Category Archives: Roles

Community Learning and Development, Creative Scotland, Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing

The Big Dance Pledge

July 14, 2014 S. Bullock Leave a comment

The Big Dance Pledge aims to inspire people to dance and to create prominent public performances that reach new audiences and raise the profile of dance in the public consciousness. This case study explains how 2014 guest choreographer Scottish Ballet’s inclusive approach encouraged creative responses from participants for the first time.

On Friday 16 May, more than 67,000 people in 24 countries danced in schools, town squares, sports centres and playgrounds as part of The Big Dance Pledge.

The Pledge aims to inspire new groups to dance, existing groups to try different styles and for everyone to create prominent public performances that reach new audiences and raise the profile of dance in the public consciousness.

Scottish Ballet’s 2014 Pledge Dance

Each year, a different company or choreographer is invited to create a dance for the Big Dance Pledge that is shared with participants through online teaching films. In the year Glasgow hosts the Commonwealth Games, it was Scottish Ballet’s turn to create a new piece of choreography. Films were released in January; groups learned the piece, some also created responses to it, and then everyone performed it on 16 May 2014.

This was the fifth Big Dance Pledge and 2014 saw the highest levels of Scottish engagement – in particular more public performance events than ever before. The approach taken by Scottish Ballet was inclusive and allowed participants to respond creatively to the choreography for the first time.

Who were the delivery partners?

In Scotland, teachers were trained by Scottish Ballet and YDance, who also delivered workshops for teachers in areas without dance development provision. Other delivery partners included Big Dance, Get Scotland Dancing, Get Scotland Dancing Hubs (x6) and Dance Development Officers. The British Council distributed information internationally.

How were participants encouraged to develop their creativity?

The dance contained a wide variety of dance styles requiring participants to be open-minded and try new things outwith their comfort zones.
Groups were encouraged to create a choreographic response in their own style and to post a video online.

Through taking part, leaders and dancers became…..

Motivated and ambitious for change for the better, including in their own capabilities
Confident in the validity of their own viewpoint
Able to apply a creative process to other situations
Able to lead and work well with others, where appropriate

What impact did the Big Dance Pledge have?

Feedback gathered by Get Scotland Dancing shows that many participants were new to dance and felt encouraged to continue with further dance activity.

In future years the approach to creating the choreography and film resources will be informed by the successful developments of 2014.

Project leaders have learned that more inclusive video resources and a more co-ordinated effort from dance hubs and development officers increases participation.

Further reading

http://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/274/article/big-numbers

Films

http://www.bigdance.org.uk/big-dance-pledge/

Images:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xc4up62qaqxg5dc/AAB2-b1ZQy-27H4chqaPCsk3a

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/g8ej0xd2mdob2sj/AADlECnmEiXuRYFCfftKl4oNa

Community Learning and Development, Expressive Arts, Outdoor Learning, Primary, Secondary, Social Studies

Above Scotland

June 30, 2014 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Above Scotland took an aerial photography exhibition as the starting point for an ambitious creative journey, empowering schools to make a difference to their local environment of such ambition that it could be photographed from the air.

Large scale aerial photographs taken of the areas around participating schools inspired thinking about the participants’ place in the world and served as a stimulus for their very own creative process. This developed the learners’ creativity skills and culminated in a pupil-designed intervention that meant something to them in relation to the landscape and their community.

Created and led by Architecture and Design Scotland’s dedicated Education team, it was the project’s exciting new partnerships between schools, DO Architecture, and RCAHMS that made the ambitious plans possible.

Taking a larger perspective

Learners from Inveraray, Inverness and Harris gained an understanding of their environment in terms of how it affects theirs and others lives. They considered the impact of the built environment and landscape on communities and translated their thoughts and opinions into a creative output, working with others to communicate a message about the place. It was vital to the project that the intervention took place on the site concerned, building a close relationship with place and fostering a deep understanding of the landscape.

