Barbara Landsberg, AsiaPac Education Manager

Free Professional Development at EduTech, Sydney

The annual EduTech Conference is kicking off soon and the Australian-based Texthelp team will be onsite at the International Convention Centre on Sydney’s picturesque Darling Harbour. With over 10,000 attendees, we look forward to catching up with many old friends while meeting new faces to learn about their educational technology journeys too.

One of the huge drawcards of EduTech is that so much is available for free for visitors. Not just the expansive Expo Hall featuring over 250 technology suppliers (Texthelp included) but some great professional development sessions are presented free of charge on the Expo Main Stage throughout the two days of the event.

Adding to the excitement for EduTech this year is the return of Sir Ken Robinson, an international expert on education and creativity. I remember sitting on the floor outside his presentation room for two hours at an ISTE Conference in San Diego some years ago, just to ensure that I had a place in his presentation. It was definitely worth the wait as he shared insights like the following.

“Some of the most brilliant, creative people I know did not do well at school. Many of them didn’t really discover what they could do - and who they really were - until they’d left school and recovered from their education.” - Sir Ken Robinson

Texthelp’s themes at EduTech this year solidly resonate with this message. We will be presenting sessions around “Personalising Learning for ALL Students”. Acknowledging that no-one-size-fits-all in education and exploring strategies that ensure all students are given access to the tools they need for them to successfully and confidently “show what they know”.

A glimpse of our ‘Personalising Learning’ Presentations at EduTech

Fiona Thomas (Texthelp’s Teaching and Learning Specialist)
Discover how students of all ages can improve their organisation and study skills through the study aids available to them within Read&Write.
Thursday 6th June
10.30am - 11.00am

Apps and Tools for Making Thinking Visible
Kimberley Hall (EdTechTeam)
Learn how to enhance learning by documenting student thinking, structuring ideas and information; and reflecting on that which is made visible.
Friday 7th June
1.30pm - 2.00pm

The Power of Digital Tools in Reading Reflection
Greg O’Connor (Texthelp’s AsiaPac EdTech Manager)
Learn how Read&Write can help students reflect upon and actively evaluate text that they are reading – enhancing comprehension and understanding.
Friday 7th June
3.00pm - 3.30pm

Even more free Professional Development

This is just a sample of the awesome PD we are presenting for you at EduTech. This year we are teaming up again with the Australian and New Zealand EdTechTeam in our combined Teaching Theatre on booths 433 and 435 for two full days of workshops. View the full schedule of presentations here!
 

Final thoughts

To quote Sir Ken Robinson again.

“Education and training are the keys to the future. A key can be turned in two directions. Turn it one way and you lock resources away; turn it other way and you release resources and give people back to themselves.”

Join us at EduTech to explore technology-infused teaching and learning strategies that ensure the key for your students is turned in the right direction.