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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.

 

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.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains certain “forward-looking statements.” All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking” statements for purposes of the U.S. federal and state securities laws. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “our vision,” “plan,” “potential,” “preliminary,” “predict,” “should,” “will,” or “would” or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, risks attendant to the bankruptcy process, including the Company’s ability to emerge successful from the Company’s voluntary cases under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, and other factors discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and other public statements made from time-to-time. These risks and uncertainties may cause the Company’s actual results, performance, liquidity or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance, liquidity or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The Company cautions you that the list of important factors included in the Company’s SEC filings may not contain all of the material factors that are important to you. In addition, in light of these risks and uncertainties, the matters referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this report may not in fact occur. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

 

Kids Judge Bett, Teachmeet and more: Events at Bett promise to engage and inspire educators and students alike

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Bett UK 2023, the world’s largest education technology (EdTech) event will be underway at the ExCeL London on the 29-31st March. Bett promises to be bigger and better than ever before with a record breaking 25,000+ registrations to date, from around the world. 

 

This year’s three-day event will feature an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, hundreds of CPD-accredited workshops, exhibitors demonstrating technology, and an array of fringe events to engage and inspire educators and students alike, including Kids Judge Bett, UK & International Teachmeets, and events from Bett partners the Global Equality Collective and the BAMEed Network. 

 

Kids Judge Bett

Kids Judge Bett, one of the most popular student-led events, returns for the 8th year with a special guest appearance from Writer and Poet Michael Rosen! Organised by Katy Potts, Islington Council, the event will see pupils and parents from primary, secondary schools, including SEND and FE, judging and exploring all the stands, exhibitors, and their products and choosing their favourites across ten categories. Join us in the Arena to see our brilliant judges announce the winners live on stage and hand out the coveted chocolate trophies to the worthy winners.

Finalists announcement: Friday 31st March

Time/ Location: 14.15 – 14.45, Arena theatre

 

Teachmeet

This social gathering of educators provides a fantastic opportunity to share their experience and knowledge in quickfire presentations. The space is set for educators to expand their personal networks, be inspired by enthusiastic peers, and soak up interesting ideas to take back to the classroom. Two Teachmeets will be held consecutively, the first will have an international focus and the second more UK-centric.

Date: Thursday 30th March

Time/ Location: 16.15 – 18.45, Bett Academy Live

 

The Global Equality Collective @ Bett

Another must-see session that will focus on diversity, equity and inclusion through EdTech, featuring the WomenEdTech collective, a review of inclusive curriculums and the future of EdTech. Nicole Ponsford, Founder of the Global Equality Collective and other amazing speakers will explore how the work of the GEC is supporting leaders at scale, providing attendees with practical solutions, take-aways and ways to make ordinary classrooms extraordinarily inclusive in 2023.

Date: Thursday 30th March

Time/ Location: 15:15 – 16:45, Leaders @ Bett

 

The BAMEed Network: Everyone on board: anti-racist strategies for schools and colleges

The BAMEed Network is a national grassroots charity that works to support the sector to be more representative of our global world at every level. Curated by Co-Founder Penny Rabiger, the session will feature a series of talks from BAMEed Network members about their work,  providing practical takeaways and useful insights for anti-racist strategies in schools and colleges and actual implementation of these strategies in classrooms.

Date: Thursday 30th March

Time/ Location: 17:15 -18:45, Leaders @ Bett

 

In order to attend the Global Equality Collective session and/or BAMEed session, visitors need to sign up for their free ticket via this Eventbrite link. Please note that visitors will also need to ensure they have registered for Bett 2023 in order to access this event. 

 

On-time registration for Bett ends on 3rd March 2023 and is free. Late registration (4th March 2023 onwards) tickets will incur a £25 fee. 

Registration is now open at: https://bettuk23-registration.personatech.com/

For any media inquiries, please contact bett@withpr.co.uk

What’s new from LapSafe® at Bett 2023?

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Two decades on and LapSafe® are excited to be at Bett 23 launching their new products.

 Celebrating twenty-three years of showcasing their products at Bett, LapSafe® will again be exhibiting at the show.

