skills shortages

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At a time when strike action and widespread skills shortages are plaguing the education arena, the fact that new research has revealed that average salaries are falling in the sector is a real concern. That’s according to the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), the trade association for the professional recruitment sector.  

 The data, provided by the world’s largest network of job boards, Broadbean Technology, revealed that average salaries fell by 5.2% between February 2022 and February 2023, a worrying sign given the cost of living crisis and the general unrest the sector is experiencing with strike action showing no sign of reaching a resolution.

 Elsewhere, the research reveals that vacancies within the sector remain high – up 36% in January 2023 and 44% in February year-on-year – demonstrating the growing demand for teaching staff across the UK, and a worrying concern for hirers who are already struggling to source talent.

 Ann Swain, CEO of APSCo comments:

 “Given the unrest that has been noted in the education sector in recent months, the peaks and troughs of hiring activity and application numbers are perhaps no surprise. However, with strike action continuing to plague the sector due to a range of factors including remuneration, the decline in average pay that our data highlights is of real concern. The cost of living crisis and rising inflation means that teaching professionals are continuing to leave the profession for better pay elsewhere. With these individuals in already short supply, education is facing a tough road ahead for 2023.”

HAY FESTIVAL UNVEILS FREE PROGRAMME FOR SCHOOLS, A PLACE WHERE IMAGINATIONS ROAM…

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Hay Festival has today revealed the free Programme for Schools for this spring’s edition, bringing writers and young readers together in-person and online for a series of inspiring interactive activities and conversations, 25-26 May, kicking-off the full Festival running 25 May-4 June 2023. 

Parents and teachers can explore the programme online now at hayfestival.org/schools with priority booking open now to all state schools in Wales. 

KS2 events on Thursday 25 May include writers Matt Goodfellow, Dr Ranj, Pamela Butchart, Chae Strathie, Abi Elphinstone, Emma Carroll, Jeffrey Boakye and SF Said; poet Mererid Hopwood; Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho; adventurer Bear Grylls; and space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock. 

KS3/4 events on Friday 26 May feature writers Anthony McGowan, Dr Shini Somara, Nicola Davies, Patrice Lawrence, Nikesh Shukla, Chris Vick, Candy Gourlay and Laura Dockrill; economist Tim Harford; Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho; activists Laura Bates and Jeffrey Boakye and space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock.

On Friday 26 May, students from Hereford College of Arts will pop up throughout the day with Teenage Dreams, a series of immersive performances starring teenage characters from some of Shakespeare’s best loved plays. 

For those who can’t access the free events in person, sessions will also be streamed free online, with closed captioning available in Welsh and English at hayfestival.org/schools, and available free after the event on Hay Player at hayfestival.org/hayplayer. 

Last year’s Programme for Schools at Hay Festival 2022 saw more than14,000 attendances from primary and secondary schools across England and Wales, while digital events over the past three years have reached more than 160,000 pupils with free events online.

Julie Finch, Hay Festival CEO, said: “Following last week’s programme launch, we are delighted to share the line-up for our free Programme for Schools at Hay Festival 2023. As a charity, we are committed to broadening cultural accessibility and boosting reading for pleasure through dynamic, interactive events and year-round projects. Our Programme for Schools is an annual highlight and we cannot wait to welcome thousands of young people, in-person and online, to join us for these days of inspiration and hope, creating a space where imaginations are free to roam. Join us.”

The Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, said: “It’s fantastic to see Hay Festival’s free spring programme for schools, inspiring pupils with in-person and online workshops with writers and poets. I look forward to seeing lots of young people getting involved and finding their passion for creative writing and reading.”  

Hay Festival is the world’s leading festival of ideas, bringing readers and writers together in sustainable events to inspire, examine and entertain on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park. 

This year’s programme launches the best new fiction and non-fiction, while offering insights and debate around significant global issues. Award-winning writers, policy makers, pioneers and innovators take part from around the world, offering big thinking and bold ideas.

Providing exciting new platforms to discover fresh ideas, Hay Festival invites audiences to imagine the world as it is and as it might be. It is a catalyst for change and action, open and accessible to all.

