Monthly Archives: October 2011

Expressive Arts

Invitation to Drama teachers – SDTN event

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Introduction to Scottish Drama Training Network by Professor Maggie Kinloch,
SDTN Chair and Vice-Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

This special event on Thursday 3rd November will welcome those who teach Drama in Schools to the Scottish Drama Training Network.

The event will take place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 18.00-20.30.
This event will provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about SDTN and also to participate in a special Panel discussion on Equality, Disability and Inclusivity. Companies represented will include Birds of Paradise and Solar Bear. The event will offer an opportunity for Drama tutors and practitioners to meet and network at the end of the session with some refreshments.
Further details from www.sdtn.org
RSVP by email to SDTN Director, Alison Forsyth on alison@sdtn.org

For direct link follow:

http://sdtn.org/news/view/49/sdtn-special-event-thu-3-nov-2011

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G2 3DB

MCMC/16+LC, Senior Phase, Technologies

Scottish Career Fact Sheets

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These fact sheets are a really useful resource for  learners to find out more about the different sectors of employment and help them to make informed decisions about future destinations beyond school.

http://www.alliancescotland.org/Publications/IAGFactSheets/IAG2011.aspx

They were produced by the Alliance Scotland with the Skills Sector Councils input as well as through funding as part of joint activity with Skills Development Scotland.

Each Scottish Fact Sheet focuses on a range of SSCs, from banking to butchery, engineering to healthcare, and fish farming to mining, to name but a few.

The Alliance of Sector Skills Councils Scotland Logo

Social studies, Technologies

Clipbank Business

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ClipBank is Channel 4’s searchable library of high quality digital television clips. The Business library looks at various aspects of a business and how all the various functions of a business operate.

The topics available through Clipbank for teaching Business cover finance, marketing, motivation and objectives, or explore by different business types for case study examples in fashion, music, leisure, tourism and the motor industry. You can also find out about the skills required for business in IT, communication and problem solving.

Click here to view the resources. (Glow log in required)

Expressive Arts

World of Work Wednesdays is Back!!

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Yes it is back! The popular fortnightly event that focuses on career opportunities for young people across Scotland returns to Glow TV after a break.

This WoWW event focuses on Working in the Theatre. Have you ever wondered what it is like being part of the magic of the theatre? How does a production begin and who is involved in bringing it to life on the stage?

Why not join assistant directors and associate artists in the Glow TV Studio and find out more?

Sign up and join us in Glow TV on Wednesday 2nd November at the usual time 2pm.

Health and wellbeing

Shared Responsibility – Drug Misuse, Demand and Production

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Shared Responsibility is a Colombian Government Initiative that focuses on making individuals think about the impact of drug misuse, demand and production in communities within Colombia and abroad.

On Tuesday the 1st of November the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh will host an event co-organized with the Colombian Embassy and the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.

Professor Brigitte Baptiste, the Director of the Von Humboldt Institute that is Colombia’s largest environmental organization, will give a talk on the impact of the drugs trade on the environment and society in Colombia.

This will be followed by a group discussion in which members of the audience and external viewers can ask questions to the speaker, embassy officials, the police, biodiversity researchers and anthropologists.

Sign up and join us in Glow TV at 10am on Tuesday 1st November for this interesting Glow Meet!

Early Years, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Languages, Modern Languages, Sciences, Social studies

New open day programme 2011/12

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New global citizenship open day study visits!

We are pleased to announce a new series of the popular, inspiring and practical school open days from Education Scotland’s Developing Global Citizens team.

Sign up by contacting globalcitizens@educationscotland.gov.uk or call 0141 252 5000

There is increasing recognition that the rich contexts and learning approaches associated with global citizenship are a powerful means of engaging with Curriculum for Excellence.  In this initiative, selected schools are offering an open door to senior leaders and classroom practitioners to share how they have led a whole school approach to global citizenship. 

The schools selected for the open school programme have developed approaches that have successfully woven elements such as sustainable development education, education for citizenship, international education and games legacy into a wider coordinated whole-school approach to developing global citizens. The programme includes a number of award winning schools and schools whose achievements have been widely recognised.

What others have said about the study visits:

‘The best CPD I have ever had’

‘This was an inspirational CPD event and I found it all very useful and enjoyable, particularly the input from the HT/PT and children – fantastic’

‘My mind is going into overdrive – I plan to take everything you have given and use it!’

