Category: waiting

Computing Science: Skill Building CLPL for CfE Level 3

Join us for one or more computing science skill building sessions every Tuesday at 4pm for 6 weeks from 10th January.

This first set of sessions are designed to support teachers build their own knowledge and confidence in aspects of Computing Science at 3rd Level (CfE) including:

  • Coding with Scratch to create animations, simulations and games
  • Web Development with HTML and CSS

Each workshop will last 1 hour and include template resources and activities.

These workshops will suit those who are / would like to offer Computing Science experiences at 3rd Level of the BGE and would like support in developing their understanding of these topics.  Sign up to all or some of the sessions using the button at the end of this post.

 

Tuesday 10th January

  • Animating with Scratch – learn how Scratch can be used to bring a story/topic to life using code

Tuesday 17th January

  • Creating interactions with Scratch – learn how to code simple programs that interact with the user (eg quizzes)

Tuesday 24th January

  • Creating Games with Scratch – create simple games with Scratch, building on skills and knowledge from the two previous sessions.

Tuesday 31st January

  • Build a simple web page that includes text, media and links with HTML and CSS

Tuesday 7th February

  • Learn to style web pages using cascading style sheets

Tuesday 14th February

  • Create multi page websites, building on skills and knowledge from the two previous sessions.

 

Sign Up To Sessions

 

The CPD Award in Computing Studies for Teachers (2023) at The University of the Highlands and Islands

The CPD award in Computing Studies for teachers was created for primary teachers and secondary teachers for 1st and 2nd year pupils to give the confidence and skills to teach computing to pupils. More than 50% of our current cohort are primary school teachers. The course is 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.

There is only one module delivered each semester with no time off 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.

The course will be starting either week beginning 23rd January 2023 or 4th September 2023 dependant on applications, with the next module being the Database and Computer Systems module which will be delivered over 14 weeks.

You can apply to join the course with this link or searching for the Computing Studies for Teachers CPD award at https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/ under courses.

The price is £215 per module, and this can be paid on a module-by-module basis. As the modules are 20 credits each if you were to do two in an academic year you may be eligible for SAAS funding. It is suggested contacting SAAS directly if you are planning to start next semester and confirm whether you would be eligible for funding.

The course does not carry any GTCS accreditation.

The programme leader, Gordon Macpherson, can be contacted on email with this link: gordon.macpherson.ic@uhi.ac.uk

CLPL

Links

Digital Xtra Fund

The goal of Digital Xtra Fund is for every young person in Scotland to have access to innovative and digitally creative activities regardless of their gender, background, or where they live. Through supported initiatives, the Fund aims to inspire young people to understand and create with technology, not simply use it. Schools and educational organisations positively engaging young people in tech can apply for up to £5,000 to support an extracurricular activity which focusses on digital tech, especially initiatives that also provide opportunities for young people to informally engage with industry and learn more about how digital skills and tech are relevant in the ‘real-world’.

Find out more about Digital Xtra Fund with this link: https://www.digitalxtrafund.scot/

Since its inception in 2016, Digital Xtra Fund has awarded £875,000 in grants to 137 exciting and meaningful extracurricular computing and digital technologies initiatives across Scotland. This funding has helped grant recipients engage nearly 45,000 young people in tech. For the current academic year, Digital Xtra Fund has recently awarded 35 grants to schools and educational organisations which are projected to engage another 7,500 young people (including 3,800 girls and young women) and show them the breadth of opportunities these skills can provide.
View the 20/21 impact report with this link: https://www.digitalxtrafund.scot/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Digital-Xtra-Fund-2020.21-Impact-Report.pdf

Applications for next round of grant awards (Round VIII) will open in January 2023 for activities delivered during the 2023/24 academic year. However, now is the perfect time to think about what you would do with the funding and who you could work with to better engage more young people!

Find out more about the latest recipients and their projects using this link: Digital Xtra Fund awards 35 grants to drive digital skills.

Please follow Digital Xtra Fund on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for future updates.

Quick Links for Digital Xtra Fund

Digital Xtra Fund website

20/21 impact report

Round VII (2022/2023) initiatives supported by Digital Xtra Fund 

05 December 16:00, The Future of Digital in Scottish Education with Maureen McKenna, former Executive Director of Education, Glasgow City Council

Education Scotland are hosting 3 highlight sessions focusing on ‘The Future of Digital in Scottish Education’.  Each of these sessions will include an input from a key figure in Scottish Education followed by a short question and answer session.

