December 5, 2013
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Languages and STEM skills – opening doors!

SCILT, Scotland’s National Centre for Languages, is working with businesses and schools in Scotland to promote languages as a key skill for employment.

Operating effectively in a global economy relies on many skills and can include the right language skills.

People who can communicate, at least conversationally, can make all the difference in the conduct of business, consolidating relationships with existing suppliers and customers and opening the way to new overseas contacts. When combined with STEM skills, the career opportunities in a vast array of sectors widens.

Key facts from the CBI Education and Skills Survey 2013

Seven out of ten (70%) businesses value foreign language skills among their employees
French(49%) and German(45%) are the leading languages in demand, but those geared to businesses in China feature increasingly prominently – of those valuing staff with foreign language skills, 28% value Manderin and 16% Cantonese
STEM skills are in high demand and nearly two in five firms (39%) are having difficulties recruiting staff. 41% expect this to persist over the next three years
Shortages of STEM qualified technicians (29%) and graduates (26%) are widespread among firms in engineering, hi-tech/IT and science areas
Businesses recognise that they have a key role in encouraging more young people to study STEM subjects, enthusing young people about STEM (55%) and working with Universities to ensure the business relevance of the course (50%).

Read about successful people in the business and sporting worlds who have combined their language and STEM skills and find out why they consider that learning a language is really important.

http://www.scilt.org.uk/Business/Jobprofilesandcareers/tabid/2867/Default.aspx

December 4, 2013
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Bringing Sustainability to Life

Year of Natural Scotland: working in partnership to bring sustainability to life at Dundee Science Centre Science Learning Institute.

Last Friday, Dundee Science Centre were joined by over 200 children from P6/7 at Kinross Primary School, St Mary’s RC Primary School Dundee and St Vincent’s RC Primary School Dundee. Children experienced an informative, hands-on day of learning about renewable energy and low carbon living.

Renewable energy scientists from Marine Scotland took the children on a journey from ancient Greece, through the discovery of electricity, to renewable and non-renewable energy sources. Children learned about the differences between renewable and non renewables, and explored amazing new technologies being developed to tap into our natural wind, tidal and wave energy sources. A Pelamis wave snake, and functioning model wind turbine really grabbed their attention.

Sustrans attended with their electric bikes and all children took part with great gusto in an energy challenge with Solar Cities Scotland. Taking it in turns, the children attempted to use muscle power to charge a capacitor to make music and smoothies, learning about the cost of power the hard way!

Dundee Science Centre is delighted to be working in partnership as part of Year of Natural Scotland to bring sustainable, low carbon technologies alive for children.

December 4, 2013
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The Royal Institution Christmas Countdown

Inspired by this year’s CHRISTMAS LECTURES with Alison Woollard the Royal Institute has launched a Chromosome-themed advent calendar. Each day between 1 December and Christmas Eve they will release a new video working through the 23 pairs of human chromosomes and the mitochondrial DNA that make up the building blocks of human life.

Over 24 days they will look at ‘junk’ DNA, raise awareness of a range of genetic disorders and the research behind the latest treatments, learn about blood donation and visit Alison’s lab in Oxford to find out about genetic ageing. Join the Royal Institute to investigate male baldness, explain Nobel Prize winning science, take a trip to the zoo, delve into the mysteries of ginger hair and much much more…

Explore the advent calendar at www.rigb.org.uk/advent

Plus, follow #Riadvent on Twitter or like us on Facebook to be the first to find and watch the videos and enter our competition to win a prop from the set of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES

December 4, 2013
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iSpot, You Spot, We all Spot Together

www.ispot.org.uk is the place to learn more about wildlife and to share your interest in a friendly community. iSpot, developed by The Open University, allows you to upload photos of your observations and get help identifying what you have seen.

It’s perfect for those plants, fungi or mini-beasts that you’ve seen whilst outdoors whether it be in the playground or on a school trip, but are not sure what they are. iSpot can be used as an aid to educating children and adults alike. Just make sure you have a camera with you and then at home, the office or school, the photos can be uploaded on to iSpot.

