Duncan Verry
Portfolio Director, Bett
Duncan Verry, Portfolio Director at Bett, discusses how the educational community is making a real difference to teachers and students by discussing shared challenges and investigating the latest edtech solutions.
What’s your assessment of the education landscape?
Education systems around the world have been under pressure for a while, and certainly post-Covid. They have felt underfunded and under-resourced because it’s not just money that’s an issue. More people are leaving the profession, so there’s a global shortage of teachers.
How is technology, and particularly AI, changing education?
There’s no doubt that tech — used in the right way and with the right training — can save teachers time and contribute to advances in learning. Companies are producing edtech with teachers for teachers now, so it’s more robust and easier to use. As for AI, it can relieve administrative burdens within the sector. Traditionally, school staff would sit in a room for a long time sorting out timetables for large cohorts of students. AI tools can now complete the same task in nanoseconds. There are also big opportunities for AI to personalise learning.
What is Bett UK?
It’s a one-stop event for the global educational community attended by school leaders, educators, policymakers and technology vendors. Across three days we welcome 30,000 people — 44% of whom come from outside the UK — and 600 exhibitors. We also have a range of speakers who, this year, include racing driver Nicolas Hamilton (brother of Lewis Hamilton) and Stephen Fry.
Companies are producing edtech
with teachers for teachers now.
Why do educators attend the event?
Because the answers to all of education’s challenges can be found in that room. Teachers might want a practical solution for a particular problem. It could be an education technology product to use in their classroom, or it might be a piece of learning from a seminar or content session. School leaders attend because they’re looking to understand new education trends, future-proof their school and optimise the teaching workforce.
How important is upskilling teachers to use technology?
It’s vital. That’s why we’re running over 40 Tech User Labs, where tech vendors show educators how to get the best from their solutions and tap into functionality that they may not be using. We also record demonstrations from vendors and upload these online.
Do educators get a chance to network?
That’s what our TableTalks are for. These are sessions that connect groups of between five and eight educators from schools, colleges, universities and governments and enable them to discuss a particular topic for 45 minutes. Actually, the entire three days are a chance for educators to network with their peers and forge great partnerships.
