All posts by Olivia Wexelstein

Creativity

Creative approaches to learning: live and virtual experiences

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Definition of a Dream ‘A state of mind in which someone is or seems to be unaware of their immediate surroundings’ – definition of a dream

Friday 6 June 2014 (10:00 – 16:00)

Target Audience

Emporium-logo Everyone interested in creative approaches to learning, including the role of live and virtual experiences.

Venue:
No venue as this is online for registration only
Cost:
This is a free event.

Summary

PLEASE NOTE: To register initial interest for the event please email Paul Gorman on mrpaulgorman@hotmail.co.uk

Using subtle and rewarding storytelling this live and virtual experience will take place over three days during the Emporium of Dangerous Ideas 2014.  Participants will be invited to inhabit a fictional world that breaks the boundaries they have in their imaginations.

Participants will follow a multi-linear narrative that will lead them through a series of highly visual, physical experiences that connect to an overarching story. Combining online platforms and real-world environments, the groups will start to connect their unique experiences to make their own meaning and find the next part of the adventure.

More information about the experience will be shared at the Emporium of Dangerous Ideas launch on Friday 6 June.  However information will be released from the end of May.  If you would like to find out more or sign up to be a participant contact mrpaulgorman@hotmail.co.uk .

Participants are welcome from across Scotland and beyond.  Although the experience will occur over three days it won’t be essential to commit to all of the time.  The journey will exist in the virtual and live world to enable anyone to contribute.

Aims:

To think differently about the role of live and virtual experiences in shaping learning.

Lead:
Karen Lawson Phone: 01786 892024
Event co-ordinator:
Samantha Hay Phone: 01786 892007
Creativity

Photo 14 National School Student Competition

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Scran is heading to its 20th year. Periodically, it has run a national photography competition. We thought that, as this is a momentous year for Scotland, it would be a stoatin’ idea to run another National School Student Photography Competition.
Competitions mean prizes.  And there are braw prizes.  There are three sections: Primary, Secondary and ASN and each section winner will win one of Apple’s latest iPads.  In addition, there will be an overall winner who will win a set of 10 iPads for his or her school. The runner up will win 5.

There will be a range of further runner up prizes which will include photo books.

Theme

Competitions need themes and this year’s theme will be “What Scotland means to me.” So think widely and creatively.  In past years the overall winner had a pawky eye, a gallus vision and a canny control of the shutter.

Remember we are Scran – we like odds and ends and bits and pieces and stuff.

Click here for more information.

Creativity

Get involved with the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival

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The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival runs from 1-19 October and promotes the power of creativity and the arts to improve mental health and wellbeing.  The Festival aims to promote positive messages about mental health, challenge stigma and discrimination, and encourage people to experience how being creative can help you to feel better.  Could you become involved?

This year’s theme is ‘POWER’.   This could also include themes like protest/control/voice/disempowerment/justice/ equality/identity or language.  In Fife the Festival is funded by the Adult Protection Committee and Fife Cultural Trust.

Do you already have something planned that could tie in and benefit from the extra publicity?  Could you organise something to highlight the imporance of good mental health and all you need is a little bit of funding to do it?  If so why not get in touch.

We have also booked the Activity Room space at St Andrews Museum and Art Gallery from 15th September, and would be interested to hear from you regarding ideas for workshops, small scale performances or visual artwork which would be suitable for children aged 10 years or under.  A small amount of funding may be available.

We would also be interested to hear about any projects which would be interested in linking the Festival theme of ‘power’ with Adult Protection messages.

Send details of your ideas and associated costings to: shona.mcewan@fife.gov.uk or call Shona on 03451 55 55 55 ext 442134 by 19 May.

More info is available at: www.fifedirect.org.uk/smhaff or at mhfestival.com

Science

Crest Star Primary Science resources

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Free subscription to CREST Star primary science resources
CREST Star, the UK-wide science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) award scheme, is offering schools and other users who have previously bought CREST Star science investigation packs (from 2008), free membership of the new online scheme. If eligible, all you need to do is sign up online before the 31st of July.

Through the new online scheme, CREST offers over 60 activities across 3 award levels, printable logbooks and sticker templates, and the ability to create and print personalised award certificates. Membership costs are usually £40 for initial registration and subsequent £20 annual renewal fee. Free examples of our resources are available from our website.
Science

The Big Bumblebee Discovery

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Sign up to EDF Energy The Great Big Bumblebee Discovery
The Big Bumblebee Discovery is an opportunity to get students outdoors and involved in real-life science.

