Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI), Cambridge

Very proud to have been part of this conference and looking forward to next year already. Kevin Martin Bryan Maddox, Fawaz Abu Sitta, PhD #AIinEd #GenAIinEd

Here is 3rd year PhD student Riya Kartha inspiring our audience of teachers, academics and EdTech developers before they dived once more into imagining futures in 2040 where teacher wellbeing is high and teaching is one of the most desirable professions to go into. So many people focused on a positive future was inspiring. Here is a sample of some of their thoughts: ‘Collaboration is key’ ‘Focus on what unites rather than divides’ ‘Trust children’ and ‘Trust teachers’ ‘Let’s break down adversarial relationships turn them into collaboration with children at the centre’ If you are intrigued or want to be part of this amazing community, send us a message on LinkedIn or sign up to our mailing list on the DEFI website: www.deficambridge.org #teacherwellbeingfutures

And we’re off! Our panel is in full flow at the DEFI Future of Teacher Wellbeing event - thanks to our host Megan Crawford and panellists Al Kingsley, Mark Unwin, Jasmine Smith, Dr Emma Kell FCCT and Ali Kirkman at Hills Road Sixth Form College. ‘Teaching is the best job in the world’ is coming through loud and clear as well as discussions about values, autonomy and the place of EdTech in the classroom. Watch this space for more insights. #teacherwellbeingfutures Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge Imogen C. Fawaz Abu Sitta, PhD Kevin Martin Bryan Maddox

🎉 Exciting News! DEFI has been selected as a finalist in the Transformation Impact category at the Bett Awards 2025! We're thrilled that our sister project, the Yeltic/TIST mobile education app, developed by Yeltic, the Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI), Cambridge, and The International Small Group and Tree Planting Program (TIST), has been recognized for its ground-breaking impact in educational technology. 🌍💡✨ What makes the app transformational?    It redefines learning access for under-served adult learners in rural communities across East Africa and Southern India by:  - Bridging the education gap: Providing quality, accessible education tailored for rural communities in the Global South.  - Offline functionality: Designed for regions with limited internet access, it works seamlessly offline.  - Multi-language support: Available in Swahili, English, and Tamil to break down language barriers.  - Localized AI-powered content: Utilizes AI to adjust video narration for local accents and language nuances.  - Low-power optimization: Operates on low-power devices, ideal for areas with limited electricity.  - Scalable BYOD model: Uses the widespread access to mobile phones, making it both sustainable and scalable.  - Currently deployed across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and India within TIST’s network of 250,000 farmers, this app is a powerful step towards poverty alleviation and sustainable development. It’s a testament to what’s possible when creative thinking and technology meet a real-world need. This is just one example of what DEFI does day to day – follow us on LinkedIn or sign up to our newsletter to see more: https://lnkd.in/eFNRfXgt Bett Global, Kevin Martin, Pedro E Salinas, Bruno Angel Caballero, Research for Equitable Access and Learning (REAL) Centre, Bryan Maddox, Imogen C., Judith Hannam, Marisa Thrippleton

🌍 AI governance: a shared priority, but what should it look like?  The consensus among policymakers, industry leaders, and academics is clear: effective governance will be critical as AI integrates further into society. But how can we manage AI’s risks while also harnessing its vast transformative potential?  At Nesta recent Policy Live event, DEFI’s Kevin Martin joined an inspiring panel to pitch a vision to a fictional “Minister for the Future”—a role imagined to guide the UK through the evolving landscape of AI. His pitch focused on the future of education, highlighting key priority areas for policymakers to address both in the near and long term.  In DEFI’s latest blog post, Kevin reflects on this experience and shares his pitch to the ‘Minister’.  🔗 Read the blog to explore the vision for an inclusive, dialogue-driven approach to AI in education and beyond. Let’s start crafting the future we want to live in. #AIGovernance #FutureOfEducation #PolicyInnovation #AIForGood #NextGenLeadership https://lnkd.in/gy3t5M94

There are still a very FEW places left for DEFI's Future of Teacher Wellbeing event on Friday 8th November. Planned to fit in with the end of the working week - come and join in with lively, interactive workshops and expert panel sessions coupled with time to network with a range of specialists dedicated to supporting teachers' wellbeing. Come along to meet your new network and be part of making change. happen. To sign up: https://lnkd.in/eXtfRhgd Al Kingsley, Carla Aerts, Megan Crawford, Rae Snape, Dr Emma Kell FCCT, Niamh Sweeney, Mark Anderson, Ian Nairn, Paul Leahy, Rebecca Stott, Riya Kartha, Fawaz Abu Sitta, PhD, Imogen C., Bryan Maddox, Kevin Martin, Twinkl Educational Publishing, Merlyn Mind, CENTURY Tech, askKira

Exciting to see the collective intelligence network growing - since Michael Hogan visited us here at the Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI), Cambridge as our first STRIx researcher - to this impressive international conference featuring DEFI experts Imogen C. and Rupert Wegerif along with many others. To join them use the sign up link below ⬇️

There are still a few spaces on our Future of Teacher Wellbeing event - on Friday 8th November in the afternoon. We provide lunch and you provide the knowledge, skills, experience and enthusiasm to think about this under-considered area. We have an amazing panel to set the scene and work with you to imagine how teachers' wellbeing could be, in the future. To register: https://lnkd.in/eXtfRhgd #teacherwellbeing, #workingtogether Carla Aerts, Dr Emma Kell FCCT, Mark Anderson, Al Kingsley, Niamh Sweeney, Rae Snape, Megan Crawford, Imogen C.Fawaz Abu Sitta, PhD, Kevin Martin, Lizzie G.

Can we add our support to this shout out? Having been deeply involved in the first cohort and in an evaluative capacity ever since, we can thoroughly recommend this inspiring, hybrid fellowship - it creates the foundations for lifelong professional networks which sustain, inform and uplift the members. If you are in Central or Eastern Europe or Central Asia - click the link in Carla's post to find out more - you won't regret it. HP Cambridge Partnership for Education EdTech Fellowship, Kevin Martin, Susanne Beyhoff, Mayank Dhingra

📰 IMPORTANT ANNOUCEMENT ABOUT TEACHER WELLBEING 👩🏫 Are you - a teacher? - regional or national education policy maker? - EdTech person? - an academic interested in or researching Teacher Wellbeing? Do you think that this vital theme has been overshadowed by other pressing issues in the education sector? Do you have ideas about how Teacher Wellbeing could be improved and are you interested in the future of teaching? We'd love to invite you to our in-person workshop taking place on Friday 8th November at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge from 12-5pm. We have an amazing panel ready to reflect on this complex theme with you and we are looking forward to hearing from you all. To sign up: https://lnkd.in/eXtfRhgd Rae Snape, Al Kingsley, Niamh Sweeney, Carla Aerts, Megan Crawford Mark Anderson, Dr Emma Kell FCCT, Fawaz Abu Sitta, PhD, Imogen C., Ian Nairn, Merlyn Mind, Paul Leahy, CENTURY Tech, askKira, Rebecca Stott, Kristi Nourie, Helen S., Kevin Martin, Bryan Maddox, Marisa Thrippleton #teacherwellbeing