Each year at Bett, LapSafe® are excited to launch their new products and this year is no exception.  Visitors to the show will be able to see LapSafe®’s NEW entry-level self-service locker ENVOY™, designed to rapidly deploy devices such as laptops, Chromebooks, tablets, and similar devices. 

Up to 32 devices can each be quickly and easily issued to students or staff by scanning their ID at the universal reader.  MIFARE™, barcode and QR code are all supported in one simple to use reader. Once authorised, a locker bay will open and inside a fully charged device is ready to use.  The seamless transaction takes less than a minute saving both staff and student time.  ENVOY™ connects to ONARKEN®, LapSafe®’s Locker Management platform, so all transactions are recorded for accountability and audit purposes.

Smart Lockers are fast becoming the norm for schools, colleges and universities allowing them to quickly and easily deploy and loan devices or assets to students. As technology advances and our demands increase for easy access to equipment, goods or locker spaces, so-called smart lockers need to be smarter and more agile than before.

Therefore, LapSafe® will also be launching further enhancements to their popular Diplomat™Pro Smart Lockers bringing services such as drop off and collect, break/fix, hot lockers, as well as intelligent and sophisticated loaning of devices.  An all-in-one solution that makes light work of self-service and asset management.  In addition, new locker bay sizes will be launched to add greater flexibility to their Smart Locker range.

At the heart of LapSafe® Smart Locker range, ONARKEN® platform combines all their software services into one centrally managed suite of application which can be tailored to meet the needs of device management today and in the future.  An innovative cloud-based solution that is highly reliable, secure, and customisable.  A solution that is easy to manage and has thousands of possibilities.

LapSafe®’s Smart Lockers are already installed by over 70% of UK universities; with colleges and schools following closely behind.  With over 300 installations across the globe these self-service smart lockers are both innovative, and space saving with highly configurable workflows that allow for future growth.

LapSafe® will also be highlighting their storage and charging trolley range which are currently being used by thousands of schools and colleges. Built for sustainability and assisting in reducing carbon footprint, schools can save time and money with LapSafe®’s solutions.

Denise Crouch, Head of Sales and Marketing at LapSafe® said “This is my twenty-third Bett show and I always look forward to meeting existing customers, our business partners and making new connections.  It’s always exciting to launch new products and receive visitor feedback.“

To explore the full LapSafe® range, visit them at Bett 2023, London Excel, 29th to 31st March, Stand NN51 alternatively visit www.lapsafe.com for more details.

 

Schools and environmental impact.

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London, UK – November 2022. Since the Industrial Revolution, human polluting activity has caused 1.0°C of global warming and an increase to 1.5°C is expected between 2030 and 2052 if emissions continue to increase at the current rate. Despite the UK government’s Net Zero commitments and the Department for Education’s vision to be “the world-leading education sector in sustainability and climate change by 2030” only 38% of the responding organizations had so far committed to Net Zero as a target.

 

IT’s environmental impact.

Scientists and governments agree on the need to re-evaluate all aspects of human activity that cause pollution, education included. Low-carbon alternatives must be implemented if energy efficiency improvements are to grow by 4% annually; three times their current rate. EUC devices are responsible for 34% of IT-related pollution across the UK, with up to 80% of general pollution caused by their daily use. This creates 3m tonnes of CO2e equivalent to 650,000 cars driving on UK roads annually.

 

Green digital transformation.

Many are the signs that the IT industry is beginning to respond to environmental concerns pushing organizations and institution towards a greener digital transformation. To achieve this in a world influenced by the effects of climate change, Acer supports the education sector levelling up within a context of sustainability, giving all children, young people and adults the technological tools to thrive in a green economy and to help restore nature.

 

Start your green journey, with Acer.

As part of their wider sustainability strategy, Acer have designed the complete Vero range with eco-friendly PCR plastics, prioritizing ease of repair and optimum efficiency thanks to the inclusion of the custom eco mode. The Acer Chromebook Spin 513 and Chromebook Spin 311 allow for exceptionally low energy consumption; up to nearly 70% per annum when compared to a typical Windows device estate, as validated by the PX3 independent benchmarking.

