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
by I. Menzies
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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

October 27, 2015
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Enter the 2016 Junior Saltire Competition!

Registration has just opened and teams have until 18 December to sign up for the challenge!

For 2016, teams of up to four pupils from P5-S6 (multiple school teams welcome) are challenged to research, design and make a Wave Energy Converter using the free copper coil and magnets provided.

Click here for the challenge brief and details of fabulous prizes

Click here to Register (register all teams on one form)

Click here for Curriculum Links

For all enquiries about the Junior Saltire please contact Melanie Riddell melanie.riddell@scdi.org.uk

Full details available on www.yecscotland.co.uk

October 26, 2015
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Food Chemistry Videos for Higher Chemistry

Today the Scottish Food and Drink Federation (SFDF), Abertay University, Education Scotland, and the Scottish Schools Education Research Centre (SSERC) are delighted to be launching a set of exciting new classroom resources that directly supports the chemistry curriculum and will help learners and teachers to understand the application of chemistry in the food and drink industry.

There are six food science videos available for use in learning and teaching environments across Scotland that will help bring chemistry lessons to life using food as a context. These include Emulsions; Enzymic Browning; Maillard Reaction; Oxidative Rancidity; and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC).

These are available on Education Scotland’s Higher Sciences website.

Please get in touch if you have any queries.

October 26, 2015
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Edinburgh Genomics Glow TV Event

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, who 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.

This will be immediately followed by a second discussion hosted by Mark Blaxter, Director of the Genome Science Division, who will discuss the many applications for genomic sequencing, such as phylogenomics, comparative genomics and possible clinical applications.

To register for the event, click here

October 26, 2015
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Energy Month 2015 with The Pod

Save energy in November by getting your school to take part in Switch Off Fortnight as part of Energy Month in November.

Learn all about energy and why it’s important to save it, with lesson plans, quick activities a new game and more.

See here for more details

October 26, 2015
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British Science Week 2016 – grants available

British Science Week 11-20 March 2016

The new British Science Week website has just launched. The site offers lots of resources for planning and organising events and activities for British Science Week 2016.

Here you can register events, apply for grants and request a FREE marketing pack, as well as find out about opportunities for getting involved in citizen science activities and some of our flagship events.

Grants available for schools:

Kick Start Grants – to support schools in challenging circumstances (Kick Start grants: up to £300 for your school to run an activity during British Science Week; or Kick Start More grant: up to £700 for your school to host a science event or activity which involves your students and the local community.

Scottish and Welsh grants offering funding of £200 to schools in Scotland and Wales.

Grants available for organisations:

Community Grants of £500 aimed to engage audiences who are traditionally under-represented and currently not engaged in science

Scottish and Welsh grants designed to help organisations in Scotland and Wales run events during British Science Week.