Above Scotland used material from an exhibition at The Lighthouse, Glasgow, as a teaching resource to initiate a creative process. The project facilitated learning about the built environment and landscape, alongside the development of creativity skills. The project also gave the exhibition a legacy beyond its time at The Lighthouse and humanised the exhibition, making it more accessible.

“Proud to have been involved in this super exhibition, as Headteacher of the two schools involved on the Harris content. It was a true Curriculum for Excellence experience for the children who took part.” Headteacher

“It was good because we learnt stuff but in a funner way than just sitting in class.” Workshop participant

“The best bit was we got to decide what we wanted to do rather than being told what to do.” Teacher

Changing the landscape

The experience broke with traditional learning by centering upon the creative process with no end results in mind. Participants were trusted to create the material for themselves and encouraged to develop their creativity skills by being curious about their place, posing questions and using their existing knowledge to collect ideas. They specifically looked for patterns and anomalies in the landscape that drew their attention.

Participants had to reflect critically on the effectiveness and impact of their ideas, testing and refining them in practice before being carried out on site.

Due to the nature of the project certain elements were weather dependent and participants had to adapt and problem solve right to the end of the process. All of this developed the participants’ creativity skills in a clear and purposeful way.

The project was recognized as being innovative, and shortlisted as a finalist for Creativity in Schools, at the 2012 Creative Scotland Awards. It also led to one teacher gaining Professional Recognition for Creativity by the General Teaching Council of Scotland.

Careers and Pathways, Creative Scotland, Expressive Arts, Secondary, Technologies

iCreate – a Youth Music Initiative Project

April 7, 2014 S. Bullock Leave a comment

iCreate engaged 173 young people, aged 12-17 years, from 11 secondary schools in Glasgow and Inverclyde in 300 hours of music technology workshops after school.

The project aimed to improve access to high quality education in the creative use of music technology for young people in Scotland and to increase skills in music production applicable to all creative arts. The fund had three intended outcomes:

Young people engage in learning activities that develop music making skills or music-centred skills including sound engineering and record production
Young people build their confidence, self-esteem and develop positive behaviours
Young people progress onto further learning and/or personal development opportunities (not restricted to music).

Project partners

Software Training Scotland delivered the training in partnership with 11 secondary school music departments and the Opportunities for All Co-ordinator, Inverclyde Council who identified those participants who would benefit most. Guest speakers from the creative industries raised awareness of progression routes and career options in the industry. Several participants were referred on to the Scottish Music Centre’s Music Plus mentoring programme and West College Scotland provided a venue for the More Choices More Chances group from Inverclyde.

Innovative approaches

A number of innovative approaches were used to meet project outcomes effectively:

Partnerships with music industry professionals have provided progression routes for participants
The project is mobile and provides high quality equipment for use by young people in venues which are accessible and local to them
Participants completed a skills profile to reflect on the skills they gained
Social media was used to connect young people and staff

Development of creativity skills

This project not only encouraged learners to develop their creativity skills, but also allowed trainees to develop their skills in supporting young people to explore their own creativity.

The project supported development of the following creativity skills in participants:

Constructively inquisitive:

Young people quickly became interested and found they could learn from the work and processes of other individuals/groups within project. They found listening to other groups/schools work intriguing.
Open-minded:

They listened to and learned from the artistic ideas of others.
Able to harness imagination:

They were required to have a vision of how recordings would develop.
Able to identify and solve problems:

Technical problems and artistic challenges were met and solved on a regular basis.

In addition, participants became:

Motivated and ambitious for change for the better, including in their own capabilities: young people developed the desire to improve skills in order to continually improve the output of their projects and sought to produce a higher standard.

Confident in the validity of their own viewpoint: producing work of a high standard and making a positive contribution built confidence in their own opinions particularly when followed by positive feedback from staff and peers.

Able to apply a creative process to other situations: the activity built technical creativity able to be applied across all creative arts and beyond.

