I spent the last week at the schoms annual conference at the University of Birmingham.
The Monday (24 June) was the Training Day - which was run in conjunction with AVIXA.
From Extron (Tony Patterson & Daniel Gallant) I took away that USB-C requires us to think about how we engineer spaces.
From Noel Bruton I took away that measuring what we do needs to be considered from multiple viewpoints.
From Greg Jeffreys I took away that we should build spaces to needs and standards.
The Tuesday (25 June) brought the Information and Exposition.
There were so many Partners to discuss solutions with...... and these are now listed here: https://lnkd.in/eN-QHkuZ .
We also spent a great event at the Conference Dinner at the Black Country Living Museum - where we got to look at the Fairground, and a tour around the site - including Charlie's Yard. Conference Dinner was Fish and Chips and a watch of the football in the Worker's Institute.
The Wednesday (26 June) brought the start of the presentations.
Following a welcome from Diane Job - I took away that we should spend time working out what you can do with what you have - what do the future values look like?
From Zoe Kleinman's Keynote, I took away that we should consider the implications of what we look to provide. We should look to find products that do not simply fit alongside others, but will genuinely change what we do.
From Joe Way, PhD, CTS, I took away that we shouldn't be future-proof, but future-ready.
From Iker Ormazabal Martínez, I took away that digital literacy is as important as making the technology transparent (to the users).
From Emerson Pratt, I took away that the pandemic was useful to stop doing things because they're in the culture; but to work out for whom you are actually doing them.
From Mark Dunlop, I took away that knowing what you systemically have allows you to realign what you can do to improve.
From Rich Draper and Tim Packwood I took away that a digital twin can help you be very smart.
From Ian Knowles of The University of Sheffield, I took away that new technology can help in creating venues that have multiple purposes.
Catherine Sharman, Adrian Brett and I spent some time enlisting the help of our colleagues at the conference to discuss and plan how we measure, plan and develop staff in education - to try and increase the professional recognition of AV and Learning Technology staff.
Catherine then spent time showing us how well they have taken to having AV Apprentices in King's College London, and how the process would be very valuable.
From Karen Ethier from Educational Technology Collaborative, I took away many things, but particularly that environments that are built simulation are important. We should also look to simply and empower staff to use spaces without barriers. Re-engineering for sustainability in future grows every year.
And finally from the conference, I took away from Ryan Walker that AI can augment our operations.
RETIRED with LAST POSITION: Director of Design at Planning Interiors, Inc (Atlanta- GA)
4moEnjoy- - this year should be a success/ interesting products!