STEM Blog

December 13, 2022
by C. Gillespie
0 comments

🎄 Fortnightly Planner 13/12 🎄

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Welcome to the fortnightly STEM planner. Keep reading to find out more about exciting STEM developments across Scotland. Please feel free to share this planner with colleagues and school partners.

Thank you to all of you for your work and support for STEM learning this year and every best wish for Christmas and the holidays from all of us in the STEM Team.

Education Scotland Christmas card designed by Luke aged 9.

 

New national STEM professional learning calendar

Education Scotland STEM team, working with STEM National partners, have catalogued all Professional Learning for STEM being delivered across Scotland. This invaluable resource is now live on the STEM Nation Online Resource Events page as a calendar, with useful links direct to the STEM Partners websites and booking information. Visit our Events page on the STEM Nation Online Resource to see the wide range of support available from Education Scotland and national partner organisations:

Events – STEM Nation (glowscotland.org.uk)

The contents of the calendar can be viewed in a monthly list view here.

 

Prelim study support – Practical science experiment videos

See our interactive list of Practical science experiment films to support you and your learners with study support and Prelim preparation. This spreadsheet allows you to filter by subject, phase, level and unit.  We have also created listings for all National Qualification practical experiments by subject area. These are organised by subject, experiment title, level, unit and includes the direct video link.

Resources – STEM Nation

 

Science Planning Resource

Developed through the RAiSE Programme with support from Education Scotland and Scottish Government, this resource supports learning, teaching and assessment of science in early learning and childcare settings and primary schools.

This resource supports planning for science around the experiences and outcomes from early to second level.  Activities and approaches should be viewed as useful starting points and are in no way prescriptive.

To download each level, or the entire resource, click on the DOWNLOAD ALL option on the top right corner of the page.

Science Planning Resource – STEM Nation

 

Secondary Sciences Network

Past event – Assessment construction in the Sciences (5/12/22) -recordings now available:

Next event – BGE (1): Setting the context – Tuesday 17 January 16:45: 17:45 SIGN UP HERE

This is the first of three sessions looking at BGE in the sciences. This session will explore the recent report ‘Structural barriers to STEM engagement.’ We will explore the key messages such as: why there might be a dip in interest in STEM between S1-S3 and the need for a focus on STEM pedagogy.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions and for discussion.

 

Structural Barriers to STEM

The Structural Barries to STEM Engagement Report conducted by Ekosgen on behalf of Education Scotland and the Scottish Government has been published.

This is the third in a series of reports supporting the implementation of Scotland’s STEM Education and Training Strategy.

The report provides a valuable insight into perceptions of STEM and factors that would encourage a greater number of learners to continue on their STEM pathways. The data was drawn from 78 interviews with teachers, school leaders, local authority staff and college staff and over 1300 responses from learners and 500 from parents.

Structural Barriers to STEM Engagement Report

 

Green Jobs

Green jobs in Scotland are significant and on the rise. Not only will these jobs help us to tackle the global climate emergency, they represent an exciting opportunity for our young people, offering higher wages than non-green jobs.

To give you a window into green career pathways, we’ve pulled together some of the key websites, facts and reports into one place – Green Jobs in Scotland

 

 

 

 

NCR V&A Dundee Design Challenge

In an exciting and innovative opportunity for S2 pupils across Scotland, V&A Dundee are collaborating with NCR (National Cash Registers) on a cross-curricular design challenge.

Pupils will:

  • Learn skills for creative thinking
  • Work through the design process
  • Demonstrate the practical application of STEM

Teachers will benefit from:

  • Ready-made, adaptable resources
  • Continual support from a range of specialists
  • CLPL opportunities

Pupils will work in teams with the support of designers, engineers, and other outside agencies to develop a design brief. The winners in each region will be invited to V&A Dundee (expenses paid) to showcase their work and compete to win a week of work experience with NCR. The challenge will run from August 2023 – December 2023 with the finals in January 2024.

Aimed at S2 pupils to inspire their choices as they select subjects for S3 and beyond, this project is looking to enrol 2 schools from each local authority. Email schools@vandadundee.org with NCR Project as the heading for more details.

