Learning and Teaching Scotland has announced that this year’s national information and communications technology show for teachers north of the border, SETT 2002, is to be extended to early years and further education staff.

The show, which is funded by the National Grid for Learning Scotland and sponsored by TES Scotland, will take place on September 25 and 26 at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow. It was attended by almost 2,500 primary and secondary teachers last year and is expected to attract more than 3,000 visitors this year.

Admission is free to all teaching professionals in the country. Visitors can register for one keynote presentation and two seminars at the conference run by LT Scotland and spend the rest of the day browsing round the accompanying ICT exhibition run by Emap Education, organisers of the BETT show in London. Late opening until 7pm on the first day will allow teachers who can’t get off school to attend.

Keynote speakers this year will include Alan November, an American leader in educational technology, whose talks were over-subscribed at last year’s show. Mr November, who was named one of the US’s 15 most influential thinkers of the decade in technology by Classroom Computer Learning Magazine, entertained hundreds with his anecdotes about young people’s use of new technologies and simple ways teachers can adapt. This year he talks about the role of the teacher in challenging students to manage their own learning.

Also from the United States, Meg Ormiston, president of Tech Teachers Inc, is a teacher and technologist whose aim is “to help other teachers make the most of technology in the classroom”. Her upbeat presenting style and practical examples are said to make her a perfect match for all teachers, regardless of their technology skill level. If your school has just been networked, the software and hardware are all in place and you’re asking “Now what?”, she will come up with some answers.

The UK’s own guru, Stephen Heppell, who is director of Ultralab at Anglia Polytechnic University, returns to Scotland to share his vision of creative children in a digital age. Professor Heppell has been described in The TES as “the man who is single-handedly doing more than any other to enlighten government thinking on the use of computers in schools”. His talk will be “generously illustrated with children’s work”.

Scottish researchers Professor Mary Simpson, of Edinburgh University, and Dr Rae Stark, of the University of Strathclyde, will reveal their findings on the impact of the national ICT initiatives in primary and secondary schools in a survey done for the Scottish Executive Education Department. Tony van der Kuyl, director of the Scottish Interactive Technology Centre, will report on a qualitative research project undertaken with 14 education authorities, which highlights the issues educationists need to address.

The seminars will cover learning from the early years through to further education, with plenty of ideas and illustrations of how best to use modern technology.

Nursery staff will find sessions on software for toddlers, programs to help children with English as an additional language and ideas for using digital cameras.

Primary, secondary and special school teachers can learn more about online support for the 5-14 curriculum and share in teachers’ experiences of using ICT. They can see applications for the latest digital technologies, from electronic whiteboards to hand-held computers, and hear about Scotland’s national schools intranet, “Teacher’s little helper”.

Further education lecturers, in addition to exploring the latest technologies for their classes, can find out how they can support primary multimedia developments.

A special feature at this year’s exhibition will be a central showcase for NGfL Scotland’s work, where teachers can try out the latest technologies for themselves or see them in operation. These include NGfL websites for early years, 5-14 and a new national qualifications site to be launched at the show; online learning activities including modern languages and virtual learning environments for the classroom such as Virtual Oil Spill and this year’s new All About Rubbish; and NGfL-funded CD-Roms, such as Tam O’Shanter and Healthy Kids. The showcase will also feature creative ways of using video-conferencing, and secondary school activities where, for example, a social studies hour could include computers running history and geography programs.

Last year’s exhibition attracted more than 60 hardware and software companies. This year’s is expected to feature around 80, making it Scotland’s largest ICT exhibition. With 72 seminars and four keynote lectures, all free, the event is regarded by the Scottish Executive and LT Scotland as a prime opportunity for continuing professional development.

Ticket hotline, tel 0870 429 4490. Programme, www.settshow.com