We are really pleased to announce that we have been shortlisted in three yes three categories for this year’s Bett awards. The prestigious awards, which are a key part of the educational technology year, are awarded at a gala ceremony during the annual Bett Show in January.
Our first shortlisted category is for Primary Content for Space Adventures, this unique and engaging cross curricular resource is based around an original story commissioned by LGfL by the award-winning author Cath Howe. It features dramatic content and a virtual reality experience linked to the narrative. The resource features a comprehensive set of resources for Maths, Literacy, Science and Computing and is also LGfL’s most accessible yet with text transcripts, audio books, flashcards and subtitled videos.
Max Wainewright author of computing resources for Space Adventures
"It’s great to see a cross curricular resource that encourages creativity recognised in these awards. Many elements of this resource have been developed by teachers working in London classrooms. Its fantastic that the work of London teachers and resource makers have been identified.”
Our second shortlisted category is for Secondary content for Explore Geography, this resource produced in association with Inspyro, uses augmented reality to convey Geographical concepts and is directly mapped to the National Curriculum. This resource is designed to help students and teachers understand a range of fundamental geographical principles and ideas that some students find difficult to grasp.
Phil Birchnall - Inspryo Managing Director
‘We’re thrilled to be shortlisted, along with LGfL for a Bett Award. Partnering with LGfL has brought AR and VR to thousands of pupils across the capital and beyond. LGfL’s commitment and leadership in this area has enabled us to focus on developing for outcomes in the classroom, levering the growing capabilities of immersive technology on devices accessible to schools. The VR champions programme now brings Avantis / ClassVR into the mix with their world first VR headset and classroom management system. As we reflect on the success of being shortlisted, we are looking forward with excitement to projects that we are already working on alongside LGfL and pushing the boundaries further.’
Our final shortlisted category is for Free Digital content or Open Educational resources for Managing a Sudden death in the school community produced in association with Child bereavement UK. The resource aims to provide an accessible support gateway to the effective response to a sudden death within a school community. Child Bereavement UK are experts in supporting a school faced with bereavement within the school community. Through their work they have identified some of the key barriers for school in responding appropriately and quickly to the needs of those affected by a bereavement. By working in partnership with LGfL, this open access portal has been designed to address those barriers by bringing the key information to schools in both video and text format with a quick and accessible interface.
Ann Rowlands - Child Bereavement Uk
“Child Bereavement UK have greatly valued the opportunity to work with LGfL, drawing on their experience in online technology to create this resource for schools. Every day our national helpline takes calls from schools who face the challenging situation of manging a sudden and unexpected death in the school community. Being able to link them to this resource which gives easily accessible guidance through the use of short video answers to key questions can help manage the pressures for school leaders and make a significant difference as to how this experience impacts on both pupils and staff ”
Bob Usher - LGfL Content Manager
"It is a privilege to work with such a committed and highly skilled range of partners to bring innovative new learning resources and teacher support materials to the wider educational community in the UK. Our three nominations cover an eclectic range of topics and feature the latest techniques in integrating augmented and virtual reality into everyday teaching and learning. It is particularly important to have secured the recognition for the partnership activity with Child Bereavement UK; sadly this is a challenging issue for many schools across the UK each and everyday. Our work with our CBUK partners to help teachers, children and parents with managing sudden death within a school community is entirely in keeping with our charitable aims at LGfL and our aspiration to help all children succeed while promoting well being for the whole school community."
Congratulations to all those companies and schools who have been shortlisted, the ceremony will take place on 23rd January 2019.