 

 

STEM Ambassadors in Scotland Week

Running 30 Jan – 3 Feb – find out who STEM Ambassadors are and how they can bring STEM to life. With the theme of ‘Storytelling’, STEM Ambassadors present a series of online events for primary schools called STEM Storytime. Ambassadors will read a story followed by a short talk about how the story relates to STEM or their job. Many of the stories are interactive and include activities the class can do whilst watching. For secondary schools, learners can ask questions directly to the ambassadors. Answers will be recorded and sent out to schools.

A practitioners’ guide and website full of information, ideas for getting involved and resources all about STEM and storytelling can be found here: www.stemambassadors.scot/sais-week-2023

 

Upskill and Engage Programme

 This exciting new project in 2023 will focus on giving STEM Ambassadors the training and tools needed to deliver engaging, interactive STEM sessions across Early and First Level in primary schools.

STEM Ambassadors in Scotland are looking for 50 schools to match with a STEM Ambassador for 3 face to face career linked STEM sessions between April – June 2023. Participating schools will also benefit from a training session from Dr Richard Holmes, Lecturer in Education at Dundee University, on making the most of STEM Ambassadors in the classroom.

To apply for a place on the programme please register here

To find out more join the information session:

Primary School Information Session – Upskill and Engage Programme, 25 Jan, 3.30 – 4.15pm (Teams)

 

December 13, 2022
by C. Gillespie
0 comments

Structural Barriers to STEM Engagement Report

Structural Barriers to STEM Engagement Report is now available on Education Scotland’s National Improvement Hub.

This evaluation was conducted by Ekosgen on behalf of Education Scotland and the Scottish Government and is the third in a series of reports supporting the implementation of Scotland’s STEM Education and Training Strategy.

The report provides a valuable insight into perceptions of STEM and factors that would encourage a greater number of learners to continue on their STEM pathways. The data was drawn from 78 interviews with teachers, school leaders, local authority staff and college staff and over 1300 responses from learners and 500 from parents.

The report also contains high-level recommendations to inform the next phase of implementation of the STEM Strategy.

Findings include:

  • Learners want their learning experience rooted in the real world with a strong focus on jobs and work experience.
  • 59% of parents want more opportunity for their children to work with businesses through their learning.
  • Most learners want to or are thinking about taking or continuing STEM subjects (75%). This attitude is most pronounced at S4-S6 (70%), and amongst males (76% vs 74% female). However, those in S1-S3 are least likely to want to take or continue with STEM subjects.
  • More than half of respondents want to continue with STEM subjects because they like a specific subject or topic (52%), whilst many recognise STEM subjects as important for future study (46%) or work (42%).
  • A better range of subjects offered at all levels was identified by most pupils as a means to help encourage more pupils to engage with STEM (45%; 54% of parents).
  • Some 30% of learners said that they wanted to drop STEM subjects as they were not good at them – 66% of respondents that stated this were female.
  • Female learners are more likely to report that Learning for Sustainability, climate education and outdoor learning would encourage them to take STEM subjects.

Education Scotland would like to thank all who took part in the interviews, completed the surveys and supported the evaluation activity. The fourth phase of the evaluation is now underway and will focus on effective practice to encourage strong uptake in STEM. If you have interesting practice to share we’d love to hear from you – email us at stem@educationscotland.gov.scot

To see previous evaluation reports and our full range of national STEM data then visit our National Improvement Hub STEM summary page.

December 11, 2022
by I. Menzies
0 comments

Green Jobs in Scotland

As we transition to becoming a Net Zero Nation, green jobs in Scotland are on the rise. Not only will these jobs help us to tackle the global climate emergency, they represent an exciting opportunity for our young people, offering higher wages than non-green jobs.

To give you a window into green career pathways, we’ve pulled together some of the key websites, facts and reports into one place.

Did you know? Our national Learning for Sustainability Action Plan has a target for all settings and school to become sustainable by 2030. Promoting green pathways and jobs are a key part of this.

Question: How are our curriculum and our qualification pathways preparing children and young people to access these opportunities?

Key websites

Facts

  • The number of green jobs advertised in the UK has almost trebled in the last year.
  • 336,000 green jobs were advertised across the UK in 2022.
  • The UK target is to support creation of 2 million green jobs between 2020 and 2030.
  • Green jobs are growing at around four times the rate of the overall UK employment market.
  • Of the 2.5 million jobs in Scotland it is estimated that 109,000 are new and emerging green jobs.
  • Analysis of the vacancy data reveals that median advertised wages are higher in green jobs than in non-green jobs in Scotland (£29,673 vs £23,837).
  • Professional occupations that are more prevalent amongst green jobs in Scotland (32.1%), followed by skilled trades (19.6%).
  • Green jobs in Scotland are mostly concentrated in the 25-49 age group (58%).
  • The frequency of green job titles among engineering job postings increased by 55% in the past five years, and the number of engineering job postings mentioning a green skill has also grown by 48%. As of 2022 there were approximately 23,000 engineering job postings for green roles and a further 212,000 requiring green skills.

Reports

Resources

November 16, 2022
by C. Gillespie
0 comments

Fortnightly Planner 16/11

Welcome to the fortnightly STEM planner. Keep reading to find out more about exciting STEM developments across Scotland. Please feel free to share this planner with colleagues and school partners.

Meet the STEM Partners – Science centres and Science Skills Academy

During this online opportunity for primary teachers, you’ll hear from Scotland’s four Science Centres in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee and Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh – as well as the Science Skills Academy – to explore how they can help you deliver inspiring STEM experiences through their exhibitions and learning programmes.

You’ll have the opportunity to find out more about what each organisation can offer you and your learners in-person and digitally, through visits to their centres or through outreach experiences. Join us to explore how we can support you in the delivery of national priorities for learners and make connections with Scotland’s national science centres.

Target Audience – Primary and Additional support practitioners

 

STEM Nation Awards Programme

Are your learners engaged in STEM leadership? Do you have a STEM plan or working group? Are staff taking part in STEM professional learning?

Explore how the STEM Nation Award can help you develop and share Leadership in STEM.  

 

 

Secondary Sciences Network – Save the date

 

Constructing assessments in the sciences

1645 to 1745 Monday 5 December

In this session, Andy Shield (SQA Qualifications Manager for Physics and Environmental Science) will provide insight into constructing assessments for Sciences National Qualifications. The session will include:

  • Level of demand and A-type questions
  • Distribution of questions
  • Ensuring a sufficient breadth of content and skills coverage
  • Importance of applying marking instructions.

Andy will also share observations and learning from the most recent appeals process. There will be opportunities to discuss and ask questions. Sign up here.

 

COP 27 – DYW Live

During this week of COP27, Education Scotland and eSgoil have been running DYW LIVE sessions for learners and teachers about climate change and green jobs. Don’t worry if you missed the inspiring input from employers on climate change and green skills within construction, fashion, energy and ethical finance – you can watch the recordings on the DYW LIVE site

Don’t miss out on the last two session running on Thursday 17 November

  • AM – Agriculture and Forestry – LANTRA will explain how working the fields, forests and hills can mitigate against climate change.
  • PM – Transport – Hear how FirstBus is reducing the impact of travel on the planet and creating green jobs in the process.

To register visit the DYW LIVE COP27 page

Other COP27 Opportunities

1. Live at COP27 Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).

Explore global issues during COP27 and be part of the call for collective action.

Find out more and sign up here.

2. Climate AmbassadorsSTEM Learning has created a new subset of STEM Ambassadors called Climate Ambassadors. Employers and organisations can choose to be connected to Climate Ambassadors and filter requests of this type.

3. Royal Society of Chemistry Take Charge Global Battery experiment

4. Education Scotland COP26 legacy materialsrecycling, reusing, repurpose materials from last year…because they were so popular and it’s good for the planet to use again!

IGBE Team

Improving Gender Balance Self-evaluation and Data Guides Workshop – Wednesday 16 November 4 – 5:15 pm

Are you a leader of gender aware practice in your setting? Come along to our session exploring how data can be viewed through an equalities lens and support self-evaluation.

We’ve updated our IGB Self-evaluation Framework –

Improving Gender Balance Self Evaluation Framework (education.gov.scot)

‘How does gender inequality affect attainment, wellbeing and participation?’

Another chance to find out!

Our next awareness raising session is on Thursday 1 December. If you’ve already attended one of these why not encourage others within your department/setting to come along? Sign up here

 

Dates for your diary 

18 Nov: Last day of COP27

5 Dec: Secondary Sciences Network – Constructing assessments in the sciences

1 Dec: World AIDS Day

7 -19 Dec: UN COP15 Biodiversity Conference, Montreal Canada

November 4, 2022
by I. Menzies
0 comments

Secondary Sciences Network Update – November 2022

Thank you to all those who managed to attend the Secondary Sciences Network Meeting (Teams on Glow) on 05 October.