 

Institutions can also benefit from the Acer Green Rewards programme for the sustainable, secure and affordable support of eco-friendly technological transformation. IT users are encouraged to register for instant valuations of their legacy devices, which can be sent to Acer for re-use. Green rewards may then be exchanged for new Acer devices, boosting energy efficiency by up to 84%.

 

Conclusions.

Educational institutions have an important environmental impact that could be improved by implementing a green digital transformation with the support of Acer and not only its products, but also programs. Acer commissioned independent specialists PX3 to carry out benchmarking of devices to accurately quantify their use phase energy consumption. This data, available in technical reports and white-papers, provides with accurate information for CSR / ESG reporting as well as playing an important role in carbon reduction plans and “Net Zero” initiatives.

  
     

 

     
  Keep innovating with Acer for Education. Come to visit us at Bett show 2023 in stand NJ10 to stay current with the latest EdTech trends, discover innovative solutions for schools, update your skills and more! www.acer.com  

AVer Europe announces strategic partnership with Re Mago to deliver integrated solution for corporate and higher education users

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LONDON, UK – 19 December 2022 – AVer Europe, the award-winning provider of video collaboration and education technology solutions, announces a new strategic partnership with Re Mago. This collaboration will deliver a powerful integrated solution for corporate and higher education users, combining state of the art AI auto framing and auto tracking cameras of AVer with the Valarea platform.

Valarea Room is a unified visual collaboration solution designed to eliminate any blocks to an immersive hybrid meeting or distance learning experience. Features include:

• A one tap start to an instant or scheduled meeting supporting Teams, Zoom, Google and other platforms in the same room.
• The ability to share content easily from any device without installing third-party apps – no dongle needed and network independent.
• The flexibility to present, co-annotate and brainstorm remotely in real time on any type of file.

The solution is designed to be installed on Windows 10 room computers, works with touch and non-touch displays and integrates perfectly with AVer premium quality cameras for a range of different meeting rooms. The AVer VB342PRO is designed for medium sized rooms, the AVer VC520PRO2 for large rooms and the AVer CAM570 for extra-large board rooms where speaker tracking and more than one camera point of view is a must.

Valarea Room is also ideal for training spaces, where the AVer DL30 series and AVer PTC300UV2 series are the perfect plug and play auto-tracking camera solutions to pair with.

The room systems can be easily operated with the Valarea touch controller. Users can start meetings, manage audio and video, screen share and launch apps from the controller. Alternatively, users can build their own touch controllers.
“AVer is delighted to collaborate with Re Mago to provide seamless communication solutions for our customers across Europe. Combining the AVer world-leading AI auto tracking cameras with Valarea Rooms from Re Mago offers our users the best possible environment for immersive and successful hybrid meeting and learning experiences,” says Rene Buhay, SVP of Sales and Marketing, AVer Europe.

“At Valarea, we consistently deliver high-quality video communications solutions for business and education. This collaboration with AVer enables users to combine the best hardware and software to create an enhanced, user friendly and flexible hybrid meeting and learning experience in a range of settings“ says Cristiano Fumagalli, CTO at Re Mago Ltd.

AVer users are able to trial the combined Valarea and AVer solution by registering for a 30-day free trial period at https://valarea.com/get-started.

Kooth partners with GLUU to help support the mental health of whole school communities

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Kooth has partnered with GLUU to provide schools with askOLA, the online tutoring and support platform, with invaluable digital mental health support. 

 

Kooth will ensure students aged 10+, all teachers, teaching support staff and on-site staff have a safe, confidential and welcoming place to seek non-judgemental mental health support. The collaboration is the first of its kind, enabling education establishments to purchase online learning resources and wellbeing together in one accessible and flexible package. 

 

askOLA is a responsive, online tutoring and support platform that provides homework help, writing feedback, and study support on-demand, during and beyond school hours. It selected Kooth for its holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing, and its ability to look after the whole school community.

