Artificial intelligence and its potential applications were the most frequently discussed and showcased topics during the three days of the 2024 Bett Show, the world’s largest education and technology event, held last week in London. But the main message is that these technologies should lead to efficiency gains that allow teachers and students to have more time to develop the skills that make us human.

João Carlos Goia, a manager at Senac, says, for example, that he enjoyed a lecture in which an artist talked about his creative process. “Creativity is important, for example, for problem-solving and dealing with unexpected situations by understanding the possibilities within that context,” he explained.

But the trade show is also a place to discover new trends. “Everywhere you go, you gain new insights,” says Goia. He also noted that interactive TV will eventually replace projectors in classrooms. The products are increasingly tailored to the realities of the classroom. “It’s good for us to think about what’s worth investing in—and to invest wisely,” said the Senac representative.

Regarding the presentations, Marina Dalben, CEO of Edify Education, said she witnessed interesting discussions about how AI tools can boost productivity and free up teachers’ time for activities where their presence in front of students is essential. “Here, as in Brazil, we’re facing a teacher shortage. Technology must be seen as an ally,” she said.

Not all experiences, however, can be directly transferred to Brazil. “We clearly see certain cultural differences. Brazilian students are not very independent when it comes to using certain tools, unlike their European and Asian counterparts. To successfully adopt certain technologies, we’ll need to explore these issues of independence further—both on the part of the students and the teachers,” Marina explained.

After three intense days, the Bett Show in London concluded its 2024 edition this Friday, the 26th. Brazil was represented at the event by a delegation of more than 190 members, including educators, administrators, leaders, government officials, and executives from companies in the education sector. The group had the opportunity to explore all the solutions, initiatives, and presentations featured throughout the week, in addition to taking technical tours of leading educational institutions in the United Kingdom and participating in other special activities with Google and Samsung.

The Bett UK Delegation received support from Edlatam Alliance and Systemic Bilingual, and partnered with the British Consulate General, Google for Education, and Samsung.

Next up is Bett Brasil, the largest event for innovation and technology in education in Latin America, which will take place April 23–26 at Expo Center Norte in São Paulo. To learn more and register, click here.

 

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