Are you developing creativity skills and highly creative learners?

December 20, 2015 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Creative Learning Award

The Scottish Education Awards recognise schools and centres that have developed a vibrant and progressive culture and climate of continuous innovation.

The culture and ethos should promote respect, ambition and achievement while improving outcomes for all learners in ways which eliminate inequity.

Download the flyer: Creative Learning Award 2016

Nominations should include practical activities and projects that the school or centre has undertaken, detailing the impact these strategies have had on pupils, staff, parents and the community.

How does your school/centre promote creativity for pupils and staff?
Do you have a strategy for developing creativity in learning within your improvement plans?
How is creativity being developed across all curriculum areas, and interdisciplinary projects?
How do the practitioners in your school/centre ensure that all pupils are supported to develop creativity in ways which build on their personal strengths whether as individuals or in group activities?
What evidence can you provide that leaners are given responsibility for planning and managing creativity projects?
What partnerships have you developed to build and support the development of creativity?

What are the outcomes of these approaches in terms of impact on:

children and young people
the whole school community
the wider community

Nominations close at 12 noon on Monday 15 February 2016

Attention All

Year of Innovation, Design and Architecture 2016

December 9, 2015 S. Bullock Leave a comment

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016, running from 1 January to 31 December will celebrate the richness of Scotland’s beautiful built heritage, culture and environment, alongside the contemporary and cutting edge designs of today.

From textiles and technology, to architecture, fashion and design, the year-long programme will shine the spotlight on Scotland’s greatest assets and icons, as well as some of our unique hidden gems.

Discover Scotland’s achievements in innovation, design and architecture through a wide variety of events, festivals, exhibitions, business conferences and visitor attractions, throughout the whole country.

2016 will also see The Festival of Architecture take place, as well as the opening of the much anticipated Queensferry Crossing – set to be the world’s longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge. The National Museum of Scotland will also open new galleries in 2016 showcasing Scotland’s internationally important collections of decorative art, design, fashion, science and technology.

So whether you want to discover the innovative structural design behind Andy Scott’s magnificent horse-head sculptures – the Kelpies, enjoy the splendour of a bygone era through the iconic designs of one of Scotland’s best known architects Charles Rennie Mackintosh, or simply be inspired by our creativity, from the past present and future, there will be something for everyone throughout 2016.

Education Scotland will be providing links to announcements and events which will be of interest to Schools and Educators throughout the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design. Make sure to check back often so you do not miss any opportunities to engage with all that will be occurring.

Attention All

Creative Learning Award – nominations now welcome!

December 9, 2015 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Creative Learning Award

The Scottish Education Awards recognise schools and centres that have developed a vibrant and progressive culture and climate of continuous innovation.

The culture and ethos should promote respect, ambition and achievement while improving outcomes for all learners in ways which eliminate inequity.

Download the flyer: Creative Learning Award 2016

Nominations should include practical activities and projects that the school or centre has undertaken, detailing the impact these strategies have had on pupils, staff, parents and the community.

How does your school/centre promote creativity for pupils and staff?
Do you have a strategy for developing creativity in learning within your improvement plans?
How is creativity being developed across all curriculum areas, and interdisciplinary projects?
How do the practitioners in your school/centre ensure that all pupils are supported to develop creativity in ways which build on their personal strengths whether as individuals or in group activities?
What evidence can you provide that leaners are given responsibility for planning and managing creativity projects?
What partnerships have you developed to build and support the development of creativity?

What are the outcomes of these approaches in terms of impact on:

children and young people
the whole school community
the wider community

Nominations close at 12 noon on Monday 15 February 2016

Community Learning and Development, Drama, Health and Wellbeing, Languages and Literacy, Sciences, Secondary

Experiential Learning In Stirling, Inverness and Edinburgh – sciences, literacy, health and wellbeing and film

December 9, 2015 S. Bullock Leave a comment

What’s The Grey Matter With Gregory?

School pupils in Stirling, Inverness and Edinburgh are invited to step back to the 1980’s and study the rules of attraction at Abronhill High

Venues in Stirling (Macrobert Arts Centre, 11th January), Inverness (Eden Court, 12th January) and Edinburgh (Summerhall, 18th January) will transform into 1980’s Abronhill High School in this thrilling mix of arts and science education. Students will take biology lessons on the science of human attraction alongside PhD scientists and witness the characters from the film step off the screen and into the classroom as classic scenes are recreated by young actors from the local area. The day will be rounded off with a screening of Bill Forsyth’s classic, Gregory’s Girl.

Abronhill High School appears to be undergoing a rather strange outbreak of ‘flirtatiousness’ that the authorities are none too pleased with. The Department for the Investigation of Amorous Disorders (D.I.A.D.) have been called in to help understand what has befallen those students at Abronhill High – and that is where local 21st century students will come in.

