Higher Sciences Cross Authority Writing Group

Following the NQ Sciences events which took place in Hampden Stadium in December 2013, Education Scotland, in partnership with the SQA, organised cross authority writing workshops for NQ sciences qualifications. Faculty Heads and Principal Teachers from 30 local authorities have attended and worked collaboratively to co-develop materials for priority areas identified required support at the Hampden events.
These events have been hugely successful; at the first event hosted at SSERC materials for the National 5 Assignment, National 4 Added Value Unit were produced along with a bank of open ended questions.
The first Higher event allowed practitioners to evaluate Education Scotland materials and to generate and share further support materials. The second event at SSERC allowed delegates to choose practical activities appropriate for the new Highers and practice these as well as gain some content training from our partners at SSERC. Over 500 resources was shared through the GLOW 365 sciences platform.
The third Higher Cross-Authority Writing Workshop took place on Tuesday 27th May.
The purpose of the day was to provide practitioners with the opportunity to complete the materials they are developing for the Higher Sciences qualifications and professional learning events with updates from industry and further education professionals of the applications and theory of new content areas. Colleagues from HMI, SQA, learned societies, STEMnet ambassadors and research institutes join the group. Presentations included careers in life sciences venture capital, the Higgs Boson, Antioxidants in food and Stem Cell research. Speakers then worked with teachers to produce professional learning materials, teacher and pupil resources and assignment materials.
The feedback from the events was very positive with those attending keen for the model of cross-authority collaboration to be extended to include preparation for the new Advanced Higher courses, review best practice in National 3,4 and 5 courses and to quality assure materials share through the GLOW 365 sciences platform.

Higher Computing Science Conference

Computing Science – support for new national Qualifications

Education Scotland organised and delivered a conference to support learning and teaching around the new Higher Computing Science on 29 May 2014.  The main aims of the conference were to

  • Examine a range of appropriate approaches to learning and teaching
  • Exemplify a significant amount of new course content
  • Continue to build a successful learning community for computing science
  • Examine other areas for development to be addressed over the next academic year

Gerry Docherty, Chief Executive of Smarter Grid Solutions, who leads on the implementation of the ICT and Digital Technologies Skills Investment Plan was the keynote speaker.  He did a tremendous job setting the scene for the conference and many of the issues he raised in the morning were discussed again in the closing plenary.

It was a really great day and gives us lots to build on.  If you have any suggestions as to how Education Scotland can further support this area of the curriculum please contact jim.lally@educationscotland.gov.uk.

Edinburgh International Film Festival – STEM Careers Events

Wednesday 24th – 25th June 2014

 

Into Films will be running 3 career sessions at next month’s EIFF. 

One focusing on STEM students, the other on the same day includes STEM as part of film careers, with a third event will involve conversations with a VFX industry professional.

 If you are interested in attending these events please contact – yen.yau@intofilm.org

Royal Institute – Big Physics

Join the Royal Institute this month for a series of physics events and workshops.

Sign up to attend:

Black Hole Firewalls: What would you experience if you jumped into a black hole?

Matter Atoms in Action – explore the far-reaching applications of being able to watch atoms in action in important chemical reactions.

Faraday’s magnetic laboratory – explore the lab in which he worked.

Watch Physics Talks and hear the latest plans to explore Mars.

For further information about all events http://www.rigb.org/whats-on