BETT, You Can Do That!

Last week was amazing! I had the opportunity to work at a few local schools and visit two new ones that are interested in my coaching and instructional services.

These days, I wear two hats at schools. The first is my “Bushcrafting” hat, a slightly weathered dark green cap that’s seen a lot of action. The second is my new navy blue Super Touch Schools cap, crisp and clean, which I wear for my latest venture, coaching Touch Rugby in schools.

Although Super Touch Schools is still a new brand, launched at the end of last year, the response has been fantastic. Every conversation we have about what we do and how we do it has generated positive feedback, and there’s a real excitement to get started with coaching the kids.

Touch Rugby is such a fantastic sport, and I’m incredibly passionate about it. I’ve been playing for nearly 10 years, competing regionally with some amazing players.

Recently I coined the hashtag #PLAYTOUCHPLAYSAFER, where SAFER stands for Simple and Safe, Accessible and Inclusive, Fitness and Focused, Engaging and Enjoyable, and Respect and Discipline.

Every school I speak to resonates with these values, seeing how well Touch Rugby fits into their Physical Education curriculum and helps get kids active.

One of the teachers I worked with this week had found out through LinkedIn that I used to work in education technology. She shared that her school had recently made the bold decision to introduce iPads, though not in a 1:1 ratio yet, they were aiming for that. She was struggling to get the ball rolling.

It’s been a while since I was in the tech space, so I gave my stock answer: “Engage with a trusted partner” to get the right support. But my curiosity got the better of me, and I asked a few open-ended questions to really understand what was going wrong, not to offer solutions, just to listen.

As we talked, I heard a lot of familiar terms: Simpler, Accessible, Focused… Hmm, where have I heard that before?

Coincidentally, it was also the week of the BETT event at ExCel London. I’ve written about my obsession with BETT before, and I still keep an eye on the event highlights on LinkedIn, staying connected with former colleagues and clients. Three years on, and I still feel like part of that world.

Watching the BETT event from afar, seeing familiar faces at familiar branded stands with familiar slides, I can’t help but ask some tough questions:

• How has technology use evolved since last year, or even the last three years?
• Is it easier for teachers to adopt technology in schools?
• Is technology actually accelerating learning in classrooms?

I know many people in my network could provide thorough answers, but I wonder how the teacher I spoke to would answer those same questions. Would BETT have helped her get things moving?

At Super Touch Schools, we run a full-day teacher workshop, mainly for PE Leads, where we give them an in-depth understanding of Touch Rugby, its history, rules, and application through hands-on activities. The goal is to empower teachers to confidently and competently deliver a Touch Rugby program in their schools. After one workshop, feedback showed a 275% increase in teacher confidence to teach the sport, from pre-workshop to post-workshop.

So, back to technology, what’s out there to help teachers build their confidence and competence in using tech? And how can it fit into their already packed schedules?

I love seeing familar faces of many of my former colleagues and customers at BETT, it reminds me that for the most part, that I miss the conversations I had with these fabulous and talented people!

Then, I reflect on my conversation with the teacher this week who was struggling to get things moving and not involved in the immersive BETT experience! How does BETT help her and many like her? I would like to think that BETT can do it somehow, someway.

I certainly do not have the answers to all of this, and if you have made so far along this read then thank you! It was just to share some thoughts and reflections.

I’ve coined another hashtag: #USETECHUSESAFER. SAFER stands for Simple and Safe, Accessible and Inclusive, Fit for Purpose and Focused, Engaging and Enjoyable, Reliable and Resilient.

Sending my best to you all.

And if your school is interested in Touch Rugby or Bushcraft provision, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here whenever you need me. :)

Tim