Sign up for THIS SESSION with Maureen McKenna using this link to Evenbrite

If you would like to ask a question at any of these sessions, please complete the registration form using this link Registration Form

(If you have any issues using the form, please contact kirsty.mcfaul@educationscotland.gov.scot)

The Future of Digital in Scottish Education with Professor Ken Muir, the University of the West of Scotland

Education Scotland recently hosted three highlight sessions focusing on ‘The Future of Digital in Scottish Education’. In this video Professor Ken Muir, The University of the West of Scotland, explores:

  • the generational shift and the increasing use of digital amongst young people
  • the skills and technologies of the future and what this means for learning and work
  • the Scottish curriculum
  • noteworthy innovative projects
  • future developments, such as AI

 

You can view Professor Ken Muir’s slides with this link Slides for digital presentation.pptx (dropbox.com)

 

YOU CAN NOW LISTEN TO AN AUDIO ONLY VERSION OF THE CALL

YouTube player

The Future of Digital in Scottish Education with Ollie Bray, Strategic Director Education Scotland

Education Scotland recently hosted three highlight sessions focusing on ‘The Future of Digital in Scottish Education’. In this video Ollie Bray, strategic director at Education Scotland, explores:

  • the future
  • ‘shiny’ v appropriate
  • COVID
  • technology in learning
  • building strong digital communities
  • practical pedagogies
  • our digital landscape

YOU CAN NOW LISTEN TO AN AUDIO ONLY VERSION OF THE CALL

YouTube player

Be part of Nature Discovery Map Scotland – an education toolkit

Are you interested in developing your skills in technologies and digital literacy? Would you like to collaborative with fellow educators and digital experts?

Join our pilot project September 2022 – March 2023!

NatureScot are looking for educators to help create and pilot a Scottish version of the UK Government Initiative the National Education Nature Park.

The toolkit will be hosted on a webpage and will consist of:  

  • a mapping tool using a free, online application called ArcGIS. This will enable learners to map the nature in their establishment grounds and local greenspaces. It will also allow schools to upload any biodiversity improvements they make; 
  • a dashboard to allow schools to compare the biodiversity of their establishment grounds and local greenspaces with the national picture; 
  • resources to support the teachers and learners to make the most of the map and dashboard. 

The toolkit will support learners to:  

  • discover the biodiversity and the ecosystems of their area; 
  • understand the importance of sustainability and climate adaptation; 
  • develop a sense of ownership and pride in their establishment grounds and local greenspaces. 

It will support the development of: 

  • practical and knowledge-based skills through biodiversity and climate action; 
  • digital and other STEM skills through geospatial mapping; 
  • improved wildlife habitats and increase in biodiversity in and around educational settings; 
  • real world and outdoor learning opportunities. 

 

YouTube player

What’s in it for me? 

  • A professional learning opportunity to develop your digital skills through a co-design approach. 
  • The opportunity to work collaboratively with other teachers, technical experts and NatureScot staff. 
  • Input to the development a new, innovative teaching resource that could be used across Scotland to support STEM learning. 
  • A platform to help discover and develop nature around your establishment through outdoor learning and Learning for Sustainability.   

 

 

How do I get involved or find out more? 

Check out our Nature Discovery Map Scotland webpage or contact:

Sue Munro (Project Manager) by email sue.munro@nature.scot  

Sharon Cunningham by email: Sharon.cunningham@nature.scot  

Penny Martin by email: penny.martin@nature.scot  

 

 

CPD award in computing studies

The CPD Award in Computing Studies for Teachers

The CPD award in Computing Studies for teachers was created for primary teachers and secondary teachers for 1st and 2nd year pupils to give the confidence and skills to teach computing to pupils. More than 50% of our current cohort are primary school teachers. The course is open to any teacher with the relevant entry qualifications (degree and existing teaching qualification) who have an interest in computing.

 

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.

 

There is only one module delivered each semester with no time off 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.

 

The Coding and Web technologies module will be delivered over 14 weeks and the semester will start Week beginning 29th August 2022 with an online induction with the course commencing week beginning 5th September 2022.

You can apply to join the course HERE or searching for the Computing  Studies for Teachers CPD award at https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/ under courses.

 

The price is £215 per module, and this can be paid on a module-by-module basis. As the modules are 20 credits each if you were to do two in an academic year you may be eligible for SAAS funding. It is suggested contacting SAAS directly if you are planning to start next semester and confirm whether you would be eligible for funding.

 

The course does not carry any GTCS accreditation.

 

Please get in touch if you have any further questions

Gordon.macpherson.ic@uhi.ac.uk

Schools Challenge for International Women in Engineering Day – 23rd June

Schools Challenge for International Women in Engineering Day – 23rd June

The Civil and Environmental Engineers at Abertay University are running a video competition for INWED22 (International Women in Engineering Day – 23rd June). The challenge is open to students at Secondary Schools, Colleges, Universities and Graduates.

The challenge is to create a 2 minute video which highlights: a female engineer; a structure designed by a female engineer; &/or showcases the impact of the inventor or her innovation or how it could shape future developments. The winner will receive a £50 amazon voucher. The finalists and winner will be announced at an Abertay event on INWED day (23rd June).

Deadline for entries 20th June 2022.

Poster containing text for INWED video challenge from Abertay University.

Poster containing text on tips and entry info for INWED video challenge from Abertay University.