And the action continues for young people throughout half-term with Hay Days and #HAYYA events inspiring the next generation of readers and writers with appearances from authors Jacqueline Wilson (The Other Edie Trimmer), Cressida Cowell (Which Way to Anywhere), Clara Kumagai (Catfish Rolling), Julia Donaldson (A Squash and A Squeeze); historian Greg Jenner (You Are History); atronaut Tim Peake (The Cosmic Diary of our Incredible Universe); YA star Alice Oseman (Heartstopper); CBeebies presenter George Webster (This Is Me!); a special event with Literature Wales where the current Children’s Laureate Wales Connor Allen pass the baton to the next writer; plus a dynamic blend of workshops, pop-up performances and free activities all around the site.

Explore the full programme of 500+ events online now at hayfestival.org/wales.

 

ViewSonic Unveils Hybrid Learning Innovations with Stunning 105” 5K Interactive Display at BETT 2023

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ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, is launching a range of comprehensive education technology (EdTech) solutions, with the new addition to ViewSonic’s revolutionary 5K 105” ViewBoard interactive display. In terms of software, highlights include ViewSonic’s rich digital learning tools from the myViewBoard software suite, and the UNIVERSE by ViewSonic—a 3D virtual campus for online learning. The solutions will be exhibited in in-class, online, and hybrid learning scenarios at the BETT Show 2023 (British Educational Training and Technology Show) in London from 29 to 31, March.

“ViewSonic is dedicated to offering innovative visual solutions from hardware, software, service, to digital content. We will continue to implement our Ecosystem as a Service (EaaS) strategy and work with partners across the industry to create a digital education ecosystem that is truly transformative,” said Clifford Chen, General Manager of the Presentation Group at ViewSonic. “At ViewSonic, we believe that technology can expand what’s possible in classrooms. The digital transition is the key to the future of education, which is why we’ve designed a range of advanced solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into learning environments of all kinds.“

As a leading EdTech solutions provider, ViewSonic’s ViewBoard interactive displays and myViewBoard software suites are being adopted by educational institutions around the world. Ranging in size from 24” to 105”, the company’s ViewBoard is one of the most popular interactive displays in the world ; in Q4 of 2022, ViewSonic was ranked first in the global interactive display market, while the beginning of 2023 saw the myViewBoard ecosystem swell to over 8 million users.

ViewSonic’s display at BETT 2023 will offer attendees the ability to experience a range of EdTech solutions across different scenarios:

Taking In-class Learning with Digital Content into the Future
A teacher will use ViewSonic’s ViewBoard IFP8652 4K display and the company’s whiteboarding software to showcase how diverse pre-made digital lesson content from ViewSonic Originals, an online resource exclusively designed for interactive displays, can be used to create engaging learning experiences in the classroom. While more and more educational institutions are digitising, ViewSonic Originals makes planning and running lessons easier by offering thousands of pieces of content within a user-friendly database.

The company’s latest environmental sensor, Sensor Box, will show how educational institutions can harness technology to optimise conditions such as air quality, humidity, temperature, and automatically switch displays on and off, allowing schools to adhere to the UK Green Building Council guidelines. Additionally, demonstrations of myViewBoard Manager Advanced software will provide insights into how IT departments can remotely manage an entire school’s displays—including multimedia broadcasting, permission management, and addressing technical issues, all of which avoid interrupting classes and allow students to focus on learning.

A New “UNIVERSE” in Online Learning
Recognised by two distinguished EdTech Awards recently, ViewSonic’s innovative UNIVERSE virtual learning platform opens up new opportunities in online learning. Attendees at BETT 2023 will be able to experience how UNIVERSE allows participants to engage in interactive classrooms with new 3D educational content and create unique learning spaces. The platform addresses some of the key challenges faced during online learning by increasing student engagement, encouraging collaboration, and fostering a sense of belonging among students.

Going Hybrid in with Advanced Audiovisuals
To show how higher education can be advanced using hybrid setups to ensure the best learning outcome, ViewSonic will be displaying the 5K 105” ViewBoard IFP105S, which features a 21:9 ratio display and multi-touch capabilities. Attendees will be able to see how students in-class and in other locations can collaborate simultaneously with a breeze.

Further, the series is flawlessly complemented by ViewSonic’s new Live Mosaic View feature for their latest VB-CAM-201-2. Powered by AI technology, Live Mosaic View can provide close-ups of participants and readjust the view based on each attendee’s activity, ensuring that attendees and speakers are automatically framed and focused, offering a more immersive experience for hybrid meetings.