Able to lead and work well with others, where appropriate: the project was highly collaborative with the lead role changing regularly depending on the current task.

Benefits for young people

72% of participants completed questionnaires at the end of this project, evidencing the following impacts:

173 young people gained new skills in music technology and creativity
4% have already gone on to further education in sound production
89% reported an increase in their confidence and self esteem
95% completed a recording / mixdown
74% completed a skills profile
3 trainees developed skills and experience of delivering creative activity to young people
80% attendance rate
96% said they felt their planning and decision-making skills had improved
96% said their ability and confidence to work in a group improved
100% said they thought the skills would be useful to them in the future
2 tutors benefitted from professional development in Equality and Diversity in the Workplace Training and Special Educational Needs training

In addition, participants were encouraged to reflect on the skills they had developed. 72% have increased awareness of progression routes suitable to their needs.

Benefits for teachers

9 of the 11 teachers completed a report, which evidenced the following impacts:

Improved confidence in music performance, music technology and social skills
Improved behaviour and focus
Increased sound production skills

What we learned

As a result of this project, an informal partnership has developed with the Scottish Music Centre’s Music Plus mentoring programme, with young people being referred on to further develop industry skills and awareness.

The production of a body of work coming from a variety of schools, groups and areas had an inspirational effect on young people, with them able to compare and learn from others and showcase/be proud of their own work.

Other schools/groups that weren’t part of project in 2013 are proactively asking to be part of it.

Software Training Scotland are now working on a potential partnership with Inverclyde Trust for a music recording project for ex-offenders, as a result of this project.

Website: http://www.softwaretrainingscotland.co.uk/icreate_in_action.html

Sound recordings and photos: www.soundcloud/softwaretrainingscotland

Community Learning and Development, Creative Scotland, Expressive Arts

Arts and Justice Conference – the story so far

April 2, 2014 S. Bullock Leave a comment

In March 2014 Creative Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Prisons Service, ran a conference in HMP Barlinnie to look at work completed to date as part of the Arts and Criminal Justice Action Plan.

The conference showcased some of the excellent work being carried out by artists, arts organisations and learning providers in the prisons, stimulating discussion around the future of arts and justice in Scotland.

The work showcased at the conference has impacted upon communities affected by crime in Scotland as well as prisoners. The conference itself drew delegates from a broad range of professionals working within the areas of justice, health or the arts.

A challenging choice of venue

Hosting the conference in HMP Barlinnie allowed prisoners who have taken part in the arts programme to contribute to and share in the conference, and groups of prisoners performed theatre and music during the course of the day.

The conference showcased work by the Scottish Prison Service, learning providers, nine community based arts organisations and three arts organisations working in prisons as well as a number of individual artists.

Developing the role of creative learning

Throughout the work of the Arts and Criminal Justice Action Plan participants have been encouraged to think creatively and reflect closely during the process of creating work. The conference helped delegates to consolidate this learning and reflect deeply on the processes involved, raising awareness of the power and potential of the arts to change lives, and the importance of partnership working.

For further details contact Emma Turnbull at Creative Scotland: Emma.Turnbull@creativescotland.com

Careers and Pathways, Colleges, Creative Learning Networks, Education Scotland, Secondary

Supporting Your Ambition – Employability and Creativity

April 1, 2014 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Supporting Your Ambition was a one-day conference, bringing together a wide range of partners to support and advise young people on careers, further education and training in the land based industries and creative sector. Parallel activities allowed pupil support staff, Head Teachers and other relevant officers to update and inform their practice.

The event, which took place in March 2014, aimed to give young people aged 15-25 years up to date advice and information on career and further education/training choices, and to provide a platform for them to have their say about future services and events designed to support them in making career decisions.

The event was developed by D&G Education Services through the Creative Learning Network (CLN) in partnership with the Employability and Skills Service in response to focus group feedback gathered in last year’s CLN programme.