 

Kooth’s innovative digital mental health and wellbeing platform has been designed to offer choice and encourage users to engage and seek help on their own terms. As such, it offers access to a variety of support options including online counselling and wellbeing, via its Kooth.com (aged 10+) and Qwell.io (aged 18+) services 

 

Services are accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week – this includes one-to-one text based sessions with experienced counsellors and wellbeing practitioners. Running from midday to 10pm on weekdays and from 6pm to 10pm on the weekend, appointments can be booked in advance or accessed via a drop-in text-based chat. They are available without waiting lists or thresholds to meet, and a referral from a medical professional is not needed. In addition, Kooth provides an easily accessible, fully safeguarded and pre-moderated community with a library of peer and professional created content.  

 

It doesn’t end there, Kooth’s Flourish Mental Health Check runs alongside the award-winning anonymous digital mental health platform. A benchmark tool, unlike others, the Flourish Mental Health Check is based on the ‘whole self’. As such it recognises that home life and past experiences play an important part in people’s wellbeing at work. 

 

The anonymous insights are garnered from the teachers, teaching support staff and on-site staff only, not the students. The Kooth Work Flourish Mental Health Check will help the schools signed up to the askOLA platform to identify priority issues when it comes to the mental health and wellbeing of all those working at the school – both teaching and support roles.

 

This will help them to invest in the right initiatives, as well as developing and implementing new policies, practices and support programmes, that meet the needs of the school as an employer. This will aid in the creation of a mentally healthy workplace where everyone can flourish and no one is left behind. 

 

Dr Lynne Green, Chief Clinical Office at Kooth, commented: 

 

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with GLUU and its askOLA platform to help ensure that anonymous, safe and accessible positive mental health and emotional wellbeing is available to whole school communities. Now more than ever, it’s important to ensure that both students, teachers and the onsite support teams have a choice of safe and confidential options that match with their individual needs, as well as being accessible in a way they feel comfortable with. Digital mental health services such as Kooth do that, and can help to reduce the stigma often associated with mental health.  However big or small a student or teacher believes a mental health concern or issue is, Kooth Work is onhand to help them, when and where needed.”

 

Christine Major, CEO at GLUU explained:

 

“askOLA was developed to add capacity to schools to reduce teacher workload and support the wellbeing and attainment of the whole school community. Teachers need more time to help pupils to thrive, and askOLA gives them another pair of hands by helping to support learning and wellbeing in and outside of the classroom. It means that students can access subject-specialist coaches on-demand to help overcome issues with their learning, or they can be connected to Kooth for support with their mental health. We also provide all school staff with access to mental health support through Qwell.

 

She added: “Partnering with Kooth was a logical choice as our values are closely aligned, as like us they believe that mental health support should be accessible to everyone”

 

Kooth is the only digital mental health provider to hold a UK-wide accreditation from the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). It is available to school’s with the askOLA platform immediately, once registered, they can access support via any internet-connected device such as a laptop, smartphone or tablet. 

 

How technology is transforming teaching and learning

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Lockdown accelerated the rollout of technology in the classroom as teachers had no choice but to embrace the use of online platforms in learning. But has that technology had a positive impact on education? 

The way in which schools have embraced digital learning and technology is one of the few positives to have come out of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Priya Lakhani, Founder CEO of award-winning artificial intelligence (AI) company CENTURY Tech. 

“It has been so exciting to see how institutions have augmented teaching and learning with technology,” she says. “We are already beginning to see the positive impact technology can have on outcomes and reducing teacher workload.” 

Benefits of technology for pupils 

UKTN, the home of UK Tech, agrees. It says one of the benefits of technology is the power to transform dull subjects into interactive and fun activities. The good thing about that, is that knowledge that is acquired with entertainment helps students retain knowledge for longer. The use of technological platforms often means pupils can take the initiative and learn when they want to – with or without a teacher’s assistance. 

At its best, technology can be used to create experiences for students rather than them simply imbibing information, something that Lakhani claims teachers are increasingly asking for. 

Lakhani is also a board member of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, which has a learning programme for young people, aged 4 to 19, to inspire them with its awe-inspiring projects across science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM). 

Many of the UNBOXED projects have used technology in innovative ways, making it possible for students to learn through playful experience.  

