November 15, 2015
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Education Scotland Science, Technology & Mathematics e-bulletin

Welcome to our e-bulletin for sciences, technologies, engineering and maths (STEM). Please forward to those who may be interested.

Received this from someone else? Sign up to receive it directly.

Sciences

Highland Council primary science framework now available through Glow
Professional learning Glow meet on Genomics – 4pm on 16th November
Early Years and Primary Science National Network Event – 18th November
Reflections on light – IoP competition for schools
Get involved with Tim Peake’s mission to the International Space Station
Enter the Junior Saltire Awards Competition for 2016
A new view of Twig – for students!

Technologies

Free STEM competition for primary and secondary pupils
Cyber Academy IET Christmas Lectures – The Internet of Everything!
Get involved in CoderDojo Scotland community evening
Register for more BGE cyber security events
Take part in the digital learning and teaching strategy consultation

Numeracy and mathematics

Sign up for the mathematics senior phase hub sessions
Online course to help adult learning in maths
Preparing students for STEM at university
Numeracy and mathematics resource guide
The NNPF now includes exemplification for number and number processes

Professional learning

Video Inspiration

New food science videos to support Higher Chemistry

STEM to STEAM

The Halo Harp Project – how to make a musical instrument from lasers

We’ve got loads more news to share! See our STEM blog for the latest updates.

Education Scotland News autumn edition now available

We are pleased to inform you that the autumn edition of Education Scotland News is now available, providing the latest information on some of our key activities across the sectors, from the early years to adult learning.

This edition has a particular focus on Developing the Young Workforce and contains some useful articles on the Scottish Attainment Challenge, How good is our school? (4th EDITION) and the National Improvement Framework.

Visit the Education Scotland website today to view and download the latest Education Scotland News.

November 13, 2015
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Reminder – Edinburgh Genomics Professional Learning Glow TV

On the 16th November, 2015, from 4.00-5.00pm, Education Scotland is hosting an exciting event in collaboration with Edinburgh Genomics – giving practitioners a chance to converse with some of Scotland’s leading experts in modern genomics research.

Edinburgh Genomics is embedded in the rich academic environment of the University of Edinburgh, offering genomic sequencing and bioinformatics services across the fields of medical, veterinary and biological sciences.

This twilight session has been organised in accordance with the specifications of the DNA and the Genome unit of the CfE Higher (H4KD 76). The session will be hosted by Karim Gharbi, Head of Genomics, and Mark Blaxter, director of the Genome Science Division, and will explain the concepts of sequencing and bioinformatics; describing the cutting-edge technologies used at Edinburgh Genomics in this highly powerful and ever-developing field of scientific research. The many applications for genomic sequencing, such as phylogenomics, comparative genomics and possible clinical applications will also be discussed.

To register for the event, click here

November 13, 2015
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Come and meet the experts and find out about air pollution!

Free professional learning workshops available for practitioners at Hillpark Secondary School, Glasgow on 25th November 4 – 6pm.

Come along and learn about air pollution, how to use data about air quality in your classes and finding indicator species such as lichen in your local area!

November 11, 2015
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Education Scotland Sharing Practice Events

Please find below details of two upcoming events from the Sciences team at Education Scotland:

8 Dec 2015: Sharing practice network – flexible progression routes from BGE to senior phase (Venue: Dunblane High School)

This network was set up to explore progression pathways through the BGE in preparation for the senior phase in science. The first event was held on 27^th February. At that event, delegates learned of different strategies to develop over the next few months. At the follow up event, as well as some examples of interesting practice, returning delegates will give short presentations on their developments.

Target audience: School leaders as well as secondary science FHs, PTs and practitioners. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

27 Jan 2016: Sharing practice network – meeting learners’ needs (Venue: Tynecastle High School, Edinburgh)

This network was set up to investigate strategies for learning and teaching in classroom where more than one NQ level is being taught at the same time. Our first meeting learners’ needs network event was on 31^st October 2014. At that event, delegates chose a strategy to develop and trial over the next few months. At the follow up event on June 8th, as well as some examples of interesting practice, returning delegates gave short presentations on their findings. This event will look at further developments made, celebrating success and learning from our experiences.

Target audience: School leaders as well as secondary science FHs, PTs and practitioners. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

November 10, 2015
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Bacteria Combat!!!

Ahead of Antibiotic Awareness week (16-22 November) a microbiologist from the University of Glasgow has released a digital game to educate school pupils on antibiotic resistance and bacteria.

Microbiology PhD student Carla Brown teamed up with Future Fossil Studios to create an educational bacteria battle game titled Bacteria Combat. In this thrilling digital card game, players challenge Bacteria Bot using their unique card deck. Card decks are comprised of health boosting bacteria, harmful bacteria and shiny joker cards including Antibiotic cards! Every card in the game is based on science research carried out by microbiologists at University of Glasgow and Strathclyde University.

The game is aimed at ages 9-14 and is played in the style of Top Trumps and Pokemon. Through interactive game play, Bacteria Combat teaches players about different types of bacteria, antibiotic resistant bacteria and also gives great insight into the microbes that live on and inside our bodies! The first version Bacteria Combat Lite was launched online last week and is ready for testing!