Delivery partners brought together for the event were: LANTRA, Chamber of Arts, Community Learning and Development, Skills Development Scotland, University of Glasgow and West of Scotland, Dumfries College, Holywood Trust, SQA, Princes Trust & Inspiring Entrepreneurs, Barony College, DWP, Young Scot/Creative Scotland/Creative and Cultural Skills, Modern Apprentices co-ordinator DGC and Local Employers such as the Aston Hotel Dumfries.

Maximising potential through partnership

Through joint planning, the partners were able to create an event which was innovative in scope and scale and which capitalised on existing strategic partnerships. For the Employability Service, land based industries was an area of focus, and the CLN has close links with arts partners through its partnership with the Chamber of Arts.

By sharing their time and resources and creating realistic and joint expectations, whilst putting faith into a new partnership, they were able to create a multi-faceted event and develop new ways of working to support employability.

Developing creativity skills in young people

Participants were encouraged to be open-minded about the offer of the day, and to reflect on their own needs, skills and talents. They were engaged in continuous dialogue with a wide range of professionals in order to understand better what their next steps might be – either further/higher education, training or employment. Participants were also asked to share their ambitions for young people in Dumfries and Galloway and identify barriers affecting their decision making process; they confidently shared their views throughout the day.

The enthusiasm of speakers and facilitators created a real buzz which had a knock on effect for young people and other participants in terms of their own motivation and ambition for change.

“Dumfries and Galloway Council is leading on ensuring that our education and skills provision links directly to the workforce needs of our local employers. Events such as this which bring together employers, young people and their career supporters help us to make sure that our young people are well prepared to become our region’s workforce for the future. Similarly young people become aware of the opportunities available here in Dumfries and Galloway and begin to understand what skills and attitudes employers’ value in their employees.”

Lynne Burgess, Employability and Skills Service

“We truly wanted to get to the crux of what young people were thinking about their future careers and to listen and talk to them about some of the difficulties they encounter when making such big decisions. The feedback from the day gives us a clear picture of this and will help us move forward in how we practically support young people in Dumfries and Galloway.”

Lesley Sloan, Curriculum and School Improvement Team

What difference has the event made?

Further joint planning and information sharing is already taking place between Education and Employability Services and CLD who learned that young people really need their support and understanding of the pressures they feel trying to make their way in the world.

A hugely positive outcome of this project has been the strong partnership and close bond created by departments coming together who are all working for the good of the young people.

Although it is too early to say whether the event will have a direct impact on young people taking up further/higher education places, the organising partners hope that the event will attract more modern apprenticeship opportunities to the region through the MA Co-ordinator for Young Scot/Creative Scotland/Creative & Cultural Skills as well as increased numbers of young people taking up local job/training opportunities.

Next steps

Building on the partnership this year, the Employability and Education Services will continue to work together to plan for a similar event for 2015. Based on the feedback from this year, they are working towards a mini Scottish Learning Festival style event with a wider range of employers, partners, training and further education providers to support and advise young people. Together, they will create a bank of ‘good’ employers with a series of short film clips that will support young people in their decision-making. They will also create some promotional material based on people from the region who have ‘made it ’ to inspire young people to be ambitious and think beyond their original expectations. Follow up meetings are being arranged with the DG Modern Apprentice Co-ordinator and the Creative Scotland MA Co-ordindator to examine a] opportunities that have been taken up and b] opportunities to be explored with creative partners.

The Employability Service is also working on developing a regional employability award.

Careers and Pathways, College Development Network, Colleges, Technologies

Ripping up The Timetable

April 1, 2014 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Enterprising Education in Dundee and Angus College

Dundee and Angus College identified partnership opportunities with local micro and SME’s who offer real work projects to HND Interactive Media students. The teaching and curriculum adapted to meet the demands of real work and the knowledge and skill requirements of students, rather than the other way around. Peer learning became an integral part of the course as students taught each other and relied less on traditional teaching methods and the theoretical elements of the course were taught through a webinar system in the early evening to suit students’ preferences.