During the course of the day, students (as scientists from D.I.A.D.) will step into the 1980s and the strange world of Abronhill High, meeting the characters from the film, observing their behaviour and taking part in a series of workshops. Students will meet and work alongside PhD scientists as they examine the influence that psychology and hormones hold over human behaviour…

what are the key psychological factors that lead to human attraction?
do we have cognitive control or are we just responding to hormonal influences?
what considerations must we make when managing our relations?
they will develop the key literacy and laboratory skill of observation throughout the day as they devise and regularly revise their theories
they will also develop an understanding and appreciation of this classic British film.

Each event has 100 free tickets available for school pupils aged 13-16 and their teachers. The event runs from 10.30am – 3.15pm and comprehensively covers Science and Health and Wellbeing in the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. Anyone interested in

attending should contact education@cmi-scotland.co.uk.

What’s The Grey Matter With Gregory? is a UK-wide event created by Cinelive in partnership with BFI Education, Film Hub Scotland and The Wellcome Trust as part of the BFI’s LOVE Season, celebrating our enduring love affair with big screen romance. This project is managed by Centre for the Moving Image in partnership with Summerhall, Macrobert and Eden Court.

Dance, Health and Wellbeing, Secondary

Career-long Professional Learning Opportunities for Secondary School Teachers

December 7, 2015 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Dance for Core PE for Secondary Teachers

Wednesday 27 April 2016

9.30am – 4pm

£75 (+ VAT)

Reidvale Neighbourhood Centre, 13 Whitevale Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G31 1QW.

With a focus on contemporary and street dance styles learn how to warm up your pupils, play creative dance games, teach a simple sequence, develop a sequence, use stimulus to create dance material and encourage your pupils to develop their confidence, creativity and co-operation skills. These sessions for secondary teachers also address some of the CfE Health and Well-being outcomes.

Refresher Courses

Aimed at secondary teachers these courses provide a refresher of the basic technical skills required for the National Qualifcations in dance (NPA Dance, Nat 5 Dance and Higher Dance). It is advisable you have completed one of our courses before attending a refresher however this is not mandatory.

Refresher Courses at St Andrews High School, 9 Old Monland Road, Coatbridge, ML5 5EA

Jazz, Tuesday 17 November 2015

Choreography, Tuesday 8 December 2015

Contemporary, Tuesday 19 January 2016

Courses run from 4.30pm – 7pm

Refresher Courses at Dance Base, 14 – 16 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2JU

Contemporary, Friday 11 December 2015

Jazz, Friday 15 January 2016

Choreography, Friday 22 January 2016

Courses run from 1.30pm – 4pm

Refresher Courses in Glasgow (Venue TBC)

Hip hop, Tuesday 24 November 2015

Course runs from 4.30pm – 7pm

Costs

£35 per course (+ VAT)

National 5 Dance

This SQA qualification requires students to study 2 different dance styles and choreography to achieve this national qualification. Choose from the options listed below to build your own National 5 Dance course.

Contemporary, Monday 9 May 2016

Jazz, Tuesday 10 May 2016

Choreography (SQA Mandatory Unit), Wednesday 11 May 2016

Hip hop, Thursday 12 May 2016

All courses will run from 9.30am – 4pm.

Costs

National 5 single day costs – £85 (+ VAT)

Choreographic DVD – £95 (+ VAT)

YDance National 5 Package costs £300 (+ VAT). This includes 2 dance style days, the Choreography day and a copy of the Choreographic DVD resource.

Higher Dance

This SQA qualification requires students to study 2 contrasting dance styles and choreography to achieve this national qualification. Choose from the options listed below to build your own Higher Dance course.

Two days are allocated to each style to allow time for technique class, exploration of sequences and support to develop a centre set performance solo, meeting the outcomes set out in the Higher Dance Performance unit. Two days are allocated for Choreography to cover the Higher Dance Practice Activity Assessment requirements and to demonstrate the progression through the learning outcomes.

Training Courses Available

Contemporary Technique, Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 May 2016

Jazz Technique, Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 May 2016

Choreography Unit (SQA Mandatory Unit), Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 May 2016

Hip hop, Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 May 2016

All courses run from 9.30am – 4pm.

Costs

Higher Dance single unit costs – £150 (+ VAT) per 2 day course

Choreographic DVD – £95 (+ VAT)

YDance Higher Dance Package costs £500 (+VAT). This includes 2 dance style courses (2 days each), the 2 day Choreography course and a copy of the Choreographic DVD resource.

Venue

To be confirmed

All courses can be booked via our website www.ydance.org or by contacting Lauren@ydance.org for more information.

Colleges, Community Learning and Development, Primary, Secondary

Creative Conversation – Edinburgh – Creative Teaching with Hywel Roberts

December 4, 2015 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Creative Conversation – further adventures in learning with Hywel Roberts and his colleague Debra Kidd. On Friday 11^th December. If you have seen Hywel before you will know how fabulous he is. And if you haven’t seen him – you really need to! Debra is equally inspiring and together this will be a Creative Conversation not to be missed – see attached for more details. Venue will be confirmed with confirmation of your place.

