We’re kicking off the summer term with our next #FinnemoreFireside, this time with Derek Hills,  Director of IT, Systems and Data at Ark, a charity and network of 39 schools that aims to transform children’s lives through education.

Derek has a wealth of experience leading first-class Data and IT teams, having previously worked with other MATs including Harris Federation and David Ross Education Trust before taking up his role at Ark. He knows the MIS landscape well and we had an interesting chat about what the future of MIS might be, including topics such as:

• Where does Derek’s passion for data and analytics come from, and why does he love working in education?
• What can be achieved by sharing data, info and best practice
• Where he sees AI fitting into technology budgets and the broader education landscape
• Are schools getting enough out of their edtech and systems, and are they utilising it effectively?
• Consolidating solutions means investment can go into teaching, but what are the challenges around open data policies?
• The importance of working in partnership with suppliers and forming long-lasting relationships
• What Derek would like to see more of from edtech companies

Next in our #FinnemoreFireside series is this Q&A session from before half term with Matt Woodruff, Vice President of Analytics and AI at Community Brands UK.

A data professional and PhD candidate in the field of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Education, Matt has a prior background of 25 years in technology applications and consulting in Europe and the US.  He’s founded companies specifically addressing how technology can support more effective decision-making at all levels to improve outcomes and identify ways to be able to ‘do more, with less’ – more important than ever in today’s economic climate.

Matt and I had an insightful conversation about data and machine learning, including:

• What is AI? The acronym is bandied about a lot, and here Matt gives a very strong definition of AI and more importantly Machine Learning
• We talk a lot about the benefits of using contextual data with machine learning
• What is the future of the use of data and how expansive can it support Teachers, Students and Parents
• What needs to change? How ‘open’ should data be?
• How is Community Brands supporting schools, and what’s next for the company?

It’s an interesting listen – especially for those of you like me who are interested in data and where the next innovations in analytics will be. Enjoy!

Our next #FinnemoreFireside chat is essential listening for everyone who owns or leads an edtech business as it’s with marketing and PR guru, Catherine Lane.

Cath is Co-founder and Head of PR & Content at The Influence Crowd who work with some of the most well-known brands in education, including Juniper Education, Lexplore Analytics, Teach Active, SIMS BlueSky Education, GL Assessment, and Historic Royal Palaces.

The Influence Crowd implements highly targeted, integrated PR campaigns that prove their value through incoming leads and changed opinions. Using knowledge and relationships built up over 15 years in this sector, they engage and delight audiences through great coverage, shareable social content and by getting the key influencers behind edtech businesses.

This is an audio-only fireside chat (unfortunately the video tech got the better of us on the day 😕) and in it Nick and Cath discuss:

• Why selling to teachers is so hard, and why speaking the right language is so important
• Understanding your target audience
• How Covid has affected schools and the way they use edtech
• People buy from people- it’s not all about the product – and how the pandemic exposed the need for PR and marketing
• How edtech companies have become more experimental in the face of Covid challenges, which improves learning, marketing and messaging
• Cath’s advice for raising your profile as an edtech business in the sector
• How to approach getting national coverage with a whole package
• The importance of timing in creating a story and making the most of newsjacking
• Interpreting data to make it more digestible, gain investment, and help with messaging from day one
• How creating loyalty help with bumps in the road when it comes to reputation management
• Three things people should have in mind if they want to embark on a successful marketing and PR campaign
• What’s next for The Influence Crowd?

Enjoy!