Date Time School Theme
Thursday 13th October 9.30am – 3pm Mearns Primary School, East Renfrewshire Global Citizenship – learner voice at the heart of the curriculum
Tuesday 25th October 9.30am – 3pm Calderglen High School, South Lanarkshire Leadership of Global Citizenship/ Games Legacy for Scotland
Friday 18th November 9.30am – 3pm Woodacre Nursery, Glasgow >>details International education and citizenship in the early years
Tuesday 22nd November 9.30am – 3pm Hamilton Grammar School, South Lanarkshire >>details Leadership of global citizenship
Tuesday 29th November 9.30am-3pm Garrowhill Primary School, Glasgow >>details Sustainable Development Education
Thursday 8th December 9:30am – 3pm Whitelees Primary School, North Lanarkshire >>details Sustainable Development Education
Tbc 9.30am – 3pm Gracemount Cluster (High School, Primary School, Nursery and Special School), Edinburgh A cluster approach to global citizenship

Further events will be added to the programme in the coming weeks so watch this blog entry for updates.

Places for these events are limited so it is advisable to book early to avoid disappointment.

Sign up by contacting globalcitizens@educationscotland.gov.uk or call 0141 252 5000

Find out more about using global citizenship to develop a whole school approach to Curriculum for Excellence

Download the new global citizenship calendar for 2011-12

Early Years, Languages

School Open Day Event: Woodacre Nursery School, Glasgow City, 18 November 2011

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Time:  9:30am – 3.00pm

Theme:  International and citizenship education within Early Years

Woodacre Nursery invites practitioners to visit the school and find out about their dynamic international education programme gaining them full International Schools Award, Green Flag status and the ‘Trades House Citizenship Award’. The nursery school has been involved in Global Citizenship Education for the last 6 years embedding many initiatives related to this theme into their curriculum. 

Key themes of the day will be a presentation on e-twinning programmes, the school’s transformative Comenius project involving 5 other European countries and the effective use of Glow to deepen international links.

The programme will also include: 

  • A live Glow meet with a nursery in Iceland
  • A visit of the garden and recycling projects
  • Latest information on international programmes by the British Council
  • A presentation by the ‘Glasgow City Council Community Action Team’
  • A presentation of partnership working with parents and local community groups as key drivers to advance the nursery’s eco schools programme.

Participants will also have an opportunity for professional dialogue and the exchange of ideas on the day.

Flyer and Programme:   Woodacre Nursery Open day, 18 Nov 11

How to book

To book, please email: globalcitizens@educationscotland.gov.uk  or Phone  0141 282 5172.

Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. This is a free event!

This is one of a series of open day events organised by Education Scotland’s Developing Global Citizenship Team. View the full programme of open day events here>>

Early Years, Languages, Modern Languages

Online Global Citizenship Calendar now live!

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Education Scotland has launched an online calendar version of the Global Citizenship calendar that allows practitioners to plan rich learning experiences across the curriculum.  The online version includes background information and resource ideas for each date in the calendar.

Access the online calendar here

Download a hard copy of the calendar.

If you wish to order multiple copies please email klaus.mayer@educationscotland.gov.uk

Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing

Forest Pitch – Meet the artist in a Glowing Thursday!

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Glowing Thursday 10th November 2011

Forest Pitch – football strip design competition!

Meet the artist!

Join us on 10th November at 11am on Glow TV!

An opportunity to meet Scottish artist Craig Coulthard, creator of the highly innovative art project Forest Pitch. Funded by Creative Scotland and part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, Forest Pitch will culminate in two football matches between amateur players who have recently taken up British citizenship.  At the Scottish Learning Festival in September this year Craig launched a football strip design competition for primary age children to come up with exciting and innovative designs for the football strips that the players will wear.

As an arts project, Forest Pitch encourages debate about national identity, citizenship, the natural world, sustainability and participation in sport.

If you have already signed up for the competition or are thinking about doing so, then join us for this exciting Glowing Thursday to find out more and get some artist’s tips and advice.

Find out more about the competition, sign up and download the design brief and support materials here

And don’t forget – taking part in this competition is a great way of demonstrating a commitment to the Olympic and Paralympic values and joining the London 2012 Get Set Network.  Do this before 16th December and qualify for FREE tickets for the Olympics! Find out more >>

Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Languages, Sciences, Technologies

Travelling Green

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Travelling Green is a 6 week walking project which aims to encourage as many children as possible to change their method of travel to and from school, by increasing active commuting (walking) to school.

Travelling Green is an interdisciplinary project focusing on Health and Wellbeing with links to Science, Social Studies, Expressive Arts, Technologies and Languages.

Children learn about walking time and distance, they chart their progress to a more active journey to school and learn about healthy eating, why walking is good for them and how to stay safe on the walk to school.

Who is it aimed at?

Travelling Green is aimed at P5s (9 year olds) in primary schools in Scotland, but it can also be used in composite classes.

What can it achieve?

Increases in overall physical activity. Setting realistic, individual, achievable physical activity targets.

What’s new with Travelling Green?

Sustrans has developed new, free, eye-catching interactive whiteboard flipcharts that can be used with any interactive whiteboard. The flipcharts complement the paper resource pack and provide more opportunities for engagement in the classroom. You can download the interactive resources for free from the Promethean Planet partnership pages.

More info is available on the Sustrans website.