Between 1.30 – 2.30 lunch, tea and coffee (arrive when you can)
2.30 – 3.30 further adventures in learning
3.30/3.45 – 4.30 continue the conversation over wine and nibbles

Creative Conversation prog and info – Hywel and Debra

Creative Conversation Invitation – Hywel and Debra Christmas special

Both these events will provide opportunities to discuss and think about creativity in relation to HIGIOS 4.

Book your place by emailing Linda Lees <Linda.Lees@edinburgh.gov.uk>

Drama, Primary, Secondary

December Treats for schools at GFT

December 2, 2015 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Dear Teachers,

4 Exciting Events Especially for Secondary Schools

1) We’re delighted to inform you that on Friday 11th December we have a special encore screening of the NT Live performance of Of Mice and Men especially for secondayr schools.

2) We also have a schools screening of Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s Sunset Song on Monday 7th December.

3) There’s also another chance for schools to see Suffragette in our school screening on Thursday 3rd December.

4) And finally we have a special Christmas Treat screening of Joyeux Noel the famous football match played in no-man’s land on Christmas day on Thursday 17th December.

4 Fabulous Christmas Treats Especially for Primary Schools

1) Our friends at the National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive are delivering their fabulous cinema workshop A Very Scottish Christmas which is all about Scottish Christmas traditions, on Monday 7th December. Make sure to book soon.

2) Arthur Christmas. This magical adventure brings home the real meaning of Christmas on Monday 14th and Friday 18th Decmber.

3) Polar Express. All aboard for this wonderful Christmas treat on Tuesday 15th December.

4) The Muppets Christmas Carol. This magical version of a classic tale is screening on Wednesday 16th December.

Please see below for details on the individual films and events and how to sign up. We look forward to seeing you at GFT soon!

If you have any questions or queries about our schools and education programme please get in touch with me at annie.mccourt@glasgowfilm.org or on 0141 332 8128 ext 237 and I’ll be more than happy to help.

Best wishes,

Annie Mccourt

Dance, Primary, Secondary

Refresher Courses for Teachers – Dance

December 2, 2015 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Refresher sessions in Contemporary Dance Technical Skills

This training session will consist of a new warm-up including some of the technical skills required at National 4, 5 and 6 levels such as roll downs, spirals, footwork and contractions. New travelling and centre sequences will be taught using triplets, leaps, changes of levels, facings and pathways. These can all be adapted and changed to fit in with the technique classes teachers will be delivering as part of the National Qualification courses.

Participants will also be taught a short contemporary dance towards the end of the session which will include various dynamics and gestures and will focus on the development of performance skills. This could be adapted and used by teachers to help with the creation of their Centre Set Performance solo required for National 5 and Higher Dance.

YDance dance staff will ensure that participants are using the correct posture and alignment and correct technical mistakes along the way. Participants will have the opportunity to film during the sessions as long as all other participants grant permission.

Course details

Two training days are available for the Contemporary Dance Technical Skills Refresher Course.

1.30pm – 4pm

Friday 11 December 2015

Dance Base, 14 – 16 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2JU

£35 per person (+VAT)

Refresher sessions in Choreography

This training session will consist of a creative warm-up including some improvised tasks. New creative tasks and games will be used to help explore choreographic devices such as retrograde, embellishment, mirroring and cannon. Participants will also have opportunity to use different structures when joining sections of creative work together.

Work will be devised around one creative theme through the whole session and we will piece all the sections together at the end to demonstrate how to create a 2 minute piece of choreography.

Course details

Two training days are available for the Choreography Refresher Course.

4.30pm – 7pm

Tuesday 8 December 2015

Andrews High School, 9 Old Monland Road, Coatbridge, ML5 5EA

£35 per person (+VAT)

For more details and to book your place contact:

YDance

The Briggait, 141 Bridgegate, Glasgow, G1 5HZ

Tel: 0141 552 7712

Mob: 07590758664

Website: www.ydance.org

Dance, Early Learning, Health and Wellbeing

Career-long Professional Learning Opportunities for Nursery or Early Years Teachers

December 1, 2015 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Dance for Early Years

Monday 25 April 2016

9.30am – 4pm

£75 (+ VAT)

Reidvale Neighbourhood Centre, 13 Whitevale Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G31 1QW

Develop your teaching skills for delivering dance with early years children in this one day course covering creative ideas for dance classes inspired by stories and topics, planning and structuring a lesson plan or creative workshop and using props and music.

Discovering the Olympics

Discovering the Olympics

Wednesday 23 March 2016

10am – 1pm

£45 (+ VAT)

Reidvale Neighbourhood Centre, 13 Whitevale Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G31 1QW

Sessions are aimed at teachers working in nurseries or early years settings and will cover sport themed dance, Japanese inspired cultural dance using fans and parasols and carnival inspired session.

All courses can be booked via our website www.ydance.org or by contacting Lauren@ydance.org for more information.

Refresher sessions in Choreography

Course details

News, opportunities, research and strategy relating to creative teaching and learning in Scotland