Category: Professional Learning

29 SEPTEMBER, 16:00 – 17:00 APPS FOR GOOD – MACHINE LEARNING

Explore machine learning including the ethics, benefits, and how you can use machine learning algorithms to solve a real world problems.

Apps for Good is a small independent charity giving young people the skills they need to thrive. For 10 years they’ve worked with teachers to unlock the potential of over 200,000 students around the UK and beyond. Their programmes support young people with the skills and confidence they need to thrive and empower them to be the purposeful innovators of the future. 

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CYBER SECURITY CLPL UHI

Introduction to Cyber Security for Teachers (2023) at the University of the Highlands and Islands – funded places available

The CPD award Introduction to Cyber Security was created for ALL primary and secondary teachers and designed to give background knowledge and understanding related to teaching basic cybersecurity and configuring an environment suitable for cybersecurity education.

The module allows you to get a basic practical understanding of cybersecurity and cyber resilience and the relationship between these two areas of security. This will enable you to have the awareness and confidence to support pupils and create practical activities and content. The module content is levelled at SCQF 7 however is appropriate for teachers delivering to BOTH primary and secondary pupils.

The module will be delivered over 14 weeks and the semester will start week beginning 23rd January 2023 with an online induction and initial lecture.

With the support of Education Scotland, we have funding for teachers to enrol on the module. The usual cost of the module would be £215. It is recommended you apply as soon as possible as the funding will be allocated on date of application.

The courses are open to any teacher with the relevant entry qualifications (degree and existing teaching qualification) who have an interest in computing or cyber security.

There is normally a weekly lecture and support session that lasts for approx. an hour, or more if required, with further e mail support available. The sessions are certainly beneficial as they allow you to ask questions there and then.

However, the course is designed to be taught when is convenient for all the students and all lectures and tutorial session are recorded for viewing at your leisure.

No time off will be required during the school day. The lectures are recorded for students unable to attend in person. All activity is carried out online the majority of which happens asynchronously. The modules have a notional 200 hours per module over the semester. It would depend on your previous experience on whether you needed all that time. If you were able to set aside a day at the weekend or a couple of evenings for study, you would not be far off what is required for achieving the award.

You can apply for the course with this link: https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/courses/cpd-award-introduction-to-cyber-security/

 

Please get in touch if you have any further questions using this email: Gordon.macpherson.ic@uhi.ac.uk

ethical hacking clpl at abertay

Ethical Hacking Module for Teachers – Abertay University

Education Scotland recently awarded funding to Abertay University to develop an online module that will support secondary school computing teachers to deliver the ethical hacking unit of the National Progression Award (NPA) in cyber security. The NPA in cyber security provides senior phase pupils with knowledge and skills in digital forensics and ethical hacking – preparing learners for further studies and future employment in this area.

Abertay University provided 40 secondary school computing teachers across Scotland with specialised knowledge on ethical hacking to boost their confidence in delivering this relatively new subject. All secondary school computing teachers in Scotland currently delivering the NPA in cyber security were invited to sign up for this online module, with the 40 available places quickly filled. Teachers accessedd the course through Abertay’s online virtual learning environment, in addition to benefitting from a virtual lab where practical work could be conducted in a safe and secure space.

It is hoped the module will help increase the number of schools delivering the NPA in cyber security in the future.

 

Gayle Gorman, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Chief Executive of Education Scotland said:

‘We are delighted to award funding to Abertay University for this project. The University’s specialist knowledge of cyber security will help to support teachers with providing the very best for our young people. The NPA in cyber security equips young people with the vital cyber skills and knowledge they need to take advantage of the opportunities that exist within the sector.

‘Cyber Scotland Week also provides a good opportunity to underline the importance of cyber resilience and internet safety for young people all year round. Education Scotland’s digital officers provide a range of professional development opportunities to help practitioners explore how they can support young people from the early level to navigate their online life, the risks they may face, and how to overcome these and develop resilience. We will continue to work to ensure that we are providing the support practitioners need to complement the work they are already doing locally.’

 

Dr Natalie Coull, Head of Abertay University’s Division of Cybersecurity said:

‘Embedding strong cybersecurity practises in our schools is absolutely essential and we are delighted to be developing this online module, which will empower teachers to deliver in this area and open up a gateway to the industry for students.

‘Abertay supplies the cybersecurity graduate talent pipeline to Scotland’s businesses, and educational partnerships like this are hugely important to the future success of the sector.’

 

Abertay is leading the £18m cyberQuarter project and was recently confirmed as Scotland’s first University to gain gold-level Academic Centre of Excellence recognition from the National Cyber Security Centre – part of GCHQ.

To study cybersecurity at Abertay visit their programmes pages.

 

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SQA ACADEMY – CLPL IN HTML/CSS/JA & SQL

This is a self paced course aimed at develop teacher skills and understanding to support delivery of Computing Science National Qualifications.There are a range of interactive learning resources developed by subject specialists to support teachers delivering Computing Science at National 5 and Higher. They are topic-based and cover a range of programming areas – HTML, CSS, JavaScript and SQL.

Visit SQA Academy

There are also a number of videos within the courses that illustrate how these technologies are used in industry that you may find useful to show learners. For example, how SkyScanner use SQL

To access the learning materials, you must create an account with SQA Academy.

