Bringing together leaders and educators from across the country, the inaugural ‘Innovate North’ took place at Bradford College last week.
Described as ‘shaping the future of education’, the free event showcased the best in digital innovation and how technology is transforming teaching and learning across Bradford College.
From VR experiences to AI planning, guests from a range of organisations got to witness a variety of digital tools being used to significantly enhance students’ learning.
Speaking following the success of the event, Tim Lupton (Head of Learning, Development and Innovation) said: “This event was created to share our journey of digital transformation at Bradford College, hopefully supporting and inspiring others with theirs.
“We wanted attendees to share their journey with each other and spark new ideas, encouraging networking, connections, and visions of what’s possible!”
As is often the case with the first edition of a major event, Innovate North wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions of a whole host of partners: Microsoft, i-Immersive, Bodyswaps, TeacherMatic, JISC, edpuzzle, and focusXR.
United by a common interest at David Hockney Building, hands-on sessions delivered by industry experts included:
🕶️ Immersive Learning in Action (Experiencing the i-Immersive Room in action)
🤖 AI in Education: Bradford College’s Success Story (Learning how Bradford College embraced AI, plus insights from Microsoft representatives on their latest educational AI tools)
🛠️ VR Marketplace (Hands-on with the latest virtual reality tools)
📚 TeacherMatic: Smarter Lesson Planning (AI-powered lesson planning demo)
🎥 Interactive Learning with Edpuzzle (Exploring engaging, interactive videos)
As well as sessions from external partners, the Bradford College Library Team also put on their ever-popular Dracula Immersive Experience – originally used as a valuable learning tool for ESOL students.
One of the key driving forces behind Innovate North, Monika Worthington (Learning Innovator Lead), added: “The first Innovate North was never about claiming to be the best or doing things perfectly; it was about celebrating milestones we’re proud of, learning from one another, and building new connections.
“Bringing educators and partners together for the first event of its kind at Bradford College felt incredibly special! The energy and collaboration in the room reminded us all how important it is to keep sharing, questioning, and pushing innovation forward.”
A huge thank you to all those who contributed to this first edition of Innovate North. A special mention goes to JISC, who kindly funded the MyLahore buffet for all visitors on the night.
To stay in the loop with all upcoming events at Bradford College, visit our events page.
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