Stuart Naylor, one of the principal authors of Science Concept Cartoons Set 2, is due to deliver this ‘twilight’ professional development session. Aimed at learners in the age range 10-16, this new resource for Chemistry, Biology and Physics covers topics including earth and space, living things and their environments, physical and chemical changes.
Concept Cartoons are designed to introduce science concepts in everyday settings. Each character has a different opinion about science being discussed. All of the possible answers are plausible and highlight common learner misconceptions. Learners are invited to join in with the discussion happening in the science Concept Cartoon.
The book and CD of Science Concept Cartoons Set 2 both contain 156 Concept Cartoons covering the main areas of science. Background text, written in pupil-friendly language, is available for each Concept Cartoon. A blank speech bubble on each Science Concept Cartoon encourages learners to add additional ideas.
Fee: The fee for the course is £135 to include a copy of the book and CD of Science Concept Cartoons Set 2 as well as a site license meaning that all teachers can use the resource in their teaching. Light refreshments will be provided on arrival.
Applications: The closing date for applications is 25th January 2017.
SSERC’s popular Primary Science & Technology Bulletin and SSERC Bulletin are available to download for all members from the SSERC website. All Local Authority school and college teachers and technicians are automatically members of SSERC. The majority of Independent schools are too.
If you’ve yet to register for membership or forgotten your login details contact STS@sserc.org.uk to create or reactivate your account.
On 28 June 2016, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills published the ‘Delivering Excellence and Equity in Scottish Education – A Delivery Plan for Scotland’.
The Delivery Plan outlines the steps the Scottish Government will take to achieve key improvements in education, building on the work contained in the National Improvement Framework and addressing the recommendations of the OECD review. A key action within this Delivery Plan is for Education Scotland to publish Benchmarks for Assessment for all curriculum areas by Christmas 2016. These were to build on the Benchmarks that have already been published for Literacy, Mathematics and Numeracy. The Benchmarks set out clear statements about what learners need to know and be able to do to achieve a level, from Early to Fourth Level. They streamline and embed a range of existing assessment guidance to provide a single key resource to support teachers’ professional judgement. The Benchmarks should be used to help monitor progress towards achievement of a level and to support professional dialogue and judgement of when a learner has achieved a level.
Education Scotland has prepared draft Benchmarks for Sciences with the generous support of a cross-sectoral practitioner working group.
Practitioners across Scotland were given the opportunity to provide initial feedback on these benchmarks in October. This initial period of consultation has now closed and the benchmarks are being reviewed in light of the valuable feedback received.
The revised version of the sciences benchmarks will be published in December 2017. Following the publication, an extended period of consultation will begin. This will give practitioners a period of time to review the Benchmarks within their settings and identify refinements that need to be made. Education Scotland will gather comments on an on-going basis throughout this period.
We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and creative individual to join the SSERC team which is dedicated to building capacity in Scotland for high quality CPD for science teachers and technical support staff. In addition to proven subject expertise, you must have an appropriate mix of practical, science, technology and ICT skills to contribute to a flexible technical support service across the sciences and technology, with a high regard to Health and Safety.
You should hold an SCQF level 5 qualifications in a relevant subjects and previous experience in a similar post is essential.
We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and creative individual to join the SSERC team which is dedicated to building capacity in Scotland for high quality CPD for science teachers and technical support staff. In addition to proven subject expertise, you must have an appropriate mix of practical, science, technology and ICT skills to contribute to a flexible technical support service across the sciences and technology, with a high regard to Health and Safety.
You should hold an HNC or equivalent level qualification in a relevant subject and previous experience in a similar post is essential.
As an enthusiastic professional, you will join a motivated team who provide an advisory service which supports science and technology education in Scottish schools. You will develop close working relationships with Local Authority officers and other key stakeholders in Scottish technology education.
You will have at least 5 years teaching experience in a wide range of technology subjects in the school education sector. You will have experience in supporting career long professional learning (CLPL) and an understanding of the CLPL needs for teachers, PTs, HOFs and school support staff.
Complementing your professional expertise, you will bring excellent team playing, communication and organisational skills, an interest in Health and Safety in an educational environment and a love of practical work. The ideal candidate must be confident with using software on both PC and Apple platforms and can demonstrate experience using CAD software packages e.g. CREO 2.0 or Autodesk Inventor. We are particularly keen to hear from applicants who have a passion for both workshop machinery and programmable devices.
This is a full-time, high profile role based in Dunfermline. It will involve regular visits to locations throughout Scotland. There is plenty of scope for personal and professional development offered to the post holder.
The post is offered on a 12 month secondment or fixed term basis.
Important changes are taking place to Education Scotland’s websites. Find out more>>
Preparations are underway for a major update to the Education Scotland websites to ensure we continue to meet the needs of practitioners as Scotland’s education system evolves.
By November, four sites will be available, which will be search-driven to help users quickly access the information they seek.
Corporate website – with information about Education Scotland, policy and legislation, news, Scotland’s education system and our role in it
The National Improvement Hub – the dedicated source of education improvement materials and resources for education practitioners
Parentzone Scotland – the dedicated information site developed for, and with, parents
National Qualifications site – providing practitioners with support materials for qualifications.
In preparation, we have been reviewing the content on our current sites. Education improvement materials and resources that remain relevant are being moved to the National Improvement Hub. Some topic-specific content is being moved to partner organisations and will appear on their websites. Other content is being archived for future consideration, and may be deleted or re-worked and used again. Where content has already been moved, site visitors will find a relevant link or message.
The websites with sciences and learning for sustainability content will be affected as follows:
STEM Central – core content is being migrated to the National Improvement Hub. The site in its current format will no longer be available beyond end of October 2016.
