Author: George Milliken

June 5, 2023

This is Digital Learning and Teaching professional learning programme overview

About this programme

This course consists of four webinars, each examining a theme of planning, teaching, learning and assessment. Attendees are required to participate in discussions, share examples of practice and will receive a certificate of completion from Education Scotland for completing this.

Participants are required to be digitally literate and confident in applying digital technology in their class. Ideally, but not essentially, having achieved Microsoft Expert, Google Educator level 2 or complete Apple Portfolio.

Back to Digital Learning and Teaching

Programme rationale

This programme focuses on what is ‘effective use of digital technology’ and how this can enhance learnign and teaching, instead of focusing on the wide range of novel digital technologies available to teachers.

This is because teachers in Scotland are required to have an enhanced and critically informed understanding of digital technologies to support learning and the skills and competencies that comprise teacher digital literacy and know how to embed digital technologies to enhance teaching and learning; as well as being able to consistently demonstrate the enhanced skills and abilities working both individually and collaboratively to ensure that every learner has access to and are enabled to select from well-chosen/designed resources including digital technologies. – GTCS (2021)

What can I expect?

This programme has been designed using Rosenshine’s principles of instructional design: smaller steps, revisiting prior learning, models of success and questions to check understanding.

Each webinar is underpinned by research and focused on one of the four themes of planning, teaching, learnign and assessment. Participants will be asked to share their thoughts on the theme and then the presenters will offer ideas and a model to scaffold participants’ understanding. The webinar will finish with a ‘call to action’ for participants to identify an idea form the webinar that they will test in their practice.

Preparing
Planning and resourcing
Delivering
Assessment & feed-forward

- Back to This is Digital page Reading and watching This episode of CLPL focuses on the rationale for using, or not using, digital technology in learning. An Education Endowment Foundation… …

- Back to This is Digital page Reading and watching This episode of CLPL focuses on the elements to consider when planning and resourcing lessons with digital. How does digital make… …

- Back to This is Digital page Reading and watching This episode of CLPL focuses on the elements to consider when designing and delivering lessons with digital. Creativity in the classroom… …

- Back to This is Digital page Reading and watching This episode of CLPL focuses on the elements to consider when assessing learning and providing 'feed forward'. Using digital technology to… …

What do I need to do or know?

Participants are required to take an active role in sharing their current practice, as well as their own personal successes and failures. The aim being that we build a community of support and guidance, helping everyone involved reflect upon where they are now, where they need to be, and how they will get there. It would be expected that some practitioner enquiry take place as evidence of the professional development you have undertaken with us.

The programme meets the GTCS Standard for Career-Long Professional Learning 2.1.1, 2.1.3 and 3.2.1.

Participants should ensure they have an understanding of these documents before attending, as they will be referenced throughout.

GTCS Standard for Career-Long Professional Learning

Technologies: Experiences and Outcomes

European framework for the digital competence of educators

May 20, 2023

Teacher Toolkit: a beginner’s guide to essential digital skills for teaching (teacher digital literacy professional learning programme)

The Teacher Toolkit programme aims to provide practical training in using the most essential skills and knowledge required to use Microsoft365 or Google Workspace in Glow.
The skills and knowledge are based on the Scottish Teacher Digital Literacy Framework but reduced to just five skills, ensuring that it is manageable and achievable for busy teachers who need time and space to practice using them.

Sign up using this Eventbrite link: Eventbrite signup

This programme is split into two sessions, offering practical hands-on guidance in using Microsoft365 or Google Workspace in Glow and covers these skills:

create, store and share resources using the cloud
communicate with peers
create and manage classes within a digital learning environment
share and distribute resources to learners
accessibility tools

Attendees are REQUIRED to be able to join in with the tutorial activities using their Glow account.

