June 12, 2012
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STEM Central and Electric Transport

Many thanks to our Engineering the Future colleagues for highlighting this link which could be used to enrich learning around the STEM Central electric transport context. In Meet the Inventor of the World’s Fastest Electric Motorcycle Michael Czysz talks about making his dream a reality, and what it feels like to travel at 200 mph on a motorbike hearing only the sound of the air.

Thinking about sustainable transport as a context for learning? Along with the world’s fastest electric motorcycle, what about freight ships towed by massive kites to reduce fuel demand? Scope for creative design and practical investigative work with learners in sciences and technologies? The Glow Science Eco-Transport video could provide a useful starter for this learning.

For more on electric transport see our 13th May blog post STEM Central Electric Transport & the smarter Smart car.

June 12, 2012
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Ask an Astronaut with the Scottish Space School…or an Evening with NASA

Wednesday 13 June 10:00 – 10:45 http://glo.li/MsbNg9

Join us again this year for a fantastic opportunity to explore space travel and meet three NASA guests all in one day. Find out about what they’ve done, ask your own questions, take part in space quizzes and use this unique opportunity to enter the world of space exploration.

The University of Strathclyde’s Scottish Space School runs from 10-15 June for learners in S5. Find out more at the Scottish Space School web page.

The Scottish Space School will also be hosting its annual public lecture on Wednesday 13th June 2012 from 18:30 to 20:00, when the guest speakers will include two astronauts with six space missions between them, and a lead engineer on spacesuit design. If you would like to attend this event please apply for an e-ticket by clicking on to the link: E-ticket application

Did you know Scotland is active in space research? STEM Central’s Exploring Engineering is aimed at learners and practitioners for CPD and includes interviews with Scottish and global engineers, working in Scotland, round the world, and beyond!

June 11, 2012
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Taking forward sciences in North Ayrshire

Education Scotland were in North Ayrshire last week, working with practitioners. Over a series of five sessions, we had the chance to meet with, and hear from, practitioners from every school in the local authority, looking at building capacity, professional dialogue and self-evaluation. A cluster based approach was used, as part of North Ayrshire’s Science recently published strategy. Practitioners engaged in discussion, and reported that they valued the chance to share with colleagues to better understanding the full picture of the broad general education. Examples of practice shared included primary 2/3 learners exploring series circuits, and primary 4/5 learners working on rocket design and investigating launch height and angle and the maximum vertical height and range. We’re hoping that practitioners will be willing to share their STEM stories on this blog!

June 11, 2012
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Olympic Bioengineering

Last week I was discussing with practitioners using the STEM Central Bioengineering context, and this free Super Legs Concept Cartoon provides a nice link between bioengineering and the Olympics.

Learners could consider the experience of athlete Oscar Pistorius, or that of Claire Lomas. Claire was paralysed in a horse riding accident in 2006, and was recently the first person to complete a marathon (in this case The London Marathon) in a “bionic” suit, taking 16 days to complete the 26.2 mile course. Find out more about how bioengineering and technology can change lives from BBC News Paralysed Woman Claire Lomas treasures 16-day London Marathon and “‘Bionic’ woman Claire Lomas completes London Marathon” and from the company which made the ”bionic” suit ReWalk Bionics Research.

The Bioengineering learning journeys are focused on third and fourth level, but the ideas and interactives could be translated for work across first and second level. Exploring prosthetic design could incorporate Glow Science videos such as The Movement of Joints, or perhaps the learners might be interested in finding out what we know about Ancient Olympians from the discovery of a 2000 year old skeleton?

June 9, 2012
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Learning for the new NQs: Beyond the X-ray machine

If the X-ray machine is a 20th Century icon, is this high tech surgical “ipad” an icon for the 21st century? This touchscreen “operating table”, the brainchild of Jack Choi of Anamotage, is in use in a UK hospital where applications include training future surgeons and planning real-life surgery. Interested in hearing Jack Choi talk about his virtual dissection table? Try this short TED Talk from February 2012.

This could raise some interesting questions for learners: what are the principles behind the imaging techniques used? Is this £60k equipment really an advance over the traditional x-ray?

June 8, 2012
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The Daily What! Mind Reading Shock!!

Earlier this year, I was blogging about the amazing breakthrough in brain computer interfacing, reported widely in the press, which links to published Bioengineering context on STEM Central.

