Last year’s Handheld Learning conference at Goldsmith’s College, London, was the UK’s first such event, and was a resounding success, more than doubling its projected capacity in the final run-up to 400 delegates over two days. The following eight months has seen an upsurge in school pilots for handheld computers for curriculum work, including ambitious schemes in Bristol and Durham, which has prompted a second conference, this time at the larger Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster during October (12-13) in association with the Department of Education and Skills (DfES).
The speaker line-up has correspondingly grown, with DfES director of technology Michael Stevenson delivering the opening keynote address, and appearances by Professor Stephen Heppell, Microsoft chief technology officer Jonathan Murray, Valerie Thompson from the e-Learning Foundation, Tony Parkin, of the Specialist Schools and Academy Trust, and Vanessa Pittard, director of evidence and evaluation with government ICT agency Becta.
Themes include: Building Schools for the Future; personalised learning; 1:1 ICT access; evidence and evaluation; games and learning; and how to raise funds and run pilots.
Organiser Graham Brown-Martin, of Handheld Learning Ltd, said: “I’m delighted that we have managed to bring together a spectacular cohort of thought and ‘next practice’ leaders to discuss the role of mobile technologies to enhance learning and teaching that will once again act as a catalyst for ICT mobility.”
Graham Brown-Martin expands his vision for mobile learning on our Web Extras section at www.tes.co.ukonline.
Delegate places cost pound;195 before June 31, then pound;225. However, some schools may be eligible for subsidised places at pound;145 through the e-Learning Foundation, but must apply before June 31.
www.handheldlearning.co.ukelf
* For more information about Handheld Learning 2006 visit: www.handheldlearning.co.ukhl2006
* The TES has 10 free delegate passes to give away to the first readers who email tes@handheldlearning.co.uk
