On Tuesday March 24th at 2.30pm, Commander Hadfield will be on Glow TV answering pupils’ questions about science, space and the Universe.
What was his most terrifying moment in space? What does flying a rocket feel like? How has he adjusted to life back on Earth?
We will be selecting the best questions and these pupils will have the opportunity to ask questions live directly to Commander Hadfield on the day!
Submit your questions to glow.connect@glowscotland.onmicrosoft.com before 20th March with the title “Ask an astronaut”. Don’t forget to include your pupils’ names, ages and school. To register for the event, click here (Glow log-in required).
Following the publication of its 3-18 Curriculum Impact Report for Sciences in September 2012, Education Scotland organised a series of conversation days, where priorities for action to secure improvements in science education nationally were identified.
Key aspects for development emerged, which included:
“In the primary sector and at the early stages of secondary school, there is generally less emphasis in the key area of Topical Science than on the other four organisers……. In these cases, children and young people do not have enough opportunity to discuss and debate a range of ethical issues.”
Young people are increasingly surrounded by scientific issues in the media and their everyday lives. By considering current issues through topical science, learners increasingly develop their understanding of scientific concepts and their capacity to form informed social, moral and ethical views. They reflect upon and critically evaluate media portrayal of scientific findings.
To address this aspect the Sciences team is hosting a “Topical Science and Partnerships” Glow Meet which will be complimented again by a series of professional learning twilight sessions.
Join us on Wednesday 4th March at 3.45 – 4.45 pm in Glow TV to find out more.
Sessions will be provided by STEM Ambassadors, Glasgow City of Science, Dynamic Earth, Citizen Science, Royal Society of Chemistry and Education Scotland curriculum teams
Following the publication of its 3-18 Curriculum Impact Report for Sciences in September 2012, Education Scotland organised a series of conversation days where priorities for action to secure improvements in science education nationally were identified.
Key aspects for development emerged, which included primary and early years practitioners requiring guidance and exemplifications for assessment in the sciences.
To address this aspect the sciences team hosted a Glow Meet, Assessment in the Sciences, which was complimented by a series of professional learning twilight sessions across Scotland.
Practitioners have asked that the Meet be run again, therefore join us on Tuesday 10th March 3.35-4.45 pm in Glow TV.
We will also be using a highlighted Assessing Progress and Achievement in the Sciences curriculum paper, Sciences Progression Framework and an Annotated Exemplification which can be downloaded through the blog link upon registration for the Glow Meet.
Generation Science (GS) – the largest science education outreach programme in the UK – is once again hitting the road as its 2015 tour gets under way, with science shows and workshops visiting Primary Schools the length and breadth of Scotland.
This Generation Science tour is set to be one of the biggest ever, with visits to all 32 of Scotland’s Local Authority areas scheduled, travelling from the Borders right up to Shetland. The 2015 tour also sees the addition of two brand new workshops to the GS stable, Fuel Hunters and Lego Mindstorms Advanced.
In Fuel Hunters pupils take on the role of exploratory engineers as they learn about geology, where fossils come from, and how oil and gas are formed over millions of years. They then form a team to build their very own 6ft oil rig platform – it’s exploration on a brand new level!
Lego Mindstorms Advanced sees pupils join ‘Mission Control’ to learn about the amazing real-life robots currently operating in space, before programming their own robots on a rescue mission to another planet, as we aim to inspire the computer scientists of our future.
Each year Generation Science tours all around Scotland from February until May, reaching around 60,000 children aged 5 – 12 years all over the country, where teams of skilled science communicators will bring science and technology to life across a range of subjects through 17 shows and workshops.
Visits are designed specifically to support and supplement the Curriculum for Excellence and introduce children to ideas in science and technology in a fun and immersive way. The programme also aims to inspire tomorrow’s scientists, by alerting young girls and boys to the possibilities of a career in science and technology.
Final preparations are being made in Scottish schools for the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 study. PISA is the world’s biggest international education survey – now involving students from more than 70 countries. The programme is run in Scotland by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) and has been developed jointly by member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Purpose of PISA:
To compare the learning of students in different countries
To investigate what students think about their learning
To compare educational systems and school policies
To help governments make decisions about educational policy.
In Scotland, 4000 learners, aged 15 years, from 116 schools will be included. The testing will take place during school time between 2 March and 2 April 2015 and will last around half a day. All tests for this study will be undertaken on a computer.
PISA takes place every 3 years – the first one was in 2000. In each survey there is one main subject. In the 2015 PISA survey, the main subject is science and all students will answer some science questions. Most students will also answer questions on reading, maths or problem-solving.
The PISA survey represents a good opportunity to gain an external perspective on young people’s experiences in science for those who have experienced Curriculum for Excellence.
Have you seen our new 3rd and 4th Level Chemistry and Physics resources? Start exploring our new airport interactive to find examples of motion and forces in action!
We’ve also added some new investigation videos to help students brush up on their scientific skills.
Thanks to all those who entered the Ultimate STEM Challenge. We’re delighted to announce that more than 450 students from across the UK have submitted entries. Judging is underway, and we’ll be announcing the finalists next week.
New! Science investigation videos for 11 to 12s
Free videos on Forces, Materials, Electricity and more!
How much sugar will dissolve in tea? How does exercise affect your body? Our new videos explore the science behind everyday life and offer practical investigation ideas for key curriculum topics.
Does an object’s shape affect its speed? This set of four videos filmed at the Science Museum features young presenters taking students through each stage of an experiment to find out.
I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here is an event that gets students talking to scientists online. It’s free for UK schools, and all you need is an internet connection for your students. It’s running this March (9th–20th) to get your classroom buzzing during British Science Week.
I’m a Scientist is an online X-Factor style competition for scientists, where students are the judges!
For two weeks this March, your students will be able to ask questions to, and take part in live text-based chats with real scientists. Students vote for their favourite scientist to win £500 to spend on further STEM engagement.
The event is simple to organise as all the materials needed are provided, including suggested lesson plans. Students see that scientists are normal people, learn how science lessons relate to real life, and become more enthused about science.
Students ASK questions on absolutely anything! Scientists aim to answer the same day.
Have live text-based chats for instant answers to the students’ questions.
Students are the judges! Voting to keep their favourite scientist in the competition.
Between the 9th and 20th March we’re running 14 different themed zones to get students interacting with scientists on everything from Genes to Particle Physics. There are also General Science Zones where students will be able to ask questions to scientists in a wide range of research areas, and zones specially for primary schools.
The Society of Biology is pleased to announce the first round of our Regional Grant Scheme in Scotland
Individual biologists or biology-related organisations can apply for funding to run a biology public engagement or schools event or activity in Scotland.
The grant scheme is funded by the Scottish Government and offers grants of up to £200 for small events and up to £500 for larger events.
Events can take place between May and December 2015 and priority will be given to events in under-served areas of Scotland.
Application forms are submitted by email and the deadline is Monday 16th March 2015.
Full details and application forms are available at www.societyofbiology.org/RGS-Scotland
For questions about the grant scheme, please contact
Dr Jane Magill
Regional Co-ordinator (Scotland and Northern England)
Society of Biology janemagill@societyofbiology.org
Mobile: 07885 914212
Technologies
• Look out for the Technologies Impact Review – publish date 4 February
• Learning Together Hub – Raspberry Pi network on Glow
• BGE and Senior Phase computing science materials
We’ve got loads more news to share! See our STEM blog for the latest updates.
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