Author: Brian Clark

AI Strategy, implementation & leadership project for school and local authority leaders in Scotland

Course Objectives:

Build awareness and understanding of AI in education (AI Essentials) and the potential threats associated with AI (AI Safeguarding) as well as adopting a strategic, purpose-driven approach to AI use in schools (AI Strategy). Drop-in clinics will provide follow-on support as participants begin to apply what they have learnt to their real-life contexts.

This is a 3 part series to support schools and local authority leaders develop AI in education settings.

  • Workshop 1 – AI Essentials: 24th February 2025 – 4- 5:30pm
  • Workshop 2 – Safeguarding the use of AI in Education: 10th March 2025 – 4- 5:30pm
  • Workshop 3 – Building an AI Strategy: 24th March 2025 – 4- 5:30pm

There will also be opportunities to attend drop in clinics if you have specific questions or are looking for specific support. These will be held on 

  • Drop-in Clinic 1- 3rd March 2025 – 4- 5pm
  • Drop-in Clinic 2- 17th March 2025 – 4- 5pm
  • Drop-in Clinic 3- 31st March 2025 – 4- 5pm
  • Drop-in Clinic 4- 12th May 2025 – 4- 5pm
  • Drop-in Clinic 5- 2nd June 2025 – 4- 5pm

Drop In Clinics

Drop in clinics will be informal sessions where participants are invited to come along and share their progress, ask questions and receive support as they navigate the series of workshops and begin to implement AI in their schools and teaching, learning and working practices.  Participants will benefit from the thoughts, experiences and feedback of their peers and colleagues as well as the EVR CPD team (Dave & Dina) in these drop in sessions.

Registration details for each event below:

Workshops

Workshop 1

AI Essentials

This session will provide leaders with an introduction to the fast-developing field of AI in education and encourage them to consider how AI could be used in schools to enhance pedagogical practices.

Mon, 24 Feb
16:00 – 17:30 GMT

Register

Workshop 2

Safeguarding the use of AI in Education

This session will look in detail at how we must safeguard our learners as we implement AI across educational practices. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the ways AI can change existing threats (such as access to inappropriate tools) and generate new safeguarding concerns (such as misplaced trust).

Mon, 10 March
16:00 – 17:30 GMT

Register

Workshop 3

Building an AI Strategy

This session will support leaders to identify and adopt a strategic approach for the use of AI within their school(s) building on Prof. Rose Luckin’s strategic quadrant approach.

Mon, 24 March
16:00 – 17:30 GMT

Register

Drop-In Clinics

Drop-in Clinic 1

Mon, 3 March
16:00 – 17:00 GMT

Register

Drop-in Clinic 2

Mon, 17 March
16:00 – 17:00 GMT

Register

Drop-in Clinic 3

Mon, 31 March
16:00 – 17:00 GMT

Register

Drop-in Clinic 4

Mon, 12 May
16:00 – 17:00 BST

Register

Drop-in Clinic 5

Mon, 02 Jun
16:00 – 17:00 BST

Register

image showing different types of code

Code your own computational quiz

Can you beat the quiz?

Got what it takes to beat our Very Computational Christmas Quiz?

20 questions, no time limit.  Try it on your own, as a group or as class!  Let us know how you do @digilearnscot

TRY THE QUIZ

Too easy?  Looking for a different challenge?

Why not try to customise our quiz code with your own questions, colours and images.  Interested?  Follow out tutorial below…

Customise our Quiz with Code

The quiz was built using HTML, CSS and Javascript – key languages of the web!

Take me to the Quiz Editor

You can use our tool to edit your own quiz – follow the instructions below

Instructions

STEP 1: Edit the name of the quiz  and who its by (HTML)

STEP 2: Change the background and the colours (CSS)

STEP 3: Edit and add your own questions (Javascript) and save

Curriculum Review CompSci

Computing Science Review – Workshop 1

Provocations

There were a number of speakers during  the morning session to set the scene and provide stimulus for discussions.

  • You can watch and / or download the presenters slides below.
  • You are may wish to add your thoughts, individually, or from a group perspective to the discussion boards.
  • The purpose of this first session is to identify the WHY and the WHAT of Computing Science.  The key questions asked are

Question Set 1

  • Where are we now?
  • How is Computing Science contributing to the 4 capacities – what is working?

