Category Archives: Announcements

Announcements

Site refresh and update

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If you head over to our BBC website at bbc.co.uk/builditscotland then you’ll notice we have made a few changes to the layout. We wanted to make it as easy as possible to find exactly what you need and so have rearranged the content to (hopefully) make it as easy as possible to navigate around.

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If you feel something doesn’t feel quite right or needs pointed up in a different way then please do let us know as we’re eager to please!

At our BBC site you’ll find-

  • information on how to get involved
  • printable PDFs on how to access, download and use Tinkercad, SketchUp and Minecraft software
  • videos of our pilot schools – what went well, what was more challenging and what YOU can get out of the project
  • a series of Bright Spark videos which highlight links between the processes and skills young people will tap into with this project, and jobs in the real world
  • FAQs
  • updates on our live events

We’ll keep adding content as the project continues so do keep checking back in.

Once builds begin to come our way then we’ll produce a gallery to showcase as many as we can. So don’t wait around- get your builds to us and let us show them off for you!

 

 

 

Announcements

STEM career profile films

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Our Bright Spark series of short films has recently been updated to include three more films. We hope they help young learners begin to make connections between the skills they have and are developing when engaging with Minecraft style games and 3D design software, and careers beyond formal education.

Kate McDougall, a civil engineer talks about her experience working on the £800 million Queensferry Crossing project and the upkeep of the current Forth Road Bridge.

Digital technology being used to document historic sites is the focus of our film with Dr. Lyn Wilson, a Heritage Scientist, who talks about digitally mapping sites like Mount Rushmore, Sydney Opera House and the Titan Crane in Glasgow.

heritage-scientist Lime

Finally, something a little less digital but just as important, Scott MacAskill a Lime Specialist, gives us an insight into his work. Scott repairs and maintains historic sites using traditional methods and materials. It’s fascinating work and we get a detailed look the process as well as hearing how Scott arrived at his chosen career after being diagnosed with dyslexia as a teenager.

If you haven’t seen the other films then do have a look. BBC Scotland Learning also produce loads of School radio programmes for 1st level and 2nd level which you can subscribe to in one easy click and our Dream Jobs series covers lots of different careers, from trauma medicine to video games design to First Minister for Scotland!   Have a look around and let us know what you think by keeping in touch via Twitter.

Announcements

MORE bright sparks

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We have added some new Bright Sparks videos to our site.

The latest videos show two very different STEM related careers with a surprising link.

Lego_Kelpies Kelpies

 

 

 

 

If Lego Model Making or Sculpting sound like fun, then you’ll definitely get something out of these short profile films.

Announcements

Bright sparks

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If you head over to the BBC Build It Scotland site then you’ll see that we have added some new video content.

architect

Our Bright Spark series of short films show what it’s like to have a STEM related job- whether it be as an architect,  a video games designer or producer, professional Lego builder or designer of the Kelpies in Falkirk. More videos will be added in upcoming weeks so do keep an eye on the site.

The films are purposely designed to be viewed by an audience of any age, there’s something in them for everyone. They’re perfect inspiration for anyone who has an interest in digital creativity and great examples of how an interest in games and digital designing can lead to a variety of careers both in front of and away from a computer screen!

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Announcements

New Minecraft ‘How to’ video now available

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We’ve added a new Minecraft ‘How to’ video to our website.

It outlines the essentials for getting started in Minecraft- from which buttons to press to move around, through to how to start a basic build.

Have a look and then use our specially developed Minecraft PDF guides to help you set things up in class.

Have fun!

Announcements

Something to share?

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If you want to let us know what you are up to and how your project is progressing then we’d love to hear from you!

Email us at builditscotland@bbc.co.uk and tell us which landmarks you are building and what you’re building them in, be it Minecraft, Tinkercad or SketchUp. If you are planning a trip out to explore your landmark up close then send us some photos and we’ll include them on this blog. Or if you want to keep everyone up to date on your project and have a Glow account then we can add you as a contributor to this blog. Or can even post on your behalf if you don’t have a Glow account.

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We  really want to showcase and share brilliant learning, best practice and a variety of approaches to Build It Scotland.  So if you are taking part, let us know!

Announcements

‘How to’ guides available NOW

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Whether you plan to use Tinkercad, SketchUp, Minecraft, Minecraft Edu or the version available on Raspberry Pi, we have helpful ‘How to’ guides to get you started.

These printable guides will show you how to download and install software  and set up simple networked experiences so that learners can build and play together. Once you’ve done that and are ready to go, our guides will tell you what buttons to press, how to build and design simple structures and how to save buildings and submit your work to us.

If you prefer to be shown what to do, then we have tutorial videos, which talk you through how to start building using this software.

Let us know which buildings or landmarks your class intend on building by emailing builditscotland@bbc.co.uk   We’d love to see how your projects progress so send us photos of your class or group hard at work and we’ll publish them here on our Glow blog.