The Education Innovation Conference and Exhibition (EICE) is aimed at a cross-curriculum and cross-phase audience.
The event seeks to offer relevant content for teachers, headteachers, governors, department heads, ICT managers and bursars – all with a focus on integrating innovation and technology into learning.
Now in its third year, EICE provides visitors with a hands-on exhibition showcasing the latest innovative technologies and the chance to take part in workshops and receive specialist advice on how to boost achievement in their schools and colleges.
Confirmed speakers at the event include Tim Rylands, teacher and author of the ICT to Inspire blog. Mr Rylands will be leading a “Tech to Inspire” seminar looking at ways to engage and motivate students of all ages and abilities.
Also there will be David Mitchell – well known on Twitter as @DeputyMitchell. Three years ago Mr Mitchell created QuadBlogging, a free project offering an opportunity for schools to sign up and blog together in groups of four. Two years on, QuadBlogging now has seen more than 500,000 pupils from 50 plus countries connected and writing for a global audience.
Another popular speaker will be David Brown HMI, the Ofsted national lead for computing. A former teacher, Mr Brown is responsible for leading Ofsted’s curriculum and dissemination work in inspecting and reporting on computing and e-safety
Other seminar highlights to be found in Manchester include:
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Dr Bob Gomersall will present “Keep up! Trust the tools, trust the technology, trust the learners”. This session will look at how the tools to deliver the life-changing moments in education are already here and why we need to trust them to benefit learners.
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Mark Mackie will present “App Smashing: Combining digital tools for inspirational teaching and learning” when he will explore how using various cross-curricular applications in different combinations can enhance teaching and learning outcomes, using a mixture of demonstration and interactivity.
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Paul Croft’s session, “3D printing: All you need to know” will demonstrate how easy 3D printing can be, sharing knowledge about this game-changing technology and inviting people to join the revolution.
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Mike Walker will present “Simple and Straightforward MDM” about how one school made the whole process of mobile device management (MDM) simple, and straightforward.
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Craig Rulton’s session, entitled “Learning Inspired”, aims to inspire and enthuse teachers as to the innovative use of iPad in the learning and teaching environment, with plenty of chances to get hands-on.
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Peter Twining is Professor of Education (Futures) at the Open University and a member of the government’s Educational Technology Action Group (ETAG). In his session, he will be discussing effective CPD.
Elsewhere at EICE, there will be a range of new features for 2015, including:
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The Tablet Village: powered by the Tablet Academy, the Tablet Village will enable visitors to discover the best tablets for an education environment and how to maximise a tablet’s potential in the classroom. The village will offer a mix of interactive exhibition stands and hands-on workshops, including subject-specific sessions from Elsium for all teachers, from geography to modern languages.
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The SEN Hub: the ability for technology and innovation to help children with SEN will be illustrated in the SEN hub, with the assistance of British Dyslexia and other leading organisations.
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E-Safety: an e-safety clinic will offer advice on how schools, colleges and universities should deal with the safety of their students. Keeping children safe online is one of the biggest issues facing parents – and teachers – since the rise of mobile technology. The e-safety hub will give education professionals the tools they need to tackle the problem and stay ahead of the game, with a mix of expert advice, case studies and innovative solutions.
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The interactive classroom: created by Spaceoasis, this is a live classroom that will be used throughout EICE, with students working on projects alongside Elsium, illustrating how a creative and inspiring environment can really raise the bar when it comes to classroom productivity.
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Lucy Dixon is head of press and PR for the Education Innovation Conference and Exhibition.