Visit ViewSonic at BETT 2023, North Hall, Booth NL21, ExCeL London. To find more info and arrange a meeting with ViewSonic’s educational experts at BETT 2023, please visit: https://www.viewsonic.com/uk/bett2023

 

About ViewSonic
Founded in California, ViewSonic is a leading global provider of visual solutions with a presence in over 100 cities around the world. As an innovator and visionary, ViewSonic is committed to providing comprehensive hardware and software solutions that include monitors, projectors, digital signage, ViewBoard interactive displays, and myViewBoard software ecosystem. With over 30 years of expertise in visual displays, ViewSonic has established a strong position for delivering innovative and reliable solutions for education, enterprise, consumer, and professional markets and helping customers “See the Difference”. To find out more about ViewSonic, please visit www.viewsonic.com.

 

Global Survey of 37k School Students Reveals Desire to Modernise Education

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World’s Largest Lesson Gives Voices to Students in One of The Largest Global Education Surveys Ever

 

London, UK: 15th March 2023 – The World’s Largest Lesson – an initiative led by Project Everyone and UNICEF – and NetApp a cloud-led, data-centric software company, today announce the findings from one of the largest global surveys of education ever which garnered 37k responses from young people in 150+ countries, many sharing their views for the first time.

The gamified survey revealed an overwhelming call for a modernisation of curricula to mirror more closely the realities, skill sets and demands of today’s society and the future.

 

The Reality

When students were asked what they believe the purpose of school should be 48% of responses related to gaining practical skills for the real world. However, the reality of their education does not reflect this.

 

“We’re in the middle of a global learning crisis, ” says Alison Bellwood, Executive Director of World’s Largest Lesson. “Students are imagining a future that is very different from the one their current curriculums were developed for. They want to be ready to thrive in new, green economies and to help build a sustainable world. Children have spoken. It’s the responsibility of education policy makers to listen to them.”

 

The good news is that 77% of students are happy to be back at school after COVID-19, and they’ve shared thousands of ideas about what they want to see changed in education.

The Future of The Education is Practical Skills

When asked whether they were learning enough about a range of topics, 61% of students worldwide said they feel they are learning not enough or not at all about digital skills like programming and coding. A close second with almost 59% calling for financial literacy or how to make a budget with 55% wanting to understand how to analyse and use data.

 

“In today’s world, it has never been more critical for data literacy skills to be taught in classrooms,” Michelle Mann, Director, Social Impact at NetApp. “Data is, increasingly, the foundation for informed decision making around so many important social, technological, and environmental issues—including a child’s own education. NetApp is committed to helping empower student voices and ensure leaders make room for them in educational discussions so they can share data-informed insights on how they would like to learn.”

To address the need for data science learning experiences, NetApp created a global social impact program call Data Explorers. It’s a hands-on afterschool program focusing on reaching under-represented students in under-resourced communities.

 

Understanding Mental Health, other Cultures and the Environment

While being prepared for jobs and the future were top of mind, a further 44% wanted to learn more about how to look after their mental health and wellbeing, with 33% reporting they feel anxious to be back at school after COVID-19. 42% of students reported wanting to understand different cultures, and a further 42% wanted to learn more about how to protect the planet.

 

Tanishi, 14, a member of the World’s Largest Lesson Student Advisory Panel member based in India, said “Asking what young people want from their education is the first step of change. It is similar to what the marketing division of a business does when they research what their customers want… If the customers here are students, to make their education more efficient and helpful, asking students about what they want from education is essential.”

 

Global Voices, Shared Needs

When asked for ideas on how to change education, the most common global theme was practical skills attainment, at 33% and a further 21% mentioned being more informed on key issues. As one student put it “It is important to study the past, I know, but now we are living in the present and I want to know how to live in this world”.

Nearly 20% talked about changing how they learn, for example reducing pressure to succeed in exams or allowing students more individual choice. One student said “This egg-carton model impedes professional growth and change”. Another said “I would reinvent the relationship with my teachers: today they act as they were ’superior’ while they should act as our mentor.”

 

Call to Action

While we’ve heard calls to modernise education before, this survey has allowed children themselves to speak up and add their voices, many for the first time. Together they’ve shared more than 25 thousand ideas of their own to transform education, from “allow students to choose the subjects they want to study” and “study in nature” to “being able to experiment” and experience “life learning lessons”.