Early Years

Need some Friday inspiration?

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Myra and Diane from the Early Years team attended  TEACHMEET  at the University of Strathclyde on Wednesday evening. Very inspiring!

We learned about a number of interesting ideas including:

  • 7 things you didn’t know about wikipedia by Ollie Bray
  • Great places to find images by Andrew James
  • User Twitter to enhance CPD by Morven Skinnider
  • Using QR codes by David Muir
  • Digital literacy and moving image education by Jane Thomson
  • The Scottish Book Trust fabulous website by Chris Leslie

Lots of ideas there suitable for Early Years – start exploring!

Click here to find out more about the presentations.

Modern Languages

East Dunbartonshire NAR Open Doors Event

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I was delighted to be invited to attend East Dunbartonshire’s NAR event.  Douglas Academy gave a presentation on how their Modern Languages department had developed their NAR project and how they were furthering what they had learned from the assessment process in their department.  Several delegates asked if their presentation could be made available for use  as a means of fostering collegiate discussion in their own departments.  I have therefore posted the presentation in the “CfE Emerging Practice” section of the Modern Languages National Glow Group in the Assessment and Moderation documents store .  You can find the presentation by visiting the group or you can click here.  You will need your Glow password.

Technologies

Glow Myths

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Cross post from the Glow Scotland Blog.

Every year a survey is made of all Glow users to find out what they think of Glow.

Along with many other findings in this years report, it became clear that there was a need for clarification on some elements of the functionality as Glow was perceived not to do things which it does in fact do.

We hope you find this Glow Help blog post helpful.

Technologies

Technologies Resource Share

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Visit the resource area in Technologies Glow Staffroom to find resources that teachers have been sharing. If you have any teaching resources of your own, please add them to this area.

To view the resources click here.

To add your own resource click here.

(You will need a Glow log in to access these resources).

Religious and Moral Education, Religious Education in Roman Catholic schools, RME

Happy Diwali – new resource from @GuardianTeach

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Happy Diwali to everyone – today is Diwali and Hindus around the world are celebrating the return of Rama and Sita from exile as told in the Ramayana.

Guardian Teach has an excellent resource to use – have a look and if you wish to leave a comment below on how you have used it – feel free!

http://glo.li/scTSWl

Research

New Research and Innovation Blog Page

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Welcome to the brand new Research and Innovation Blog Page.

In this blog we intend to highlight educational research which may be of use to you in your role within the organisation.  

We will also promote our in-house research publication Research Round-Up which is a bi-monthly digest that collates and summarises national and international educational research and statistical reports. Summaries within Research Round-Up are organised by topic area and there are hyperlinks to the full reports.

Any feedback, suggestions or questions would be gratefully received.

Expressive Arts, Modern Languages

Moderation and Assessment in Modern Languages

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I’ve added a new section to the CFE Emerging Practice section of the Modern Langauges National Glow Group where practitioners can post any work they are doing on Assessment and Moderation.  Many thanks go to Lochend Community High School for sharing the materials they have developed in the Languages and Communication faculty to help plan a coherent approach to curriculum, assessment and moderation .  It is always interesting and helpful to see how different departments and faculties are coming together to discuss and share the standards, so if you have anything you would like to contribute, please get posting!

To access Lochend’s materials please click here.  You will need your Glow password.

Sciences, Technologies

Careers in Renewables

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Scotland’s renewables sector has received another jobs boost as major companies continue to invest.

The Korean firm ‘Doosan’ intends to locate its research and development centre for renewables at its current site in Renfrew, creating up to 200 jobs.

They are also in talks with Scottish Enterprise to set up manufacturing and assembly facilities in Scotland – its favoured location for wind turbine development and production. Doosan expects its offshore wind plans in Scotland to create up to 1,700 new jobs.

Steel Engineering, also based in Renfrew, aims to create 120 jobs by expanding its business servicing a range of clean energy sectors, including offshore wind, wave and tidal power.

They are also in talks with Skills Development Scotland about developing a training school with Anniesland College in Glasgow.

Click here to read the article.

To find out more about STEM Careers visit the STEM Central website.

To investigate the Renewables context on STEM Central click here.

Languages

French and Forest: come with your class to discover the exhibition

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A flier for a fantastic new exhibition at the Alliance has been posted in the resources and sharing section of the Modern Langauges National Glow group. 

In partnership with GoodPlanet Foundation and in celebration of the International Year of Forest 2011, the Alliance Française is hosting in November the exhibition “Forest, a lively community” designed for a wide audience. Using documents and panels in both French and English, these exhibitions offer an original and educational approach of forest and environment.
To access more information please visit the Glow group or click here.  You will need your Glow password.