Record feedback on Board 1

Question Set 2

  • Why Computing Science?
  • Looking ahead to 2030, what knowledge, skills and attributes will learners require to realise the ambitions of computing science in education?
  • What are the challenges and opportunities for learners in acquiring the knowledge, skills and attributes you have identified?

Record feedback on Board 2

NOTES
The boards have been set so you can only see your own responses at this time. This is so we can capture independent responses.  However, we will make all the cards public once people have had the chance to contribute.

This session is about the curriculum – as such the focus should be on that as opposed to issues such as DPIAs, tech infrastructure, teacher recruitment.  While these are all issues that are important and require work, it is not the main aim of this session.

Provocations

Andrew Creamer
 

The Curriculum Improvement Cycle

Slides: AC CIC

Karen Meechan
 

Industry Perspective

Slides: NA

Brian Clark
 

Computing Science in Scotland

Slides: CS in Scotland

Iain Shand
 

Computing Science in Further Education

Slides: Overview of Computing in Further Education 26-11-2024

Sue Sentance
 

Computing Science Education – Big Picture

Slides: Computing Science Big Picture Sue Sentance

Quintin Cutts
 

Computing Science: STACS – where are we?

Slides: STACS Where Are We with Computing?

The BIG BIG Computing Quiz – Download

Computing Science in Scotland – Update

Over the next few months, we will be hosting a number of events to support Computing Science education in Scotland. These events include

  • Computing Science Week(s)
  • In Person Computing Science Conferences
  • Pilot Review of Computing Science education as part of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle 
  • Chat CST – A virtual sharing practice event for Computing Science Teachers
  • Live Lesson Programme

Read on to find out more about each event and how to take part…

Computing Science Week(s)

Now in it’s third year, Computing Science Week is bigger than ever before.  Now spanning over two weeks between 4th and 15th November 2024, we will be hosting a number of live lessons for teachers and learners to take part in during the day followed by professional learning sessions for educators after school.

These two weeks have been broadly arranged into a ‘No Code / Low Code’ week (4-9 Nov) and a Coding week (11-15 Nov)

During the first week, we will be running sessions around computational thinking, data science and tech for connectivity, with a bit of Scratch Jr and Microbit in there!

 

The second week will more focussed on code based activities for different ability groups and will feature sessions using Scratch, Web Development, Swift Playgrounds and AI.

Look out for the full programme of events coming soon!

In Person Computing Science Conference

The 2nd annual computing conference, organised by Education Scotland, is open to all early years practitioners, primary school teachers, and secondary school teachers who teach computing.

During this unmissable event, you will have the opportunity to hear from industry experts who will share insights into future career prospects and to attend practical breakout sessions designed to empower you with innovative teaching methods for the classroom,

The conference will be held on Saturday 9th November at 10am simultaneously at the following venues, all with live in person workshops;

  • West College Scotland – Abercorn Building – Renfrew Road, Paisley PA3 4DR
  • West Lothian College – Almondvale Crescent, Livingston, EH54 7EP
  • University of Abertay – Bell Street, Dundee DD1 1HG

When registering, you can choose the nearest venue to you.

The proposed agenda for the day is as follows

  • 9:30am Arrival. Registration and refreshments
  • 9:45am Welcome
  • 10:00am Keynote: Ollie Bray Strategic Director Education Scotland (streamed to all venues)
    11:00am-11:45pm
     Workshop Session 1
  • 11:55pm – 12:40pm Workshop Session 2
  • 12:45pm Lunch (provided)
  • 1:45pm – 2:30pm Workshop Session 3
  • 2:30pm Networking Event

When you complete registration, you will be forwarded to a Microsoft Form to allow you to select the three workshops that best suit your needs from a list and to allow you to select your dietary requirements.

Register for the conference

Computing Science – Pilot Curriculum Review

The 2021 OECD report on Scotland’s curriculum recognised the strengths of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), and made a range of recommendations to ensure that this strength would persist into the future including: “Develop a systematic approach to curriculum review. Scotland could consider establishing a curriculum review cycle with a planned timeframe and specific review agenda, led by the specialist stand-alone agency”.   
 

In line with this recommendation Education Scotland, along with STACS,  are undertaking a pilot curriculum review of Computing Science.  Education Scotland invites teachers across all sectors (including PTs/FHs, DHTs and HTs), ELC practitioners, local authorities, colleges, universities and other key stakeholders to apply to be part of this workshop. The workshop will take place on the 26th November 2024 from 10am until 3:30pm in Glasgow.

We anticipate high demand for this event and want to ensure that as many sectors, experience and geographic locations are represented. 

