Building on its successful launch event in March 2013, the Education Innovation Conference and Exhibition (EICE) is returning to Manchester Central in late February.
The show, which is free for visitors, is significantly bigger for 2014 with this year’s programme having incorporated suggestions from teachers as to how it should develop after 2013 (the debut year when 96 per cent of visitors said that the conference was “excellent” or “good”).
The theme of EICE this year is “Achievement through Innovation”. It is achievement that is critical and the event is designed to offer visitors advice, tips and ideas that will enable them to make the most out of existing innovation, as well as lead, teach and procure more innovatively.
The event has been designed from the perspective of teachers and school leaders. Clearly teachers need to spend most of their time teaching and senior leaders have only a limited amount of time for visiting conferences. This is why the event has been well-researched to ensure that the free sessions will provide visitors not only with useful CPD training, but with ideas that can be practically applied in the classroom.
Visitors to EICE will have a choice of more than 24 keynote seminars, 18 workshops and around 100 solution providing exhibitors. Speakers this year include David Brown, the national lead for ICT at Ofsted, educators Tim Rylands and Sarah Neild, Saul Nasse, controller of BBC Learning, Educating Essex headteacher Vic Goddard, ICT expert and broadcaster Russell Prue, and Bob Harrison, chair of the teacher-led computing expert group.
There will also be contributions from others including the Department for Education, Raspberry Pi Foundation, Institute of Education, SSAT, Naace, UK Safer Internet Council, Computing at School, Teaching Leaders, and Tablets for Schools.
The show is not just about showcasing the latest and greatest technology that delegates may or may not be able to afford for their schools. Some visitors may not be tech experts and EICE aims to help even the least confident educator to harness that technology through its series of “advice hubs” where you can garner expert opinion, support and guidance on topics such as:
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Digital literacy (e-skills UK).
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Management of data (AMiE).
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Computing in the new curriculum (CAS).
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Networks and IT (Edugeek).
Just as importantly, the event recognises the superb work that is already being done by innovative educators at a variety of levels. Many of our workshops and keynotes are delivered by serving teachers who have real, front-line experience of application of innovation. Education Innovation will offer accredited CPD sessions with topics including:
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Improving your Ofsted performance.
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Guidance on implementing the new curriculum.
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E-safety and dealing with cyber-bullying.
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Mobile learning, tablets and BYOD.
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Change-management and CPD training for the teaching of computing.
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Academy transfer and the effects upon innovation.
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Practical tips on using innovative resources.
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iPad training from Apple Distinguished Educators.
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The future of tablets and the implications for schools.
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Raspberry Pi and assessment.
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Software to support maths teaching.
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The use of music to improve writing.
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Supporting literacy with portable devices.
There are also the Education Innovation Awards, presented by the fabulous Russell Prue on the Friday afternoon, which will celebrate how schools have raised achievement though specific innovations.
As well as the formal sessions, Education Innovation fosters a climate of debate and discussion. We have several panel debates that fully welcome the input of delegates. There are TeachMeet style sessions on the Thursday (February 27) that extend into the evening for teachers that can’t get a full day out of lessons. Accompanied by sponsored drinks and nibbles, these sessions invite contributions from teachers on topics such as education policy and the use of social media. They include:
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WeTweetEd (sponsored by the Pearson Think Tank) focusing on education policy and social media.
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SLTeachMeet – focusing on school leadership.
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Raspberry Jamboree – focusing on use of Raspberry Pi in education.
Education Innovation is also proud to be co-located with a number of key events, including iThink therefore iPad? 2014, iThink Therefore iLearn?, Raspberry Jamboree 2014, GovernorLive, EdTech, WeTweeted6, and SLTeachMeet.
We know that time and resource are incredibly valuable for education professionals, but we have packed this event with free support, advice, training and ideas that will hopefully guarantee that a visit is more than worthwhile, whatever your level of confidence with technology and your views on innovation.
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David Ventris-Field is the event manager for the Education Innovation Conference and Exhibition.