 

Modern Languages

French Schools Are Looking for Scottish Links

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Two French secondary schools have made contact looking to create links with Scottish schools.  They would like to exchange emails, take part in video conferencing or perhaps even organise  school exchanges.  The pupils from my own school have just returned from their annual school exchange and work experience week in Fougères, Brittany so I am somewhat evangelical  about the wonderful language learning opportunities that can be offered to young people by forging links with schools overseas.  If you are interested then please contact the schools directly.

1/ The Lycée Pape Clément (Senior phase) in Pessac (Académie de Bordeaux) is looking for a partner school in Scotland (exchange of emails, chatroom, ..). Please contact Karine, email: ce.0332722e@ac-bordeaux.fr

2/ Breton Secondary school in Combourg nearby Rennes (Brittany) is looking for a partner school in Scotland. Please contact Annemarie, email: ANNEMARIE.GAUDET@GMAIL.COM

 If you would like to set up an exchange but you’re not sure where to start and would like to discuss it with someone who has set up a very successful exchange link, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with me at fhiona.fisher@educationscotland.gov.uk or by posting a comment below!

Sciences, Technologies

Renewables

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The Scottish government has approved plans for ‘the world’s largest tidal scheme’, which could help to create new engineering jobs for Scotland.

Scottish Power Renewables can now commence construction work on the £40 million project in the Sound of Islay. The scheme will have a ten-megawatt capacity – enough to power over 5,000 homes.

Scottish Power Renewables will also work closely with the Islay Energy Trust to provide social and economic benefits in the area, including using local marine contractors during installation and providing local jobs in construction during the onshore development phase.

To find out more read the article here.

Visit the STEM Central Renewables Area to investigate how you can use this context with your pupils.

These Glow Science Videos on Renewables may also help. (Glow login required)

Expressive Arts, Technologies

How to …

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As part of the Scottish Learning Festival 2011, Molecules in Motion worked closely with Gavinburn Primary School to produce this series of short How To films. Click below to view the videos on Vimeo.
 
 
 
  
 
 
Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing

Choices for Life

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Choices for Life is now an online event taking place on 14th and 15th November 2011. Practitioners working with children and young people are asked to log on to Glow to access a number of interactive workshops and thought provoking dramas. 

Choices for Life supports learners to develop their understanding of the use and misuse of a variety of substances including alcohol, drugs and tobacco. Curriculum for Excellence coverage includes second, third and fourth level substance misuse experiences and outcomes within health and wellbeing.

This online event encourages an interdisciplinary approach in a key area of the health and wellbeing framework. Young people will engage in a number of interactive activities which allow them to explore and develop their understanding of the impact of risk-taking behaviour on life chances.

To visit the Glow Group click here. (Glow log in required)

Literacy, Literacy and English, Sciences, Technologies

Daily What News – Science & Technologies

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The Daily What News for Schools in Scotland is an online news service provided byEducation Scotland for Scottish schools. Its main purpose is to help the development of literacy and language (English and Gaelic) in young people aged nine to 16 as well as support their needs for news and information. At the same time, its functions facilitate interdisciplinary learning and critical thinking skills. The service empowers teachers and learners to develop trusted learning resources and classroom activities using community-created content and group interactivity.

To visit the Science and Technology articles click here. (To access the interactive materials you will require your Glow log in)

To visit the Science and Tecnhnology Staff Area click here.

To view Science and Technology Daily What Resources that teachers have created click here. (Glow log in required)

You can also add a Daily What News Feed webpart to your Glow Group by:

– clicking on Modify Shared Page

– Add Webpart

– Search, type Daily What

– Click Virtual Server Gallery

– Drag and drop the webpart or select the relevant area on Add to

Sciences

Using Glow to support the revision of Standard Grade Biology

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Dual post from Glow Scotland Blog.

Karen Maitland is a teacher of Biology at Queensferry High School in Edinburgh. Karen is an advocate of the use of technology aimed at enhancing the learning and teaching process. In this cookbook Karen will talk us through how she uses Glow to support the learning and teaching of Standard Grade Biology.

Through the appropriate use of technology in class, Karen has aimed to enhance the experience of her pupils during their time in the Biology Department. Through various websites and podcasts, Karen looks to provide her pupils with the opportunity to access advice, information and resources out with the barriers of the traditional school day.

With the introduction of Glow to Queensferry HS, Karen was keen to investigate how best to use the tools and functionality to further enrich the learning experiences of her pupils. In this cookbook, we will hear Karen outline how she has created a Glow Group to act as a one-stop-shop revision source for her Standard Grade Biology class.

Click here to read the cookbook.

Sciences, Technologies

STEM Careers

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New technology is being developed in Scotland as part of a multi-million pound international collaboration to enable safer and more efficient oil recovery from deeper water and harsher environments than ever before.

Global oil and gas solutions provider FMC Technologies is collaborating with Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) to deliver a pioneering five-year research and development partnership within the subsea oil and gas industry.

The collaboration will combine expertise in electronics, optoelectronics, electrical power and instrumentation at GCU with that of subsea engineering and optoelectronics within FMC to deliver research and development projects for safe and efficient oil recovery and to enhance reliability and integrity in the monitoring of subsea installations.

It will also produce innovative new products and technologies for subsea hydrocarbon production applications along with student placement and research studentship opportunities.

Click here to find out more about the project.

Perhaps you could investigate STEM Careers with your pupils to find out which ones would be related to this new development.

Early Years

My World of Work

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I heard about this great website at SLF from Skills Development Scotland and thought that the materials on it would be very useful for EY establishments to use with or direct parents to when supporting them in their endeavours to return to work.  Really good interactive materials.

http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/news/my-world-of-work.aspx

Mathematics, Sciences, Technologies

STEM Central Blog has moved

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We have moved the STEM Central Blog to this blog. Instead of using two ways of communicating the Science and Technology Development Officers thought it would be easier if we used this blog to share all things STEM. To view the posts about STEM click on STEM in the tag cloud (Themes across learning) on the right handside.  

Remember to also visit the STEM Central website.

MCMC/16+LC, Senior Phase, Supporting Learners

Up for Hire on BBC!

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 BBC Three and BBC Radio 1 tackle one of Britain’s biggest issues – youth unemployment. Over four nights, Richard Bacon and Tina Daheley talk to industry experts about the best ways to find work.

An interesting TV series with a supporting website including video resources and some useful links for teachers and learners. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00k9c3r

Modern Languages

Goethe Insititute – free online course for Advanced Higher German Candidates

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I have been talking with our colleagues at the Goethe Institute.  They are offering a new, online resource for Advanced Higher German candidates absolutley free of charge!  Practitioners simply have to register their candidates’ names to access a range of excellent resources and activities that would be invaluable for anyone studying German at an advanced level.  To register, visit their website or click here

Vielen Dank!

Literacy, Senior Phase, Social studies

The Statistical Accounts of Scotland

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This morning I had a meeting with The Statistical Accounts of Scotland. Glow users have full access to this site, http://edina.ac.uk/stat-acc-scot/.

Just go to the link, and choose to log in via the UK federation. Choose Glow Scotland from the drop down list and press select. Then the screen will prompt you to enter your Glow username and password. You will then be able to access the accounts.

The two Statistical Accounts of Scotland, covering the 1790s and the 1830s, are among the best contemporary reports of life during the agricultural and industrial revolutions in Europe. Learn more about the area in which you or your ancestors have lived, or use this key source to study the emergence of the modern British State and the economic and social impact of the world’s first industrial nation.

Based largely on information supplied by each parish church minister, the original (first) Statistical Account and the New (second) Statistical Account provide a rich record of a wide variety of topics: wealth, class and poverty; climate, agriculture, fishing and wildlife; population, schools, and the moral health of the people.

To find out how to use the resource click here.

You can also like The Statistical Accounts of Scotland on Facebook by clicking here or follow them on Twitter @statacc.

If you are using this resource with your pupils or are interested in using the resource, it would be great to hear from you! Please leave a comment on this blog post.

CLD, Young people, children & families

International Youth Work Seminar

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International Youth Work with young people has an image problem. Some people see it as being easy and fun or a ‘bit of a jolly’ while others view it as ‘too challenging and difficult to develop’. Despite this, a massive range of international opportunities are taken up each year by young people within the Glasgow City area, each project and programme different from another with varying outcomes, partners and themes.

This FREE event offers the opportunity to learn about current International Education Programmes, how to get started and the support available to you. Inputs on the day by the Glasgow Lord Provost and International Office, Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council and Young Scot as well as an information village and lunch. Spaces are limited.

To book a place or to participate in the information village please get in touch.

Further information and flyer available within the e-filing cabinet here.

Contact: Gary Maguire at Glasgow Life, phone: 0141 276 8770 [ e-mail | website ]

Adult Learning, CLD, Community Capacity Building, Young people, children & families

Sustainable Communities Mentorship Programme

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The BTCV Sustainable Communities Mentorship Programme aims to develop a network of Sustainable Community Mentors throughout Scotland through a series of regional training and support programmes. This highly regarded programme has already trained 100 mentors throughout Scotland to inspire their own communities to take action on Sustainability and Climate Change.

The programme starts with a two day training workshop which will provide participants with the skills and knowledge to raise awareness about Sustainability and communicate Climate Change in their own communities. They will also work on developing their own unique skills, producing Action Plans for their communities and learning tools to take forward practical Community Projects to improve local environment and take action for a more sustainable planet. After the workshop, participants will receive on-going support from local BTCV Scotland staff, resources and access to national and local skills sharing and networking events.

There is no fee for participants; costs are covered by BTCV Scotland and the Forum for Environmental Volunteering Activity.

Contact: BTCV Scotland, phone: 01786 476170 [ e-mail | website ]

Adult Learning, CLD, Community Capacity Building, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Young people, children & families

Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival

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Now a regular on the arts scene, the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival has grown to become one of the world’s most valued cultural events. The Festival takes place in theatres, cinemas, libraries and community halls throughout October each year to help challenge attitudes towards mental health through the arts. Most learning events are free.

Contact: Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival, phone: 0141 572 1661 [ website ]

CLD, Young people, children & families

No Knives, Better Lives

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 Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill MSP unveiled the latest educational initiative aimed at helping tackle knife carrying among Scotland’s young people on the 7 October 2011. Attending the On a Knife Edge education roadshow at Clydebank High School, Mr MacAskill praised the ongoing efforts to eradicate knife crime in Scotland and welcomed the new programme as another important step to achieving early intervention and prevention.

The ‘On a Knife Edge’ resource pack is designed to provide teacher support and a range of activities that will help young people consider the issues surrounding violence in Scotland and help them to make better, more informed choices.

Get more information and have a look at the On a Knife Edge pack here. 

Contact: Marc Forrester at YouthLink Scotland, phone: 0131 313 2488 [ e-mail | website ]

Modern Languages

Showtime Spanish

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Mark Pendleton of Radio Lingua has very kindly given us some fantastic Spanish resources that all teachers of Spanish will find useful in their classrooms.  You can download each episode of the radio play and the notes that accompany them completely free of charge.  I have made them available in the National Glow Group or you can click here to access the resources.  You will need your Glow password.  Many thanks to you Mark!

Adult Learning, CLD, Young people, children & families

Money for Life – financial capability and personal money skills programme

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Money for Life is a financial capability and personal money skills programme that aims to embed vital money management skills in Further Education (FE) sector institutions or community groups.

The programme facilitates the sharing of best practice and provides training and resources to empower practitioners to equip a generation of learners with the skills they need to better manage their money in order to realise their lifetime goals.

Money for Life is proudly supported by Lloyds Banking Group through its Lloyds TSB, Bank of Scotland and Halifax brands.

Money for Life is a unique partnership over the next two years between Lloyds Banking Group and FE sector partners in the four nations of the UK. The partners will work together to promote and support financial capability.

If you’re interested in improving your financial capability….
Click here for more information about resources and qualifications that will improve your own money management skills and help you to help others do the same.

For more information about the programme emailinfo@moneyforlifeprogramme.org.uk

CLD, Health and wellbeing, Young people, children & families

Tackling under-age drinking

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Drinks company Diageo and Edinburgh Unight (the self-regulatory body of Edinburgh’s late night licensed premises) are working together to tackle harmful drinking in the city. At a local high school Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill joined a group of sixth year pupils as they observed a presentation led by Unight on the subject of under-age entry to pubs and clubs, just days before new legislation came into force on 1 October making it mandatory for licensed premises to have a policy of checking the age of anyone attempting to buy alcohol who looks under 25 years old.
Following a successful trial, Kenny MacAskill is confident that the ‘Challenge 25’ provisions will help keep retailers within the law by making it tougher for young people to buy alcohol.
Furthermore, the ‘Is it worth it?’ initiative will give every pupil over the age of 16 in Edinburgh the opportunity to see a short film which graphically shows the potential consequences of trying to get into nightclubs under age.
For more information see the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/09/27115815

Adult Learning, CLD, MCMC/16+LC, Supporting Learners, Young people, children & families

Move On Peer Education will start recruiting in Glasgow on 20th October

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Move On Peer Education will start recruiting in Glasgow on 20th October, and they are looking for 16 – 28 year olds who have either experienced homelessness or been looked after and accommodated/have disengaged from school or looking to move into employment, training or education. For more information please contact Shug McRoberts on shug@moveon.org.uk or telephone 0141 221 2272. The Move On team also operate a Mentoring service for young people age 14 to 17 and which is also currently open for referrals, so please ask for further information.

CLD, Health and wellbeing, Young people, children & families

Fast Forward YSTEP (Young People, Smoking, Tobacco, Education and Prevention) project

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YSTEP staff have compiled a CD Rom containing ready made smoking prevention education resources for those working with young people.

These include quizzes, activity/lesson plans, powerpoints, links to websites and tobacco cost calculators; relating to a range of topics from ‘What’s in a Cigarette and Cigarette Smoke?’ to ‘Global Issues’ ‘Tobacco and the Media’ and ‘The History of Tobacco’. All lessons are linked to Curriculum for Excellence outcomes.

The CD ROMs are now available and Fast Forward hope to have these resources available to download from the Fast Forward website: www.fastforward.org.uk/
Email: admin@fastforward.org.uk tel: 0131 554 4300.

CLD, Young people, children & families

Fife Youth Work Week

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1 to 7 November 2011

News posted: 18-Oct-2011

The Fife Youth Work Partnership was established in 2008 with the purpose of developing, monitoring and celebrating the youth work opportunities that are offered in communities across Fife. The partnership is a multi-agency group bringing together service providers from the statutory and voluntary sectors, all of whom are active in supporting Fife’s young people to make a difference, to achieve, to succeed and to do so with the right level and types of support.

The Fife Youth Work Partnership has established the Fife Youth Work Week in order to raise awareness amongst young people, communities and decision makers of the range and breadth of the opportunities that are available in Fife for young people. There is a programme of events and activities that are a blend of direct youth work activity aimed at young people, awareness raising events aimed at funders and decision makers and events that will see the introduction of new youth work opportunities to Fife.

The Fife Youth Work Partnership are confident that the programme put in place will challenge the long held views of many in our communities as to what youth work is, what it achieves and what it can be. Fife Youth Work Week is about giving a voice to the sector and to recognise and celebrate the good youth work that goes on every day in communities across Fife.

The online programme is available to view here.

Early Years, Health and wellbeing

Getting to Grips with the Great Outdoors

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104 nursery children from Alloway and Doonfoot nursery classes are getting the chance to enjoy the great outdoors thanks to an exciting new outdoor learning pilot project in South Ayrshire.

http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/news/South-Ayrshire-children-get-to-grips-with-the-great-outdoors.aspx

Modern Languages

Criteria for Reading and Writing at 2nd and 3rd level

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Modern Languages practitioners in  East Dunbartonshire Council have posted in the National Glow Group some criteria that may help centres to plan activities for reading and writing at second and third levels.  They were devised as a result of moderation meetings taking place between primary and secondary colleagues, as a means of exploring the standards and expectations set out in the experiences and outcomes.  Clusters in EDC have used them to plan progression for their learners as they progress from second to third level and they may be of use to you to create a consistent approach to planning, transition, etc.

Many thanks to the practitioners of  EDC.  To access the resource click here.  You will need your Glow password

Modern Languages

Fabulous Free online resourses from the Institut Français

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I was at a meeting on Friday the 7th of October with representatives of the many cultural organisations that promote learning about culture and languages here in Scotland.  The Insitut Français have created a wonderful range of free downloadeable resources to accompany the newest French films being shown  at the Discovery Film festival in Dundee and during the French Film festival in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee in November!  To check out waht’s available please click on the link.

They have also created a calander of resources for use with classes from P6-S3  –  I  love February’s entry –  free video clips and resources to help celebrate La Saint Valentin.  To have a look, please click the link

Modern Languages

Primary Competition – why learning a language is worthwhile

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I have just received a flyer for a competition for primary school pupils who are learning a foreign language.  Prizes include lots of software for schools and the closing date is the 25th of November 2011.  I have put the flier in the National Glow Group in the resources for sharing section.  Alternatively, you can click on the link, you will need your Glow password.  Good luck!!!

Additional Support for Learning, Literacy, Supporting Learners, Technologies

Improving communication skills – Duncanrig radio

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” Improving Communication Skills – Duncanrig radio” case study has been published on the Education Scotland website

http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/sharingpractice/i/improvingcommunicationskillsduncanrigradio/introduction.asp?strReferringChannel=sharingpractice&strReferringPageID=tcm:4-671139-64

Pupils from Duncanrig Secondary School and the associated Communication Support Base (CSB) which caters for pupils with autism spectrum disorders, have been taking the radio airwaves by storm with their very own radio project. The pupils have been performing their own radio shows on community radio. The project was set up to support inclusion in a realistic and fun setting as well as enhancing communication skills. Pupils showcased their work at SLF and also took the opportunity to interview Michael Russell on the day.

Health and wellbeing, Mathematics, Sciences, Technologies

You don’t have to be a Jedi to make things move with your mind…

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Coming soon to STEM Central, our new Bioengineering context exploring use of sciences and technologies to improve human health, and the interface between computing and the human brain. So if you are interested in exploring this BBC news article “Real-life Jedi” in the classroom, keep an eye on STEM Central.

Mathematics, Sciences, Social studies, Technologies, Young people, children & families

Schools Global Footprint – refreshed resource now live

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Education Scotland’s new-look Schools Global Footprint Calculator is now live and can be viewed at: http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/schoolsglobalfootprint

This key online resource has had a significant make-over and now features:

  • a user-friendly interactive calculator
  • streamlined navigation
  • a comprehensive teacher handbook
  • tutorial videos for practitioners
  • inspiring examples of how schools have used the resource to reduce their footprint.

The school estate is responsible for an estimated 50% of greenhouse gas emissions from local authorities. The online calculator allows learners to measure the ecological footprint of their school in relation to six topic areas: food, water, energy, buildings, transport and waste. Learners are also encouraged to develop innovative approaches to reducing their impact on the environment and promoting sustainable lifestyles in the wider community – from tackling the school run to growing and eating their own produce to reduce food miles.

