The need for schools to prepare for 21st century learning was top of the agenda at this year's BETT conference.They must embrace mobile technologies, games, podcasts and social networking, according to leading educationalist Professor Stephen Heppell.Schools should also break away from traditional classroom and curriculum models, he argued.The gap between those schools embracing technology and those not is getting bigger, he said.Prof Heppell was speaking to delegates at BETT, the world's biggest educational technology show.

Technology impacts on education From the abacus to the Apple Mac, technology has constantly changed the way we learn.In equal measure, the needs of education have provided the driving force behind some of our most significant technological innovations.BBC World Service programme Digital Planet, explored three of the many unique initiatives in education technology.

The Treasury's decision to close the education ICT agency Becta by November, cutting £80m from this financial year's government budget, has dismayed its 240 staff - and some teachers who found its work especially useful because it provided a central platform for standardising on technology.

US schools and libraries may be able to tap into unused fibre networks in a bid to boost connection speeds.

Every year at the beginning of January teachers across the country dream up their own New Year wish lists when they visit the BETT Show at Olympia. - Filled with the latest innovative pieces of education technology, the four-day exposition gives those that work in education and the technology industry a taste of what the classroom of the future will be like.

Lord Prescott is to launch a claim for a judicial review of the Metropolitan Police's handling of phone hacking claims involving the News of the World.

Apple is offering a free case to tackle the iPhone 4's antenna problem, but will the fault damage the technology giant's reputation?Apple called a press conference at which the case offer was made in response to ongoing speculation about the phone's problems, and boss Steve Jobs also offered a full refund for the handset.

A number of users are reporting problems with their iPhone 4.

Software created to help Iranians escape government control of the web has been withdrawn over security fears.

New social network built inside iTunes fails to keep out the spammers, showing a curse of social media - even inside proprietorial walls

PRIVACY. MAJOR ISSUE APPARENTLY. ANGRY TYPING AS WELL. SORRY DOC T. I'VE GOT 1700 WORDS FOR MY ITGS PORTFOLIO! SHOULD I START CUTTING?!?!!

An e-mail scam claiming it can help passengers hit by the volcanic ash flight ban is under investigation after being uncovered by a Wrexham company.

Facebook has rushed to fix a security flaw that allowed users to eavesdrop on the live chats of their friends and see their pending friend requests

Developer says new API lets you query social network's databases - and there doesn't seem to be a way to turn it off

The South Korean government is to ban school-aged children from playing online games during the night.

The case of Apple versus Gizmodo takes new twist as state lawyers consider the legality of the raid.