Just got back from BETT. The biggest learning technology show in the world apparently. It certainly felt like it walking around. Although it's mainly geared towards schools there was plenty of weird and wonderful stuff of interest to higher education. The main areas of focus this year seemed to be e-portfolios and podcasting. Futurelab had some interesting things to say about portfolios and PLEs (Personal Learning Environments) with their Learners' Charter. On the podcasting front Podium looks to simplify creating and distributing podcasts. Something completely different is Crazy Talk, which allows you to turn any photograph into an animated talking actor. Not quite sure how useful it will be at the moment but its good fun to play with.They are just three of the hundreds of things I looked at and I'm still ploughing my way though the masses of literature and software that I picked up - training materials and resources from Microsoft, lesson planners, mind mapping software, Smartboard lessons......... I think it will keep me busy for a while.
