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Welcome to the fortnightly STEM planner. Keep reading to find out more about exciting STEM developments across Scotland. Please feel free to share this planner with colleagues and school partners.
Thank you to all of you for your work and support for STEM learning this year and every best wish for Christmas and the holidays from all of us in the STEM Team.
Education Scotland Christmas card designed by Luke aged 9.
New national STEM professional learning calendar
Education Scotland STEM team, working with STEM National partners, have catalogued all Professional Learning for STEM being delivered across Scotland. This invaluable resource is now live on the STEM Nation Online Resource Events page as a calendar, with useful links direct to the STEM Partners websites and booking information. Visit our Events page on the STEM Nation Online Resource to see the wide range of support available from Education Scotland and national partner organisations:
Events – STEM Nation (glowscotland.org.uk)
The contents of the calendar can be viewed in a monthly list view here.
Prelim study support – Practical science experiment videos
See our interactive list of Practical science experiment films to support you and your learners with study support and Prelim preparation. This spreadsheet allows you to filter by subject, phase, level and unit. We have also created listings for all National Qualification practical experiments by subject area. These are organised by subject, experiment title, level, unit and includes the direct video link.
Science Planning Resource
Developed through the RAiSE Programme with support from Education Scotland and Scottish Government, this resource supports learning, teaching and assessment of science in early learning and childcare settings and primary schools.
This resource supports planning for science around the experiences and outcomes from early to second level. Activities and approaches should be viewed as useful starting points and are in no way prescriptive.
To download each level, or the entire resource, click on the DOWNLOAD ALL option on the top right corner of the page.
Science Planning Resource – STEM Nation
Secondary Sciences Network
Past event – Assessment construction in the Sciences (5/12/22) -recordings now available:
- Level of demand and a-type (18 mins): https://youtu.be/-HzxJa5H7q8
- Assessment construction (4mins): https://youtu.be/fC7Uk-fqk-Y
- Grade A questions (12 mins): https://youtu.be/i9-TYfUwmdQ
- Information on appeals process and end of session reminders (11 mins): https://youtu.be/3VVYt9C_CUU
- Q and A sections (20 mins): https://youtu.be/VeEomRRXmy4
Next event – BGE (1): Setting the context – Tuesday 17 January 16:45: 17:45 SIGN UP HERE
This is the first of three sessions looking at BGE in the sciences. This session will explore the recent report ‘Structural barriers to STEM engagement.’ We will explore the key messages such as: why there might be a dip in interest in STEM between S1-S3 and the need for a focus on STEM pedagogy.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions and for discussion.
Structural Barriers to STEM
The Structural Barries to STEM Engagement Report conducted by Ekosgen on behalf of Education Scotland and the Scottish Government has been published.
This is the third in a series of reports supporting the implementation of Scotland’s STEM Education and Training Strategy.
The report provides a valuable insight into perceptions of STEM and factors that would encourage a greater number of learners to continue on their STEM pathways. The data was drawn from 78 interviews with teachers, school leaders, local authority staff and college staff and over 1300 responses from learners and 500 from parents.
Structural Barriers to STEM Engagement Report
Green Jobs 
Green jobs in Scotland are significant and on the rise. Not only will these jobs help us to tackle the global climate emergency, they represent an exciting opportunity for our young people, offering higher wages than non-green jobs.
To give you a window into green career pathways, we’ve pulled together some of the key websites, facts and reports into one place – Green Jobs in Scotland
NCR V&A Dundee Design Challenge 
In an exciting and innovative opportunity for S2 pupils across Scotland, V&A Dundee are collaborating with NCR (National Cash Registers) on a cross-curricular design challenge.
Pupils will:
- Learn skills for creative thinking
- Work through the design process
- Demonstrate the practical application of STEM
Teachers will benefit from:
- Ready-made, adaptable resources
- Continual support from a range of specialists
- CLPL opportunities
Pupils will work in teams with the support of designers, engineers, and other outside agencies to develop a design brief. The winners in each region will be invited to V&A Dundee (expenses paid) to showcase their work and compete to win a week of work experience with NCR. The challenge will run from August 2023 – December 2023 with the finals in January 2024.
Aimed at S2 pupils to inspire their choices as they select subjects for S3 and beyond, this project is looking to enrol 2 schools from each local authority. Email schools@vandadundee.org with NCR Project as the heading for more details.
STEM Ambassadors in Scotland Week
Running 30 Jan – 3 Feb – find out who STEM Ambassadors are and how they can bring STEM to life. With the theme of ‘Storytelling’, STEM Ambassadors present a series of online events for primary schools called STEM Storytime. Ambassadors will read a story followed by a short talk about how the story relates to STEM or their job. Many of the stories are interactive and include activities the class can do whilst watching. For secondary schools, learners can ask questions directly to the ambassadors. Answers will be recorded and sent out to schools.
A practitioners’ guide and website full of information, ideas for getting involved and resources all about STEM and storytelling can be found here: www.stemambassadors.scot/sais-week-2023
Upskill and Engage Programme
This exciting new project in 2023 will focus on giving STEM Ambassadors the training and tools needed to deliver engaging, interactive STEM sessions across Early and First Level in primary schools.
STEM Ambassadors in Scotland are looking for 50 schools to match with a STEM Ambassador for 3 face to face career linked STEM sessions between April – June 2023. Participating schools will also benefit from a training session from Dr Richard Holmes, Lecturer in Education at Dundee University, on making the most of STEM Ambassadors in the classroom.
To apply for a place on the programme please register here
To find out more join the information session:
Primary School Information Session – Upskill and Engage Programme, 25 Jan, 3.30 – 4.15pm (Teams)