Challenging normal practices

The project sought to change the current learning environment and culture to reflect existing work practices and to deliver training and skills which meet the technical demands required by today’s creative industry sector. Working with Dundee Heritage Trust as a key partner the work not only had an impact on the teaching staff and learners but also delivered benefits to the clients and partners involved.

Learners took responsibility for their own learning and influencing the content for the curriculum. The standard of work produced was very high and motivation in learners is now higher than it was prior to implementing the project’s approach.

The project was innovative because it didn’t follow the curriculum timetable, adopting instead an integrated project approach to delivering the course. In a change to normal practices it was necessary to set up a project office to cater for quick turnaround of projects.

Developing creativity skills

Learners were encouraged to develop their creativity skills through hands-on problem solving, investigating and reviewing possible solutions, communicating, often complex, ideas to peer groups and clients. Similarly staff had to take a very flexible, open-minded, and at times reactive, approach to teaching and learning which has led to their work in other areas being more varied and interesting.

Learners demonstrated confidence in their own views and abilities, and in working well with others, by giving tutorials and supporting their peer group. They were able to apply their creativity skills to different settings and were more confident in carrying out other projects.

This case study was presented as part of the final day (April 2014) of the College Development Network’s Emerging Leaders Course, as a potential model of intra-preneurial education that could be rolled out across the college and the college sector.

For further information contact Fiona Muhsin at Dundee and Angus College – f.muhsin@dundeeandangus.ac.uk

Expressive Arts, Primary

LOOK! (Pier Arts Centre, Orkney)

September 21, 2010 User deactivated Leave a comment

ABOUT

LOOK! was developed as an enterprise project for primary one pupils and was designed to introduce pupils to a creative environment and to help them understand and apply enterprising skills. Over several months during 2007/2008, 20 pupils from Class 1 at Dounby primary school were involved in researching all aspects of the Pier Arts Centre’s activity. They examined the ‘behind the scenes’ aspects of running an Arts Centre and were direct involved in curating and marketing their own exhibition and organising a preview event for parents at the gallery.

LOOK! involved:

– 20 P1 pupils from Dounby primary school
– 3 teachers (a head teacher, a visiting specialist and the class teachers)
– All of the Pier Arts Centre Gallery staff
– Scottish Arts Council funded trainee education worker
– Parents and families
– P1 pupils from Stromness primary school

PURPOSE

The aim was to provide a practical and active learning experience in a non-school environment.

LOOK! was developed by the Arts Centre Education staff in collaboration with Dounby Primary school for the following reasons:

To support schools provide creative and imaginative learning in partnership
To develop a strong relationship between Orkeny island Council and the Arts centre
To engage young parents in a rural community with the schools and the arts centre
To demonstrate the role the visual arts have in the delivery of other curriculum areas besides the expressive arts.

It was also intended for the pupils to develop an understanding of what goes on ‘behind the scenes’ at an art gallery and for them to know and understand the various jobs that are undertaken by gallery staff. Children took on and delivered these tasks themselves in a practical and real working environment with gallery professionals

CHALLENGES

The challenges delivering the project were mainly to do with working with such a young age group and how the staff engaged the children with the complex organisational structure of the Arts Centre. A good deal of support was given to teachers and children helping them to understand the process and integrate the ideas. They also provided support in helping the children make critical decisions and select the artwork for the exhibition.

Other challenges were:

– practical transport issues
– managing a large number of young children in the gallery
– the amount of arts centre staff time
– ensuring active engagement with the project

All these were overcome by planning and evaluating in partnership as the project evolved and by involving teachers, parents, the trainee education worker at the gallery, visiting specialist teacher and support staff.