The website also has handy keys to help aid identification, once you register gain points as your reputation grows, and use the forums for discussions. iSpot is your place to share nature. What have you spotted today?

iSpot is part of The OpenScience Laboratory. Follow us on twitter @ispot_uk

November 29, 2013
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CfE Tackling Transition Events Series

HEA (Scotland): CfE tackling transition events series – Biological Sciences

3rd Dec 2013, 17.45-20.15

This event, which forms part of the Higher Education Academy Scotland CfE Tackling Transitions Series, will facilitate networking and dialogue between school, college and university Biological Sciences educators, to best support students throughout their learner journeys.

It is crucial that educators delivering university programmes have an in-depth understanding of developments and seek to build on these to achieve long-term improvements in the quality of the student experience in Scotland.

The HEA is keen to facilitate dialogue, to promote greater understanding of the developments that are taking place, and to assist university staff in preparing to meet the changing needs of future students.

The event will include contributions from the HEA’s Curriculum for Excellence Scholars in the Biological Sciences, who will be presenting outcomes from their work.

Location

The event will be held in Level 7 Conference Room in the Sir Duncan Rice Library at the University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue , Scotland, AB24 2TZ and a buffet reception will be provided. The event will begin at 17.45 and conclude at 20.15.

Event costs

This event is free of charge to attend

Booking

Please book a place on this event at http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/events/detail/2013/03-Dec-CfE-TacklingTransition-Biosciences-Aberdeen

November 22, 2013
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Junior Saltire Prize 2014

Schools across Scotland are invited to make a splash by entering the Junior Saltire 2014 marine renewables competition.

Last year over 130 primary and secondary teams rose to the challenge. For 2014, the brief is to design a simple hydrokinetic generator – a turbine to produce electricity when submerged in flowing water.

Great prizes of up to £750 as well as Junior Saltire medals are up for grabs and the competition is open to teams of four in three age groups – P5/7, S1/S3 and S4/S6.

Click here for further information and links to the brief and registration form. NB The closing date for team registrations is Friday 20 December 2013. Multiple entries per school welcome!

November 21, 2013
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The Queen’s Baton Design

Game on Scotland : Learning Zone Glow Meet: The Queen’s Baton Design

This session allows learners to:

hear from the Queen’s Baton designer Will Mitchell (4cDesign) & share their own a baton design ideas
find out more about the challenges of producing lawn bowls from Grant Heron Taylor bowls
learn how they can get involved in the Scottish Engineering Special Leaders Award from Angela Greene from Primary Engineers.

In order for your learners to get involved most effectively in this session why not:

set your class a baton design challenge
prepare a 2 minute pitch of your idea to Will Mitchell from 4cDesign (Dragons’ Den Style) on the day.

Register for the Glow Meet either before Tuesday 26^th November or join us on the day, 11 am – 12 noon, for the second of our Game on Scotland Technologies Glow Meets.

Glow meet sign-up: http://bit.ly/gostechnologieslearningzone

For more information email Kirsty McFaul (DO Technologies) kirsty.mcfaul@educationscotland.gov.uk

November 20, 2013
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Royal College of Surgeons Christmas Lecture

RCSEd Christmas Lecture :

“The work of the Sports Doctor; Tales of the Unexpected”

Join Dr James Robinson in a Glow meet on Monday 2^nd December, 1.55pm-2.55pm, where he will outline the role of exercise in health, both to the individual and the population.

Dr Robson has been team doctor on the last six consecutive tours by the British and Irish Lions. He joined the Scotland team as doctor at the start of season 2002/2003 and has now been team doctor for more than 100 Scotland Test matches, including the Rugby World Cup competitions in 2003, 2007 and 2011.

He will endeavour to bring to life through his own experiences, over many years of International rugby, the life and times of the team doctor. From the lows of injury, to the highs of sporting victory, the lecture will touch on some moments of drama for those whose work is sport, and for those who care at pitch side.

For further detail regarding registration http://bit.ly/rcschristmaslecture

November 18, 2013
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Sciences Conversation Day 3

Delegates attending our third conversation day at Millburn Academy were asked to reflect on the findings of Education Scotland’s Sciences 3-18 Curriculum Impact Report and, through group discussion, identify what they saw as the key priorities for action.