This YouTube playlist contains short how-to videos for each of the skills on this list:

May 12, 2023

Living in a Digital World: cyber resource

Experience an interactive journey into the world of cybersecurity. This resource shines a light on some of the most important topics for how to stay safe inside the digital world and gives practical suggestions that help improve cyber resilience. Designed and developed in collaboration with Daydream Believers and Education Scotland

Use this link to go to Daydream Believer’s site and download the resources: go to Daydream

April 27, 2023

ELC supporting resources

When learning with and through technology, we pay close attention to digital literacy (living, playing and learning; consuming creating and communicating with digital technology) and computing science (exploring how technology works, how it is controlled and the problem solving concepts and approaches required) early level experiences and outcomes, within the Technologies Curriculum.

This glossary explains the common words that are used in relation to digital literacy and computing science Digital Literacy and Computing Science Glossary.

As with literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing, digital literacy can be placed at the heart of all learning, not only the technologies area of the curriculum.
Digital literacy outcomes can be met in any/all curriculum areas.

You may also find it helpful to explore this draft early level digital planning support document.

Our National guidance for self evaluation in ELC, in Scotland is How good is our early learning and childcare?

Learning with and through digital technology is highlighted throughout the guidance and Quality Indicator 3.3 reminds us that developing creativity and digital skills are significant skills for life and learning which children should increasingly be able to demonstrate as they grow and learn. Through high quality play and learning opportunities, children begin to understand the importance of these skills and apply them to their everyday learning.

Realising the ambition: Being Me, our National practice guidance for early years in Scotland, highlights the importance of digital technology to support practitioners to meet learners needs by bringing resources and experiences virtually, when planning to support children’s interests.

Digital technologies provide opportunities for us to design unique learning spaces for the children. Bringing resources and experiences virtually into the setting can lead learning well-beyond what was originally planned.

The Care Inspectorate have published a technology good practice guide to:

highlight good practice that supports good outcomes
help care services, their staff and Care Inspectorate staff to achieve positive experiences of digital technology to support care
support care providers to better understand and offer good quality digital engagement.

Please see page 12 for an example of an ELC Case Study.

The SSSC have developed the online resource 23 Digital capabilities to support practice and learning in social and health services, to help social service workers develop their digital capabilities to support learning and practice.

April 13, 2023

15 – 19 May, Scottish Computing Science Week 2023 #CSscot23

Put a hold in your planner for the week of the 15th May 2023 and join us for exciting interactive live computing science lessons.

Below is our exciting offering for CSscot23 but remember to keep your eyes peeled for more updates and details as we release them (everything will be added here)!

Let us know what you’re planning to join or anything you’re planning in your own setting on twitter @digilearnscot #CSscot23

Webinars and Curriculum Live lessons

15 May 11:00, MITCH RESNICK creator of Scratch, Live Assembly & Sustainability Challenge #CSscot23 - Join Mitch Resnick, LEGO Papert Professor of Learning Research at the MIT Media Lab, as he explores and shares how he develops new technologies to… …

15 May 16:00 – 17:00 Esports Scotland: The Journey into Education - Join Esports Scotland to hear about their journey into education and their future plans. Over the past 18 months Esports Scotland have been working within… …

15 May 19:00, ELC Practitioner Code Along, with Scratch Jnr #CSscot23 - Celebrate #CSscot23 with the Education Scotland Digital Team, by joining a short 30 minute evening 'Code Along' session to explore the free online block-based coding… …

16 May 11:00, Scratch Code Along with Barefoot – Planet Pledge #CSscot23 - Live Code Along with Barefoot Computing to create a Planet Pledge using Scratch for first - 4th level learners. Join Barefoot Computing for this Live… …

16 May 14:00, Technology to Protect our Planet – Live Assembly, Tech She Can #CSscot23 - Are your students interested in technology and how it can help us protect our planet? Could they see themselves working in a green career in… …

16 May 19:00, ELC Practitioner Play Along, with Barefoot Computing #CSscot23 - Be part of #CSscot23 by joining the Education Scotland Digital Team in a short 30 minute evening 'Play Along' session and be introduced to the… …

17 May 11:00, Live Code Along, Inspiring Sustainable Behaviour with micro:bit #CSscot23 - Making a difference in the world around us can seem a little daunting but there are lots of easy, individual and local things we can… …

