Speakers

Mind blowing tech in learning – AI, VR & AR,Blockchain

Donald looked at artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality and other amazing technologies in learning, always relating them back to real learning and learning theory. 

Artificial intelligence: its role in the future of learning

Google is one of the tools most often used by learners. Beyond this we have tools that use AI to create learning content and experiences, in realtime. Then we have adaptive learning systems that use AI to navigate learners through courses. On top of this there’s advances on online assessment through digital ID, face recognition and automated answer and essay marking.

Donald is an EdTech entrepreneur. He has worked in schools, vocational, higher, corporate and adult learning, delivering real projects to real learners. He has over 30 years experience in online learning, games, simulations, social media, mobile learning, virtual reality

Exploring The Culture Of Plagiarism Invading Education

This keynote presentation used stories from popular culture alongside research findings to lift the lid on the issues surrounding plagiarism in higher education. The presentation considered why creating a culture in which plagiarism is unacceptable is vital for the future of higher education and to ensure that students are equipped for success in the modern world.

Thomas is one of Europe's leading experts on student plagiarism, with over 30 research publications relating to plagiarism and cheating. His recent research work on contract cheating has featured widely in international media, including BBC, The Times and The Telegraph. A graduate from the University of Oxford, Thomas currently works as Associate Dean – Recruitment (Digital Technologies) at Staffordshire University in the United Kingdom.

EdTech 2.0

This presentation explored how to use EdTech to engage students in teaching and learning. Also how to create a EdTech culture over a long period of time which leads to greater impact and delivery in lessons. Mark explained that technology shouldn’t be the main focus, but the innovation and creativity behind the practice is the key.

Mark Martin is an outstanding educator with a proven track record of innovative and inspirational teaching. He is a Global Educator and is highly skilled in delivering bespoke training. Mark has also acted as consultant to a number of projects with Microsoft, Google, Intel, JP Morgan, Barclay's Bank, Tech City UK, Appshed, Academy Chains. Mark has presented a number of short sessions at The Bett Show 2013 and 2015 on using mobile technology in teaching and learning, as well as at the conference ‘New Technologies in Education 2016’.

What we're learning about teaching computing

This was a look at some of the lessons learnt about computing education by teachers in English schools. It's a survey of ten 'top tips' for effective computing pedagogy, linked to case studies of classroom practice and evidence from education research.

Coding across the curriculum

After a few thoughts on how technology can be used to enhance learning across the curriculum Miles provides a number of practical examples of how students can apply and develop their computer programming skills in other subject areas.

Principal Lecturer in Computing Education at the University of Roehampton in London. He spent 18 years in four schools, much time of the time as an ICT coordinator and most recently as a head teacher.

The use of touchscreens with pre-schoolers

Based on international evidence, Natalia has provided a comprehensive and easily accessible summary of the key benefits and limitations of using touchscreens with children aged two to eight years. Attention was paid to key novel affordances of tablets and smartphones for early education and effective pedagogies necessary for innovative practice.

Natalia Kucirkova is a lecturer at University College of London, UK.  Her research concerns innovative ways of supporting digital literacy and children’s use of digital technologies. She is the founding convenor of the Children’s Digital Books and Literacy Apps Special Interest Group of the United Kingdom Literacy Association. 

Institutional use and benefits of digital technologies 

Discussion of successful rollout of a wide range of digital technologies to support student education at Leeds, from a strategic and operational perspective, focussing on the impact on learning and learners; examples has included deployment of Europe’s largest automated lecture capture system, delivery of MOOCs to over 500,000 participants, use of mobile apps for live classroom polling etc.

Neil is Chair of Educational Technology, Innovation and Change in the School of Education and the Director of Digital Learning at the University of Leeds. He is a UK National Teaching Fellow, and has won a number of national awards for teaching excellence. He has a research background in neuroscience and current research interests in educational technology, online learning and blended learning. Neil is co-lead educator for the Blended Learning Essentials MOOC, which has attracted over 25,000 participants. 

What to do when they’ve had too much Scratch?

Scratch is successfully being used in primary schools worldwide to introduce children to programming. However, pupils can be become disengaged if the same programming environment is repeatedly used. During this session, we discussed a range of hardware and software to enhance pupils’ programs within in Scratch, in addition to alternatives to Scratch.

Neil is a Senior Lecturer in Computing Education at the University of Hertfordshire. He is also the Computing tutor on the Primary PGCE courses for both Brunel University and the University of Leeds. He has successfully prepared hundreds of trainee teachers for life in schools and delivered a diverse range of sessions.

Programming: passing trend or vital curriculum component

Discover why thinking skills are at the heart of coding and why exposing students to failure, ambiguity and complexity are some of the best things you can do for them. Phil took you on a journey to examine the anatomy of a programming project, the hurdles pupils overcome, lessons learnt and thinking skills gained.

20 Computing science lessons in 30 minutes

Phil shared 20 exciting computing science lessons which use computational thinking and doing. This wild breakneck ride certainly left you wondering why you haven’t started teaching computing science before.

Phil works for Hampshire County Council as a Computing Inspector/Advisor and Master teacher teaching for two days a week. He shares his learning journey on code-it.co.uk. He was involved in the drafting stages with writing the Computing National Curriculum in England.

Lecture Capture – is the customer always right?

Balancing a request from students for lecture capture with an institutional redesign agenda that values active, blended and personalised learning for our students on a new campus with no lecture theatres. 

Getting to ABLE: an institutional approach to active blended learning

At the University of Northampton, we are moving to a position where ‘active blended learning’ is the new normal. This keynote has considered the challenges and opportunities for us as we seek to develop Active Blended Learners and Educators.

Rachel is Head of Learning and Teaching Development in the Institute of Learning and Teaching at the University of Northampton, in the UK. Her role includes leading institutional projects to develop policy and practice that drive the University towards its strategic goals.

Learning from Exam Revision

This presentation will draw on learning design and student experience of assessment research to present a model for thinking about revision and discussion of key issues.

Simon is a lecturer at the Institute of Educational Technology at the Open University UK. His work is focused on several areas including assessment and badges, learning design, issues associated with adaptive and visualised learning, and open online learning. He is currently involved in several projects related to the OU's institutional Assessment Programme.