Attending the Learning Impact Europe 2024 conference in Barcelona from 9-11 October was an incredible experience for Juri Pelzer and myself, who represented the LMDDC. Despite our focus and experience in game-based learning and immersive technologies set us apart from most attendees, who were primarily high-level technologists and academics, we still felt right at home. The event, organised by the 1EdTech Consortium, provided us with a great chance to dive into cutting-edge trends and challenges in the EdTech field, as well as to share our own knowledge.

Juri and I led a workshop on how virtual reality (VR) can be used in education. Participants got to try out the VR and XR learning games developed by the LMDDC. We talked about the difficulties of aligning immersive content with educational standards, staying current with fast-paced technology changes, and the absence of clear assessment methods for immersive learning. The participants provided great feedback, and it was exciting to witness their enthusiasm for immersive learning and the considerable potential they recognised in these tools for engaging students in novel ways.

Aside from our workshop, the conference included many excellent sessions. We attended insightful presentations on Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) by Tim Couper from 1EdTech, which gave us a better grasp of how to make educational tools work together seamlessly. He introduced a powerful tool for enhancing educational content by integrating third-party processing directly into Learning Management Systems (LMS). It supports AI-driven tasks like plagiarism detection and accessibility checks, making it easier for educators to manage student submissions. The Asset Processor is designed to improve workflows while ensuring data security and privacy, with exciting future developments expected by 2025.

Dr. Mhairi Aitken's presentation, "AI in Edtech: Addressing the Risks to Harness the Opportunities," focused on the potential dangers and benefits of using AI in education. She highlighted the direct risks, such as bias and the impact on relationships and trust, as well as broader societal risks, including environmental concerns and the normalisation of data collection. Despite these challenges, Dr. Aitken emphasised that AI can be valuable in education if deployed responsibly, with careful consideration of its limitations and impacts on different communities. 

Gavin MachLachlan's presentation, "Embracing AI at the University of Edinburgh," highlighted how his institution is leveraging AI across various sectors of education. He discussed the potential for AI to transform higher education, while highlighting the importance of addressing risks such as inequality and ethical concerns. The University of Edinburgh has embedded AI into its digital strategy, developing guidelines for students and staff, and creating its own AI platform, Edinburgh Language Model (ELM), for secure and responsible AI use. He emphasized the need for collaborative approaches and ongoing research to ensure AI benefits all stakeholders.

Another important theme of the conference was diversity and inclusion. Dr. Maxine Room CBE led a compelling session about the importance of diversity in hiring strategies and its role in fostering innovative solutions and improved outcomes. She underscored the need for organizations to embrace diversity not only as a moral imperative but as a means to foster innovation and inclusivity. Dr. Room's talk underscored that building inclusive teams requires overcoming significant challenges, but the benefits for creativity, problem solving, and overall success make it worth the effort. 

The event was held in a beautifully renovated industrial area of Barcelona, full of life and energy. Once a hub of factories and warehouses, it has been transformed into a vibrant district with art galleries, trendy cafes, and green spaces. The mix of history and modern creativity was really inspiring. We got the chance to have a nice walk with the participants and learned a lot about the area from our local guides. 

Having a fantastic dinner on Thursday evening after the workshop was a huge relief, especially after the pressure of presenting in front of such a brilliant group of EdTech enthusiasts. We enjoyed the food, but even more the conversations and the great company. It was a chance to bond with fellow educators and innovators in a more relaxed setting. We shared ideas, discussed the common challenges we face, and laughed a lot. These moments were just as valuable as the daytime sessions, fostering connections with passionate individuals who are all working towards improving education.

Learning Impact Europe 2024 was an unforgettable experience. We gained new ideas, valuable insights, and wonderful memories. I was excited to share our learning with our team, who at the same time were busy launching the first version of skilltech.tools at the annual meeting of The Document Foundation in Luxembourg. Hopefully we can apply these fresh perspectives to our work in game-based learning and immersive technologies.

A heartfelt thanks to Gill Ferrell and the team for coordinating everything so effectively and inviting us to participate. We are proud to be a member of 1EdTech and it's exciting to be part of such an exceptional community. We look forward to the next event!