In the final session of the conversation day participants were encouraged to write down ideas and suggestions as to how science education could be further improved nationally. Suggestions included:

Resources – Raise awareness of support and resources available from external partners to support and enhance science learning and teaching in schools and how to access these. Create a cohesive bank of locally and nationally available resources including easy-share resources, equipment, ideas and teaching materials
Industry links – Supporting teachers to make industry links – identify particular areas of the curriculum where industry could input
Rural outreach – Support outreach by science education providers such as science centres, Edinburgh Zoo etc. to remote and rural communities to deliver and facilitate programmes. Financial support would be required for this
Assessment – A continuum of assessing and moderation in relation to significant aspects of learning
Skills – Progression of skills for life, and thinking skills, for 3-18 in context of the sciences e.g. investigation, fair tests and no gaps in first level Es and Os. Looking at progressive methods to build up skills – models from various schools/authorities to view and discuss. Need to explore more opportunities for embedding higher order thinking skills and ways to evaluate the pupil/staff recognition of their learning in the broadest sense
Exemplification – a clear, easily-searchable database of good practice is required which is regularly updated. Include pupil-voice section
Local authorities – Education Scotland should promote and support professional learning communities within authorities. If science is a national priority, funding should reflect that to ensure all authorities have a science QIO to increase teacher confidence, help moderation, sharing and development of practice etc.
Pupil voice and citizenship – discovering “pupil voice” as a meaningful constructive tool in improving learning. Develop Informed participation – recognising right to learn in United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Valuing wider learning also. Take on board message from young people about problems. Focus on citizenship
Time/Finance to help make science a national priority – Scottish Government should support this financially to take science forward. Financial input should also be sought from sponsorship from public/private sectors to invest in in the future of STEM.
High quality CPD programme for practitioners which is not generic but science specific and accredited. SSERC do a fantastic job but we need more info about available courses as we don’t all know what’s available – what about a central info point? We need access to web -based learning resources through Education Scotland courses. Need to support teachers in a coordinated way to develop skills, resources, links, assessment methods…
Public engagement – need outreach programmes involving all stakeholders in activities that are science based e.g. parents invited in to take part with their pupils
Sharing – we need a good way to share expertise, (written and physical) resources and course materials across Scotland with feedback inbuilt into the system. For instance, need a feedback mechanism built into the NQ Glow site so schools and authorities can improve their materials. Need more collaborative working. Develop primary as well as secondary science sharing.
Education Scotland – need to simplify the quantity of advice on its websites and make sure that new glow is user friendly. Also, should ask the whole science profession via survey monkey about views on improving science education
National qualifications – Can we have clear, agreed timings for Nat 4 and Nat 5 courses please! Can we have guidance on how teachers are to deliver Nat 3/4/5 in the same class? Sadly, this is the reality in our school.
Science in the news blog page – items in news, press releases are good to use in lessons but access to a ‘schools version’ on Education Scotland website would be a huge benefit. This would need good links between Education Scotland and industry. Visits to schools are not always possible and there is regular items in the news that can be used as a hook for learning.
More choice – access to wider range of courses through online resources to improve choice and access for learners. Being aware that one size doesn’t fit all.
Remove layers of bureaucracy! Decide what can go to create space we need.

STEM North of Scotland – web links to resources and programmes available for schools in the North of Scotland provided by Pat Kieran, STEM Ambassador who participated in the conversation day.

http://www.stemnorthofscotland.com/activities-and-experiments/activities-and-resources.html

Education Scotland is keen to hear your views. Click on the title of this blog post to leave a comment

November 16, 2013
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Money for nothing, and trips for free… @DundeeSciLearn

Wednesday 12^th March 2014 1615 – 1830

There is money out there but how can you get hold of it and use it to enhance learning and teaching? In this session, find out about how to be successful in applying for grants for resources for learners aged 3-18

We will help you go through the process of applying for a Royal Society grant of up to £3000 to carry out a small scale sciences project in your school.

Get help with developing and discussing ideas and support in completing an application to this fund. The session will be attended by representatives of the Royal Society for Science, a former recipient of a Royal Society grant and a STEM ambassador. If you want to engage your learners in sciences through exciting projects, but lack th finances to do so, then this is the workshop for you!

Recommended for: Practitioners planning for learning and teaching in sciences with learners aged 3-18

This event will be held at Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee, DD1 4HN. A number of charitable trust funded places are available. If you are interested, please contact us on learning@dundeesciencecentre.org.uk. The session runs from 1630 – 1830 with arrival for registration and refreshments from 1615.