IMPACTS

The pupils have made many return visits to the gallery, giving their friends and families ‘tours’ of the artwork especially the permanent collection housed at the gallery

The ‘preview’ event allowed for teachers to meet parents in an informal occasion – especially some who had been difficult to encourage into the school environment

OTHER

Partners:

– The Pier Arts Centre
– Dounby Primary School
– Orkney Island Council

Levels and stages:

– Early
– P1

Funding:

– Pier Arts Centre core budget

For more information contact:

Carol Dunbar, Education Office, The Pier Arts Centre on 01856 859 209 or email carol.dunbar@pierartscentre.com

Or visit:

http://pierartscentre.com/education.html

CPD, Languages, Literacy, Primary, Secondary

Authors Live (Scottish Book Trust)

September 21, 2010 User deactivated Leave a comment

ABOUT

The Authors Live programme exploits cutting-edge technology to bring the best children’s authors to children, young people and their parents across the UK. The project broadcasts children’s author events live over the internet, in conjunction with the BBC. The events are also recorded and available to watch and download from the Scottish Book Trust website.

The project successfully engages parents in sharing the same high-quality arts activity their children take part in at school. Video recordings of the events are available to watch and download from the Scottish Book Trust website.

The Scottish Book Trust provides teachers resources for each event suitable for the age group and stage of that particular event before-hand. The resource features activities for preparation for the event, links to the actual event and suggestions for activities to follow the event up. Each resource also clearly signposts links with Curriculum for Excellence and covers experiences and outcomes across all appropriate levels and in a wide range of curriculum areas. You can visit the Scottish Book Trust Events Glow group to watch our events through Glow Meet.

There are links to the live events and more at the foot of this page.

PURPOSE

Scottish Book Trust’s main objectives for the Meet Our Authors programme are:

– to meet soaring demand for the best children’s author events
– to allow as many children as possible to participate, no matter where they live or what their economic circumstances are
– allow teachers to access transformational events from the comfort of their UK classroom, at no cost to the child or school

The aim is to introduce pupils to the great quality literature that is available and for them to understand the connection between the books they enjoy and the person who wrote them. A further aim is to support pupils to understand the benefits and pleasures of discussing books with their peers, parents and teachers, and build up a relationship with their favourite authors.

To date the programme has featured a wide range of top authors, including Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen, David Walliams, David Almond and many more. Two further events are planned with Polly Dunbar and Tony Robinson: schools who register to watch will be entered into a prize draw to win one of five class sets of the author’s books for each event.

Accessing the author events were:

– 32 local authorities
– c. 105,000 children and young people (Michael Rosen)
– c. 82,000 children (Julia Donaldson)

IMPACTS

Feedback from events:

– “Great to involve children directly. My children felt very special to be spoken to by Julia herself!” (Teacher, Niddrie Mill Primary School)
– “We really enjoyed the event and all the children loved the song and the visit from the Gruffalo. We had used the ideas from the teacher resources and had been focussing on Julia’s books for a few weeks before the event so it made a great climax to our work.” (Teacher, Burravoe Primary School)
– “It was wonderful to be able to provide an event for World Book Day without breaking the budget.” (Teacher, Coleraine High School)

The events have provided a stimulus for some fabulous teaching practice. Whether you just want to dip in and do one activity, or you want to do an extended project, Scottish Book Trust have resources and case studies to help you. Visit the ‘Get the Most Out of Our Programmes’ section of Scottish Book Trust’s site for more information.

OTHER

Partners:

– Scottish Book Trust
– BBC
– Schools, nurseries and parents across the UK

Levels and stages:

– First, second, third and fourth levels (Michael Rosen)
– Early and first levels (Julia Donaldson)
– P1 – S3

Funding:

– National Lottery Inspiring Communities Fund
– Scottish Friendly Assurance

For more information contact:

Jasmine Fassl, Children’s Programme Manager (Scottish Book Trust) on 0131 524 0160 or email jasmine.fassl@scottishbooktrust.com

Links:

Authors Live page on Scottish Book Trust website: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/meet-our-authors/childrens-authors-live

Below are three previous events which should give you a flavour of the programme:

Authors Live Poetry Slam (S1 to S6)

Full-length event: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/podcasts/video/authors-live-poetry-slam