18 May 16:00, Artificial Intelligence – Exploring Opportunities for Scottish Educators #CSscot23 - Join Education Scotland for a short session exploring Artificial Intelligence. This session is suitable for educators in Scotland. In this session we will explore... What… …

18 May, 11 – 11:45 Live Lesson, Soft Robotics and AI with National Robotarium - Join Engineers from the National Robotarium as they take learners through Soft Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. Soft Robotics focuses on technologies that more closely resemble… …

19 May 11:00 – 11:45 Next Tech Girls Scottish Computing Science Week Event - This is an amazing opportunity for secondary school students around the UK to find out what it means to work in tech and hear from… …

Computing Science Scotland 2023: Review and Resources - If you missed Computing Science Scotland Week, we have (most!) sessions available for you to view again! (Unfortunately the tech gremlins appeared in a few… …

Monitor and Encourage Sustainable Behaviour, micro:bit, ON DEMAND #CSscot23 - This is pre-recorded session for you to watch with your class at your own leisure. The video will be made available from 17th May at… …

April 6, 2023

Cyber security advice and guidance for Early Learning and Childcare providers.

All ELC providers want to create a safe and secure environment for the children in your care. As we become ever more reliant on digital technology it is increasingly important that you protect data (on children, staff and families), finances and also the integrity of any digital systems you use, including email, communication channels and databases.

There are a handful of steps you can take to minimise the potentially costly and disruptive effect of a cyber incident, and better safeguard the children in your care, as well as your business’s finances and reputation. This short seminar is for anyone working in childcare in Scotland. It is run by the National Cyber Security Centre (www.ncsc.gov.uk), and supported by the Scottish Government, Education Scotland and Care Inspectorate, as part of CyberScotland Week. It will provide you with advice and steps you can take to minimise the likelihood and impact of a cyber attack on your setting, and information about where to get help and advice if you need it.

Please click here to download e-pamphlet PDF Early Years practitioners: using cyber security to protect your settings.

Keeping-Under-Fives-Safe-Online2.pdf (childnet.com)

ELC cyber home

April 6, 2023

Supporting resources for Cyber for Early Level practitioners

ELC cyber home

April 6, 2023

Embedding early level Cyber Resilience and Internet Safety through play

This session recording aims is to support and equip you with the knowledge and confidence to embed cyber resilience and internet safety at early level through a practical play-based approach. It will explain where Cyber Resilience and Internet Safety (CRIS) sits within the Technologies curriculum and where it overlaps with the Health and Wellbeing, Numeracy and Maths and Literacy and English curriculum, and why it is so important to embed across your curriculum. We will unpick the CRIS experience and outcome and explore what this means in the context of play and how it can be part of everyday conversations, and what this might look like in your own setting.

ELC cyber home

April 6, 2023

Living with Digital – learner digital literacy theme: ELC

This page outlines the digital literacy skills and knowledge that learners should have to participate fully in the modern world. This ranges from awareness of digital devices, platforms and services and how they affect our lives to being able to troubleshoot common issues with technology.

Back to ELC learner digital literacy

learner digtial literacy planning support document

The Digital Literacy Planning Support documents are examples of how educators might plan learner digital literacy learning. The documents identify the Technologies Experience and Outcome, a theme to apply this, suggestions of the skills and knowledge that that might be delivered, and links to some resources that might be relevant.

Living with Digital (the world around them)

Below are suggestions on how educators might set a context for learning digital literacy skills and knowledge:

Scottish Government policy

“Scotland’s future will be forged in a digital world. It’s a world in which data and digital technologies are transforming every element of our nation and our lives – people, place, economy and government.”
(Scottish Government, 2021)

It might be worth exploring some of the features of this policy with learners and considering the impact of an evermore digital world.

What are computers?

Without going too far into Computing Science (a specific Technologies organiser within CfE) it is important to understand the basics of how computers and other digital devices work.