It would be useful to seek permission to attend this event prior to completing this form.

Please register your interest here before midnight on Sunday 3rd November 2024.  You will be contacted if you have been allocated a place at this workshop by Friday 8th November 2024.


More information about the curriculum improvement cycle can be found here

Register your interest in the review

Chat CST – A virtual sharing practice event for Computing Science Teachers

Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash
Spending time with peers discussing your subject is invaluable.  Recently, we were delighted to support and take part in Tech Talks –  a virtual event for design and technology teachers in Scotland.  
The event contained 12 15 minute presentations.  All the presentations were done by Design and Technology teachers (apart from Daydream Believers and a lecturer from Edinburgh University)  Essentially, each gave a 10 minute presentation and 5 mins for questions.

We are keen to host a similar event for Computing Science teachers towards the end of November / beginning of December that focusses on Planning, Learning, Teaching and Assessment.

We are currently gauging interest in this event via poll in Computing Science Glow Team.  All secondary teacher in Scotland who teach Computing can request to join this team. If you are member of this team, please indicate your interest here

Go to Glow Team Poll

Live Lessons supporting Computing Science

Our live lesson programme kicked off again in August this year.  We have been delighted to have a huge numbers of schools and learners join us and our very special presenters for live lessons already!    

woman sitting at a laptop

Our programme continues to evolve and grow so do look out for future sessions you and your learners can take part in!

Next Month

Later This Year

The BBC micro:bit playground survey results are here!

The BBC micro:bit playground survey results are here!

Primary school teachers and pupils across the UK have been taking part in the BBC micro:bit playground survey. An exciting investigation to help children aged 7-11 get to grips with data science and digital skills in a way that relates to their everyday lives.

Students have measured their playground areas, explored temperature differences between natural and synthetic surfaces, tracked how active their break times were, and counted many different types of plants and animals; discovering lots of new things about their playgrounds along the way!

To find out more, visit the BBC micro:bit – the next gen website.

For the full results report click here

 

Ada Scotland Festival 1-11 October 2024

We are pleased to give you and your colleagues, an early heads-up on events and resources for high school teachers and students from the 5th Ada Scotland Festival 1-11 October 2024.

The Ada Scotland Festival mission remains to champion gender balance in tech and computing, providing inspiration for our young people and to build a stronger, fairer, more diverse work force now and for the future. However, school resources are not just for computing and IT students – these are designed to support teachers and students across the curriculum to explore journeys in computing and also harness it as a useful tool in the classroom (whatever the subject). Please read on:

For the Teachers:
Both of these events are relevant across the full curriculum and open to all teachers. The Code Division session has been scheduled to overlap with an In-Service Day (Glasgow schools) to support teacher CPD.

ONLINE  – 16:00 to 17:00 Tuesday 8 October 2024: Apps for Good Classroom Resources covering “Social Action”, “Climate” and “AI” themes – more info

ONLINE WORKSHOP  – 09:00 to 12:30 Friday 11 October 2024: Data Dive with CodeDivision  “harness the power of data in their classrooms” – more info

RECOGNITION – Ada Scotland Inspiring Teacher of the Year 2024: launching soon. View past winners here.

For the Students:
IN-PERSON – 10:00 to 14:00 Tuesday 1 October 2024: Ada Scotland Launch Event. A day of interactive workshops and tours at Barclays Campus Glasgow – more info join wait list

ONLINE – 09:00 to 10:00 Wednesday 2 October 2024: Tech for Gen AI Lesson with Tech She Can – more info

IN-PERSON – 10:00 to 14:00 Thursday 3 October 2024: A day of interactive workshops at the WASPs Creative Studios in Inverness – more info places available!

ONLINE – 09:30 to 10:30 Wednesday 9 October 2024: Cracking Cryptography with My World of Work Live – more info

IN-PERSON – 10:00 to 17:00 Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 October 2024: Games Design Jam and Play Party at Cake & Dice Dundee – more info drop in

For Senior Years and Teachers:
ONLINE – 15:30 to 16:30 Thursday 3 October: Design Sprint with Firefly and Dundee University “Building Habits of Self Compassion” Workshop – more info

You can view all events (updated daily) here

More schools events across Scotland are in the planning. To register interest please email hello@ada.scot

Ada Computer Science: Time-saving Resources for Teachers in Scotland

Ada Computer Science: Time-saving Resources for Teachers in Scotland

Ada Computer Science is a collaboration between the Raspberry Pi Foundation and the University of Cambridge. Their aim is to provide high-quality, free, resources for Computing Science teachers and students.