Weather and Climate Change – core content is being migrated to the National Improvement Hub. The site in its current format will no longer be available beyond end of October 2016.
Exploring Climate Change – core content is being migrated to the National Improvement Hub. The site in its current format will no longer be available beyond end of October 2016.
NQ Higher Sciences – content is being migrated to the new National Qualifications site. The site in its current format will no longer be available beyond end of October 2016.
Giant Pandas – the site in its current format will no longer be available beyond end of October 2016. In time, some of the content will appear on the Beyond the Panda website developed by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.
Schools Global Footprint – this website is being deleted and will no longer be available beyond the end of October 2016.
Ready for Emergencies – the site in its current format will no longer be available beyond the end of October 2016. The content is currently being migrated to Scottish Government’s Ready Scotland website.
NQ Course Material Glow site – materials that have been developed for NQ Sciences by Education Scotland will appear on the new National Qualifications site. Most of the other material developed and shared by local authorities will not be available beyond the end of October 2016.
Sciences and Learning for Sustainability pages on Education Scotland’s Corporate site – core content will remain but there will be a significant reduction in content in the resources and sharing practice sections. Some content will be migrated to the National Improvement Hub.
Due to the volume of content being migrated there may be a period of time at the end of October where some content being retained may not be available on the National Improvement Hub or partner websites. We will be endeavouring over the coming weeks to minimise any loss in continuity to this material.
The New York Academy of Sciences is inviting girls aged 13 – 19 years to participate in an exciting initiative called the 1000 Girls, 1000 Futures programme with the Global STEM Alliance! Fourteen Scottish girls participated in the pilot programme last year with two girls being invited to represent Scotland at the concluding event in New York. Visit this blog to see how one girl benefitted: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/STEMcentralinmotion/2016/08/24/girls-into-stem-new-york-style/
Girls participating in the program are matched with a specially-selected STEM mentor and given access to a virtual platform hosting immersive content that will help them develop their 21st century skills – leadership, communication, and critical thinking. In addition, mentees can also take advantage of the college and university readiness module, live online engagements and webinars with inspirational guest speakers, a global, female community, and relevant, important discussions surrounding different STEM topics.
If you know of any girl interested in STEM who would be willing to commit to the programme then please encourage them to apply via the following link: http://www.1000girls1000futures.org/
Please note that the deadline for applications is Friday 7th October.
SSERC is still taking applications for places on Leading for Excellence in Science course. The course carries full accreditation by the General Teaching Council for Scotland under its Professional Recognition scheme.
Our delegates will be those who have, or aspire to have, responsibility for leading science education in their establishments. Although some leadership skills are generic, there are aspects of science education which require specific leadership skills and have particular management responsibilities. These particular responsibilities, as well as wider leadership issues, will be considered in science specific contexts.
Coverage will include:
Curriculum and course development issues with particular reference to CfE
Areas for development identified in HMIe report Science: A portrait of current practice in Scottish Schools and The Sciences 3-18 Impact Report, 2012
Improving learning and teaching through self-evaluation
Approaches to managing science health and safety issues
Science departmental/faculty issues and policies
Leading teams and managing change
For those teaching in local authority schools or colleges funding of £1080 from the National STEM Learning Centre is available to offset the course fee (£850)
This opportunity is suitable for STEM secondary/FE professionals with an interest in Higher / Advanced Higher (or equivalent) in biology.
Going on a placement at the University of Glasgow will help you to:
Inspire your students – increase your own understanding by attending lectures, seminars and laboratory sessions in life sciences, medicine, genetics, molecular and cell biology. Meet with students, researchers and lecturers working in Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences at Glasgow and gain and insight into the breadth of curriculum content available to students entering this field.
Build strong links with a local university – connect with a local university to develop staff and student experiences, with the aim of creating a longer term partnership. Help to boost your students’ confidence in making degree and career choices. Find out more about the skills and competencies required for a science-based career and gain ideas for future collaboration (e.g. work experience, mentoring, speakers).
Enhance your advice on careers options– gain useful information about how to support students to make university applications through UCAS, and develop a wider knowledge of how to support students in making career decisions, taking into account future STEM industries.
University Information:
The University of Glasgow College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (MVLS) brings together internationally renowned experts and state-of-the-art facilities with the goal of improving health and the quality of life for humans and animals across the globe. As well as a huge research portfolio, the college provides innovative teaching, preparing students for a wide variety of exciting careers. Students can choose from a broad array of subjects (more than 20 degree programmes) in the life sciences, from A (Anatomy) to Z (zoology), or alternatively, the clinical subjects; medicine (including programmes in medicine, nursing and dentistry) and the veterinary medicine programmes.
The University of Glasgow has just over 19,000 undergraduate students coming from around the world and gaining a place to study is highly competitive. Arming school teachers with insight and knowledge about current teaching practices and approaches will give their pupils the best chance to secure a place at the University and prepare them for higher education. We aim to support this, by giving teachers of Higher level biology, a guided tour through teaching at all levels in the university and provide them with the additional information they need to support their pupils, particularly in view of the recent changes by the SQA in the Advanced Higher biology “curriculum for excellence”.
Outcomes
This ENTHUSE bursary funded placement offers you an opportunity to:
• provide inspirational experiences for teachers, which will in turn help them to inspire their students
• support the transition between National Qualifications and Higher Education, helping to highlight routes of study and future STEM related careers
• develop firmer links between school / college and university
• equip your school or college in response to the Government’s careers strategy
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Stuart Naylor, one of the principal authors of Science Concept Cartoons Set 2, is due to deliver this ‘twilight’ professional development session. Aimed at learners in the age range 10-16, this new resource for Chemistry, Biology and Physics covers topics including earth and space, living things and their environments, physical and chemical changes.