Examples of technology being used to create learning experiences 

  • Minecraft is used to enable pupils to travel through the solar system and learn about the challenges facing Planet Earth. This Minecraft experience is created by Our Place in Space, a project designed by children’s author Oliver Jeffers in collaboration with astrophysicist Professor Stephen Smartt. Visit Our Place in Space Minecraft World. 
  • Immerse 360º video is used to make is possible to see what it’s like on board SEE MONSTER, a retired offshore platform that’s been transformed into an art installation featuring a garden, waterfall and design-led renewable energies. Pupils can go on a journey through the platform learning through interactions at various points along the way. Visit SEE MONSTER virtual tour. 
  • Live dashboards are used to an engaging effect by Dreamachine. Dreamachine helps children to understand perception through a series of videos hosted by Newsround presenter Martin Dougan. Through a specially developed online platform, pupils can consider such questions as ‘Can I believe everything I see?’, ‘How do I know time is passing?’, and ‘Are people the same all over the world?’ and see how their answers compare with those of pupils in other schools. See Life’s Big Questions. 

 

Benefits of technology for teachers 

Meanwhile, UKTN recognises that for teachers, the ability to digitally distribute details in a few taps means they can quickly identify weaknesses and provide targeted support. 

Lakhani also points to the positive impacts that technology has had on teachers’ continued professional development (CPD), enabling them to attend symposiums and webinars. This supports opportunities for sharing knowledge easily at the end of a school day. And there are other important benefits, too, including sustainability and economics – teachers don’t have to drive to venues, and schools don’t need to find cover. 

Considerations 

We know that the introduction of technology will continue to have a significant impact on teaching and learning. However, the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has identified several issues should be considered before technology is rolled out across classrooms. 

Firstly, schools need to consider how technology will improve teaching and learning. Technology has the potential to help teachers explain and model new concepts and ideas, but how explanations and models are conveyed is less important than their clarity and accessibility to pupils. The EEF warns that there is a risk technology will widen the gap between successful learners and their peers. 

Technology also has the potential to improve assessment and feedback. But how teachers use the information they gather from assessments, and how pupils act on feedback, matters far more than the way in which it is collected and delivered. Technology is likely to be most beneficial if it is provided in addition to other forms of feedback. 

Lakhani also urges us to think about two further barriers: affordability and confidence. Schools need to ensure all their pupils have access to the necessary devices and technology. 

She also has a challenge for suppliers. In many cases, developing the use of technology in the classroom, will mean teachers have to change the way they do some things. Suppliers therefore need to provide evidence that the technology has a positive impact, supporting educators with models of practice so that it can be effectively adopted and embedded. 

The use of technology in the classroom is here to stay. Make no mistake, it will never replace a teacher. But used creatively, it can transform a list of facts into a memorable, learning experience. 

For more information about UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, please visit www.unboxed2022.uk

A message from Louisa Hunter -Bett Director

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I am excited to announce the most significant change to Bett in our 37-year history. Starting with Bett 2023, we are transforming the way you and everyone in the Bett community connects and collaborates by launching a groundbreaking new programme called Connect @ Bett.

Connect @ Bett is a tech-enabled meetings programme that will drive more meaningful conversations between education buyers and EdTech solution providers than ever before. This new programme will be at heart of your entire Bett experience. You’re going to love it.

Connect @ Bett empowers education buyers to discover the right solutions for their learners, in a fraction of the time. And it allows technology providers to find the people within institutions that can unlock the potential of their tech. All meetings are double opt-in and just 15 minutes, so you can tackle your strategic, pedagogical, and operational challenges in the most time-efficient way.

Here are some important updates and changes to the show:

  1. Bett will be held on Wednesday 29 to Friday 31 March 2023 at the ExCeL, London
  2. Bett registration will open on Monday 3 October 2022
  3. Unlike previous Bett shows, there is now a deadline to register that ensures you get to fully participate in Connect @ Bett. Anyone can attend Bett for free if they register on-time. On-time registration ends on 3rd March 2023. Late registration tickets (4th March 2023 onwards) will incur a fee.

