Source: UCL Website
The first cohorts of UCL Institute of Education’s (IOE) pioneering EDUCATE programme have been presented ‘EdWards’ by award-winning film producer Lord David Puttnam in recognition of their successful completion of the programme.
The ceremony, held as part of the London Festival of Learning at the IOE, was attended by hundreds of guests and VIPs from the fields of education and technology. The ceremony was co-compered by Lord Jim Knight, the former Schools Minister.
The EDUCATE programme brings together entrepreneurs and innovators, with academics, researchers and educators, to deliver world-class EdTech products and services.
The ‘EdWards’ recipients had to satisfy a range of criteria to achieve recognition, including their awareness and application of evidence-based research to their products and services.
Research underpins the whole premise of the EDUCATE programme, with participants expected to design and develop their products and services using evidence of what works and is effective. They are also expected to carry out their own research, testing the impact of their work.
The three-year EDUCATE programme has worked with about 100 innovators since its launch a year ago.
IOE academic Rose Luckin, Professor of Learner Centred Design at UCL Knowledge Lab, and Director of the EDUCATE programme, said: "The London Festival of Learning was the perfect backdrop to celebrate the achievements of our cohorts.
"We have been impressed with the level of commitment they have shown both to their own ideas and products, and to the programme as a whole, with which they've engaged enthusiastically.
"Our cohorts represent what makes the UK a world leader in EdTech development – innovation, creativity, commitment and enthusiasm – all of which are underpinned with an evidence base of what works and is effective. They are among the very best in their field, and some have already proved themselves to be pioneers both in this country and beyond, having attracted substantial investment to expand and grow their businesses.”
The ‘EdWards’ recipients will be permitted to use a mark on their websites and marketing materials showing they have met the criteria of the programme. Twenty-three recipients received the ‘evidence aware’ mark and nine the ‘evidence applied’ mark.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Lord Puttnam said: “The significant impact of artificial intelligence and technology is already evident in education and in industry more widely. The 'EdWards' are a fitting celebration of the some of the best entrepreneurship in EdTech currently taking place in the UK and I am delighted to play a part in the recognition of such innovation.”
Lord Jim Knight said: “For years I’ve been an advocate of the potential of technology to enhance teaching and learning. Too often I’ve been disappointed by results, which is why I am such a fan of EDUCATE. By linking academic research with product innovation, we are most likely to realise the potential and extend the reach of great teaching to more children.”
The London Festival of Learning is hosted by the EDUCATE programme, and comprises the annual conferences of the International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS), Learning@Scale and Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED), attracting 1,200 delegates and academics from around the world and presenting more than 500 research publications.
