Over a hectic four days, members of the element14 team have been present at the ISTE Conference in San Antonio, where the BBC micro:bit was officially launched in the USA and Canada.
The event was packed with a constant stream of interested and knowledgable students, teachers and parents, plus representatives from major global tech companies and initiatives, all showcasing their latest products and collaborations. Global educational leaders gave inspiring talks on the importance of providing the next generation with the tools they need to thrive in coding and programming. Initiatives such as Fair Chance Learning and also delivered keynote presentations on providing better, more effective training for teachers.
One of the most exciting aspects of the conference was seeing just how many different tools and platforms are available to all age groups, from small children through to parents, educators and adults who wish to improve their own coding and programming skills. These are the tools that are going to help the next generation to shape our future, and it's crucial that people at all stages of life have the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in technologies that have the potential to benefit us all.
At element14, we're proud to be part of this exciting technological eco system through our work with companies such as micro:bit, Raspberry Pi, Beagleboard and much more. Events like ISTE aren't just good networking opportunities - they're a healthy reminder that collaboration and partnership between global tech leaders and independent startups and initiatives are crucial to delivering resources and support to the education sector.
"As the lights dimmed on the final day of the event, our stand was still inundated with visitors right down to the wire" reflects Adam Hurst, element14's Global Business Development Director.
"It's been a truly memorable, exhausting, informative and uplifting four days, and we left the event filled with confidence about our future in the world of education and STEAM. There is still a lot to be done, but we are highly encouraged by the success of ISTE and looking forward to what the next year will bring - including even more advances in technology to help accelerate STEM growth in education and secure a brighter future for our children."
You can read part one of our ISTE report here.
