posted by Amanda Waugh, Communications Officer, People

Have your say on Scotland’s school libraries

• Survey responses sought for national school library strategy
• Survey open for final week – submissions close on 31^st March

Professionals involved in school libraries across Scotland are being urged to contribute to a survey consultation to help inform the development of a national strategy for school libraries.

The survey has been published by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), which is providing support to the advisory group responsible for development of the new strategy.

Questions have been structured around five key areas in line with the curriculum for excellence – digital and information literacy, literacy and reader development, health and wellbeing, digital creativity and curriculum-based learning – and are designed to gather quantitative data to build a comprehensive picture of school library service provision across the country.

The results will inform strategy development and provide a baseline for ongoing work in school libraries, helping to identify challenges, opportunities and successes within school libraries at a national level.

The national school library strategy is being developed to improve the role of school libraries and librarians in literacy skills and educational attainment, and will include national guidance for service provision to deliver consistency across the country.

Martina McChrystal, Director of Library Services at the University of Glasgow and chair of the National School Library Strategy Advisory Group said:

“There is a considerable body of international evidence demonstrating the value of school libraries, but we don’t have a national dataset for Scotland.  This survey will help us create a baseline for the impact of school libraries and will provide valuable insight and contribution to content of the national strategy.  I am keen that the development of the strategy is a collaborative process, so I would urge school librarians and all those involved in school libraries to have their say in this survey.”

The survey is open to submissions until Saturday 31^st March.  For more information and to complete the survey please visit   https://scottishlibraries.org/advice-guidance/school-library-survey/

posted by Karen Smillie, Angus Violence Against Women Partnership

Please click on the link below to view the activities offered.

Some activities over April School Holidays 2018

posted by Alita Spink, Schools and Learning Support Officer

News from the Commonwealth

Get ready for Commonwealth Day on 12 March
Prepare to take part with our new resource ‘It’s good to talk: oracy lesson plan’, designed to help students become confident, effective communicators.Join our virtual school assembly for students aged 7 to 14 to celebrate Commonwealth Day and discuss this year’s theme, ‘Towards a Common Future’. Schools around the world are invited to contribute thoughts and share issues that are important to them and their communities.

The live webcast will run from 10.00 to 11.00 GMT on Monday 12 March. You must register in advance in order to participate on the day. Download the resource and register.

Children’s short story writing competition

Winners announced

Thank you to the hundreds of students across the Commonwealth for their thought-provoking writing on the theme of peace. From wartime stories to tales about family relationships, the top entries are now available to read, accompanied by specially commissioned illustrations. All those who took part will receive a Participation Award. Read the stories.

posted by Alita Spink, Schools and Learning Support Officer

Please click on the link below for further information:

16th February Bulletin 2018

Posted by Shabnam Wasim, Revealing Research, University of Dundee

Cafe Science Dundee: Virtual Reality: The Future is Now

Venue/Address         Avery & Co, 34 South Tay St, DD1 1PD
Date and time           Monday 12 March 2018, 7pm 

Event/activity/ description 

Virtual Reality is marketed for gamers, but there are many other uses for this technology and its popularity continues to rise. What is it about the immersive nature of Virtual Reality that appeals to us? Virtual Reality and its sister technology, Augmented Reality, have been used in many different forms in a wide range of settings including leisure, medicine, education, art and in the military.

Join Dr Rachel Menzies from the University of Dundee to discuss the science behind virtual reality and augmented reality. How can these technologies be used? What are the benefits to society? How can we push the boundaries of technology even further?

Join us at Café Science Dundee at Avery & Co. at 34 South Tay Street on Monday 12 March 2018, at 7pm. This is a free event and everyone is welcome. There is no need to book in advance but arrive early to avoid disappointment. 

Admission price        Free, Non-bookable
Website                       www.cafesciencedundee.co.uk

posted by Stuart Burns, Schools and Learning Support Officer

National Digital Learning Week 2018 Save the Date

National Digital Learning week will be taking place 14-18 May and this year we are celebrating the Year of Young People, and encouraging young people in Scotland to showcase and share their digital ideas and talents.

Last year 436 activities took place in over 200 Primary schools, 160 Secondary Schools and 4 special schools across 5 days.

Save the date and find out more.