Highlights from the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p011pfsx

Resources: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/poetry-slam-resources

A great blog by Peter Kelly from Holy Cross High School about his use of the event: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/blog/2013/01/authors-live-preparing-for-a-word-war

A teaching resource designed by Helen McKenzie from Lanark Grammar School: www.scottishbooktrust.com/discursive-writing-activities-to-prepare-for-a-rap-battle

Authors Live with Oliver Jeffers (Nursery to P3)

Full length event: www.scottishbooktrust.com/podcasts/video/authors-live-oliver-jeffers-full-broadcast

Highlights from the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00tjp0r

Resources: www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning/teaching-resources/author-resources/oliver-jeffers

Authors Live with David Walliams (P4 to S2)

Full length event: www.scottishbooktrust.com/podcasts/video/authors-live-david-walliams-full-broadcast

Highlights from the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00t1pj2

Resources: www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning/teaching-resources/upper-primary/author-resources/david-walliams

A blog from Mairi Livingstone at Easdale Primary about using the event to inspire her pupils in writing: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/blog/learning/2012/08/dear-mr-walliams

Meet Our Authors Online Hub links:

http://www.facebook.com/meetourauthors

http://twitter.com/meetourauthors

http://www.youtube.com/meetourauthors

Languages, Literacy, Secondary

The Book I will Never Forget (Scottish Book Trust)

September 21, 2010 User deactivated Leave a comment

ABOUT

The Scottish Book Trust worked with Bishopbriggs Academy to adapt the ‘Book That Changed my Life’ campaign for use in a schools context. The pupils at Bishopbriggs adapted the project to The Book I Will Never Forget and spent a week collecting stories, interviews and writing their own personal response to the project. Collectively, they developed a series of podcasts sharing a range of stories around the topic.

The project developed support materials for the project, following planning meetings with the Principle teacher of English, which clearly linked the project with Curriculum for Excellence – particularly the Literacy and English outcomes and Experiences. Because the project was implemented in Bishopbriggs as part of Determind to Succeed, the approach also focussed on skills for life, and included interviewing techniques, collaborative planning and working, team work and problem solving.

PURPOSE

The project was developed as part of the school’s enterprise approach with the aim of building a sustainable relationship with an organisation (Scottish Book Trust.) SBT was interested in developing methodologies for schools to engage with The Book That Changed My Life. Supporting pupils at Bishopbriggs to develop their own version of the project offered an excellent opportunity to understand the impact of this campaign within the context of Curriculum for Excellence.

Scottish Book Trust wanted pupils to understand the impact and meaning that books can have upon individuals’ lives and to apply that understanding to their own reading. It was the intention that pupils would develop knowledge of how to design and conduct an interview to gather desired information, and use that information to make podcasts to share the findings of the project. By the end of the project pupils were able to share the story of the book they would never forget, make podcasts of interviews they had collected from the school population and its community.

IMPACTS

Evaluation with the participating pupils at the end of the project demonstrated that a majority of pupils agreed that this project had helped them to develop their talking and listening skills, and that the activity had made a positive impact on their attitude to reading. Further to this, a large majority of pupils agreed that they had enjoyed this approach to learning and would like to do more activities like this in English.

Some feedback from pupils:

– the main aims of the project were made clear at the start of the project and they were set clear achievable targets
– felt they had successfully overcame a particular problem
– agreed that they were set a challenging task
– agreed the project helped them develop their talking and listening skills and that they enjoyed this approach to learning
– felt that the project had made a positive impact on their approach to reading

Bishopbriggs has been shortlisted for a Determind to Succeed award and this project formed a key part of their presentation to the prize committee.

