It was quite a four days for this year’s INTERACEXpo. We travelled the length of the country, supported by 22 sponsors. We couldn’t host the event without them but, just as importantly, we couldn’t do it without you. More than 600 educators joined us to talk tech and make digital decisions. Here are just a few of the things you told us.
What’s currently on your digital radar?
When people registered to attend INTERFACEXpo, we asked them to identify what digital technologies issues were uppermost on their minds. The answers we received covered a range of topics, with finding new tools/resources for the classroom and upskilling both featuring prominently, followed by cybersecurity, updating devices and generally integrating DT into the curriculum.
“I want to continue to familiarise myself with new online tools and to become more confident in the regular use of online tools in education.”
“Finding ways to continue to embed good teaching and learning into classrooms and keep upskilling teachers.”
“Learning about new digital tools available for teaching.”
“Integration of the updated curriculum and using digital technology to support these updates and ensure we are covering the technology progress outcomes. Seamless transitions between year groups with using IT.”
“I’m in charge of our school TV channel. So, I am always looking for ways to add to our skill set and incorporate these skills into our episodes. My team teacher and I are also always looking for interesting digital resources to incorporating into our planning and how we deliver learning experiences.”
“Making effective use of digital tools available in the school and support other teachers to confidently incorporate digital technology in their everyday teaching.”
“There has been much interest and debate at our school over the impact of AI technology like ChatGPT, especially concerns around the authenticity of student work. Already there has been a range of opinion from complete catastrophe to extreme excitement at the potential the technology offers.”
“Cybersafety and as always interactive and engaging tools for students.”
“Cybersecurity is one of our biggest challenges, our school would like to make our network as safe as possible and to educate our students as much as we can for outside of school and for when they move onto college.”
“AI and negative impacts on academic honesty.”
“Use of AI in the classroom. How can we embrace this tool that is changing the face of education?”
“ChatGPT and its role in assessment practice in secondary schools.”
What are the biggest challenges?
It was probably no surprise that lack of ‘time’ and ‘money’ appeared most. But other topics that featured widely in people’s responses were teacher upskilling, cybersecurity and equitable access.
“The budget! The lack of budget for the e-learning/digital tech is very small and isn’t flexible enough.”
“Getting teachers on board and actively living and breathing the Digital Technologies Curriculum as an integrated part of their day-to-day teaching.”
“We’re working through what’s good and will work effectively in the class, and what’s just ‘pretty’.”
“Currently, upskilling staff. We have the knowledge and motivation in our team but haven’t got a solid solution how to upskill staff within our school.”
“Avoiding the wave of new gizmos and gadgets that flash by with lots of enthusiasm and little substance.”
“Getting teachers to understand the benefits of using digital technology in their classrooms – not just using it to let students publish their work.”
“Ensuring that all students have equitable access to modern and fit-for-purpose e-learning tools both a school and at home.”
Another challenge facing teachers is simply identifying the right tools for the job and separating the digital wheat from the chaff.
“Continuing to find ways to enable teachers to be confident and capable users of technology, so thatdigital learning becomes seamlessly incorporated into everyday learning.”
“Choosing which tools to focus on when there are so many to choose from and using those tools well, not just for the sake of it.”
“The gap in digital skills among teachers. Some are highly fluent with a disposition towards trying new things, others seldom engage with digital tools and a small number are resistant altogether.”
“Being able to maintain focus and not fall down a digital rabbit hole and also to be able to weed out fact from fake.”
Telling us what you thought of the event
When the event was done and dusted, we asked for delegates’ feedback (everyone who did, went into the draw to win a drone). We wanted people to be honest and we received a range of views and opinions. A few new things had been tried this year, so it was great to get everyone’s thoughts.
On the whole, it seems that delegates were pleased with how the days went, enjoying the atmosphere, speaking with sponsors, and taking away with them insights, inspiration and new information.
“It was a great day with excellent experts and workshops available, and good exhibits as well. Really enjoyed the range of options and expertise on offer.”
“The workshops I chose were great and so were the other speakers. It was good to hear someone talk about generative AI as I’ve read a little but it’s so confusing. They gave some simpler ways to think about it.”
“Excellent presenters. Good range of exhibits, lovely freebies, well organised.”
“The ability to talk with vendors and use their resources to check them out before we make purchasing decisions. It can be difficult to get this opportunity outside of a very expensive conference so it was great to have multiple vendors in one place that we could talk to and test out their resources.”
“It had everything I was hoping for, and I came away with a couple of gems I could immediately share with staff.”.
And the not so good
Of course, some things didn’t go quite so well for everyone, either on the day or in our planning. We’ll be taking stock of these comments, so we can improve and continue to bring you the best event possible.
“I felt like there were fewer vendors than in the past.”
“Often these expos are rushed, and I did feel that to be able to get to all the stands I had to skip a demo. I also feel that demos weren’t very interesting as to be either too basic or either rushing through various digital tools to be used.”
“I didn’t like it that we couldn’t hear well and some of the presentations had small print. That was a huge disappointment.”
“There’s a really good feel to the event but I wasn’t inspired by the lead speakers, or perhaps am just a bit ‘been there, done that’ on some topics, which is hard for you to do anything about.”
“Lots of information, but not enough time.”
“We were frustrated that we couldn’t hear all of the presenters.”
“Not being able to get around all the sponsors – I was talking too long to each.”
How was the half day format?
In 2022, with the restrictions and limitations of COVID, we introduced half-day events, so we could bring delegates through in smaller groups. It worked fairly well, and we decided to try half-day events again this year. We ran two, which allowed us to visit an extra location, making it four in total, instead of three. The thinking behind this was that it would take the event to more places and made it accessible to more people – but still keep and offer the overall Xpo feel and experience.
The feedback was mixed, the jury out. Some of you like the shorter days, some of you don’t.
“I felt it was a bit rushed. Perhaps after the last speaker there could have been more time for exploring the booths and networking.”
“I didn’t feel like I got enough time to process the workshops and/or the stands as the timing was quite tight. It would have been great to be able to ask more questions and get deeper into ideas.”
“I think it would have been better in a full day! More time to process and interact, and more time to engage with workshop presenters.”
“The half day format was great. Just enough time to listen to speakers and look at expo items.”
“Loved the half day format. Short but intense was great.”
“I like the half day format. With two hours travel both ways it makes it a doable day trip.”
Ideas, information and inspiration
Lastly, we asked what people took away with them from the day. What had they learned? What were they thinking?
“Just when you think you get a handle on technology something else comes along and the learning begins again!”
“Cybersecurity and the need to be vigilant is something I will take back to my school.“
“AI and the need to stay up to date with the rapid pace of change – and how it can be used for education.”
“There were many impressions made. Overall, I was inspired to explore some of the products for the school. I am looking into the digital classroom as a transformational area and how to inspire non-digiteachers to take up some skills.”
“The opportunities of AI in the classroom, the amazing range of tools that Google has to offer, the challenges of security for schools, and the ability of us as teachers to use digital tools in ways we haven’t thought of.”
“I came away feeling inspired to learn more and, I have to say, that’s a hard thing for anyone to gift to me as I’m in my 34th year of teaching, moved out of leadership and into Y7-8 Tech and almost left the profession. Am I getting a new lease on teaching life?”
Thank you to everyone who gave us feedback.
INTERFACE, August 2023