IT & Computing
Recognition for educational technology
Working with BESA The Secretary of State for Education has chosen to work with BESA and its members to help deliver the Department for Education’s EdTech ambition. This vision is to help school leaders use technology to enable improved education outcomes, efficiencies, and a better workload balance for their school teams. In order to meet these ambitions, BESA will shortly be launching two exciting new initiatives called LendEd and LearnEd. LendEd is a new online portal, currently under development, that will offer free advice, guidance and expertise to schools BESA is working closely with the Department for Education looking for information and inspiration to deliver its EdTech ambition, which is to help school on innovative EdTech solutions. This free leaders use technology to improve education outcomes, to use service will be launched in the new year at the Bett Show in London. efficiencies and achieve a better workload balance The second initiative is LearnEd – a joint This summer, the Education Secretary Damian teaching practices; effective and efficient BESA / DfE EdTech roadshow which will Hinds called on the technology industry to help assessment processes, teacher training shortly be coming to a venue near you. tackle the issues facing schools and teachers, and development; administration The concept, created by BESA improving teaching and slashing workload. processes; and solutions to in partnership with the DfE, Damian Hinds said: “Schools, colleges lifelong learning such as comes after Damian Hinds’ LendEd and universities have the power to choose online learning in later life. announcement this the tech tools which are best for them In the coming months, summer of the need for a new o is and their budgets. But they cannot do the Department industry to partner with portal, nline c this alone. It’s only by forging a strong for Education will government and schools u r r e u ntly nder de partnership between government, technology be working with in bringing about a that wi velopment, innovators and the education sector that businesses and digital “revolution” ll offer there will be sustainable, focused solutions schools to ensure they in classrooms across free advice, which will ultimately support and inspire have the infrastructure the country. g u i d anc and exp the learners of today and tomorrow.” in place to be in a BESA’s EdTech ertise toe The DfE highlighted five key opportunities position to implement members are some of the schools for the sector to create a step change in some of this technology most trusted and high-quality education, improving teaching and slashing to improve the school day EdTech suppliers in the UK. workload. These include developing innovative for both pupils and teachers. BESA feels that a collaboration E Volume 23.8 | EDUCATION BUSINESS MAGAZINE
51
