#228 - How a £7.6m immersive technology dome is bringing university, schools and workplaces together
Release Date: 07/21/2021
#314 Decentralized Power: Fueling the AI Revolution
The Edtech Podcast
In this episode, we welcome Edward Fitzpatrick, CEO of Conflow Power, to discuss the revolutionary "iLamp." Edward explains how he is transforming the humble street light from a "dumb," single-use utility into a smart, multi-functional device likening the shift to the evolution from a simple watch to a smartphone. He details the groundbreaking battery technology behind it, which allows these lamps to function off-grid by harvesting ambient energy, effectively creating a self-sustaining power source on every street corner. The conversation expands into the critical intersection of energy and...
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#313 Bett: Lightening the Admin Load, Strengthening Human Connection
The Edtech Podcast
In this episode, we explore the intersection of technology, scalability, and human connection. We begin with Peter Lancet from My Trencher, who discusses the "numbers game" university career services face. He explains how his platform provides an "operational layer" that allows small teams to support thousands of students, moving from reactive advice to strategically identifying and assisting those most at risk. The conversation then deepens with Doug Delpha, a Professor at the University of Strasbourg and AI Engineer. Doug advocates for a return to the "Aristotle and Plato" style of...
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#312 120 Million Users: Canva’s Local Vision
The Edtech Podcast
In this packed short episode, we sit down with Matt from Canva on Day 3 of Bett 2026 to discuss how the platform has exploded to serve over 120 million monthly active teachers and students worldwide. Matt walks us through the "magic" of their latest features, including his personal favorite, Magic Sort. He explains how this AI-powered tool can instantly organize messy classroom brainstorming sessions into structured topics and documents with just two clicks, offering a massive time-saving advantage for busy educators. The conversation also dives into Canva’s ambitious vision for 2026:...
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#311 Bett 2026: Resilience, Credibility, and Evidence
The Edtech Podcast
We kick off this final day at Bett UK 2026 with a splash of joy as Dr. Ali Struthers and James from Taskmaster Education take us inside the "Taskmaster Club." They discuss how the beloved TV format is being used to assess the "unmeasurable" skills like collaboration, lateral thinking, and resilience while teaching children valuable life lessons about fair play and understanding that "not everyone is a winner". Turning to the structural side of education, we navigate the complex world of professional standards with Andy Donachie from The CPD Group, who issues a critical warning about the surge...
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#310 From Reading to Robotics: Transforming Assessment at Bett
The Edtech Podcast
We begin this episode with Andrew from the National Literacy Trust, who unveils the "National Year of Reading" campaign in response to a sharp decline in reading enjoyment among children. Andrew argues that in an AI-first world, literacy is more vital than ever, and shares how connecting texts to students' passions from gaming to sports can rekindle their "reader identity." Next, Connor Gaitley from Edmentum shifts the focus to "career-connected learning." Connor discusses how tools like Major Clarity are helping students explore diverse future pathways whether university or apprenticeships...
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#309 Bett UK 2026: Bringing Joy to Digital Assessment
The Edtech Podcast
We open this episode with Vicky Merrick, who shares insights from her groundbreaking pilot projects on collaborative assessment. Vicky explains how "comparative judgment" is revolutionizing subjective subjects like Art and Music, allowing teachers to achieve high statistical reliability by comparing student work rather than deciphering complex rubrics. Following Vicky, Mark House from RM broadens the discussion to the "global conundrum" of assessment in the age of AI. Mark argues that we must "measure what we treasure" rather than letting technology dictate values, emphasizing the importance...
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#308 LEGO at Bett UK: Safe AI for Classrooms
The Edtech Podcast
Live from the energy of Day 2 at Bett UK, we sit down with Andrew Slawinski, Lead of Product Development for LEGO Education, to discuss how they are empowering teachers to become "superheroes" every week. The conversation centers on the launch of LEGO Education Computer Science and AI, where Andrew passionately advocates for moving past the "hype" of chatbots. Instead, LEGO is focused on teaching the fundamentals of AI such as probability, bias, and machine representation demystifying the technology so students see it not as "magic," but as a tool they can take apart, understand, and build...
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#307 AI, Wellbeing, and Inclusion at Bett UK 2026
The Edtech Podcast
We kick off this special episode with Lord Jim Knight, who shares his powerful perspective on the "moral panic" surrounding technology in schools. Rather than banning devices, Lord Knight advocates for a more nuanced approach balancing safety with agency and explores how AI can revolutionize assessment through methods like the "viva" to support lifelong learning and inclusion. Next, we sit down with Jez and Jon from YouHQ to discuss their journey from a simple goal-setting idea to a comprehensive wellbeing platform used in nearly 200 schools globally. They reveal how their tool has evolved...
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#306 Google at Bett: Gemini 3.0 Transforms Education
The Edtech Podcast
Live from the floor of Bett UK 2026, we sit down with Shantanu, who leads product and engineering for Google for Education, to discuss how AI is moving from "promise to practice" in classrooms worldwide. Shantanu reveals how Google is prioritizing educator control and student data privacy while rolling out powerful tools like Gemini 3.0, which is now accessible for free to education institutions. From the "LearnLM" initiative that fine-tunes models with learning science to new features in Google Classroom that can turn content into audio lessons, we explore how technology is being designed to...
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#305 Bett UK 2026 : Inclusion, Real Schools, Practical Impact
The Edtech Podcast
Live from the bustling floor of BETT UK 2026, this special episode weaves together three distinct perspectives on nurturing student potential. We kick off with Kerry Weston from the world-renowned BRIT School, who shares how they are "wedging in" digital innovation alongside traditional arts. Kerry discusses the ethical collision of AI and creativity, the concept of "vibe coding," and why human connection remains the unshakeable core of their curriculum. Next, we are joined by Joanna Gibbs, founder of SENsational Tutors, Ltd. Joanna takes us through her diverse journey from supporting...
info_outlineStill on Summer Break (!), but another in-person recording to celebrate f2f!
This time, I'm in conversation with Lindsey Hall Chief Executive Real Ideas Organisation at the VIP opening of the Devonport Markethall in Plymouth.
Lindsey is a NESTA Cultural Leadership fellow, an INSEAD graduate, a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Trustee of Kernow Education Arts Partnership and Plymouth Culture, member of Plymouth Growth Board and one of the WISE100 social enterprise leaders. During the COVID pandemic, she has advised the Government on the role of social enterprises both socially and economically during a time of extreme isolation.
In this episode we chat about how listeners can get involved with the MarketHall 15metre immersive dome - both in terms of content creation, engaging students, and developing workplace practice. This is a really interesting collaboration project, surfacing University expertise, and connecting schools, workplaces, technologists and artists together.
Developed by Real Ideas Organisation, in partnership with Plymouth City Council and the Institute of Digital Art and Technology at University of Plymouth, the Market Hall is a £7.6m project which will create a new space for digital, especially those working in immersive and creative applications of technology.
Plus, stick around to the outro, to find out about our new self-paced course for launching a podcast - out at the end of Summer 2021.