bett Asia ’24: Insights from the Frontlines of EdTech and AI in Education

Promotional graphic for BETT Asia 2024, held in Kuala Lumpur from 2-3 October 2024. The image features the text ‘Powering Up Education’ and includes photos of individuals interacting with technology, such as a woman using VR goggles and speakers presenting at the event. The iconic Petronas Towers are visible in the background.

Location: Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

Dates: October 2-3, 2024

Last week, I had the privilege of attending Bett Asia 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, an event that brought together educational leaders, policymakers, and tech companies to discuss the evolving landscape of education, especially in Southeast Asia. Hosted at the stunning Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the two-day event was not just insightful but incredibly well-organised.

This article presents an overview of this event and my personal experience.

During the event, I attended several discussions and panels, where I took extensive notes and compiled them into a comprehensive event summary. It includes key themes, highlights, and important takeaways from the sessions. If you’re looking for the best overview of the event and the discussions, I highly recommend reading this summary!

A vibrant conference report cover with a purple background titled "bett ASIA Conference Report" in bold white text. Below the title, it states "Kuala Lumpur, October 2024" and "EdTech - AI" in smaller text. The lower-right section of the cover features a circular cutout with a collage: a woman smiling while using a VR headset, a man speaking with a microphone, and abstract orange and purple graphic elements. The "Damir Musicverse" logo is positioned at the top left, and "www.damirmusictech.com" is at the bottom.

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Day 1: A Focus on Leadership and AI in Education

 

The first day kicked off with a vibrant traditional opening dance, immediately setting a dynamic tone. Throughout the day and the whole event, the theme was clear: “Driving Positive Change Through Technological Advancement and AI.” Southeast Asian countries played a prominent role in sharing their experiences and perspectives on how AI is reshaping education in their regions.

Leadership Summit

 

One of the standout moments was the Leadership Summit, where various speakers, including representatives from Malaysia, Cambodia, and Indonesia, took the stage. Dr. Anindito Aditomo, from Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, highlighted an AI-powered platform designed to support teachers with curriculum content. With over 4.2 million users, this platform curates 400,000 submissions per month—an incredible example of how AI can streamline and enhance educational content delivery. It was really interesting to hear this high level of AI application being built and use by so many teachers in Indonesia.

Wide-angle shot of the audience at the BETT Asia 2024 conference, with participants listening to a presentation on a large screen that encourages social media interaction. The room is filled with aAttendees as the presenter addresses the crowd
 

What stood out to me was the way AI is already making strides in reducing administrative burdens on teachers. Microsoft and Google also had a significant presence, with Microsoft showcasing how AI is saving teachers’ time, enabling personalised learning, and improving operational efficiencies. The concept of AI literacy for students, mentioned by Microsoft’s Larry Nelson, resonated deeply with me, especially in how we can better prepare students for an AI-driven world.

Exhibition Area: Tech Products on Display

 

The exhibition area was bustling with activity. Major players like Quizizz and Canva showcased innovative tools to enhance education. Byond Asia’s hyper-realistic holograms were by far the most futuristic product on display. Seeing these products in action was inspiring, and it’s clear that technology companies, big and small, are pushing the boundaries of how we teach and learn.

I was introduced to Canva for Education, a special product from Canva that allows schools to create free premium accounts accessible to all teachers. I’m excited to implement this at my school, as many teachers (myself included) are already using Canva extensively for teaching content creation. This will be a great way to enhance our resources and make content creation even easier!

Personal Impressions

 

The event was well-organised, with plenty of spaces for panel discussions and presentations across different themes, from leadership in education to classroom innovation. The food, of course, deserves a mention—Nasi Lemak was a highlight! The weather added an interesting touch too—sunny and pleasant in the morning, but by afternoon, Kuala Lumpur lived up to its tropical reputation with heavy rain and thunderstorms, making it all part of the experience.

Photo of Damir Odobasic standing in front of a large fountain with the Kuala Lumpur skyline in the background. He is smiling and gesturing with both hands raised in a ‘peace’ sign

 

Day 2: A Deeper Dive into Practical AI Solutions

 

The second day featured a series of engaging discussions that dove deeper into practical AI implementations. One of the most striking sessions was Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi’s talk about the changing job market. He discussed how AI is poised to reshape not just education but the workforce itself, predicting that millions of jobs could change by 2030. His focus on emotional, cognitive, and physical skills as the key pillars of future careers resonated strongly with me.

Innovations for Inclusive Education

 

In another inspiring session, Dr. Mohd Azlis Sani explored how AI is being used to support students with disabilities. From AI-assisted learning for the blind to tools that aid hearing-impaired students, it’s clear that AI holds great promise for making education more accessible and inclusive.

Google’s approach to elevating educators through AI-powered tools was also enlightening. Their Gemini VIDS tool is aimed at personalising learning and ensuring equity in education, while Google’s GIGA initiative in Japan, which provides one device per student, shows how important it is to ensure access to technology for all students.

Final Takeaways

 

Damir Odobasic standing behind a podium while speaking at the BETT Asia 2024 event. The large screen behind him displays the event’s logo, along with logos of sponsors such as Google for Education and Microsoft.

Bett Asia 2024 was packed with useful insights from Southeast Asian countries, whose educational challenges are being met with innovative solutions. I walked away with a deeper understanding of how AI can be used not just for teaching, but also to enhance critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving—skills that are vital for preparing students for an ever-evolving global economy.

I’m excited to incorporate many of these ideas into my own teaching and the upcoming professional development workshop in my school, where I’ll be sharing these insights and helping fellow educators to stay updated with the latest trends in EdTech and AI.

A vibrant conference report cover with a purple background titled "bett ASIA Conference Report" in bold white text. Below the title, it states "Kuala Lumpur, October 2024" and "EdTech - AI" in smaller text. The lower-right section of the cover features a circular cutout with a collage: a woman smiling while using a VR headset, a man speaking with a microphone, and abstract orange and purple graphic elements. The "Damir Musicverse" logo is positioned at the top left, and "www.damirmusictech.com" is at the bottom.

Subscribe now to instantly access this resource and unlock exclusive tools to enhance your music teaching!

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