As the ULearn08 conference comes to a close, it has yet again proven to be a valuable experience for both attendees and exhibitors. With over 1,800 delegates and exhibitors in attendance ULearn confirmed its status as one of the countries leading education conferences.

With a focus on collaborate, innovate and educate, ULearn08 provided inspiration to educators on taking their ICT knowledge and using it to empower learning and transform leadership. No longer is it simply that the classroom is ‘going to change’ but more the fact that teachers and students are making that change happen now. The conference highlighted the need for including the community and its effect on how students learn. As a students world opens up to them at 5Mbit/s they are empowered to take their learning further and share it with their community.

One of the fantastic developments to come out of the ULearn08 conference is the rate at which teachers and education facilities have continued to develop their ICT use and cleverness. A clear example of this was the impressive use of blogging, photo both, digital microscopes and “Apple Mac mania” undertaken by Mania kindergarten.

The advanced use of ICT by children at such a young age not only showcases the growing acceptance and ease of use ICT has, but the need for children to be engaging and interacting with the technology that surrounds them from day one. It also shows the need for schools to ensure that the ICT progress made in early childhood education is continued on.

From a Manzana point of view we continue to notice that teachers’ technological knowledge of what is available to them has evolved to a far superior level, with the use of conferences such as ULearn and learning @ schools going along way in developing this. For a lot of educators it’s no longer what is an interactive whiteboard and why do I need one? – but more, why should I buy your one?

Located in the Christchurch Convention centre, the exhibition hall provided space for exhibitors and attendees to trade thoughts. With around six interactive whiteboards on display, 2Touch was proud to stand up as the only New Zealand designed and made Interactive Whiteboard. Both the 2Touch and Manzana stands featured the optical touch board and experienced a wealth of positive comments and interest from educators.

Manzana staffer Liam Kerr commented on how “it was pleasing to see the amount of educators, who have been using other IWBs remark on how they would pick 2Touch as their next IWB choice”. “Its nice to know that there is a clear definition between our board, 2Touch, and the others that are available here, and teachers are recognising that”

Staff members from Manzana would like to thank all attendees for the interest that they showed in our range of solutions: the 2Touch interactive whiteboard, Easiteach educational software and WordWall response systems.