Bacteria Combat Lite is free to download from Google Play:

And also free from the App store:

Brown believes that science games will play an important role in changing public perceptions on important health issues. However, we need to perform extensive audience testing to ensure utilised games are both educational and engaging!

The multiplayer version of Bacteria Combat is currently under development and will be available February 2016. However, we want to hear your feedback. Is there anything you would add / change to Bacteria Combat? Would you play the multiplayer version with friends?

Carla hopes to introduce Bacteria Combat into school classrooms across Scotland in order to raise an ‘antibiotic aware’ generation.

Carla Brown can be contacted on C.brown.4@research.gla.ac.uk

November 5, 2015
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Food Security Glow TV

On Thursday 19th November at 4pm, Education Scotland is hosting a food security themed glow TV event. This event will offer practitioners teaching both Environmental Science and Biology the chance to converse with Professor Pete Smith, from the University of Aberdeen, on this critical sustainability issue.

Professor Smith is the theme leader of ‘Environment and Food Security’ at the University of Aberdeen, as well as the Director of Food Systems of the Scottish Food Security Alliance-Crops (www.sfsa-crops.org). He has contributed a great deal to environment and food security research and this event provides practitioners an excellent opportunity to discuss this critical issue with an academic leader in the field.

This event has been organised in accordance with the mandatory key areas of both the Higher Environmental Science and Higher Biology Sustainability units. To register for the event, click here

November 4, 2015
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Sciences NQ Cross-Authority Writing Group (Advanced Higher) 12th November

Additional spaces are now available for Education Scotland’s NQ cross-authority writing group event taking place in the Mercure Hotel in Glasgow on Thursday 12th November 2015.

This event will focus on the co-development of resources for Advanced Higher Biology, Chemistry, Physics. Colleagues developing resources for Environmental Science will focus on providing support for other levels of qualifications.

Those interested in booking a space should contact Colin.McGill@educationscotland.gsi.gov.uk

October 29, 2015
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A new view of Twig – for students!

Film pages on Twig offer great related resources to help teachers, including classroom visuals, topic handouts and learning materials to use in the classroom. But these aren’t always relevant to students logging on.

Students benefit from resources that will help them understand topics and support their learning.

From next month, Twig are introducing a brand new Science and Earth Science film page view for students.

In place of teaching materials, they will see new content that helps reinforce what they have learnt in the film.

More details can be found here.

October 29, 2015
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Numeracy & Mathematics Resource Guide

National Numeracy and Mathematics Hub

The National Numeracy and Mathematics Hub is a virtual learning environment for all practitioners. The Hub provides an innovative approach to career-long professional learning for all practitioners in all sectors. It is an interactive, virtual learning environment which offers practitioners:

Professional learning in different aspects of numeracy with a focus on progression, numeracy and mathematics skills, numeracy across learning, assessment and moderation and teaching.
Career-long professional learning opportunities of various types such as broadcasts, professional reading and action research.
An easy to use environment where you can share and work with colleagues from across Scotland as well as those from your own school or authority.

STEM Links

STEM e-bulletin http://bit.ly/STEMeBulletin

(Up to date news, information, resources and professional learning)

STEM Central website http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/stemcentral/

(high quality resources, teaching ideas, videos etc to develop learning experiences relating to sciences, technologies, engineering and mathematics

Education Scotland website:

http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/learningandteaching/curriculumareas/mathematics/index.asp

http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/learningandteaching/learningacrossthecurriculum/responsibilityofall/numeracy/index.asp

Provides practitioners with excellent resources and guidance to help develop learning and teaching in Numeracy and Mathematics including;

National Numeracy Progression Framework – This resource has been created to deepen practitioners’ knowledge and understanding of progression within the experiences and outcomes for numeracy and mathematics. It included progression pathways with key milestones and building blocks for each of the numeracy organisers. Mathematics pathways coming soon, along with previous knowledge and understanding and exemplification.

Professional Learning Resources – These professional learning resources provide guidance and advice to help inform learning and teaching practices in line with the main objectives of the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy (SSLN). There are PLR’s for;

– Number and Number Processes

– Time

– Numeracy and Mathematics Skills

– Fractions, decimal fractions and percentages – Ideas of chance and uncertainty

– Pupil performance in estimating and rounding

Higher Order Thinking Skills in Maths

Numeracy in Social Studies

There is also information on Assessing progress and achievement available which includes professional learning activities and key documents on significant aspects of learning and making good assessment decisions.

Other key links and websites to support the development of Numeracy and Mathematics;

The Journey to Excellence: Examples of innovative and interesting practice. Search ‘mathematics’ or ‘numeracy’ in to the search facility.

TWIG Film list for National 4 and National 5 Qualifications

TWIG Films from website

Main Contact for Numeracy and Mathematics Team at Education Scotland:

Lorna Harvey, Senior Education Officer

Optima Building, 58 Robertson Street

Glasgow

G2 8DU

Tel: 0141 282 5119 lorna.harvey@educationscotland.gsi.gov.uk