Those attending identified the following priorities for the network for the year ahead:

  • BGE – curriculum design and assessment
  • Skills progression and tracking
  • Improving career and course advice (including pathways such as Environmental Science/ NPAs/ Apprenticeships
  • Multi-level teaching
  • Pedagogy
  • Designing A-type questions
  • ASN – differentiation and resources

We hope to theme the live sessions and discussions around these topics over the coming months. The purpose of the network is to facilitate sharing, dialogue and collaboration between schools so if you have resources, approaches or practice to share on the aspects listed above then please email: stem@educationscotland.gov.scot – we’d be very keen to hear from you.

NEXT up: Environmental sciences webinar on 15 November (4.45pm to 5.45pm)

The session will be hosted on the Secondary Sciences Network Team (Joining code: uh9sf32). To register: https://bit.ly/3ft8YXt

During the session, SQA colleagues will share an update and teachers will share their experience of delivering Environmental Science courses.

Network focus for November: New qualifications and assessment consultation

The Scottish Government consultation on the new qualifications (Hayward Review) is now open: https://www.gov.scot/publications/professor-haywards-independent-review-qualifications-assessment/pages/2/ .  Responses to this consultation should be submitted by 16 December 2022. Our network discussion will focus on this theme throughout November. What are your hopes, ideas and suggestions for the review and the future of sciences qualifications? How can sciences qualifications best meet the needs of all learners? Please post your thoughts and ideas into the network chat.

STEM Nation Award

Passionate about STEM and looking to make a whole school commitment? Education Scotland’s STEM Nation Award Programme can help you on your journey. To register and find out the support that is available visit: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/stemnation/stemnation-awards/

DYW LIVE Programme for COP27 (14th to 17th November)

Sustainability and climate change will be key to all jobs in the future. Join our COP27 DYW Live Programme to hear from six inspiring employers who are putting climate change at the heart of their business including construction, transport, energy, fashion, finance, agriculture and forestry: https://www.e-sgoil.com/dyw-live-cop27-homepage/

Resources

  • Handy resource guide – download these handy sciences resources guides for teachers and learners:

Secondary Sciences Resources for Teachers Nov 2022

Secondary Sciences Resources for Learners Nov 2022

 SQA Connections (7 – 10 November)

A series of free online information sessions which will help you learn about qualification updates, get insights into new developments, and develop ideas for the future. More than 20 sessions are available – some have a subject-specific focus while others consider broader topics such as meta-skills, SCQF learner pathways, systems verification and the SQA Centre Hub. Full list of sessions: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/QualityNetwork-Programme-2022.pdf . To book: https://bit.ly/3FKfHH5. New users will need to register first.

 

November 1, 2022
by C. Gillespie
0 comments

Fortnightly Planner 1/11

Welcome to the fortnightly STEM planner. Keep reading to find out more about exciting STEM developments across Scotland. Please feel free to share this planner with colleagues and school partners.

STEM Networks Early Years, Primary and ASN

Join us on Thursday 3 November at 4 15pm for a focus on family learning & STEM. Hear from North Ayrshire Family Learning Team on how they support families & develop their love for STEM. Breakout rooms for Early Years, Primary & ASN will also be held.

 

Secondary Sciences Network

Join us for our Secondary Sciences Network session on Tuesday 15 November 4.45 – 5.45pm with an Environmental Sciences focus.

Hear from Donna Clark (SQA) and also teachers who’ll be sharing their experience of delivering Environmental Science.

 

 

COP 27 – DYW Live

Get set for COP27 – learn about climate change and help develop skills in Scotland’s future workforce.  Learning about climate change and sustainability is a pathway to the future; relevant for all future jobs. As part of COP27 Week 2022 DYW Live, Education Scotland and e-Sgoil are excited to offer a range of activities around climate change and its impact on future jobs and future skills.

Collaborating with six industry partners sharing what they are doing to prevent climate change, join us for an industry-led inspiration talk followed by a climate lesson on Teams which can be used to enhance learning from the webinar or as a standalone activity.

