STEM Blog

September 30, 2015
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Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy for Scotland – Public Consultation Launch

At this year’s Scottish Learning Festival Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science, and Scotland’s Languages, MSP launched a consultation on the development of a Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy for Scotland.

Digital technology has rich potential to support education in Scotland’s schools in a wide variety of ways. I that our children and young people are equipped with the essential digital skills they will need to flourish in the 21st century. A strategy will help to make sure that digital technology is embedded in learning and teaching across the curriculum.

You can access the consultation document and find details on how to respond on the Scottish Government – Consultation Hub. The consultation period ends on 17 Dec 2015.  

September 24, 2015
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Ultimate STEM Challenge

The Ultimate STEM Challenge is a new competition brought to you by BP, the Science Museum and STEMNET.

The Challenge is aimed at teams of two to four students aged 11 to 14 from across the UK. Participants will put their Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths skills to the test and have the opportunity to win some fantastic prizes, including an invitation to a celebratory event at the Science Museum in London, £500 for their school and Science Museum goodies.

Key information:

  • The Ultimate STEM Challenge is perfect for STEM Clubs.
  • It’s very flexible – there’s a choice of three challenges which can be completed over a shorter or longer period. The deadline for entry is 15 January 2016.
  • Entering is easy. Students create a PowerPoint or YouTube video showcasing their work on their chosen challenge. Teachers complete a simple entry form and upload their work.
  • STEM Ambassadors can help to guide and inspire students as they take on the challenge. Request a visit here.

More information on the Ultimate STEM Challenge can be found here.

September 24, 2015
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STEM Teacher Recruitment Drive

The Scottish Government will launch a campaign to encourage more teachers to enter the teaching profession, the Education Secretary announced at the Scottish Learning Festival in Glasgow on Wednesday 23 September 2015.

The recruitment campaign will particularly focus on attracting teachers to STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and maths.

Ms Constance also announced funding for projects to boost resources for schools in disadvantaged areas to the audience of teachers and education experts at Scotland’s biggest education event at the SECC.

The ‘Inspiring Teachers’ campaign will feature figureheads from Scottish business, industry, media and science, sharing their memories of the teachers that inspired them and helped them get where they are today.

Ms Constance said:

“We hope that the #inspiringteachers campaign will attract more high-quality, passionate teachers into the profession, particularly in science, technology, engineering and maths where we know there is a demand.”

More information can be found here.

September 22, 2015
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CPD Activities

NLSC logoThe National STEM Centre has teamed up with the National Science Learning Network to provide tailored CPD activities from across the UK. Details of the activities on offer can be found here.

September 15, 2015
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New videos for Science

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The National STEM Centre have just added six great film clips to the eLibrary, covering areas of the curriculum such as electricity generation, electromagnetism and the physics of car crashes.

The film clips in this collection were produced by Pumpkin Interactive, whose aim is to provide case studies of real life applications to illustrate some of the more complex scientific concepts and theories. Themes covered include: forces and motion, waves and imaging and electricity generation, transmission and distribution

September 15, 2015
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Royal Society of Chemistry – Talk for Science

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Talk helps children to use scientific language effectively and develop their understanding of scientific ideas. Right across the curriculum, talk engages children, motivates them to use their speaking and listening skills and helps them learn how to respect and respond to each other. It reinforces the idea that mistakes can be opportunities for learning, leading children to find their own answers to problems. In science especially, exploratory talk helps children develop their enquiry and reasoning skills.

 

The Royal Society of Chemistry, in collaboration with Millgate House Education, have created a series of 5 videos all about ‘Talk for Science’. These videos highlight some of the different methods of supporting talk in science lessons. They cover:Children talking 1

Using sensory stimulus

Using stories

Using puppets

Using concept cartoons

Summary of talk for science

 

Through these videos we hope to inspire and support primary teachers in doing talk in their science lessons.

 

 

images are copyright RSC

September 15, 2015
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Nine things that shape your identity before birth

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The making of you

Your story didn’t begin when you were born.

