Learn about new technologies to inspire your learners - to use for remote learning and in the classroom.

You’ll also get the opportunity to meet other teachers and share what technologies have worked well for you, or the pitfalls you think others should avoid.

The Fab Lab team will also be sharing each month what they have been making and the creative projects that they have been working on with teachers at Sandwell College.

We welcome your suggestions on what tech for teaching you would like to know more about. Email us at fablab@sandwell.ac.uk.

Schedule:

4.30 - Welcome & introductions

4.40 - Main speaker

5.00 - Open discussion

5.30 - Finish

25th May:

Fab Lab’s Emerging Tech Demonstrator Ben Haddock will introduce you to the exciting world of smart apps & devices - and how you can use them to make your classes more interactive and engaging.

Ben will show you some quick and simple ways to make fun, interactive online activities for your class inside PowerPoint – as well as some easy smart apps that talk to your favourite programs and websites, to automatically do work for you and save time on your class admin.

You’ll also get the chance to see some of the Fab Lab’s brand new smart gadgets & innovations that are transforming how the Fab Lab is used as a teaching & learning space.

27th April

Fab Lab’s Emerging Technologies Demonstrator Ben Haddock will introduce you to the exciting world of artificial intelligence and how you can use AI apps on your phone to make marking quicker and easier.

Ben will show you some simple tricks with AI, such as how to quickly turn your handwriting into text - and some powerful new AI tools in Microsoft Office that can give students automatic feedback on their writing and presentation skills.

You’ll also get the chance to see some brand new AI that the Fab Lab has been building (and teaching!) - and how it stands to transform the way students and staff interact with a maker space.

23rd March:

Fab Lab’s Emerging Tech Demonstrator Ben Haddock will talk about the wonders of voice control – and how you can use voice assistants and voice-controlled apps on your phone to make marking and giving feedback easier. Ben will show you a simple, yet transformative new tool to leave voice notes inside your students’ exercise books – to help you save time when marking, and maybe even help you reclaim your weekend! We will also welcome guest speaker and Maths lecturer Chris Barnett, who will explain how he uses voice-controlled label printers within the College to quickly and easily provide feedback. You’ll also get the chance to see the Fab Lab’s brand new personalised voice assistant – which is transforming how students and staff interact and engage with the Fab Lab.

23rd February:

Fab Lab’s Emerging Tech Demonstrator Ben Haddock will talk about the exciting applications of Augmented Reality - and how you can use this new and engaging technology on your smartphone or tablet to add a new level of interactivity to your classes and bring remote learning to life.

Ben will show you how make your own 3D holographic cubes at home to use with your students – and will share with you some of his favourite apps and uses of AR technology for teaching. You’ll also get the chance to see some of the Fab Lab’s brand new futuristic ‘mixed reality’ smart glasses which are set to transform the way College carries out teaching and assessment.

26th January:

Fab Lab demonstrator Ben Haddock will talk about the wonders of Virtual Reality and how you can use this new, exciting technology on your mobile phone to make remote learning fun and accessible to everyone.

Ben will show you how to take students on virtual school trips to discover new cultures and places - and will also share with you some of his favourite apps to make remote learning more engaging and interactive.

You’ll also get the chance to see the Fab Lab’s brand new Virtual Reality equipment that teachers can use with their classes – and see how it’s transforming the way Sandwell College is delivering teaching.

Our open discussion topic this month is “Online and Remote Learning”, where you can share your experiences (good or bad!) and learn from others how they are using technology to deliver teaching during lockdown.

Future events:

22nd June: Virtual Reality for Beginners: How to set up a VR classroom

20th July: Smart glasses: Exciting new tech for assessments