TeachMeet Takeover - what do I get out of it?!
I had a really interesting conversation earlier today with @digitalmaverick about the TEDxOrenda, AmplifiED and the two Teachmeet events taking part next week (with the BETT show as a supporting act!). One of the things that we talked about was what suppliers get out of sponsoring the TeachMeet Takeover events. Now if one person wonders why, then that usually means there are more! I can't speak for everyone, but from my perspective, this is what I think Scholastic get out of offering up stand space at BETT.
I have been visiting and exhibiting at BETT for ten years now. The BETT show is one of nearly 100 different shows I have been a part of, and I have to say it is the one that traditionally feels the least practical. At BETT, I usually spend a lot of time talking to very interested consultants and advisors (and I like doing so), but I don't spend a lot of time talking to teachers. My feeling is that as the stands are much more corporate than at the other shows, it is much more serious; and to get people to be excited to come back time and time again it needed something different.
To me, when I came across TeachMeet, it felt like the perfect solution. To have teachers standing up and talking to other teachers about what gets them excited would be just the sort of thing that would lift the show. Think about it - every year, we see the 'classroom of the future' - how many teachers are in that classroom? It is crammed with technology, but an interactive whiteboard doesn't make a great teacher. A great teacher uses all the tools they can get their hands on - including the wonderful interactive whiteboards!
In case you don't know - Scholastic publish magazines and resources which are designed to save you time and inspire. Our aims are the same as yours - to enable you to do what you want to do - teach. If Scholastic can provide space where teachers can be themselves, where they can inspire and be inspiring, to help you do what you want to do - teach, then we have done our job.
I am delighted that we can be a part of the amazing events next week. I follow some amazing people on twitter who inspire me on a daily basis, and for that I am eternally grateful - I can't wait to meet you all in person!
Posted on Thursday, Jan 7, 2010