Before you took your first breath, your appearance and much of your ‘instinctive’ behaviour had already been formed. Exactly how you spent the nine months developing from a microscopic cell to a human baby helped make you who you are today.

Find out more at BBC iWonder Nine things that shape your identity before birth timeline. Created to support the BBC 2 programme Countdown to life, featuring broadcaster Michael Moseley. The series also has accompanying OU support materials including the poster Nine months that made you.

September 14, 2015
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Science, Technology and Maths e-bulletin September 2015

asdWelcome to our e-bulletin for sciences, technologies, engineering and maths (STEM).

 

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

 

 

 

Science

  • Add the new SSERC tile to your Launchpad in Glow
  • Register for the sciences cross-authority writing group events 2015-16
  • STEM at the Scottish Learning Festival –  enjoy our STEM programme
  • Food chain professional learning event – Thurs 17th Sept
  • Professional learning videos for vibrations and waves now live
  • Get learning section of Scotland’s Environment website now live – see data about climate change, water, rivers and more
  • Want your primary school learners to talk about science? Try these videos from RSC

 

Technologies

 

Numeracy and mathematics

 

Did you know…….?

Scottish science festivals set to share £239k of funding

 

Professional learning

Creating a smarter Scotland – A draft National Improvement Framework for Scottish Education

 

Video Inspiration

Have you got Rugby World Cup fever yet? Watch the science behind the rugby tackle

 

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

September 7, 2015
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Science festivals set to share in £239k funding pot

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Festivals across Scotland share £239,000.

Experiments and scientific demonstrations will be hosted at 16 festivals thanks to Scottish Government funding, the Science Minister has announced.

Minister for Science Alasdair Allan announced £239,000 to fund a programme of activities for all ages at events across the country.

Popular themes explored in this year’s science festivals include events marking the achievements of renowned Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell’s and using our food and drink industry to look at issues around sustainability and climate change.

The United Nations has named 2015 as the International Year of Light with the date being chosen as it is the 150th anniversary of Clerk Maxwell’s pioneering theory of classical electromagnetism

The festivals taking place this year include:

  • Orkney International Science Festival
  • Caithness International Science Festival
  • Inverness Science Festival
  • Moray Science Festival
  • Oban Festival of the Sea
  • TechFest (Aberdeen/NE Scotland)
  • Dundee Science Festival
  • Fife Science Festival
  • Strathearn Science Festival
  • Edinburgh International Science Festival
  • Midlothian Science Festival
  • Dunbar Science Festival
  • Glasgow Science Festival
  • Dumfries and Galloway Science Festival
  • Ayrshire Engineering and Science Festival
  • Middle of Scotland Science Festival

Dr Allan said:

“Our science festivals’ programme is really exciting, with something on offer for everyone. We are the only country in the UK to support science festivals nationally, and each year these events reach more than 200,000 people, demonstrating a real appetite for seeing science in action in our communities.

“Scotland is a leading science nation with research making a significant contribution to our economy. Our legacy of revolutionary discoveries and globally celebrated scientists are an inspiration to the next generation and festival events are a vital addition to the way we promote science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) studies in school.

“As we celebrate both the Year of Food and Drink and the UN’s Year of Light our £239,000 investment will support 16 festivals over the next 12 months. These activities are making science more accessible to a broader public audience all across the country and we want to see even more people have the chance to have the opportunity to enjoy events near them.”

September 7, 2015
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Add SSERC tile to your GLOW Launchpad for quick access

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Education Scotland is delighted to announce a new and quick way to access SSERC’s resources for Science and Technology. The new SSERC tile is now available in the GLOW App library.

Add it to your launch pad for a fast and easy route to SSERC’s website every time you log onto Glow.

While you are at it – remember to add the tile for Twig, Tigtag and Reach Out CPD too.

Watch this video to see how easy it is to add a tile to your Glow Launchpad: https://glowhelp.wikis.glowscotland.org.uk/Adding+Tigtag+Tiles+To+Glow

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