Find out more about Connect @ Bett

HTC VIVE Introduces VIVE Focus 3 Facial Tracker and Eye Tracker

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HTC VIVE expands rich VIVE Focus 3 ecosystem with Eye and Face Tracking

Lightweight and user-friendly, with low latency and high-precision, fitting into VIVE Focus 3 seamlessly

VIVE’s new trackers suit a wide range of use cases, from helping to create realistic avatars, through to medical assessments

 

HTC VIVE announces VIVE Focus 3 Eye Tracker and VIVE Focus 3 Facial Tracker, expanding the VIVE Focus 3 ecosystem to deliver more natural and immersive professional VR experiences.

Enhanced eye and facial tracking boosts engagement with peers for enhanced virtual collaboration and human interaction in VIVE Focus 3, ideal for virtual events, training, chat groups, VIVE Sync remote meetings, animation and motion capture, and more.

Express yourself in VR

VIVE Focus 3 Facial Tracker makes it easy to naturally convey your emotions and read intentions in real time. Its mono tracking camera captures expressions through 38 blend shapes across the lips, jaw, cheeks, chin, teeth, and tongue to precisely capture true-to-life facial expressions and mouth movements on avatars.

With a 60Hz tracking rate and optimised runtime for facial tracking, users can synchronise lips to voice with minimal latency and enjoy lifelike interactions in high fidelity. VIVE Focus 3 Facial Tracker set up is made easy as the module seamlessly connects to VIVE Focus 3 headsets through the built-in USB Type-C port with no need for add-ons or adaptors.

The benefits of facial tracking are vast, improving soft skills in presentation coaching, customer service management, training, and more. Users can track and improve their emotional preparedness, helping to achieve better real-life outcomes across many applications, from education and healthcare to human resources and creative industries.

Unlock the benefits of eye tracking

Gain access to insightful data with VIVE Focus 3 Eye Tracker and reach a heightened level of VR immersion. Bringing realistic eye movements and blinks to virtual avatars delivers true-to-life virtual collaboration and improves human connections in VR through expressive, non-verbal interactions. By tracking and analysing eye movement, attention, and focus, businesses can open the door to deeper user behaviour analysis.

The dual camera setup with supporting IR illuminators is capable of capturing data for gaze origin and direction, pupil size and position, and eye openness. The lightweight module easily attaches magnetically to the headset without impacting the balanced ergonomics and the adjustable IPD works perfectly with the VIVE Focus 3 headset to help users find their viewing sweet spot.

VIVE Focus 3 Eye Tracker allows you to see what users see to understand intentions and improve feedback, perfect for training and education scenarios. Measure duration and locate direction with heat mapping and gaze tracking to gain insights about performance and interaction to improve outcomes. VIVE Focus 3 Eye Tracker also helps to understand how users naturally interact with a product and improve the experience by uncovering actionable insights about user intent.

VIVE Focus 3 Eye Tracker also makes gaze control possible, opening new avenues for how people experience immersive content, as well as new accessibility options. Eye Tracking also helps with GPU workloads, as foveated rendering prioritises areas where the user is actually focused.

Both VIVE Focus 3 Eye Tracker and VIVE Focus 3 Facial Tracker support Unity, Unreal Game Engine, and Native. Developing is easy with VIVE’s WaveSDK and upcoming OpenXR support and it’s also seamless to stream content from a PC via VIVE Business Streaming.

A rich ecosystem for professional VR

VIVE Focus 3 has a rich ecosystem of both hardware and software for professional-grade VR. Since launch, HTC VIVE has released five accessories, including VIVE Wrist Tracker, multi-battery dock and carry case giving businesses the features and flexibility to create their ideal VR set-up.

Hand-tracking, OpenXR, extensive Wave SDK, Location-Based Software Suite and MDM support open the possibilities for developers. Devices also come with VIVE Business Warranty and Services which includes a two-year commercial warranty, and expedited return/replacement if needed.

VIVE Focus 3 Eye Tracker and VIVE Focus 3 Facial Tracker are available to order today for £216 and £83 respectively.