OTHER

Partners:

– Scottish Book trust
– Bishopbriggs Academy
– Members of the community

Levels and stages:

– Third and fourth levels
– All S1 pupils

Funding:

– Scottish Book Trust staff time

For more information contact:

Philippa Cochrane, Learning Manager (Scottish Book Trust) on 0131 524 0160 or email philippa.cochrane@scottishbooktrust.com

Or visit:

http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning

Primary, Secondary, Social Studies

What’s the War Got To Do With Us? – WWII and Heritage in Banff

September 21, 2010 User deactivated Leave a comment

ABOUT

Previous arts education work for schools developed by Aberdeenshire Council’s Cultural Co-ordinators on the Theme of World War II provided the perfect starting point to link Museums Galleries Scotland’s national project, ‘Remembering Scotland at War’.

‘What’s the War Got To Do With Us?’ engaged schools in Aberdeenshire in a multi-layered partnership brokered by the Arts Education Team. Emerging from work on the theme of WW2 around unique artefacts in the Banff area and Duff House Museum, artists and researchers were engaged to work with local schools and the community to create an exciting and informative exhibition.

The project involved:

– 626 pupils in P6 – S2
– 38 teachers
– 1 academy and 3 primary schools
– 7 artists
– 1 researcher

PURPOSE

The project was build upon previous arts education work and it’s purpose was:

– To engage pupils with the topic of World War 2 through learning in partnership with the local community, heritage groups and professional artists
– To deepen understanding about World War 2, the local context and the impact on modern society as well as the local community
– To reveal to teachers, pupils and the community, aspects of Duff House Country Museum that are important resources but essentially unknown
– To create a virtual and touring and exhibition with the potential to education more widely and for use as a future teaching and interpretive resource

To develop opportunities where children and young people would benefit from working with creative professionals to simultaneously develop skills and understanding about World War 2 and in the expressive arts

CHALLENGES

– Short time scale between the receiving of the grant and the activating of the project was awkward
– Imminent loss of Cultural Co-ordinators, who were pivotal in the project and who retain a role in the project development
– Some of the best material in Duff House is extremely difficult to photograph.

The Arts Education Team was instrumental in working through the challenges.

“….. Arts Education team gave me sufficient information in advance to carry out the project to the best of my ability; the staff were well prepared, welcoming and supportive; the class teacher continued to work with the children between my visits. The pupils enjoyed bringing the past to life through movement and acting.” (Charles Barron, actor and playwright)

IMPACTS

The effects of the project were widely felt, it:

– Significantly raised the profile and relevance of Duff House, especially for educational purposes
– Raised the public awareness of the focus geographic area
– Gave pupils and school staff a valuable series of cultural experiences that significantly supported Curriculum for Excellence in an area that is remote from cultural hubs
– Raised the standard, quality and expectation of heritage and arts projects in the Banff area

“This was a great project; it fully engaged our upper stage pupils in the history of their town and gave them a useful sense of what it was like to live during those testing times. The project addressed many of the Experiences and Outcomes of the Social Studies, Expressive Arts and Technologies subject areas and helped us to ensure that our children were able to ‘learn in, about and through the unique natural, cultural and economic environment of Aberdeenshire and the North-east’- as recommended in the Aberdeenshire 3-18 Curriculum Guidelines. It was a wonderful opportunity for our pupils to meet and work with professional artists and craftspeople and especially the researcher, Allan Burnett, who came with a knowledge and freshness that enthralled the children.”’ (Jenny Stone, Head Teacher Banff primary School)

“The knowledge that they were taking part in a joint project and that their work was going on display gave the pupils a boost and gave them more incentive.” (Violet Milne, craftmaker)

OTHER

Partners:

– Aberdeenshire Arts Education Team
– Museums Galleries Scotland
– Banff Heritage Group
– Boyndie Airfield Preservation Society
– Duff house Gallery
– Local citizens

Levels and stages:

– Second and Third levels
– P6 – S2

Funding:

– Aberdeenshire Council
– Scottish Arts Council
– Heritage Lottery Fund
– Friends of Duff House

For More information contact:

David Atherton, Arts Education Co-ordinator (Creative Links) on 01224 665363 or email david.atherton@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Links: