Monthly Archives: March 2015

CfE, Community Resilience, Sciences, Senior Phase

Humans are about to populate another planet and you could be part of it

Leave a comment

fuselab logo

We’re looking for participants for the 2015 Fuselab Go tour, an out-of-this-world experience where you’ll help plan the future of an as yet uninhabited world!

If you’re aged 15–18, this is your chance to learn about innovation and creativity and build the skills, networks and confidence that will help you thrive in a fast moving future.

WHAT IS FUSELAB?

Fuselab is an innovation and creativity bootcamp run by Edinburgh International Science Festival. Now looking to recruit the next group of pioneers, so if you’re aged 15-18 this is your chance to get involved!

Fuselab Go is an exciting new touring version of the original programme which was launched back in July 2013. It has been designed to take a fresh, fast and fun Fuselab learning experience to locations across Scotland in summer 2015.

This is your opportunity to think bigger than ever before on a completely blank canvas, developing out-of-this-world solutions to real world problems.

You’ll discover new approaches to challenges through workshops, skills sessions, talks and games that will encourage you to respond both individually and as a group, seeking out relevant skills among your colleagues and collaborating to design, prototype and test your ideas.

Check out the Fuseab website to discover more about the project –

sciencefestival.co.uk/fuselab

WHAT OUR FIRST PIONEERS THOUGHT ABOUT FUSELAB…

‘I have taken away from Fuselab an even bigger love of the sciences than Ialready had (…I didn’t know that was possible!)’

‘It really pushed me as an engineer and really made me work hard’

‘I loved every minute of it!’

2015 TOUR SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION

Fuselab Go is visiting a host of exciting venues across Scotland in summer 2015. There are 10 sessions in all, each session lasts for two days, happening in 6 cities. Check out the list below to see when the tour is coming to

a location near you:

Edinburgh – 6/7, 8/9 and 11/12 June

Greenock – 15/16 June

Inverness – 18/19 June

Aberdeen – 22/23 and 25/26 June

Dundee – 29/30 June

Glasgow – 4/5 and 6/7 July

You will be expected to make your own travel arrangements to attend each day, but Fuselab is completely free of charge and you will be provided with lunch and refreshments.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are open now! For your chance to be part of this exciting project, simply read the terms and conditions to ensure you’re eligible to apply and then complete the short application form available online at sciencefestival.co.uk/fuselab

.

You will receive an automated response when we receive your application and successful applicants will be contacted by email by the end of May 2015.

If you have any queries about your application you can contact Fuselab on fuselab@scifest.co.uk but please be aware that due to the high number of applications we are dealing with it may take a few working days for us to respond.

CfE, Sciences

Solar Eclipse 2015

Leave a comment

solar eclipse logoras logo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 20th March 2015, for the first time in 16 years , we are due for a solar eclipse. It will be partial throughout the UK, and the further north you are, the more of the Sun will be in eclipse. The eclipse will start at about 08.30 and end at 10.30. With Leeds an example, you can see what it will look like observed from the Earth.

The Royal Astronomical Society have produced a resource, which can be found here. It contains information on how to safely, and cheaply, observe a solar eclipse. It also explains more about what solar eclipses are, and what you should expect to see.

BBC Stargazing Live programmes have been scheduled to coincide with the eclipse, this year. Running from the 18-20 March, the programme is again hosted by comedian Dara O’Briain and Professor Brian Cox. You can also access resources for running your own star parties from the BBC website.

So what happens if it’s cloudy? Well, it will still get dark, even if you can’t view the Sun, and you can always view a past eclipse online to see what you would be missing.

Glow TV, Health and wellbeing, Primary, Professional Learning, Sciences, Skills, Social studies

Topical Science and Partnerships : twilight professional learning events begin Wednesday 11th March

Leave a comment

Following the publication of its 3-18 Curriculum Impact Report for Sciences in September 2012, Education Scotland organised a series of conversation days, where priorities for action to secure improvements in science education nationally were identified.

Key aspects for development emerged, which included:

“In the primary sector and at the early stages of secondary school, there is generally less emphasis in the key area of Topical Science than on the other four organisers……. In these cases, children and young people do not have enough opportunity to discuss and debate a range of ethical issues.”
To address this aspect the Sciences team hosted a “Topical Science and Partnerships” Glow Meet .

To Watch Again : https://meet.glowscotland.org.uk/p5rd5cx8od8/

Each glow meet is complimented by a series of professional learning twilight sessions.

Please register through: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TwilightSessions2015

Breakout sessions will be provided by Dynamic Earth, The Royal Society of Chemistry, Glasgow City of Science, Stem Ambassadors and The English Speaking Union.

Education Scotland will also be delivering sessions on Citizen Science, Community Resilience, Food and Science and Social Studies and Science.

 

Glow TV, Primary, Professional Learning, Sciences

GLOW MEET EXCLUSIVE! Ask an astronaut – with Commander Chris Hadfield

Leave a comment

The previous Commander of the International Space Station delighted, entertained and inspired us with his videos detailing life in space. He showed us how to make a sandwich in space, how he brushed his teeth, and even recorded his own version of a famous David Bowie song, Space Oddity.

On Tuesday March 24th at 2.30pm, Commander Hadfield will be on Glow TV answering pupils’ questions about science, space and the Universe.

What was his most terrifying moment in space? What does flying a rocket feel like? How has he adjusted to life back on Earth?

We will be selecting the best questions and these pupils will have the opportunity to ask questions live directly to Commander Hadfield on the day!

Submit your questions to glow.connect@glowscotland.onmicrosoft.com before 20th March with the title “Ask an astronaut”. Don’t forget to include your pupils’ names, ages and school. To register for the event, click here (Glow log-in required).

Uncategorised

Maternal and Early Years Conference – 21 May 2015

Leave a comment

Colleagues in Early Years Team at NHS Health Scotland, organisers of the national Maternal and Early Years Conference, have let us know that they are looking for abstract submissions under the theme of ‘The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014′.

Ashleigh Oates, Senior Health Improvement Officer, told me that they are seeking creative, innovative and challenging practice examples to be presented as parallel sessions or at marketplace stands at the event.

This year the emphasis is on sharing examples of work that improves health and wellbeing, and reduces the inequalities of the most vulnerable children and families. Of particular interest is work that is undertaken in partnership with colleagues in other agencies and services.

Full guidance and a submission form, including indicative parallel session themes, can be found on the Maternal and Early Years website.

The deadline for submissions is 12 noon on Thursday 19 March. All submissions should be completed using the formal submission form and sent via email to Lynn Soutar, Programme Assistant, Early Years Team. You can email Lynn.Soutar@nhs.net for further informatation and with any further enquiries.

More information and details of how to register for the conference will follow soon.

The Conference will held at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium on 21 May.

Professional Learning

Global Learning Programme Scotland

Leave a comment

Global learning prog

Overheard conversation between two young learners in a Scottish primary school this week –  Learner 1: “I want to go to the rainforest and tell them to stop cutting it down.” Learner 2: “Don’t go yet. You’re too wee. Wait till we’re bigger and we’ll both go.” The potential of where this conversation and these aspirations will lead to is intriguing. Many learners are making connections between rich curricular contexts for learning and their own capacity to engage with the ever changing world around them.

To engage our learners in learning for sustainability requires teachers who can confidently weave a number of aspects, including global citizenship, sustainable development education, outdoor learning and children’s rights into their practice.

Global Learning Programme Scotland (GLP-S) supports the development of global citizenship through the curriculum and offers free professional learning for teachers. Click here to find out about the range of CLPL on offer from the six Scottish regional Development Education Centres.

You can also sign up for their online global citizenship magazine Stride at www.stridemagazine.org.uk

For more information contact Rachel Hamada at ideasforuminfo@gmail.com

Early Years, Primary, Professional Learning, Sciences

Topical Science and Partnerships professional learning twilight events

Leave a comment

Following the publication of its 3-18 Curriculum Impact Report for Sciences in September 2012, Education Scotland organised a series of conversation days, where priorities for action to secure improvements in science education nationally were identified.

Key aspects for development emerged, which included:

“In the primary sector and at the early stages of secondary school, there is generally less emphasis in the key area of Topical Science than on the other four organisers……. In these cases, children and young people do not have enough opportunity to discuss and debate a range of ethical issues.”

To address this aspect the Sciences team hosted a “Topical Science and Partnerships” Glow Meet on Wednesday 4th March

To watch the meet again : https://meet.glowscotland.org.uk/p5rd5cx8od8/

The glow meet will be once again be complimented by a series of professional learning twilight events.

To register :https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TwilightSessions2015

Breakout sessions will be provided by Dynamic Earth, The Royal Society of Chemistry, Glasgow City of Science and Stem Ambassadors.

Education Scotland will also be delivering sessions on Citizen Science, Community Resilience, Food and Science and Social Studies and Science.

 

Health and wellbeing, Uncategorised

International School Meals Day

Leave a comment

International Schoogdw_ismd_logol Meals Day is back on 5 March 2015, raising awareness of the importance of good nutrition for children, and healthy eating habits at home and at school. Celebrating culture through food is this year’s theme. Also, remember that Food for Thought funding applications can be submitted until Sunday 29th March 2015. This provides a great opportunity to make the connections between your existing work on learning for sustainability and food education.

CfE, Skills, Technologies, Uncategorised

KoduKup competition

Leave a comment

kodukup logo

 

 

KoduKup

About the Competition

The Kodu Kup is open to anyone from a Scottish school aged between seven to fourteen years old. Children must be entered by their school teacher as a team of three, forming a mini “game studio”.

What Should be Submitted?

Teachers should enter their pupils’ games by sharing them from inside Kodu Game Lab, this automatically uploads them to www.kodugamelab.com. Once uploaded, e-mail david.renton@wcs.ac.uk with team name, game name, school name, teacher’s name, link to the game (on www.kodugamelab.com), game description, screenshot, business plan and photos of merchandise created along with any additional files to backup the entry. Schools can enter as many teams as they wish, but each team can only submit a single game. Before sharing a game, please use the following structure to name it:

GameName_TeamName_KoduKupScotland

Closing date is the 29th May

Kodukup 2015 Scottish Flyer

CfE, Technologies

Scratch Programming from Primary to Secondary

Leave a comment

erc-logo-hires

 

 

P7 Pupils from the Williamwood High School cluster primaries, Carolside, Busby and Netherlee learn Scratch programming as part of their Technologies outcomes. This allows for progression when they join Williamwood High School in S1 and S2. Pupils are then able to develop their technologies skills to Third and Fourth Levels using Scratch. Pupils may then go onto choose NQ Computing Science and so have a solid understanding of the purpose and nature of programming.

1 ER

 

Pupils from Carolside Primary on a Scratch programming task.

 

 

Staff from Williamwood have worked closely with the primary colleagues, providing learning materials and CPD. The next steps involve introducing Scratch to pupils in P6 and P5.

2ER3 ER

Expressive Arts, Skills

Andy Scott exclusive interview

Leave a comment

KelpiesInternationally renowned artist, Andy Scott, creator of the famous ‘Kelpies’ and ‘Arria’ sculptures will be interviewed about his life and work by Education Scotland’s Ron Cowie.

Andy will talk about his experiences at school and describe the path he followed to become a successful artist. Viewers will hear about the people and things that influenced him along the way!

The Glow Meet will be broadcast exclusively from Andy’s studio workshop in Glasgow on Wednesday 11th March from 10:30- 11:30.

You can register for the event here

Expressive Arts

John Byrne Drawing Competition update

Leave a comment

Friday 6th March is the date for final entries for the John Byrne national drawing competition to arrive at Education Scotland offices in either Dundee or Glasgow. We have had an excellent response from schools so far but there are still four days to go until the competition ends!

The prizes are fantastic and John is designing the special runner up certificates as I write this post.

Education Scotland will hold all drawings submitted for the competition until the judging has been completed on Friday 27th March. After that they will be available from the offices to which they were delivered until Friday 24th April, if schools wish to pick them up. I’m afraid we are unable to post entries back to schools.

Good luck to everyone who enters the competition!

Uncategorised

New Early Learn Glow Community

Leave a comment

Glow

Today (2 March) Education Scotland staff launched the Community with colleagues in Dundee. ELCC practitioners came along to St. Paul’s Academy to hear from Education Scotland about the importance of being connected through Glow. Myself and Con Morris talked about how Glow is to become an important way for ELCC practitioners to find high-quality professional development material.

During the event, colleagues joined the Early Learn community, chatted via Glow and commented on some of the resources already available.

To join the community all you need to do is login to Glow then type http://bit.ly/earlylearn into the address bar. That will take you straight into the Homepage of the community.

Glow

In the top right-hand side of the screen you will see a ‘follow’ command. Make sure you follow the community and you will recieve updates from others who are also members.

The new Early Learn Glow Community has already attracted lots of new members. The Children and Families Team have uploaded several new resources for you to download. Among these new resources are extracts from the as yet unpublished resource The Learning Cycle – Planning and Assessment in the Early Level. Uploaded for comment are support materials on assessment skills: Engagement; Noticing; Interpreting. More support materials will follow.

We have also uploaded video material from Cowgate and Arnprior nurseries. More of that to follow if you find it useful.

To hear about some of the other ways that Education Scotland will be providing support to ELCC practitioners come along to the March ELCC Local Conversations.

17 March University of West of Scotland, Ayr
20 March Victoria Quay, Edinburgh
25 March Millburn Academy, Inverness

You can register to come along via Survey Monkey.

Gaelic Learners, Literacy and Gàidhlig, Uncategorised

Conference: Bilingual Education and Language Revitalisation

Leave a comment

Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye 29-30 of May 2015

The second Soillse conference, in conjunction with CAER, the Education Society of the European Regions is free for practitioners of Gaelic and Gaelic Medium Education(GME).  Keynote speakers  are Miquel Strubell, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, and Antonella Sorace, University of Edinburgh. For more information, please visit the website.

Gaelic Learners, Literacy and English, Uncategorised

Audit of Career-Long Professional Learning (CLPL) needs for practitioners working in Gaelic Medium and Learner Education

Leave a comment

As part of our Gaelic Language Plan, Education Scotland is committed to producing a CLPL needs analysis for staff.  The findings of this audit will be used to plan future programmes of professional learning.

There are three audits:
GME Secondary: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K5TKSFL

Gaelic Learner Education 3-18: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K56D32D

GME Early Learning and Childcare Centres and  Primary: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8KVBLNC

We appreciate your support in completing these audits by 23 March 2015.

 

Gaelic Learners, Literacy and Gàidhlig, Uncategorised

The Scottish Voice

Leave a comment

The Scottish Voice is a computer ‘text-to-speech’ programme to assist with reading electronic books;
PDF files (such as SQA exam papers); worksheets and other documents in Microsoft Word and create audio files using the voice.  This is being developed to assist with Gaelic text.

The new Gaelic voice will be available to schools from The Scottish Voice website for the start of the 2015-16 academic session. This will help learners with additional support needs and also all learners to read websites, documents, or to check and proof-read their own letters or emails.  The voice will be licensed for use by Scottish schools, colleges, universities, local and national government agencies, NHS units and for use at home by pupils and staff.  It is funded by The Scottish Government Gaelic and Scots Unit; Scottish Funding Council; Scottish Qualifications Authority and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Uncategorised

Supporting Early Learning and Childcare through Wellbeing

Leave a comment

Conference 1

The Supporting Early Learning and Childcare through Wellbeing conference was held at Victoria Quay, Edinburgh on 23 February 2015. Over 80 early learning practitioners from across Scotland signed up to what was a very positive and productive day of information, sharing and networking.

The conference was opened by Lesley Brown, Strategic Director for Families, Inclusion and Local Authorities within Education Scotland, who welcomed everyone and set the tone for the day by emphasising the importance of positive relationships for developing the children’s wellbeing.

Key drivers in current Scottish education policy were discussed, with an update on GIRFEC legislation from Pauline Davidson of Scottish Government – particularly looking at the role of the named person – with opportunity for delegates to ask questions and clarify points.

The importance of recognising and realising children’s rights, as outlined in the Children and Young People’s Act (Scotland) 2014, was highlighted by Paul McWatt, Education Scotland, who gave an overview of the articles of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and how they can be applied in an educational setting.

Tricia Madden, Early Years Development Officer, provided participants with an update on National Guidance around Building the Ambition. There was productive discussion exploring the Image of the Child and what this means practically in the early years setting.

A variety of workshops were offered, ranging from research-based finding on social, emotional and behavioural needs in the transition from nursery-primary from the Growing Up in Scotland survey, to building dens with Cowgate Under 5’s Centre to emphasise the positive impacts of child led play. The wellbeing indicators were further explored practically by Parkhead Nursery, Glasgow, and there was also opportunity to explore relational approaches such as nurture and restorative.

Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People closed the day with a summary of the findings of A Right Wee Blether – which again, highlighted the importance of children’s voice and positive relationships.

Participants – and presenters – spoke very highly of the quality of presentations and workshops, and of how useful and enjoyable they had found the day.

Sciences, Technologies

Digital learning in Dumfries and Galloway

Leave a comment
Throughout #digilearnscot week (as on  most weeks in schools in Dumfries & Galloway Council), young learners use technology as an integral part of their learning.
 
On Monday and Tuesday, 6 primary schools will be involved in science lessons via video conference with Heather Reid at the Glasgow Science Centre. This is now their third year of working with Heather in this way. The learners are from the following schools;  Castle Douglas, Sanquhar, Dunscore, Penpont, Glenluce and Closeburn.  Here’s a wee flavour from last year’s learning…

Over the last decade, Dumfries and Galloway Council have also developed a programme video conferencing for music lessons. Throughout this week there will be woodwind and brass lessons for schools such as Stranraer Academy, Langholm and Canonbie.
Educators and learners in Dumfries and Galloway are hoping to capture a flavour of this learning for the Digilearn Wiki!
CfE, Glow TV, NDLC, Technologies

#DigiLearnScot Week in Glow TV

Leave a comment

DigiLearn Scot#DigiLearnScot Week is coming to Glow TV from 2nd – 6th March.

Join us for an exciting selection of different Glow TV sessions that will show you the different types of digital learning that is going on around Scotland.

You can register to join in with any of these sessions live in Glow TV:

Monday 2nd March at 3.30pm – Digital Leaders @ Kirklandneuk Primary
During this Glow TV event, discover how Digital Leaders were developed in Kirklandneuk Primary School in Renfrewshire, and find out how to tackle this in your own establishment. Register to take part in Glow TV.

Monday 2nd March at 3.45pm – TeachMeet
Learn something new, be amazed, amused and enthused. This is an informal gathering of those curious about teaching and technology. Register to take part in Glow TV.

Tuesday 3rd March at 3.45pm – QR Codes at Cardross Primary
Have you used QR codes in your school? QR codes might sound scarily complicated but they’re surprisingly easy to use and they are an informative and fun addition to the classroom.Register to take part in Glow TV.

Wednesday 4th March at 12.30pm – Have You Got the 1+2 Factor?
Join us on Glow TV to find out how to get involved in this nationwide event for Scottish education establishments. Register to take part in Glow TV.

Thursday 5th March at 11am – Brydekirk LearnMeet
As part of DigiLearn Scot week join learners from Brydekirk Primary in Dumfries and Galloway who will be hosting a LearnMeet. Register to take part live in Glow TV.

Friday 6th March at 9.30am – Meet the Digital Leaders
Join us live from Kirklandneuk and Glenburn Primaries to learn more from the Digital Leaders themselves as we bring our Glow TV coverage of DigiLearnScot week to a close. Register to take part in Glow TV.

CfE, Glow TV, Languages, Primary

Scots Language Poetry with Stuart Paterson

Leave a comment

Small - Stuart PatersonJoin us for a lively Scots language poetry reading session with poet Stuart Paterson on Thursday 5th March at 1.30pm.

Scots poet Stuart Paterson will be joining us live in the Glow TV Studio to read you some rhymes for bairns. Find out what makes him ‘squeamish’, where ‘The Tobermory Dodo’ went to and what he thinks about the ‘Houlit’ Join in and learn new Scots words or add even more to your vocabulary and learn some great new poems.

Register to take part in Glow TV – Scots Language Poetry with Stuart Paterson

Glow TV, Primary, Professional Learning, Sciences

Topical Science and Partnerships

Leave a comment

Small - Topical ScienceTo address the aspect of Topical Science the Education Scotland Sciences team are hosting a Glow TV event on Wednesday 4th March at 3.45pm entitled “Topical Science and Partnerships”

Following the publication of its 3-18 Curriculum Impact Report for Sciences in September 2012, Education Scotland organised a series of conversation days, where priorities for action to secure improvements in science education nationally were identified. Key aspects for development emerged, which included: “In the primary sector and at the early stages of secondary school, there is generally less emphasis in the key area of Topical Science than on the other four organisers……. In these cases, children and young people do not have enough opportunity to discuss and debate a range of ethical issues.” Young people are increasingly surrounded by scientific issues in the media and their everyday lives. By considering current issues through topical science, learners increasingly develop their understanding of scientific concepts and their capacity to form informed social, moral and ethical views. They reflect upon and critically evaluate media portrayal of scientific findings. To address this aspect the Sciences team are hosting a Glow Meet entitled “Topical Science and Partnerships” which will be complimented again by a series of professional learning twilight sessions. Contexts for delivering topical science and methods for planning topical science will be addressed.

Register now in Glow TV – Topical Science and Partnerships.

CfE, Glow TV, Literacy and Gàidhlig, Professional Learning

Developing the Vision for Gaelic Medium Education

Leave a comment

Small - Gaelic EventYou are invited to join us on Monday 2nd March at 3.45pm for a discussion about the strategies that have been adopted by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to promote Gaelic Medium Education.

The Director of Education and Children’s Services, along with two senior managers from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar will outline what changes they have made and the policies they have implemented which have resulted in a steady increase in the uptake of Gaelic Medium Education across island schools, both at primary and secondary level. The session will include a brief introduction, outlining current developments and the context for Gaelic Medium Education in Eilean Siar. The plans for further development of the recently announced Gaelic schools and the teaching school programme will be shared with those who join the meeting.

Topics to be covered include:
1. CNES support for the development of GME
2. The Vision for Gaelic/GME/GLE in the Western Isles.
3. Promotion of GME to parents.
4. Increasing the capacity for leadership in Gaelic Medium schools.
5. Planning for 1+2 Approach to Languages, using this policy to increase the delivery of Gaelic
6. Gaelic Medium/Gaelic Status schools.

Register to join us live in Glow TV – Developing the Vision for Gaelic Medium Education