All posts by J. Fenby

Assessment, Research

Assessing Creativity – OECD working paper

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The OECD has published an interesting working paper on research to establish the viability of creating an assessment framework for tracking the development of young people’s creativity in schools:
The Centre for Real-World Learning (CRL) at the University of Winchester was commissioned to undertake this research by Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE) in partnership with the OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI).
The paper includes:
  • Why assessing creativity in schools matters
  • The pros and cons of assessing creativity
  • Guiding principles used for the research
  • The development, testing and refinement of a prototype tool
  • Conclusions and next steps
It is interesting to compare the five creative dispositions identified for the study, with the five creative attributes we are looking at in Scotland. This research model explores the following five core dispositions of the creative mind:
  • Inquisitive
  • Persistent
  • Imaginative
  • Collaborative
  • Disciplined
The Education Scotland Creativity Review has identified the following five core creative attributes:
  • Inquisitive;
  • Open-minded;
  • Imaginative;
  • Able to identify and solve problems;
  • Confident in their right and ability to influence change
Research, Self Evaluation

OECD International Review of Evaluation and Assessment in Education

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You might be interested to read the executive summary of the OECD report Synergies for Better Learning which provides a comparative analysis on how evaluation and assessment can be embedded to improve the quality and efficiency of school education.

As well as analysing strengths and weaknesses of different approaches from 28 countries, the report provides recommendations for improvement including how results should be incorporated into policy and practice.

The report looks at why there is a growing focus on evaluation and assessment internationally; what the main challenges and trends are and how policy can be implemented successfully.

Download the report here: Synergies for Better Learning

CfE, CfE Subjects & Themes, Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Literacy, Maths, Modern Languages, RME, Science, Technologies

Game on Scotland – official education programme of 2014 launched

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Game on Scotland is the official education programme of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and its legacy. It aims to provide inspiration and learning and teaching opportunities related to Glasgow 2014 and other momentous events happening throughout Scotland in the coming years.

The Programme uses the Games as a context for learning, allowing for the delivery of many experiences and outcomes within CfE and providing opportunities for the development of skills for learning, life and work.

Game On Scotland aims to support teachers, school leaders and education managers in creating stimulating learning experiences for young people from 3-18 using the Commonwealth Games as a context for learning.

The Game On Scotland website hosts a wealth of learning and teaching resources, interactive media and background information on the Games; it aims to help practitioners:

  • create stimulating learning experiences
  • develop learners’ skills and knowledge across the curriculum
  • find and share learning and teaching ideas across a global network
  • get involved in a variety of Games-based education projects
  • explore opportunities to connect with learners, practitioners and schools across the globe.

To find out more and to get involved visit:

http://www.gameonscotland.org/about/index.asp

Literacy

Book Week Scotland – The Sequel

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Scotland will host a second national celebration of reading in 2013, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop has announced.

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Book Week Scotland, Scottish Book Trust will deliver a week-long nationwide focus on books, reading and writing from November 25 to December 1, 2013.

Ms Hyslop was at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh, where she joined Scottish authors Denise Mina, Mairi Hedderwick and Richard Holloway to launch ‘Treasures’ – Scottish Book Trust’s national writing project encouraging people to submit stories or poems about their own treasured possessions. Entries will be posted online and a selection will be included in a free book to be distributed across the country during Book Week Scotland 2013.

Read more here: Book Week Scotland

Careers and Pathways, Expressive Arts, Highland, Music, Opportunities, Young People

Project Co-ordinator opportunity with Fèis Rois

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Fèis Rois is offering an exciting opportunity for a young person aged 16 – 20 to join its team as a Project Co-ordinator.

The successful candidate will be offered a 1-year full-time contract at Fèis Rois, as well as having the opportunity to work towards a nationally recognised qualification in Community Arts Management through the Creative Apprenticeship scheme.

The apprentice will have the opportunity to work on a number of Fèis Rois projects, including residential courses, the Ceilidh Trail and the national Fèis Rois schools programme.

The successful candidate will also receive numerous professional development opportunities, including:
– Mentoring from experienced members of the Fèis Rois staff team;
– First aid and child protection training from external providers;
– In-house CPD opportunities, including social networking, IT, and creative courses.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about the arts and who has an interest in traditional music. You will have excellent communication and organisational skills and the ability to work as part of a small team.

