Bedford, ITTE conference, 8th-10th July 2013

Debate the Role of Digital Technologies in Education

IT in Teacher Education (ITTE) UK Annual Conference

In association with IRIS Connect and LightSpeed.

 #itteorg

Mon 8 July – Wed 10 July 2013 at the Radisson Park Inn Hotel Bedford in Bedfordshire UK
45 mins by train from St Pancras Station, London.
20 mins by train from Luton Airport.

#itteorg

In these challenging and changing times ITTE members and their colleagues in school are warmly invited to network with other education professionals and debate the political, social and cultural issues that are impacting on the ways in which children learn about computing today in school and beyond. The themes are:

  • Initial Teacher Education – current developments;
  • Primary ICT: new curriculum and applications of ICT in the classroom;
  • Secondary: the computer science curriculum, cross curricular applications and ICT application to other subjects;
  • Whole school management issues: moving to the Cloud, Flipped classrooms, BYOT/BYOD etc;
  • Formal and informal CPD: digital technologies and professional learning – opportunities and challenges.

Sending in Abstracts

The deadline for 100-150 word abstracts is Ist June. Send 150 word abstracts to Alison Hramiak A.Hramiak@shu.ac.uk and Helen Boulton helen.boulton@ntu.ac.uk. Early Bird discounts are also held until the 1st June so book on the ITTE website: www.itte.org.uk.

The conference format

This is an inclusive & open conference.  We peer-review papers from academics, but we also aim to accept all abstracts from practitioners. We are aiming at flexibility for individual and group presentations: a 20 minute paper session, a single session of 30 minutes as a discussion/presentation or a symposium of 4/5 presenters or  a workshop session. Practitioner workshops are welcome. You can attend  for the whole conference or just one day.

Participants

International teacher educators, practitioners and other education professionals who are involved in ‘Computing’ in schools and teacher education will be well  placed to enjoy this conference which runs on from the World Conference for Computers in Education in Torun, Poland.

Programme highlights

A wide range of  stimulating speakers have accepted  the invitation to lead the debate.

    • Bob Harrison, National College for Teaching and Leadership, will be critiquing the new National Curriculum in Computing, in a keynote called “Past imperfect, present tense and future uncertain”. He will critically examine the foundations upon which the new Computing National Curriculum has been built and challenge some of the assumptions before updating colleagues on the current state of play on the public consultation.
    • Dr Noeline Wright will be speaking about ICT initial teacher education programmes in New Zealand which have won international acclaim.
    • Dr Michelle Selinger, Director of Education Practice, Cisco Systems, will be inviting delegates to reconceptualise technology-enhanced teaching and learning.
    • David Brown, OFSTED, will share his view of the national picture and the state of play, providing an Ofsted view of the current landscape. He will also talk about how OFSTED see the immediate future – the challenges and opportunities.
    • Paul Hyne, Deputy Head at George Spencer High School Nottingham, will turn our attention to whole school management issues. In his session he will look at the rationale behind the ‘bring-your-own-device’ option for increasing the use of technology by students. He argues that with many school tablet rollouts failing to deliver and costing huge amounts, BYOD is increasingly becoming the only option for schools.

    • Ian Lynch from the GEBOL project will explain the benefits of participation in learning by doing.

     

    Practitioner evidence

    The programme also includes events organised by MirandaNet Fellows with a particular emphasis on effective practice. Symposia are being planned on the new Computing curriculum from an international perspective; and, inclusivity and the value of digital technologies in SEN.

    A MirandaMod July 9th

    The MirandaNet Fellowship are partners in an EU project called HandsOn. In this context, in the afternoon of 9th July  1700-1800 GMT  they will be exploring how to teach about the use of digital technologies creatively in an international MirandaMod debate that will include some members of Computing in Schools. Those who cannot attend the conference will be able to join in online or view the video later.

    The debaters will be developing a multimedia mindmap as a way of presenting complex knowledge: each node providing a link to an annotatable display of more in-depth fully referenced knowledge. This  map will be a contribution to the Mapping Education Specialist knowHow (MESH)  project that provides access to subject specific research-based knowledge about classroom practice. About fifty maps are now being developed by practitioners that are expected to increase the power of the teachers’ voice in policy discussions in the same way that doctors use the Cochrane review. If you would like to get involved click here or email enquiries@MESHguides.org with MESH in the subject line. Include in the body of the text, the proposed title and a paragraph about the evidence which will underpin the guide and the findings which are relevant to educators. We encourage applications from those who have completed PhD/EdD/Masters theses and other major research projects or systematic reviews.

    The Gebol Project exemplifying our international links

    Gebol presentation screen

    The conference dinner

    The conference dinner on July 9th  is on a canal boat that will travel up the river Ouse through the historic market town of Bedford and beyond. The river is lined with gardens known as The Embankment and the boat will pass the medieval  Castle Mound.

    We are looking forward to hearing you in the debate.

    Christina Preston

    Conference organiser email christina@mirandanet.ac.uk

    The deadline for 100-150 word abstracts is Ist June. Send 150 word abstracts to Alison Hramiak A.Hramiak@shu.ac.uk and Helen Boulton helen.boulton@ntu.ac.uk

    Conference prices

    £395.00 ITTE member early bird rate = till 1st June

    The non-member rate + another £90 = £485.00 (Joining ITTE as a member for a year costs £80 )

     One day price for 9th July

    £90 conference fee = day rate: Boat dinner £45: B&B accommodation = £80 at the hotel

    Please register your attendance by using the booking form here:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZXWPTH8

    Once you have booked, you will received an invoice and further instructions, including a link to the online community, the programme and abstracts.

    Thanks to the conference sponsors, IRIS Connect and Light Speed who will be providing microphones and videoing keynotes and the MirandaMod.

     

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