 

To kick off the school year, they have mapped their content to the SQA’s National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher qualificationsgiving teachers and students access to free resources that meet the specific requirements of their qualification.

 

 

Ada Computer Science have also introduced two new table database scenarios for the Database Design and Development area of study. The scenarios provide practical, hands-on experience and deepen students’ understanding of database concepts and applications.

 

 

This release follows the launch of Ada’s Database Design and Development project, and the roll out of material to support the Computer Systems area of study.

 

Ada now covers more than half of the theory content for Scotland’s National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher specifications. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the school year!

Browse SQA resources

Woman holding laptop and micro:bit

How funding for Computing Science resources has impacted learning experiences in classrooms across the country

Hardware Funding Update

“Using the devices and accessories has allowed us to create more engaging microbit lessons and to expand teaching of computing constructs into makecode arcade. V2 microbits has also enabled us to link with areas such as well-being that we know from research engages learners better.”

In February 2022, Education Scotland worked with Scottish Government to secure funding for secondary schools across Scotland to bid for money in order to purchase hardware to enhance the delivery of Computing Science in schools.  The funding was also used to ensure that all primary schools received an additional 20 micro:bits during the national roll out, meaning that primary schools received 40 of the versatile micro computers in order to explore coding and physical computing.

Across Scotland, secondary schools purchased a wide variety of resources to support computing science education, with the main focus being on robotics, microcontrollers, and physical computing. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular categories based on feedback from schools in 29 local authorities.

Common Resources

Microcontrollers:

  • Microbit (most popular)
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Makey Makey
  • Arduinos

Robotics Kits:

  • VEX Robotics
  • Lego Mindstorms
  • Lego Spike
  • Kitronik Microbit robots
  • Sphero robots (including Sphero Bolt)
  • RVR robots
  • VEX Go Robots
  • Drones (including DJI drones)
  • Microbit Drones
  • Robotic buggy’s / cars for microbit
  • Marty the Robot

Accessories:

  • Gamepads and arcade hardware
  • Microbit/Raspberry Pi a accessories (including robots,cameras, sense hats, music boxes, LED lights, conductive thread & paint
  • Kittenbots/Meowbits

Teacher Feedback

“Pupils really enjoy using the physical computing resources and relating them to real life technology – e.g. the Microbits were used to simulate the spread of a virus using bluetooth. The arduinos were used to control tiny duelling Minecraft characters and enabled pupils to think about the complexities of animating robots.”

“The pupils are hands on with the robots and are able to directly code these and see the impact of their code. If there is an issue with their code, the can physically see it happening with the robots going the wrong direction for example. They then have to work out how to fix it. The enthusiasm and drive to get their robot through the track is phenomenal. We usually do this unit in groups, which also improves their communication skills as well as problem solving skills.”

“Using the Meowbits allowed us to provide a real-world context through hands-on learning, whereas before the lessons were more abstract.”

“Learners have a better idea of how creating software transfers to real world devices. Learners enjoy using devices which are similar to those they already use.”

Overall

Having access to this additional hardware allowed teachers to prepare for delivering new / updated learning experiences in their schools for this academic year.  Teachers have reported mostly positive impacts from the new resources including:

Increased Engagement and Enjoyment

Students enjoyed the hands-on learning experiences with robots, microcontrollers, and physical computing kits.
The resources made lessons more interactive and engaging compared to traditional screen-based coding.
Students were motivated by the ability to see their code come to life in physical results.

Improved Learning

The resources helped students develop practical coding skills and understand the connection between code and hardware.
Teachers observed a deeper grasp of programming concepts and problem-solving skills.
Some teachers noted an improvement in teamwork and communication skills through collaborative projects with robots.

Broader Range of Learning:

The variety of resources allowed teachers to introduce new topics like robotics, game development, and animation.
Students were exposed to different devices and operating systems, expanding their computing knowledge.
A few teachers mentioned using the resources for real-world applications, like simulating the spread of a virus.

Challenges and Considerations:

Some teachers highlighted challenges integrating new resources due to workload constraints or lack of training.
Managing physical resources like robots could be time-consuming, especially with limited time for setup and storage.
A few teachers were unable to purchase their preferred resources due to restrictions or availability issues.

Overall, the new resources provided valuable tools for teachers to create a more engaging contexts for learning