Salary: £8,500 – £12,500
Term: Fixed Term (One Year)
Deadline: Friday 31st May 2013

For more information and an application form, please visit www.feisrois.org

Clackmannanshire, CLN News, CPD, Falkirk, Stirling

Creative Development and Connectivity with Dr Suzanne Zeedyk

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Kildean Suite, Forth Valley College, Stirling

Thursday, May 9th 2013
4.30pm – 6.30pm
4pm for refreshments and registration

Forth Valley Creative Learning has invited Dr Suzanne Zeedyk to lead the final Creative Conversation in its current programme.

For the past 25 years Suzanne has been an academic researcher, studying babies’ innate ability to communicate and connect with other people. In 1993, Suzanne took up an academic post in the UK as a Developmental Psychologist at the University of Dundee and has remained there since, currently holding the post of Honorary Fellow.  She is an inspiring and thought-provoking speaker.

Suzanne has loved what the field of Developmental Psychology has taught her, why it is that a child’s earliest years have such a profound effect on their later years, including their emotional security, their trust in others, their self-confidence, their relationships, their connectivity. Now she wants to help ensure that this knowledge is spread as widely as possible and frequently acts as partner or speaker for a wide range of organisations throughout the UK and abroad including police, educators, health workers, nursery staff, parent groups and children’s theatre groups helping them to better understand the neuroscientific, biological, and psychological evidence concerning the human need for emotional connection, something creativity can be a channel for. Suzanne feels if we overlook emotional connection, then we all pay for it, through the services that governments need to fund such as prisons, mental health programmes, hospitals, fostering arrangements, extra support in schools and other services.

To book a free ticket for the event click on the following link:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/333091

For further information contact:

hoarec@stirling.gov.uk or gayle.martin@falkirk.gov.uk

Further events will be planned for the academic year 2013/14.  Please keep a look out on the Forth Valley Creative Learning Website

CfE, CLN News, East Dunbartonshire, Music

Making Tracks at Campsie View with Quavers Music

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Kirsty Hamilton From Quavers Music has been working at Campsie View School
to provide Music Opportunities for Children.

The project ‘Making Tracks’ which began in January and finishes in June
2013 will enable children and young people with additional support needs to
access high quality music making activity. Children will be supported to
take ownership of their work by leading the group in performance of their
composition. Quavers Music courses develop Emotional Personal and Social
Skills, Communication and Language; Knowledge and Understanding of the
World, Physical Development: and Expression and Imagination.

The project has been supported by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music
Initiative, Quavers Music and East Dunbartonshire Leisure Culture Trust.

For more information please contact:

Esmee Thompson Cultural Coordinator
Esmee.Thompson@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

0141 777 3092

CLN News, East Dunbartonshire, Music

East Dunbartonshire Youth Music Forum

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East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust has been successful in securing funding from Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative to establish a Youth Music Forum in East Dunbartonshire.

East Dunbartonshire’s Forum will be established through an initial mapping of music provision highlighting the wealth of quality opportunities currently offered and new wider opportunities to support young people to engage in music activity. A report detailing this will be available in June 2013.

A series of events and professional development opportunities will be offered to teachers, music tutors music groups and young people. East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust are currently looking for volunteers and music
organisations who would like to be involved.

If you would like more information or to be involved in the forum activities please contact:

Esmee Thompson Cultural Coordinator

Tel 0141 777 3092

Esmee.Thompson@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

CLN News, East Dunbartonshire

East Dunbartonshire Trails and Tails Programme – heritage learning through the arts

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East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust has recently been successful in securing funding to deliver a community consultation. Eight events were held between April and May 2013.

The events asked eleven local communities questions about the importance of local heritage and place and explored the ways in  which we can creatively engage communities in their own Heritage through the Arts. The information gathered will inform a stage two application which aims to create a series of community and artist led sculptural trails across the authority thorough a two year programme of cultural activity and volunteer training programmes, working in partnership with local heritage groups and community councils.

This project has been provided in partnership with The National Lottery, Heritage Lottery Fund

For more information please contact Esmee Thompson Cultural Coordinator
Esmee.Thompson@eastdunbarton.gov.uk  0141 777 3092