14 November

  • AM – Net Zero Construction – hear from Built Environment, Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) as they seek to accelerate the built environment’s transition to zero carbon emissions.
  • PM – Ethical Finance – Shared Interest is an ethical investment organisation which aims to alleviate poverty by helping people in remote and disadvantaged communities, to trade and earn a living.

15 November

  • AM – Energy transition – Hear from Catapult Offshore Renewable Energy and their plans to harness nature’s energy in sustainable ways.
  • PM – Sustainable fashion – ACS’ mission is to be the leading enabler of the fashion industry’s circular economy in the UK and Europe.

17 November 

  • AM – Agriculture and Forestry – LANTRA will explain how working the fields, forests and hills can mitigate against climate change.
  • PM – Transport – Hear how FirstBus is reducing the impact of travel on the planet and creating green jobs in the process.

To find out more and register visit the DYW LIVE COP27 page: https://www.e-sgoil.com/dyw-live-cop27-homepage/

The webinars will be recorded and made available afterwards on the e-sgoil webpage.

Other COP27 Opportunities

  1. Live at COP27 Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) – Starts 07 November

2. Climate Ambassadors – STEM Learning has created a new subset of STEM Ambassadors called Climate Ambassadors. Employers and organisations can choose to be connected to Climate Ambassadors and filter requests of this type: https://www.stem.org.uk/climate-ambassadors

3. Royal Society of Chemistry Take Charge Global Battery experiment: https://edu.rsc.org/global-experiment

4. Education Scotland COP26 legacy materials – recycling, reusing, repurpose materials from last year…because they were so popular and it’s good for the planet to use again! https://education.gov.scot/improvement/learning-resources/countdown-to-cop26/

IGBE Team

Not sure where to start with gender aware practice? Look no further as we have just published our updated ‘Sharing Practice’ resource which offers lots of ideas for starting out and for continuing the journey in Early Learning, Primary and Secondary settings.

Here’s the link: Sharing practice (collated) October 2022

Children issue call to action on Learning for Sustainability and outdoor learning

This latest report from the Children’s Parliament contains a clear call to all educators in all subject areas – our children want to receive their entitlement to Learning for Sustainability including learning about climate change, more frequent opportunities for outdoor learning and contact with nature. These findings echo the findings of other consultations such as the response to Prof Ken Muir’s Report: Putting Learners at the Centre. Hear what our children have to say:  https://www.childrensparliament.org.uk/learning-for-sustainability/

FREE Science Storytelling CLPL 

Dynamic Earth are offering a new CLPL series to help grow confidence, knowledge & skills in developing & delivering high-quality storytelling practice on a range of science themes.
The specialist team and special guests will take you through different aspects of storytelling practice in each session with activities and examples to take back to your learners.

November 23rd Diving Deep: Earth’s Ocean
December 14th Galaxy Quest! Space Exploration
January 18th Rumble in the Jungle
February 23rd Puffin Power! Exploring the Climate Emergency
March 22nd Outdoor Stories

Ideal for:
– ELC and ASN practitioners
– Teachers with Early Level learners

Find out more and register for free

 

Opportunity for your pupils to be air quality scientists

SAMHE (Schools’ Air quality Monitoring for Health and Education) is a DfE supported project to understand indoor air quality in UK schools. Schools get a free air quality monitor linked to an interactive web app. The app will enable pupils aged 5-18 and teachers to view and interact with data from their monitor. Schools are needed to help test the initial version of the web app before it is launched more widely early in 2023.  If your school would be interested in getting involved, and is available to help with testing starting in November, sign up now using the registration form.

Dates for your diary

STEM Networks Early Years, Primary and ASN,   3 November

Outdoor Classroom Day, 3 November

Secondary Sciences Network,  15 November

COP27, 6 – 18 November

October 14, 2022
by C. Gillespie
0 comments

BRINGING THE STEM CURRICULUM TO LIFE: LEARNING FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD

 

This new professional learning programme, developed by Learning for Sustainability Scotland in partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Council and North Ayrshire Council, is part of Education Scotland’s STEM professional learning programme for 2022-23.

 

Join us on an interactive, collaborative learning journey that will help you to plan for, weave together and embed Learning for Sustainability (LfS) across your everyday STEM practice; inspiring real-life, relevant, meaningful and transformative learning about the big issues that shape our world.

Aligned with Scotland’s education priorities, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the National Model for Professional Learning, this course will support you to:

Critically reflect on the values, knowledge, skills and abilities required of teachers and learners to enable them to:

  • Consider real-world local and global challenges in the context of LfS and the STEM curriculum
  • Participate successfully and contribute to a fair and green society by taking meaningful action appropriate and relevant to their context

Develop confidence in teacher leadership for STEM and LfS and engage in peer learning

Collaborate with others to reflect on and evaluate your own and your students’ learning and plan for future development

Develop and apply practical activities in your setting and reflect on the impact on self, learners and your wider learning community.

This course is open to senior leadership teams, teachers, and early years practitioners from local authority-funded 3-18 yrs settings across Dumfries & Galloway and North Ayrshire. We are particularly keen to encourage interdisciplinary, whole-setting, cross-sectoral and inter-authority collaboration and networking.

Programme outline

31 October: Module 1 Introduction to Learning for Sustainability in STEM

14 November: Module 2 Learning for the 21st century: skills, values, knowledge and agency

28 November: Module 3 ‘Real-life’ teaching: engaging STEM learners in meaningful, contextualised learning

12 December: Module 4 Reflection and collaboration: looking to the future

Class-based STEM learning activities can be undertaken in the New Year or at any time through the course. Participants will have until the end of February 2023 to complete the course.

How will the course be delivered?

  • Starting on 31 October, this online course will contain four modules.
  • Hosted on GLOW Teams, the course will offer a blended mix of self-led and facilitated online learning that you will be able to access at a time that is convenient to you.
  • Regular, optional ‘real-time’ ‘drop-in’ sessions hosted by the course tutors are also included.
  • Participants will be supported to develop, deliver, evaluate, share and celebrate a real-life learning activity with their learners.
  • Peer-led collaboration with other participants will be a key feature of the course.

 

The Eventbrite to enable signups to the STEM/LfS professional learning course is now live.

 

 

October 6, 2022
by Hazel Gardner
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STEM Nation Award Drop-in Sessions

The STEM Nation Award drop-in sessions provide an opportunity for STEM Nation Award applicants to ask questions or seek support with their application from the Education Scotland STEM team. These sessions are also open to practitioners from ELC settings, schools and CLD settings who are interested in learning more about the STEM Nation Award programme.

The regular drop-in sessions take place during morning and afternoon slots to suit the needs of practitioners working in different sectors.

The 30 minute sessions will be hosted on Microsoft Teams, which you can join using a Glow or non-Glow account.

There is no requirement to attend the full session – please feel free to register, drop-in to ask your question and then use the remainder of the time to work on your application… or grab a cuppa before your class returns!

Please register for these sessions through the Education Scotland Events page. The Microsoft Teams link will be shared with you after you have registered for tickets on EventBrite.

Further support is also available from your regional STEM Education Officer. Please contact them at the email below and they will be happy to arrange a time to call or meet with you : STEM@educationscotland.gov.scot

October 4, 2022
by C. Gillespie
0 comments

Fortnightly Planner 3/10/2022

Welcome to the fortnightly STEM planner. Keep reading to find out more about exciting STEM developments across Scotland. Please feel free to share this planner with colleagues and school partners.

 

Secondary Sciences Network

Join us for our Secondary Sciences Network 2022/23 kick-off session on Wednesday 5th October 4 30 – 5 30pm and help shape plans and the programme for the year ahead.

The joining code for the Glow Teams Group is uh9sf32 and the meeting will take place in the General Channel. If you can’t join us live then you are very welcome to use the group code to join the network anyway – there are over 670 members and growing.

 

STEM Networks Early Years, Primary and ASN

Join us on Thursday 6 October for a focus on equity and STEM. The EAL team in Glasgow will share their work with early years practitioners and bilingual learners on STEM. Breakout rooms for Early Years, Primary and ASN will follow.  The meeting will take place in the General channel of the STEM Nation Team within Glow.  Join the team to access the meeting.

 

FREE Science Storytelling CLPL 

Dynamic Earth are pleased to be offering a new CLPL series to help evolve confidence, knowledge and skills in developing and delivering high-quality storytelling practice on a range of science themes.
The specialist team and special guests will take you through a different aspect of storytelling practice in each session with activities and examples you can take back to your setting with learners.

October 26th Scotland Rocks: Scottish Geology, Dinosaurs and Extinction
November 23rd Diving Deep: Earth’s Ocean
December 14th Galaxy Quest! Space Exploration
January 18th Rumble in the Jungle
February 23rd Puffin Power! Exploring the Climate Emergency
March 22nd Outdoor Stories

Ideal for:
– ELC and ASN practitioners
– Teachers with Early Level learners

Find out more and register for free

 

RHET Teacher Update

To support SLF22 Interactions, Experiences and Spaces project, the Royal Highland Education Trust are delighted to share their new video highlighting the benefits to learners of engaging with food and farming in a variety of learning spaces.

To support STEM learning in school RHET have launched a new interactive resource for Level 2/3 learners covering a range of STEM involved in food production: New STEM Curiosities Learning Resource

The Royal Highland Education Trust (rhet.org.uk)

 

STEM the Flow – West Partnership

Keep Scotland Beautiful STEM the Flow

Marine litter pollution is one of the biggest challenges facing our natural world and has an effect on everything form flooding to air quality and even our food. Keep Scotland Beautiful, The West Partnership and STEM Glasgow would like you to be part of the solution, by tackling the problem upstream at the source.

STEM the Flow will consider engineering solutions to tackle source to sea litter in the River Clyde. Keep Scotland Beautiful are joining forces with industry experts to support Upstream Battle across the West Partnership, with this STEM challenge for P6/7 – S3 pupils.

KSB are looking for teams to research and develop their own ideas to tackle these issues, such as ways of collecting litter that is already in the Clyde, or preventing litter from getting into our waterways in the first place.

Work as a team to create a project plan, conduct research, draw conclusions and
build a model or produce a display to showcase your idea.

Projects will run from October 2022 until an exhibition event at the Riverside Museum in
February 2023, where you will see what other teams have come up with and present
your solution to a panel of judges. Select teams will be presented with awards at the
exhibition.

 

STEM Professional Learning events

Interactive list of webinars and network meetings planned for this academic year.

Sign up for these events using the Eventbrite links on the page. 

Please post a comment at the end of this blog to discuss any aspect of these sessions and to share ideas about possible future sessions.

 

 

Science collections on National e-Learning Offer

 

Practical science videos

Practical Science – an interactive list of all Science experiments films to support you and your learners.

Filter by subject, phase, level and unit. Information on who produced the film and a direct link to the filmed experiment is included.

 

 

 

Primary Engineer

The Primary Engineer competition encourages UK primary and secondary learners  to find engineered solutions to real world problems.  Register here.

Primary Engineer have created a brand-new, fully funded sixteen hour short course. The eight-week programme is aimed at anyone within education who supports the delivery of STEM related learning in the classroom. It will support in developing an evidence-based approach to STEM education delivery and strategy development.

 

Dates for your diary

Secondary Sciences Network  5th October

STEM Networks Early Years, Primary and ASN  6 October

Scottish Digital Literacy Week  3 – 7 October

World Space Week  4 – 10 October

 

 

October 3, 2022
by I. Menzies
0 comments

Secondary Sciences Network – Join our kick off session for 2022/23

Secondary sciences teachers are invited to our network kick-off session for the new term. The session will take place in the Secondary Sciences Network Teams Group in Glow from 1630 to 1730 on Wednesday 5th October 2022.

The joining code for the Glow Teams Group is uh9sf32 and the meeting will take place in the General Channel. If you can’t join us live then you are very welcome to use the group code to join the network anyway – there are over 670 members and growing.

As well as briefly updating the network on new resources and developments, we’re keen to use this kick-off session to get your views on priorities for the year ahead – What are your main areas of focus? How can we continue to build on the work of the network to share, collaborate, learn from one another? What are your professional learning needs?

The kick-off meeting last year helped to shape a year-long programme of support including:

  • Sharing practice on approaches to BGE science and tracking and monitoring
  • Support for N5 Laboratory Science, NPA and new pathways for the sciences
  • Sharing practice on supporting learners with ASN needs within the sciences.

Education Scotland has initial plans for support for sciences qualifications, pathways and for BGE sciences in the year ahead but is really keen that the programme is shaped around your needs and the needs of the network.

We hope you’ll be able to join us at 1630 on Wed 5th October. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions: stem@educationscotland.gov.scot

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