Turns out those clever folks at The Daily What read my mind to come up with this article and suggestions. The Brain Quiz (mind reading not required, just click the mouse) can be used to introduce or refresh prior learning on the brain and nervous system, with ideas for discussion topics and links to information and animations to support learning and teaching.

June 8, 2012
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STEM Ambassadors in Scotland

If you haven’t tapped into the amazing, free resource that is the STEMNET network of STEM Ambassadors, why not make a plan to explore using the STEM Ambassador scheme with STEM Central to support, enhance and enrich teaching and learning in sciences, technologies, engineering and maths?

Tansy Hammarton, Principal Investigator, Wellcome Trust Centre For Molecular Parasitology at the University of Glasgow, is one of over 2500 STEM Ambassadors registered in Scotland. Tansy’s work as a STEM Ambassador was recognised at the House of Lords on 13th December 2011, where she was one of three UK finalists for the award of The Most Dedicated STEM Ambassador.

The Scottish STEMNET Awards will be run in the summer term. This is an opportunity for you to nominate Most Dedicated Teacher, Most Dedicated STEM Ambassador and Most Dedicated Employer in Scotland. For more information, see the 2011 Scottish STEMNET awards.

June 8, 2012
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STEM Central and STEM Careers

With announcements like those below indicating the health of Scotland’s renewables future, what better time to explore the contexts in STEM Central for use with learners?

This Interactive Map of Renewable and Alternative Energy projects in the UK would make a good starting point for discussion.

Osborne unveils £103m renewables funding for Scotland

Renewables growth ‘to continue’ in Scotland during 2012

Samsung wind turbine project to create 500 jobs in Fife

June 8, 2012
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STEM Central Sounds Amazing

We are progressing the development of our new context on STEM Central “Sound”. Early years and first level learning journeys will be published within the next few weeks. Something to think about in preparation: what distinguishes music from noise? Why not view the Glow Science video “How do Musical Instruments work?” and explore this further?

The Sound context will continue to be developed to incorporate second and fourth level journeys. We’ll be bringing you vodcasts on bats, robots and echolocation and sharing the experiences of learners at Balfron Primary School, when they worked with the Engineering the Future project. The fourth level journey could be used to support your planning for learning and teaching for National 4 Physics.

And, it might sound like something from Dr Who but researchers at the University of Dundee have recently announced the invention of a “sonic screwdriver”, an ultrasonic device which has potential for developing new, more precise surgical techniques. Sounds amazing? More on this from the BBC. Unsure about ultrasound? Why not use the Glow Sciences videos Beyond the Range of Human Hearing, or Medical Marvels: Ultrasound for a bit of background?

June 8, 2012
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Thinking Sustainable Futures? Join our Glow meet from Rio

11am – 12pm Tuesday 19th June 2012

What are your green dreams for the future?

What message will you send to world leaders?

How can Scotland become more sustainable?

What can we expect from this globally important event?

Over 150 heads of state and world leaders will gather in Rio de Janeiro from 20-22nd June 2012 for crucial talks at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, will be one of those travelling to Rio as part of the official UK delegation.

Education Scotland, through Glow, is giving you the chance to link with the Minister live from Rio to learn more about the event and the hopes and expectations of the UK delegation.

The conference, referred to as Rio+20, will mark 20 years since the historic Earth Summit in the same city in 1992 which put issues such as climate change and the protection of biodiversity on the map and gave birth to Agenda 21 – an action plan for a sustainable future which was adopted by national governments, cities and local authorities across the world.

Rio+20 will focus on seven priority areas including: decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness.

Rio+20 provides an opportunity to move away from business-as-usual and to take bold steps to end poverty and address environmental destruction.

This will be an interactive Glow meet so get your questions, messages, ideas and green dreams ready for Rio!

What is Scotland doing to protect the environment and promote sustainable development?

What more could we be doing?

What are your green dreams and ideas for the future?

What should we have achieved by the time Rio+40 comes around?

What messages would you like the Minister to pass onto other government officials and world leaders when he meets them for discussions?

This Glow meet will be suitable for learners in primary and secondary schools.

Visit http://bit.ly/glowrio20 to register and join the Glow meet on the day.

Free Rio+20 resources are available at: http://bit.ly/JxZr5G