REFLECTING ON THE BETT SHOW 2006
ULTRALAB, APPLE and the BBC Create at BETT.....
For the past five years Ultralab has worked in close collaboration with Apple Computer (UK) and various other project partners on the 'Create at BETT' stand, which is the biggest creativity stand at the show. The objective of the stand is to give attendees the chance to see how teachers and pupils use technology in a range of creative activities such as stop-frame animation, movie production, VJing and podcasting. Over the four day show BETT achieves 26,000 visitors, Ultralab's 'Create at BETT' stand is the only stand in the show fully staffed by young people, demonstrating their creativity with the objective to infect visitors with creative ideas while introducing people of all ages to the latest and greatest technologies. Ultralab's strong relationship with the BBC continued to grow with BBC Blast joining the stand for the first year providing the young people with a platform to 'celebrate their creativity' nationally through BBC Television and Online. Ultralab worked with sixteen children from King Harold School and Saffron Walden County High School.
The team from Ultraversity, Anglia Ruskin's fully online degree, powered by Ultralab were also on hand to support visitors in their interest in beginning the path to graduation while fully occupied by full time employment. Ultraversity currently has over 350 student-researchers studying for a BA Hons degree and is recruiting for its fifth intake in March this year.
In the NAACE lounge Jane Down, one of Ultralab's learning facilitators demonstrated 'Podcasting' to Naace members for the duration of the show while broadcasting live onto the internet. Sean Thornton and Jason Williams from Anglia Ruskin's Media Production unit were also on hand to film the 'Create at BETT' stand with TV quality cameras on behalf of BBC television. The footage captured will be available on BBC2 in November as part of the learning zone. Roger Clark from the Faculty of Science and Technology also attend the show securing more interest in Anglia Ruskin's award winning multimedia course, Ultralab look forward to further collaborations on Roger's exciting new initiative.
Richard Millwood who Directs Ultralab was pleased with Ultralab's involvement once again in the show, Richard reflects:
The show is the premier opportunity for professionals in education to meet and network. Ultralab are proud to develop our partnership with Naace, who's objective is to 'advance education through ICT' and to listen to and work with their members to promote Anglia Ruskin's online degree programme and to demonstrate our leadership in eLearning, digital creativity and working with young people. I would especially like to thank Maureen Gurr, who co-ordinates this event for us.
Examples of material produced at the BETT show can be found here: www.createatbett.org.uk