26,000 Steps Through BETT 2025: A Dive into EdTech's Future

26,000 steps, six hours of sleep and two intense days at the biggest Edtech event here in the UK, along with an inspiring awards evening.? Bett 2025 did not disappoint.? I attend for two days and it was a whirlwind!

This year, I continued to be struck by the impact that Artificial Intelligence (Ai) is having upon the education sector.? Its influence is extending into every corner of our lives, reshaping the world at an extraordinary pace. From AI to robotics to extended reality, the scope of innovation I observed was awe-inspiring.

With so much going on, I kept coming back to the same thought about AI – “Teaching about AI” and “Using AI to support teaching”, such as in reducing teacher workload. I’ve previously explored the former topic in an article on Medium, where I shared resources to support educators in teaching about AI effectively. It’s an area that I feel is increasingly vital as we prepare learners for a tech-driven future.

A particular highlight was the Inclusion Zone, albeit a brief visit, which I experienced for the first time. It was a heartening reminder of the importance of creating equitable spaces in tech, where diversity and accessibility are at the forefront. It left me inspired and optimistic about the future of inclusive technology.

The BETT awards continued to be a fantastic celebration of the best in EdTech. As a BETT Awards judge, I have a deep appreciation for the incredible talent and innovation in the sector. Watching the category finalists being announced and seeing the winners celebrate their achievements is always a joyous moment. It was inspiring to witness how much hard work and dedication goes into creating solutions that drive real impact in education and technology.

So what caught my attention??

• The Scan Computers stand taught me about visual production techniques such as those originally used in the film, The Mandalorian, a great ?link to games development and a reminder of the diverse pathways into the industry.
• In the start up zone I came across Dirty Word – the ELearning magazine, a new magazine which I am still reading with interest.?
• Another in the start-up zone, which I was impressed by was Pixella, and their Drone programming - a product designed to teach coding, teamwork and collaboration - definitely another one to watch!

Continuing on, I also came across:

• The Zoe immersive 3D platform, designed for online education, homework, and revision.
• The Meta stand showcased Ray-Ban smart glasses and highlighted exciting possibilities for smart glasses, something I explored in a previous article when I first tried them a few years ago. Also from Meta are headsets which could facilitate virtual field trips in education.?

However, I would also wonder about how realistic this is given costs and the constraints on the majority of school budgets. Cost is a significant barrier to equity and I find myself reflecting on how we can overcome this challenge.

Some of the other stands that I explored were:

• The Wakelet stand, yes I am late to the Wakelet party, but such a great tool for organising all of your links and also having visual representation.? I am now a convert.
• The Grammarly stand, was of interest, it showcased how AI-powered plagiarism detection is being integrated into their platform. This is one to watch as it is a hot topic and seeing how it evolves is of great interest.?
• I missed out on designing an image for my own bag on the Canva stand, it was popular and the queues very long!? Instead I learnt a bit more about Canva Affinity, a design tool, that can be used for editing photos to complex graphic and vector design.? You can explore more on Canva Affinity through sessions runs by CANVA for Education partner – EduThing.
• One to watch, who were also Bett Award finalists were EduCake – an online homework and revision platform along with assessing learning that is mapped to awarding bodies and the national curriculum.
• I had an enlightening conversation at the TP-link stand about managing networks. It took me back to my early career, where I worked with hardware, running cables for a County Council, dealing with BNC connectors, Ethernet networks and server rooms. While I’ve been out of practice for decades, it made me reflect on how we teach networking in classrooms today. Are we bringing the real world into the curriculum? For instance, do students know where the wireless access points in their school are and what they do? I believe it’s vital to connect classroom learning with practical, real-world applications.?

Of course, I can’t recount everything I saw and experienced over the two days, but these are just a few snapshots. There’s so much I’m still exploring and the sheer wealth of innovation on display was inspiring.

As an education consultant, I explored many advancements in tools and discovered innovative products aimed at transforming teaching and learning. Also I did lots of networking and those conversations will continue well into this year with potential for collaborations.

The potential for technology to make education more impactful is immense. As the founder of Technology Books For Children, a charity with a mission to foster a love of reading for pleasure on tech topics felt more relevant than ever. Engaging with book vendors and exploring the intersection of literacy and technology, gave me a bit more resolve to keep growing the charity as books have a ?critical role to play in demystifying tech for young learners.

Looking ahead to BETT 2026, I’m excited about the possibilities, Edtech is a big space and there is lots to consider.? I wonder if my 2025 predictions that I made in this article for TechRound will prove to be correct!

Thanks for reading, when you are ready here are ways that you can work with me:

Other ways in which you can work with me:

1. Book me to speak at your event?– and hear my talk – From humble beginnings to award winning success
2. Book me as your resource writer/guest blogger/writer
3. Book me to host your event as a role model
4. Work with me as your non-executive director/education consultant/strategic advisor
5. Work with me as your coach?(individually or organisation)

OR…reach out with a new exciting opportunity!? Progress comes from embracing new experiences and I am ready!

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