Could this be the tipping point to a bold redirection of education? If so, the report argues that governments must consult and include children in their decision-making, so that education reflects those that it serves. As Matilda, 12, World’s Largest Lesson Student Advisory Panel member in Greece put it, “We are the future, and we need to decide what we want the future of the world to look like”.

 

Kettering Buccleuch Academy (KBA) Enhances Communications Reliability and Versatility with Avaya Cloud Office® by RingCentral

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Avaya, a global leader in solutions to enhance and simplify communications and collaboration, is providing Kettering Buccleuch Academy (KBA), a multi-age, all-through school located in Northamptonshire, with its all-in-one, cloud-based communications solution to create a more cohesive digital environment. KBA chose Avaya Cloud Office for its ability to meet the school’s needs with a reliable, always-on platform delivering the latest communication technologies including team messaging, video meetings, intelligent voice routing, centralized automation, and robust analytics. The simplified solution offers them the versatility to use feature-rich handsets and application delivery on a single device while delivering greater operational efficiency with increased cost savings. 

 

The core of KBA’s success is effective communication with all stakeholders, both directly within the school and indirectly using technologies such as audio, video, and messaging systems, and employing these functions to enable better outcomes. This begins in the classroom, but also includes the links between departments, with parents and carers, with partners and suppliers, and with outside authorities.

 

The academy holds its communications technology to a high standard and has had a long-standing relationship with Avaya and its local delivery partner, UCAdvisor. Together, KBA’s technology partners delivered a plan to execute on the school’s digital transformation objectives and migrate them to a cloud-based communications platform.  Avaya Cloud Office provided KBA a solution that met their needs for functionality, reliability, and an improved admin experience in a cost-effective and easy to migrate implementation.

 

Adam Burn, ICT Systems Manager at KBA recognized the school’s long-standing relationship with Avaya through local delivery partner, UCAdvisor. After exploring other options, KBA ultimately chose to remain with Avaya and deploy Avaya Cloud Office. UCAdvsior were able to cover the cost of deployment with their grant funding, as well as provide handsets for KBA without cost that delivered enhanced

functionality with a familiar interface.

 

“Devices and handsets were important considerations for us,” said Burn. “Avaya Cloud Office allows us to use smartphone apps when remote, but we also have a suite of devices on site that staff are familiar with and that withstand the daily rigors of school activity.”

 

With Avaya Cloud Office, KBA maintains centralized control and provides full transcription and text delivery to users. Overall, communication capabilities have improved significantly as a result of the transition to cloud.

 

“It’s clear that voice is no longer the only way to stay in touch with customers and colleagues,” said Tim Sherwood, VP of Product and Offer Management, Avaya. “Instead, chat/Instant Messaging (IM), often begins an interaction that may escalate into an audio, video, or content sharing session. The reality is employees and customers expect more – they want a seamless and intuitive communications experience that fits into how they work instead of changing the way they work–helping them stay in touch on their device of choice as they move throughout their day. Avaya Cloud Office can fundamentally enhance the way your business communicates with customers, partners and across your organization by simplifying the way you call, chat, meet and collaborate.”

 

“Avaya Cloud Office has reduced management overhead, allowing us to focus more on our core activities, while improving the service we can deliver for parents and students,” said Burn. “UCAdvisor clearly understood our initial requirements and helped us save a significant amount on upfront expenditures.”  

 

Additional Resources

 

About Kettering Buccleuch Academy (KBA)

We have a relentless focus on high standards by having high expectations and not accepting any excuses. We aim to create a positive learning environment where the street stops at the gate and where we help every student to succeed. We provide excellent teaching skills and commitment from our staff and this in turn generates enthusiasm and hard work from the students. Our purposeful learning environment supports our students to achieve beyond expectations and challenges them to improve on their personal best. A love of learning is our priority and the House system supports students in their academic and personal development. We offer a broad curriculum at KBA which allows flexibility. All students receive the core curriculum of Maths, English and Science, delivered in state of the art classrooms. Our curriculum experience for students is further enhanced by a range of other subjects across all three key stages.

 

About Avaya

Businesses are built by the experiences they provide, and every day millions of those experiences are delivered by Avaya. Avaya is shaping the future of customer experiences, with innovation and partnerships that deliver game-changing business benefits. Our communications solutions power immersive, personalized, and memorable customer experiences to help organizations achieve their strategic ambitions and desired outcomes. Together, we are committed to helping grow your business by delivering Experiences That Matter. Learn more at http://www.avaya.com.

 

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