By taking part in the experiment, young people will be collecting valuable data about how bumblebees are affected by their environment. Scientists at the Centre of Hydrology and Ecology will use these findings as part of their research to understand more about these fascinating insects.

The first 3000 schools, institutions and individuals to sign up will receive a free lavender plant and associated lesson plans.

More information about the Great EDF Energy Experimentcan be found on their project website.
Art

GENERATION gets underway

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GENERATION, a major, nation-wide exhibition project showcasing some of the best and most significant art to have emerged from Scotland in the last 25 years is now underway. Over 60 venues throughout Scotland will take part  bringing together an exciting programme of work by over 100 artists from this month through to November, with the majority of exhibitions taking place over the summer of 2014, as part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme. One of the central aims of the project is to engage with a new generation and bring to life the possibilities that contemporary visual art presents to young people. Look out contemporary art workshops and CPD opportunities in your area!

GENERATION exhibitions now underway include Toby Paterson at Fife Contemporary Art and Craft @ Kirkcaldy Galleries (27th April – 22nd June), Corin Sworn at Inverleith House (12th April – 29th June), GENERATION  – SXSW 2014 featuring work by Christine Borland, Graham Fagen and Dalziel + Scullion (The Dick Institute, East Ayrshire (3rd May – 16th August) and ARTIST ROOMS: Douglas Gordon at Caithness Horizons (9th May – 11thOctober).Find further details at generationartscotland.org.

GENERATION is produced through a core partnership between National Galleries of Scotland, Glasgow Life and Creative Scotland. GENERATION is part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme. The series of exhibitions is being produced with the support of VisitScotland and EventScotland, British Council Scotland, Museums Galleries Scotland, the BBC, Education Scotland, Children in Scotland and Young Scot.

Scotland Colleges, Secondary schools

Creative Apprenticeships: LIVE with Angela Constance MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth and Women’s Employment

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On Wednesday 21st May from 2pm – 2.30pm, Young Scot will be hosting Creative Apprenticeships: LIVE – a live broadcast for young people to promote and showcase Creative and Digital Apprenticeships during Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2014.  We know that young people in S1 – S3 are starting to think about potential career paths and subject choices, so we are providing this event to make them aware of all options open to them. We’re also delighted to be joined by Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth and Women’s Employment, Angela Constance MSP.

This will be a 30 minutes informal panel discussion live, with experts and former and current MAs answering questions directly from young people about Creative and Digital Apprenticeships and careers. The questions can be sent to us in advance by tweeting us @youngscot and include the hashtag #ScotMAWeek14 or questions can be tweeted during the event itself.  As well as answering questions, our panel will be talking about their experience and journeys as Modern Apprentices.

Taking part couldn’t be any easier. Please just let us know if your organisation or school is planning to take part in this event by responding to this email and at 2pm on Wednesday 21st May, you simply have to go to www.youngscot.org and follow the information provided.

To join in the creative apprenticeship conversation, tweet us @youngscot and include the hashtag #ScotMAWeek14. Young people can ask their questions now on Twitter and we’ll make sure all questions are answered.

For more information or if you’re having trouble accessing the stream, please contact us: info@youngscot.org

To find out more about the event, read our FAQ’s here: http://www.youngscot.org/mag/3063-scottish-apprenticeship-week-2014

Creativity

The Edinburgh International Book Festival – where fantastic facts meet fascinating fiction

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The Edinburgh International Book Festival has over 60 inspiring author events for school pupils of all ages. Running from 18-26 August, the programme features the best writers and illustrators for young people and covers a host of subjects relevant to the curriculum, from the Vikings to the First World War.  A transport fund is available to help schools meet the cost of taking their pupils to the Festival, and every child who attends an event will receive a £2 book voucher to spend in the Festival’s bookshops. There is also a series of Continuing Professional Development events for education professionals. Further information and full programme listings can be found on the Book Festival website and in the brochure.

Website: https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/education/baillie-gifford-schools-programme

Brochure:https://d3v4sx4i2y2qe1.cloudfront.net/cdnstatic/36f2615d6cbe2efd637c5808f8a5ebdf5d9425ed/uploads/programme_pdfs/2014_schools_brochure.pdf