These BBC Bitesize pages are a great place to start:
What is a computer system? – BBC Bitesize (first level)
What is the internet? – BBC Bitesize (first level)
Input and output – BBC Teach (second level)
Computer networks – BBC Teach (second level)

Technology shaping the world

After learning about what computers and digital technology is, and how they work, learners could investigate how technology is used in a range of industries. These resources from Tech She Can are free to use and easily adapted to suit different ages and stages:

Lesson packs – TechSheCan

Environmental impact of technology use

All of the devices and technology we use has two obvious environmental impacts – the raw materials to make (which then need recycled again) and the energy to power them. There are lots of activities and lesson ideas on this page about Sustainability that could be linked into learning about device manufacture, energy consumption and eventual disposal.
Could your learners reimagine or improve this cycle?

2nd level Learning for Sustainability – BBC Bitesize

This page on the BBC Future site has some fascinating reading with lots of information and statistics for teachers. Do you know the CO² emissions of sending emails and direct messages or watching a video on YouTube? There’s facts and figures that could be used to create challenges for learners to consider and solve:

Why your internet habits are not as clean as you think – BBC Future

Living with Digital (their own knowledge and skills)

Evaluating their own skills and knowledge

Learners’ own digital literacy skills and knowledge

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting: diagnosing and solving technical problems with devices and platforms

Accessibioity and usability features

Usability features: using devices, platforms and services’ features to make them easier to use (accessibility)

April 6, 2023

Learning with Digital – learner digital literacy theme: ELC

This page outlines some of the key digital literacy skills and knowledge that learners could make effective use of in the classroom. This ranges from being able to upload, share and collaborate on platforms like Teams and Classroom to using platforms like SeeSaw and Showbie to journal and share their learning.

Back to ELC learner digital literacy

Professional learning

Developing Your Learners’ Digital ‘Pencil Case’ is the corresponding professional learnign to support teachers plan, teach and assess this set of digital literacy skills and knowledge.

Supoprting documents

It may be useful to make a distinction between the functional ‘office-based’ platforms available in Glow, like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, and the wide range of devices and apps available to create multimedia content. Although designed for professional use these platforms can be utilised for learning too.

Communication

The first aspect to consider is how learners can use Glow and other online platforms to connect, contact and communicate with each other. Are they using email, direct messaging or video calls? How are these skills useful in learning, life and work?

What are digital communication systems? – BBC Bitesize

Collaboration

Using cloud drives, such as OneDrive (Microsoft) and Drive (Google), learners can create and share content with peers, teachers and even learners in other schools or countries. Not only can they be shared, they can be co-created and edited at the same time on multiple computers at once! How is this useful for life, learning and work?

Collaborating using IT – BBC Bitesize

Tech She Can has a short video explaining how cloud computing works for younger learners:

Tech for Katie and Tex explore the cloud (techshecan.org)

Literacy & English

When planning learning around the functional tools in Glow, it is worth considering their purpose and application. Text-based documents, such as Word, Docs, PowerPoint and Slides might lend themselves to Literacy & English Es and Os:

When creating documents (writing a text) consider the impact of layout and presentation
Make use of lettering, graphics and other features to engage readers

Typing is a useful, but not essential, skill in modern digital literacy. Teachers might plan some typing practice as part of this functional suite of learning in order to enable learners to use them more effectively:

Dance Mat Typing for 7 – 11 year olds – BBC Bitesize

Numeracy & mathematics

$numeracy and maths experiences and outcomes$

When planning learning around the functional tools in Glow, it is worth considering their purpose and application. Text-based documents, such as Excel and Sheets might lend themselves to numeracy & Mathematics:

When displaying data, consider the use of spreadsheets, graphs or tables to create clear visual representations

Creating and understanding charts and graphs – BBC Bitesize

Microsoft and Google app tutorials

These two collections of tutorials may support teachers develop skills with the Microsoft and Google suites of apps:

Free Microsoft Office Tutorials at GCFGlobal
Free Google Tutorials at GCFGlobal