In addition to providing an exciting real life context for delivering the experiences and outcomes, the resource greatly supports Eco-Schools activities and provides learners with skills for learning, life and work as Scotland move towards a low-carbon future.

View the Schools Global Footprint resource or find out more about Education Scotland’s sustainable development education resources.

Expressive Arts, Technologies

Using Glow Blogs to engage with actors from the Tron

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The Creativity Portal offers the 100 or so nationally funded creative organisations the opportunity to engage with Glow and to post to their own creativity Glow blog.

Some of the organisations have found the tool so useful they are now experimenting with it for other purposes – generating targeted, conversational resources for pupils that would otherwise have been impossible.

Tron Participation Creative Blog

As part of our ever expanding Glow area; Tron Participation wants to give pupils and staff an insight into what happens at the Tron Theatre on a day to day basis. The best way for us to do this is via a blog. This blog will allow actors, directors, designers and many more people who work with the Tron to share their thoughts, feelings and experiences with a wider audience. Pupils and teachers can contact Tron Participation if they have a specific question for the person blogging, meaning we are able to create a dialogue with creative professionals and schools. You can find the blog on the Virtual Learning page of the Tron Participation Glow area.

Currently blogging is Sally Reid and Keith Fleming who are performing in ‘Days of Wine and Roses’ a co-production between the Tron Theatre and Theatre Jezebel.

CLD, Community Capacity Building, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, National Qualifications, Religious and Moral Education, Religious Education in Roman Catholic schools, Responsibility of All, RME, Senior Phase, Social studies, Young people, children & families

A Guide to Faith Communities in Scotland

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To advance public knowledge and understanding of the teachings, traditions and practices of the different faith communities in Scotland, SIFC has produced the above booklet. It has recently been reprinted in May 2011. It can be downloaded  here:

A Guide to Faith Communities in Scotland

Responsibility of All

Open day CPD event – Garrowhill Primary School, Glasgow

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Date and time: 9:30am – 3.00pm, Tuesday 29 November 2011

Theme:  Sustainable Development Education

This CPD event offers practitioners and school leaders a wonderful opportunity to visit Garrowhill Primary School – winner of the ‘Sustainable school’ category in this year’s Scottish Education Awards.

Garrowhill Primary is an inspiring example of a school that has adopted a whole school approach to sustainable development education. The secret to the school’s success has been the embedding of sustainability across the curriculum which has had a demonstrable impact on every classroom and learner. This has been driven forward by strong distributed leadership and a positive, caring ethos which permeates the school.

A focus of the event will be to identify and share the practical lessons and ideas that have helped the school move forward on its journey including: 

  • Making the most of the curriculum to provide momentum and sustain programmes
  • A strong focus on pupil voice to lead learning and activities
  • The effective use of programmes such as Eco-Schools, Fairtrade Schools and the John Muir Award to support learning and teaching
  • Extensive partnerships with the local community to transform the school’s ageing buildings and grounds through the development of an outdoor classroom, wildlife area and vegetable garden which are regularly used for curricular activities
  • The reduction in the school’s energy consumption by 30% through sustained commitment.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet and talk with the Head Teacher, staff and learners and also tour the classrooms, buildings and grounds. Time will also be set aside for participants to reflect and share their own experiences.

How to book

To book, please email: globalcitizens@educationscotland.gov.uk or Tel. 0141 282 5172.

Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. This is a free event!

Download programme by clicking on the link below

Garrowhill PS Open Day 29 Nov 11

This is one of a series of open day events organised by Education Scotland’s Developing Global Citizenship Team. View the full programme of open day events here>>

Health and wellbeing, Universal Support

The Place2Be in Action

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Once again Glowing Thursdays is delighted to welcome back The Place2Be. This time there will be an opportunity for pupils and school staff to listen to Edinburgh pupils’ views on how The Place2Be and other strategies (such as circle times, mentoring, and talking to friends) helps them cope with the worries in their lives so they can get the most out of their education.

Hosted by The Place2Be, (a school based counselling service providing support to over 58,000 children), in partnership with Enquire, the Scottish Advice Service for Additional Support for Learning.

Find out more about Place2Be and Enquire on their websites.

We hope that you can sign up and join us in Glow TV to find out more about these important organisations and how they might be of benefit to staff and pupils in your school! Sign up in Glow TV.

Literacy, Literacy and English

Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off!!

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Live from Dundee Rep Theatre, join us on Tuesday 25th October from 4.15pm for an exclusive Glow Meet with the acclaimed playwright Liz Lochhead.

This is a rare opportunity to hear the current national poet talk about her writing and in particular the modern Scottish classic, ‘Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off.’ Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off is a co-production between the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh and Dundee Rep Theatre. You can view further information and videos of the production on the Lyceum website.

Join the Glow Meet for language and drama activities, design resources and activities, as well as video interviews with the director, actors and designer.

Sign up and join us in Glow TV for this exciting opportunity.