Note: You will need to allow pop ups for SQA Academy to access the courses

abertay cyber security course

ETHICAL HACKING MODULE AT ABERTAY UNIVERSITY – REFLECTIONS OF A TEACHER

In today’s world I am sure I don’t need to point out how important cyber security is and it will be even more central in the future. Understanding how to protect both your financial and personal data is vital for all pupils and not just those interested in a career in computing. As a Computing Science teacher it is therefore my duty to ensure I do all I can to have the next generation as prepared as possible. 

So that I can give the skills needed for all levels, I realised I needed to have a good understanding of language and skills around cyber security as well as having up to date course material. This would then allow me to both develop a curriculum to suit all BGE pupils as well those interested in Cyber Security as a career. 

I have been attempting to introduce the National Progression Award in Cyber Security to senior pupils over the last couple of years. I attended various SQA courses and seminars, I read all the material and I did some online courses from other providers. This all gave me some confidence but I still never quite felt able to have real discussions or importantly problem solve when inevitably things go wrong. I still spent most of my time responding to pupils with “let me go find out” and start asking colleagues and web searching.  

When I was offered the chance to do the Ethical Hacking Module with Abertay University I jumped at the chance.  

For the first couple of weeks I felt completely out of my depth but I re-watched lectures, re-attempted the practical work and in the weeks following I was feeling confident in at least discussing topics with the NPA students using the industry language and giving them anecdotes that I wouldn’t have previously. 

The course was clearly designed to align with the NPA and this meant that the same issues I  came across are likely to be those that  the pupils might also find challenging. Although I am far from being a cyber security expert, I now have much more confidence and the increased skills needed to support pupils who will go on to specialise. I have been able to bring to BGE classes a new ethical hacking and data security topic added to S2.  

If you are a Computing Science teacher, whether presenting pupils to NPA Cyber Security or not, I would recommend taking the chance to do this course if offered.

 

Shona McAlpine (@MsSMcAlpine)

Computing Science Teacher, Stirling High School (SHS Computing (@SHS_CompSci)

COMPUTING SCIENCE WEBINAR 17 MAY

17 May, 16:00 – 17:00, Design Build & Test Computing Solutions, Coding and Programming, Early – 2nd Level

A Glow account is required to join this webinar

It’s essential for young people to develop their computing knowledge and skills so that they can understand and participate in our increasingly digital world – being creators rather than solely consumers. This webinar will introduce you to why it’s important for your students to learn computing and how to plan for and teach computing science effectively. This webinar will focus on the experiences and outcomes for programming and coding, introducing attendees to engaging, accessible resources. A practitioner from the Scottish computing science leadership group will exemplify how they have embedded programming and coding across the primary curriculum.

Please sign up here

11 May, 16:00 – 17:00, (Secondary) Get Started with Micro:Bit – Delivered by the Micro:Bit Education Foundation

Join the Micro:bit Educational Foundation to explore resources and tools to bring physical computing to the secondary curriculum.

About this Event

A staff Glow account will be required to access the Microsoft Team where the session will take place.

Join Aimée & Giles from the Micro:bit Educational Foundation to hear all about the resources and tools available to help you bring physical computing to the computing classroom with micro:bit, with links to CfE. Learn about the wealth of free materials and lessons available, plus online tools for coding in MakeCode and Python.

Free to join and no resources required – https://microbit.org/projects/

Sign up here

10 May, 16:00 – 17:00, CyberFirst summer courses

This webinar is for anyone who works with young people and/or parents. In the webinar you will have the opportunity to hear:

• About the different courses offered as part of the CyberFirst program

• See example of the content of the CyberFirst program

• Have an opportunity to ask any Questions

CyberFirst Advanced, Futures and Defenders learning programmes have been SCQF credit rated by SQA. These courses have also been certified by National Cyber Security Centre and should encourage young people to learn new skills, meet like-minded people and take the first step on their CyberFirst journey. Young people do not need to be studying for a Computer Science qualification but will need to have an interest in tech and computing.

Sign up here

05 May, 16:00 – 17:00, (Primary) Get started with Micro:Bit – Delivered by the Micro:Bit Education Foundation

Join the Micro:bit Educational Foundation to explore resources and tools to bring physical computing to the primary curriculum.

About this Event

A staff Glow account will be required to access the Microsoft Team where the session will take place.

Join Aimée & Giles from the Micro:bit Educational Foundation to hear all about the resources and tools available to help you bring physical computing to the primary classroom with micro:bit. Learn about the wealth of free materials and projects available for teaching with Scratch and MakeCode including an amazing global competition based on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Free to join and no resources required – https://microbit.org/projects/

Sign up here

CRIS MONEY WEBIANR 26 MAY

26 May, 16:00 – 17:00, CRIS webinar – Mind Your Money

In the UK in 2018:
• Almost 190,000 case of identity fraud were recorded.
• Nearly 30,000 victims of fraud were under the age of 30.
• Over 80% of identity frauds were committed online.
• There was a 26% increase in fraud victims who were aged under 21.

Money Matters

BEFORE YOU ATTEND

It might be useful to review the information on these pages before attending: