I’m a Scientist will return this November (10th–21st) with both themed and general zones. We’ll send out an email to teachers in early September asking if they would like to take part.
Teachers sign up to take part before 22nd September at: imascientist.org.uk/teachers
Our next three events…
• Autumn: 10th–21st November 2014
• Spring: 9th–20th March 2015
• Summer: 15th–26th June 2015
I’m an Engineer returns in March next year.
Nearly 200 Scottish schools and FE colleges are now involved with the Royal Society of Chemistry’s free programme for schools, the Learn Chemistry Partnership, which was launched earlier this year. With your help, we’d like to ensure all Scottish schools are part of this network.
Educators who register their school – whether they are Head of Science, department technician or NQT – will become their school’s main contact for chemistry and will be the first to know of new Royal Society of Chemistry education products and discounts.
Registered schools receive free copies of Education in Chemistry and The Mole magazines (written for students); in addition, a monthly e-newsletter keeps Learn Chemistry Partnership contacts up-to-date with the Royal Society of Chemistry’s latest education news. You also receive discounts on products such as our giant periodic table as well as other free display materials such as careers posters.
In recognition of their subject expertise, Learn Chemistry Partnership contacts receive free Royal Society of Chemistry membership. Member benefits include careers support and a personal copy of Education in Chemistry, as well as the opportunity to join education interest groups.
For more information go to http://rsc.li/lcp-ts or contact Bill Beveridge, Regional Programme Manager for Scotland at beveridgew@rsc.org
The Royal Microscopical Society is dedicated to advancing science, developing careers and supporting wider understanding of science and microscopy.
The Society publishes The Journal of Microscopy and a series of microscopy books, as well as helping young scientists through Bursaries. In addition, the Society pursues initiatives to encourage young microscopists who may go on to influence our future.
To help practitioners bring an unseen world to life the society have produced a FREE Microscope Activity Kit.
They will deliver a fully-equipped RMS Microscope Activity Kit to your school, containing everything that you need to reveal microscopic life and structures.
For further information click: RMS Microscope Activity Kit
The new Primary Science Glow 365 site is currently under development but at the moment we have a Primary /Early Years blog page which is easily accessible and provides up to date relevant information for practitioners in each sector.
Our latest blogs include highlighting the connection between language and STEM skills and provide access to the Science Conversation Day Summary document.
To access the site http://bit.ly/glowsciences and remember your glow password
The site is work in progress and further developments will be introduced as the Glow 365 platform takes shape
THE SCOTTISH LEARNING FESTIVAL 2014: RAISING ACHIEVEMENT AND ATTAINMENT FOR ALL
SLF 2014 is completely FREE for everyone to attend and will support practitioners as they explore a wide range of practical approaches, resources and research aimed at improving achievement and attainment for all learners in Scotland.
There will be inspirational keynotes speeches, conversation and debate in the professional discussion sessions and professional learning seminars where you can engage in activities and learn from practitioners and young people;
This includes a number of seminars specifically aimed at addressing the sciences curriculum.
Wednesday 24th
Learning for sustainability – a strategic agenda for change – SLF Guide Page 7
In February 2014, the National Implementation Group for Learning for Sustainability was established to ensure all learners in schools experience global citizenship, outdoor learning, sustainability, children’s rights and play in a transformative way. This seminar will outline the ambitions of the group and this exciting agenda for change which will impact on all schools and support the introduction of the new GTCS Professional Standards.
Thursday 25th
Supporting primary science to inspire STEM careers – SLF Guide Page 21
STEM subjects are central to Scotland’s economic future and our health and wellbeing. They also offer a range of excellent career opportunities for young people. This seminar will demonstrate how SSERC and Education Scotland provide valuable support for primary practitioners to enthuse and inspire learners about science and STEM careers.
Thursday 25th
Engaging pupils with science – SLF Guide Page 23
Outlining the various projects Aberdeen City have developed, which have increased pupils’ engagement and enthusiasm in science. This includes the S6 Science Ambassador Award; Science Buddy Award; P6/7 Science Champions; Intertek Science Fair; Science for PSAs & Playground Science.
To book your place browse the conference programme, note the seminars you want to
attend and visit the SLF website – www.scottishlearningfestival.org.uk.
The Royal Institution autumn programme, which caters for all ages, is now available to browse and download.
The programme includes:
The lagoon: How Aristotle invented science
Armand Leroi explores Aristotle’s science – its genius, its errors and its lessons for modern science.
Cowardice to shellshock: medicine, psychiatry and the Great War
World War I drove great advances in science and technology, but learn more about its impact on medicine.
An evening of Itchcraft with Simon Mayo and friends
Join BBC broadcaster and author Simon Mayo for the launch of his third book about science-mad element hunting teenager Itch.
For further details click: The Royal Institution
Welcome back to the new session from Education Scotland,
A reminder of where you can find resources and some new additions.
The NQ Higher Sciences Site was created for the introduction of the revised Highers and has a number of teacher and learner resources including animations commissioned for the new content.
The NQ course materials Glow portal contains materials created by Education Scotland including Introductions and Learning Journeys for the CfE Highers as well as resources shared by local authorities for N3 level through to Advanced Higher.
The Sciences Glow 365 site, created in January this year provides a single national site for teachers to share resources. Its where to find materials produced by the Cross Authority writing groups, as well as the latest resources produced by Education Scotland.
Recent additions include N5 resources guides for Biology, Chemistry and Physics. These guides, similar to those created for Higher, maps useful resources to key areas within the SQA’s course and unit support notes. Guides can be found in the appropriate subject folder.
Also created are evidence recording spread sheets for Higher Biology, Higher Chemistry, Higher Environmental Studies, Higher Human Biology and Higher Physics. Similar to the spreadsheets shared to record the evidence for nationals, these are bespoke to each Higher. They can accessed from the Higher folder for each subject. To download, click on the three dots on the right of the title, then click on the second set of three dots and click on download a copy. Many thanks to John Watson of Campbeltown Grammar and to the SQA for their help and support in producing these.
Use the hashtags for more updates into your Glow newsfeed or set alerts for these updates to appear in your Glow inbox.
The new Primary Glow 365 site is currently under development but at the moment we have a Primary /Early Years blog page which is easily accessible and provides up to date relevant information for practitioners in each sector.
Our latest blogs include highlighting the connection between language and STEM skills and provide access to the Science Conversation Day Summary document.
To access the site http://bit.ly/glowsciences and remember your glow password
The site is work in progress and further developments will be introduced as the Glow 365 platform takes shape
Posted on the Sciences Glow 365 site, Higher evidence recording spread sheets for Higher Biology, Higher Chemistry, Higher Environmental Studies, Higher Human Biology and Higher Physics. Similar to the spreadsheets shared to record the evidence for nationals, these are bespoke to each Higher. They can accessed from the Higher folder for each subject. To download, click on the three dots on the right of the title, then click on the second set of three dots and click on download a copy. Many thanks to John Watson of Campbeltown Grammar and to the SQA for their help and support in producing these. For more updates, delivered to your Glow newsfeed, for the subjects and levels you’re interested in click on the hashtags in the newsfeed and click on follow.
Education Scotland’s Sciences have posted resources guides for Biology, Chemistry and Physics on the Sciences Glow 365 site. These guides, similar to those created for Higher, maps useful resources to key areas within the SQA’s course and unit support notes. Guides can be found in the appropriate subject folder. Use the hashtags for more updates into your Glow newsfeed or set alerts for these updates to appear in your glow inbox. These guides are part of the increasing number of resources found on the NQ Higher Sciences Site , the NQ course materials Glow portal and the Sciences Glow 365 site
Education Secretary Michael Russell has raised concerns that there is a gender imbalance in Scotland’s colleges and universities, with too few women holding senior positions.
The problem appears to be most prevalent within the physics, maths and computer technology departments.
Mr Russell has suggested this issue be addressed as a priority with solutions, such as Universities and Colleges becoming more family orientated working environments to attract women into senior positions, a possibility.
Science must also be given the priority it deserves in school, starting in primary school, to encourage and enthuse girls into the sector.
Read the full article:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/herald-view/plotting-course-on-a-gender-balance.24908897
SCILT, Scotland’s National Centre for Languages, is working with businesses and schools in Scotland to promote languages as a key skill for employment.
Operating effectively in a global economy relies on many skills and includes the right language skills. People who can communicate, at least conversationally, can make all the difference in the conduct of business, consolidating relationships with existing suppliers and customers and opening the way to new overseas contacts. When combined with STEM skills, the career opportunities in a vast array of sectors widens.
Key facts from the CBI Education and Skills Survey 2013
Seven out of ten (70%) businesses value foreign language skills among their employees
Read about people who have combined their STEM and language skills in the pharmaceutical industry, technologies and the Scottish Football Association and find out why they consider that learning a language is really important.
http://www.scilt.org.uk/Business/Jobprofilesandcareers/tabid/2867/Default.aspx
Following the publication of the updated Sciences 3-18 Curriculum Impact Report, Education Scotland hosted a series of conversation days to engage stakeholders in discussions around the findings of the report and to collectively identify priorities for action to secure improvements in science education nationally.
The first of four conversations took place in December 2012 in Denholm House, Livingstone, followed by a further two during June 2013 at Bishopbriggs Academy and Millburn Academy, with the final conversation taking place in Bucksburn Academy on 12th December 2013.
Education Scotland collated the responses from each event and produced blogs for our CfE Learning and Stem Central in Motion sites to disseminate the findings across Scotland and provide opportunity for those who were unable to attend to give their views.
We have now collated the responses from all four conversation days and produced a summary document, which highlights the key themes to emerge and details the views and suggestions of the delegates in attendance.
To download a copy : Education Scotland Science Conversation Days, Summary
Education Scotland is keen to hear your views. Click on the title of this blog post to leave a comment.
FIRST LEGO League is a robotics program for 9 to16 year olds designed to get young learners interested in and enthsed by science and technology — and teach them valuable employment and life skills.
It can be used in the classroom or teams, composed of up to ten children with at least one adult coach, can come from a club or organisation who just want to participate in a challenge.
In First Lego League learners need to think like scientists and engineers as they programme a robot (using the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® robot set) to score points, devising a solution to a problem as part of their project, all while being guided by the FLL Core Values.
These three elements – the Robot Game, Project, and FLL Core Values – make up the Challenge.
Registration will open soon for the 2014 First Lego League World Class Challenge, What is the future of learning? exploring how we gather knowledge and develop skills in the 21st Century.
For more information: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/mission/support#sthash.PAN7FUy8.dpuf
Passionate about good care?
The Care Inspectorate is looking for people to help them carry out their work. They would like people with first-hand experience of care to help make sure care in Scotland continues to improve, by becoming an inspection volunteer. Inspection volunteers are members of the public who use a care service, have used a care service in the past or care for someone like a family member or friend who has used a care service.
Volunteers help the Care Inspectorate get the views of people using care services. They work closely with the Care Inspectorate’s teams of specialist inspectors and together they help spot where things need to improve, help keep people safe and ensure that the rights of people receiving care are respected and their needs met.
Interested?
To find out more please click the link below
http://www.scswis.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7731&Itemid=757
On 8th July, a Soyuz rocket successfully launched two UK built cubesats: UKube-1 and TechDemoSat-1.
Cubesats are small satellites – normally about the size of a fridge – packed with scientific instruments.
UKube-1 is the UK Space Agency’s first cubesat mission. It is a collaboration between the UK Space Agency, industry and academia. The instruments on board include the first GPS device aimed at measuring plasmaspheric space weather; a camera that will take images of the Earth and test the effect of radiation on space hardware; an experiment to demonstrate the feasibility of using cosmic radiation to improve the security of communications satellites and flight test lower cost electronic systems; and FUNcube 2 – an educational project designed to engage and inspire school pupils.
The FUNcube payload consists of a tiny radio transmitter for science education and a materials science experiment from which school students can receive data which can be compared to results obtained from similar reference experiments in the classroom.
TechDemoSat (TDS-1) will carry no less than eight payloads plus a mixture of heritage and new product development systems from Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. This satellite includes a cosmic ray detector built by students at Simon Langton Grammar School, in Kent. LUCID, The Langton Ultimate Cosmic ray Intensity Detector, was developed by the students at the school after a trip to CERN. The LUCID experiment is part of a wider project called CERN@school, a programme that aims to bring the excitement of CERN into the classroom, and encourage the future generation of scientists
The Higgs Prize is awarded on merit to two pupils from a publicly-funded school who have shown outstanding performance in the Advanced Higher Physics exam.
Established in recognition of the impact Nobel Physics Prize winner Professor Higgs’ theoretical work has had on modern day particle physics, it aims to reward and inspire Scotland’s best young school physicists.
The first ever winners of the award were announced last December and have just returned from their prize winning visit to CERN.
Lucy Willets-White, who is now studying Physics at Imperial College, London and Peter Rhodes, who is about to begin his medical studies also at Imperial College joined undergraduates on the CERN Summer Student Programme.
The prize winners’ views can be read in Issue 46 of the CERN newsletter
Further information regarding next year’s Higgs Prize will follow shortly.
ExpeRimental is a new series of free short films that make it fun, easy and cheap to do science at home with children aged four to ten. Ignite a child’s natural curiosity and explore, question and test some of the fundamentals of science with a variety of hands-on exciting activities!
The ASPIRES study, tracked the development of young people’s science and career
aspirations from age 10-14.
The first ASPIRES Project has now ended but the ESRC has awarded further funding to continue their research for the next five years.
ASPIRES 2 will continue this tracking over the crucial next five years of the young people’s lives, to understand the changing influences of the family, school, careers education and social identities and inequalities on young people’s science and career aspirations and, crucially, relate these to their actual subject choices and attainment in national examinations and their post-16 choices. This tracking of young people’s aspirations and educational outcomes comprises the crucial ‘final link’ in the longitudinal project,
and will have strong bearing on educational policy and practice.
ASPIRES 2 aims to investigate:
1. How are student educational and occupational aspirations formed, and how do they change, over time?
2. How are subject choices and (GCSE) attainment related to aspirations, and how are these patterned over time?
3. How are aspirations shaped by families and schools (including experiences of school science and careers education)?
4. How are aspirations shaped by gender, class and ethnic identities?
5. How can findings be translated for stakeholder audiences, specifically for policy-makers/ intermediaries, teachers, students and parents/families
Young learners from Crookfur Primary School, East Renfrewshire and Cleeves Primary, Glasgow, have helped launch the new Dams to Darnley Environmental Education Pack.
The pack, which has been written by Countryside Ranger Eilidh Milne, is structured around Curriculum for Excellence and provides lesson plans and ideas for countryside ranger-led activities in Dams to Darnley and school grounds. It also includes lesson plans for outdoor learning activities for teachers, either within the country park, school grounds or local green space.
The pack can be downloaded at www.damstodarnley.org/pack and there will be a limited number of additional printed copies available on request.
Dams to Darnley Country Park is a partnership project between East Renfrewshire Council and Glasgow City Council.
The Royal Institute is holding a series of events and workshops for all ages throughout July.
Take a trip to Antartica
Chris Turney will present the initial findings of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition 2013-2014, and explore what’s happened since the trip to Antarctica this winter.
The Physics of Winning
Journey through the history of sporting inventions and ask ‘at what point is having better equipment cheating?’
The Domesticated Brain
Explore the neuroscience of our social behaviour and learn how our brains are adapted to living in close quarters.
For further information http://www.rigb.org/
Water. Paralysis. Food. Flight. Dementia. Antibiotics. Which challenge should science solve next?
In 1714 the UK Government offered £20,000 to the person who could solve the Longitude problem. In 2014 the prize fund has increased to £10,000,000 and the public get to decide what challenge needs to be solved.
I’m a Scientist get me out of here are giving the public the chance to ask before they vote with our Longitude Prize Zone. Until Wednesday June 25th anyone can quiz their champions to help decide which challenge to vote for, at:longitude.imascientist.org.uk
Many thanks to Aberdeen City Council for sharing resources.
These materials are provided to support staff who are delivering programmes of learning in Physics National 4 and National 5. Staff are encouraged to draw on these materials, and existing materials, to develop their own programmes of learning which are appropriate to the needs of each individual school.
The materials include National 4 and National 5 teacher guide and a complete set of problems and answers for:
•Electricity and energy
•Waves and radiation.
They are available in the NQ Sciences Glow Portal.
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/nqcoursematerials/subjects/p/nqresource_tcm4817069.asp
Many thanks to Aberdeen City Council for sharing resources.
These materials are provided to support staff who are delivering programmes of learning in Chemistry National 4 and 5. The materials include teaching and learning activities for:
•Chemical formulae and reaction quantities
•Acids and alkalis
•Neutralisation
•Rates of reaction
•Energy changes
•Atomic structure
•Chemical formulae and equations.
They are available in the NQ Sciences Glow Portal.
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/nqcoursematerials/subjects/c/nqresource_tcm4749193.asp
SSERC has recently moved all of its teaching resources to the open section of its website making them more readily available for public access. The SSERC website is at www.sserc.org.uk
Education Scotland has produced a suite of documents to support learning, teaching and assessment of the sciences from early to third level.
Following on from the Sciences Experiences and Outcomes we have the Sciences Principles and Practice Paper, essential reading which:
Supporting the Principles and Practice paper is the Concept Development in the Sciences paper.
This document is unique to the sciences curriculum and provides:
In addition the Assessing Progress and Achievement in the Sciences paper supplements advice stated in the Principles and Practice paper to support practitioners in capturing what children and young people have achieved.
Assessment in the sciences focusses on learners’ knowledge, understanding, skills, attributes and capabilities in the significant aspects of learning.
We want learners to have K/U of the big ideas and concepts in science and also develop skills in investigation and enquiry, analytical thinking and become scientifically literate – the significant aspects of learning bring these together. They are the core learning against which learners’ progress can be compared periodically and are common to all levels from early to third.
Assessing Progress and Achievement in the Sciences:
In addition to this there is the new Sciences Progression Framework, a guide intended to support practitioners in considering the evidence of knowledge and understanding, skills, attributes and capabilities provided by learners as they progress through and then achieve a level in the sciences.
The significant aspects of learning relate to the statements for each level within this progression framework. They should be considered jointly when assessing progress and achievement.
We also have annotated exemplification of work in the sciences which show work deemed to typify the achievement of a level in the sciences. The effectiveness of the support documentation is evident when used alongside the annotated exemplars.
This resource:
Additional information regarding the sciences curriculum can be accessed through the Education Scotland sciences website and STEM Central.
Additional assessment resources can be accessed through Education Scotland Learning Teaching and Assessment
lf you could be an engineer in Scotland – what would you do?
The Leaders Award for STEM is a Primary Engineer programme open to students from 5 to 19 years old. It is a fantastic way to increase their awareness of the breadth of opportunities open to them within STEM subjects. Students have the chance to speak directly to professionals from different fields in STEM. This award is a great opportunity to engage pupils with real engineers who will convey the importance of STEM in their daily working lives. Schools will be able to develop relationships with industry, both local and worldwide, giving pupils a unique perspective of professions and their significance in the wider world.
The Challenge
Pupils are asked to research engineering and interview a practicing engineer to interpret the statement “lf you could be an engineer in Scotland – what would you do?”. Primary pupils are asked to illustrate their response, accompanied by 100 words. Secondary pupils are asked to illustrate their response, accompanied by 350 words.
The website contains resources and lesson plans which can help pupils get their research underway. Just visit the ‘Downloads’ section of the website at www.leadersaward.com.
All successful participants will receive a certificate and winning entries will be exhibited to the public at the Barony Hall, University of Strathclyde (date TBC).
Closing date: 10th February 2015
How to get involved
Register your school via the website www.leadersaward.com. Once registered, you will receive an application pack and further guidance on completing the award.
LfS Scotland, in partnership with the Moray House School of Education, is now taking bookings for our new Leadership for Sustainability professional development course – a one-day course for Head Teachers, Depute Head Teachers and Principal Teachers in primary or secondary schools, and local authority officers with a key role in supporting Learning for Sustainability.
This highly interactive programme will highlight simple steps that school leaders can take to develop an effective whole school approach to Learning for Sustainability. It will enable you to effectively plan for and implement Learning for Sustainability requirements in your school in ways that will significantly enhance the educational experience of your pupils. A free follow-up twilight course is available to provide the opportunity for continuing collaboration with colleagues and for sharing insights from critical self-evaluation, reflection and enquiry.
More information is available here and to book a place, please contact Morag Watson
Nominations are now open for the SQA’s annual Star Awards.
The awards are a unique way to celebrate success, triumph, achievement and recognition of the best in education and training. Behind every success story lies motivation and commitment, pride and self-esteem and, of course, sheer hard work.
See the stars come out – nominate your stars today at www.sqa.org.uk/star
Closing date for entries is Friday 27 June 2014.
This Higher Human Biology Resources Guide links Mandatory key areas to useful learning and teaching resources.
The pages show the Mandatory key areas table from the SQA Higher Biology course and unit support notes with an additional column containing hyperlinks to videos, animations and other resources. Content new to the course from the Higher Still Higher have been highlighted in green to further assist practitioners.
Updates will be posted on GLOW 365
This resource compliments similar guides produced for Higher Biology, Chemistry and Physics
The deep space of the hidden universe is so unimaginably distant that until recently we didn’t have the capability to explore it.
Take your own trip back in time and through space in the company of Dr Jonathan Whitmore, astrophysicist and lead astronomer of the Hidden Universe.
A showing of the documentary “Hidden Universe” will be supplemented by a live introduction and Q&A from Dr Jonathan Whitmore himself, and an opportunity to learn more under the stars of the Science Centre planetarium.
For further information contact Glasgow Science Centre www.glasgowsciencecentre.org
June 1st marked the official beginning of the hurricane season in the Atlantic, and you can help improve our understanding of these powerful storms on www.cyclonecenter.org
To recognize the start of the season, Cyclone Center (or Centre – depending on where you are in the world) is focussing on four hurricanes that all struck Florida ten years ago in 2004: Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. These storms claimed 34 lives and caused $18.9 billion in damages. We can’t prevent these disasters from happening, but your clicks can help us understand them better.
We’ll be doing more special storm sets throughout the hurricane season, so keep checking on the site.
PS If storms aren’t your thing, then maybe try our most-recently launched animal-spotting project: Condor Watch.
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.
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
This Higher Biology Resources guide links Mandatory key areas to learning and teaching resources.
The pages show the Mandatory key areas table from the SQA Higher Biology course and unit support notes with an additional column containing hyperlinks to videos, animations and other resources. Content new to the course from the Higher Still Higher has been highlighted in green to further assist practitioners.
Updates will be posted on GLOW 365
Nominations are now open. The SQA’s annual Star Awards are a unique way to celebrate success, triumph, achievement and recognition of the best in education and training. Behind every success story lies motivation and commitment, pride and self-esteem and, of course, sheer hard work.
See the stars come out – nominate your stars today www.sqa.org.uk/star
Closing date for entries is Friday 27 June 2014.
Closing date: Sunday, June 08, 2014
Contract type: Full time, fixed term contract until 31 July 2015
Salary: £22,932
Location: Glasgow, with regular travel
Soil Association Scotland’s Food for Life programme aims to transform food culture across Scotland through supporting the production and enjoyment of good food that is healthy, sustainable and accessible to all.
As Education and Engagement Officer you will pay a key role in supporting the Education and Engagement Co-ordinator in the development and delivery of Food for Life Scotland’s education framework, and the uptake of the Food for Life Catering Mark in schools. You will work in designated local authority areas across Scotland to increase knowledge and understanding of the connections between health, economy and the environment among catering staff, consumers, teachers, pupils and the wider community.
Educated to degree level, or with equivalent professional experience, the successful candidate will have considerable knowledge of the Curriculum for Excellence and have experience of delivering education activities and support in schools, including engaging with senior management teams, teaching staff, pupils and catering staff. You will be an experienced relationship builder and public speaker and be confident presenting to small and large groups across a range of audience types.
You will have an understanding of the connections between food, health and the environment, and ideally of the principles that underpin the Food for Life approach and Food for Life Catering Mark. Experience of working on cooking and growing projects would be a real advantage.
For more details please click here.
Closing date: 8 June 2014
Interviews are likely to be held in Glasgow on 18 June 2014
Registration for SLF 2014 is now open at www.scottishlearningfestival.org.uk
The theme of SLF 2014 is raising achievement and attainment for all with a focus on maximising educational outcomes through:
• early intervention and prevention – for children, young people and adult learners in order to maximise educational outcomes;
• health and wellbeing – ranging from physical education and sport to the full range of health and wellbeing subjects which are the responsibility of all practitioners;
• employability skills – to secure a highly educated, well prepared and well-motivated young workforce able to compete in a global market.
SLF 2014 is free for everyone to attend and gives you access to:
• Inspirational keynotes from Michael Russell MSP, Dr Frank Dick, Prof Alma Harris and John Carnochan;
• Over 100 professional development seminars where you can engage in activities and learn from practitioners and young people;
• Lively debate at the professional discussions led by Sir Ian Wood, Chair of the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce, Sir Bill Gammell, Chairman and Co-founder of the Winning Scotland Foundation and Kenneth Muir, Chief Executive of the GTCS;
• Scotland’s largest education exhibition with over 100 exhibitors showcasing educational resources;
• Opportunities for discussion and professional networking with peers and colleagues from across Scotland.
Book Now
To guarantee your place at SLF 2014 and your choice of seminars book now, as many sessions do fill up before the summer break. Visit www.scottishlearningfestival.org.uk to browse the full conference programme and book your place today.
The Global Experiment 2014 encourages young people aged 7-16 , from all around the world, to participate in two experiments, investigating solubility and growing crystals, and to share their results around the world by posting them online. The resources required are very simple and there is an introductory video, lesson plans and certificates for those who take part.
The experiments address experiences and outcomes from Materials: Properties and uses of substances, SCN 2-16b & SCN 3-16b.
The experiments help learners to develop skills associated with measuring and recording results, embed numeracy skills within a practical context and offer ICT development opportunities through presenting and publishing their results on the web.
Full details about the Global Experiment 2014 can be downloaded using the link http://rsc.li/ge2014
Did you know?
In 2013, over 21000 children took part in the Global Experiment, with 103 schools in Scotland posting results.
Ever wished you could attend an event at the Royal Institute but haven’t been able to get tickets? Or do you live too far away to make evening events?
The Ri are now offering more opportunities for you to hear from researchers and experts from the UK and beyond.
As well as filming many events, making talks and debates available online for free, the Ri are now running Twitter chats with speakers to give everyone at home the chance to ask their questions.
The Twitter chat series launches TOMORROW Thursday 21 May with astrobiologist Lewis Dartnell at 7.30pm BST and mathematician Jordan Ellenberg on 4 June at 7pm BST.
For more information about twitter chats and What’s On in May at the Royal Institute: http://www.rigb.org/whats-on
The Glasgow Science Festival is preparing to bring its exciting mix of science and innovative events to its biggest ever festival.
Primary practitioners can access a variety of events, activities and workshops which showcase the contribution Glasgow and Glasgow based researchers make to the worlds of science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM).
From the intriguing Commonwealth Games Whodunnit, to the genetic investigation entitled Blame it on the Parents, to demonstrating energy and forces through the construction of a medieval castle there is something for every budding STEM learner.
For further information: http://www.gla.ac.uk/events/sciencefestival/events/schools/
As Glasgow prepares for the Commonwealth Games the Glasgow Science Festival is preparing to bring its exciting mix of science and innovative events to its biggest ever festival.
The principle aim of the Festival is to showcase the outstanding contribution Glasgow and Glasgow based researchers make to the worlds of science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM).
From 5-15th June explore the frontiers of research through comedy, live shows, public debates and hands on exhibitions.
The science of sport will be uncovered and you can debate questions such as “If Usain Bolt was a bacterium, what would he be?”
For further information: http://www.gla.ac.uk/events/sciencefestival/events/
Leaders Award for STEM is a fun and rewarding way of finding out about careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). We also play host to additional Special Leaders Awards which run throughout the year, each having a particular focus.
If you could be an engineer in Scotland – what would you do?
We challenge Primary and Secondary school pupils in Scotland to research and interview inspiring engineers!
This award is a great opportunity to engage pupils with real engineers who will convey the importance of STEM in their daily working lives. Schools will be able to develop relationships with industry, both local and worldwide, giving pupils a unique perspective of professions and their significance in the wider world. Our website contains resources and lesson plans which can help pupils get their research underway. Just visit the ‘Downloads’ section of our website at www.leadersaward.com. All successful participants will receive a certificate and winning entries will be exhibited to the public at the Barony Hall, University of Strathclyde (date TBC).
Closing date: 10th February 2015.
The Challenge
Pupils are asked to research engineering and interview a practicing engineer to interpret the statement “if you could be an engineer in Scotland – what would you do?”
Primary pupils are asked to illustrate their response, accompanied by 100 words.
Secondary pupils are asked to illustrate their response, accompanied by 350 words.
Register your school via the website www.leadersaward.com. Once registered, you will receive an application pack and further guidance on completing the award.
For more information about the Scottish Engineering Special Leaders Award, please visit www.leadersaward.com
Venue: Mearns Primary School, East Renfrewshire
Date: 9am to 12:30pm, Tuesday 3rd June 2014
This professional learning event presents an exciting opportunity to learn about the approaches to 3-18 sciences developed by the Eastwood High School and Mearns Castle High School clusters which have been identified through the inspection process as being very good practice.
The event is aimed at Quality Improvement Officers, Science Development Officers, science coordinators, school leaders and practitioners from all sectors with responsibility for sciences as well as national agencies and partner organisations.
The event will provide delegates with an opportunity to hear about various strengths of work taking place in the cluster including the:
To book a place at this event please contact Jennifer.Moore@educationscotland.gov.uk. It is advisable to book early to avoid disappointment.
Scotland’s Environment Web has a unique set of on-line guidance and digital tools to help people set up their own public environmental monitoring projects.
Public monitoring or ‘citizen science’ can be described as “scientific activities in which non-professional scientists volunteer to participate in data collection, analysis and dissemination of a scientific project…” It can be a great, fun way to gather information and get involved – scientists need your help!
On May 7th a best practice guide on When and how to use Citizen Science was published.
It will take anyone thinking about embarking on a project through the steps which will help decide when you should choose and how to use citizen science.
Whether you are a teacher keen to get your students outdoors, a member of the public wanting to get more involved in your local environment, or an organisation wanting to set up a project, here is support available in the Scotland’s Environment Web toolkit. The tools make it easier to start and run a project, using some of the new digital technology to help.
Click on the link to access Scotland’s Environment Website: http://bit.ly/18JGXwU
National Women in Engineering Day has been set up by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) to celebrate its 95th anniversary. It takes place on 23 June 2014.
The aim is to celebrate the work that women do in engineering, and to showcase the great engineering careers that are available for girls.
The WES is calling on all groups (Governmental, educational, corporate, Professional Engineering Institutions, individuals and other organisations) to organise their own events in support of the day, and link them together for maximum impact through the use of the NWED logo, corresponding website, and supporting resources.
Find out how you can get involved here National Women in Engineering Day
Part of the remit of The Young Academy of Scotland’s Excellence in Education Working Group is to “draw upon YAS expertise to develop teaching resources that enable teachers to make full use of the interdisciplinary possibilities of CfE [Curriculum for Excellence].”
This resource, working within the Numeracy curriculum area, utilised the broad multi-disciplinary nature of the YAS membership to show how numeracy matters in the everyday lives and work of Scotland’s emerging leaders from the disciplines of science and humanities, the professions, the arts, business and civil society.
Through this YAS resource learners can find out how Cardiologist Marc Dweck uses numeracy in the diagnosis and treatment of heartattacks, discover how astrophysicist Catherine Heymans uses spread sheets when buying a new mobile phone and, most importantly, find out why ‘Numeracy Counts!’
Access the resources here – http://bit.ly/MqEQrJ
STEM Conversation Day
09:30 – 15:00, Monday 12th May 2014
Venue: Optima Building, 58 Robertson Street, Glasgow
Education Scotland would like to invite you to take part in the Stem Conversation Day.
The day will commence with a presentation about STEM, followed by four discussion activities exploring STEM in education.
If you wish to attend please contact Louise Morton, STEM Development Officer at Louise.Morton@educationscotland.gov.uk
You may find it useful to familiarise yourself with some of the documentation relating to Science, Technologies and Mathematics, all online at Education Scotland.
This is the next in a series of Higher Resources guides linking key areas of the curriculum to identified learning and teaching resources
The pages show the SQA Higher Chemistry course and unit support notes with an extra column. Content new to the course from the Higher Still Higher are highlighted in green.
The extra column, entitled “Resources identified by Education Scotland”, shows links to resources each with a brief description. They are web-based resources such as animations which help understanding of the mandatory content listed. Each resource is placed adjacent to the content it exemplifies.
Updates will appear on GLOW 365.
This is part of a series of Higher Resources guides linking Mandatory Course key areas to useful learning and teaching resources.
The pages show the Mandatory Course key areas table from the SQA Higher Physics Course and Unit Support Notes with an additional column containing hyperlinks to videos, animations and other resources. Content new to the course from the Higher Still Higher has been highlighted in green to further assist practitioners.
Updates will appear on GLOW 365
I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here! have been producing a series of science debate kits for some years now. They contain a detailed lesson plans and online resources. They are simple and ready to use educational resources that are good for small groups or a whole class.
Their latest free debate kit is on the topic of Electricity Distribution. It gets secondary students thinking about how electricity distribution is a major engineering and technical challenge. Teachers can sign up to receive this kit and future ones here: debate.imascientist.org.uk/electricity.
On behalf of Dr Aidan Robson FInstP,
Reader in Physics,
The University of Glasgow
Dear colleagues,
As part of “Elementary – CERN and Scotland”, http://cernandscotland.tumblr.com,
I’m pleased to invite you and your current 5th-year students to this year’s schools Particle Physics Masterclass, which will be held on Tuesday 17th June 2014 at Glasgow University.
This one-day introduction to fundamental particles and forces will be led by experts working at CERN and will convey some of the excitement of front-line research in a rapidly-developing field, with talks and hands-on sessions in particle detection and analysis of real collider data.
The masterclass will take place on Tuesday 17th June 2014 from 10am to 3.30pm, with registration from 9.30am, in the Kelvin Building at the University of Glasgow. It is intended for students who are just finishing 5th year; ideally for those continuing to Advanced Higher. There is no charge, and lunch will be provided. However, participation is by advance booking only and numbers are limited.
Please consult your pupils and if they would like to attend, email a list of their names to masterclass@physics.gla.ac.uk and indicate whether you would like to accompany them. The masterclass is normally oversubscribed, so I will try to make a fair allocation to schools on 9th May or shortly thereafter. Note that I’m unlikely to be able to fulfil requests for groups of more than about 10 per school.
We all look forward to seeing some of you here on 17th June.
Best wishes,
Aidan Robson
Education Scotland and SQA have identified questions from Standard Grade Credit and Intermediate 2 papers from the last three years and matched them to Key Areas in the N5 Chemistry Curriculum.
This resource has been produced in response to the requests from practitioners who attended the National Qualifications Sciences events at Hampden Stadium in December 2013 which Education Scotland organised in partnership with the SQA.
The questions in this resource relate to National 5 Chemistry and have been taken from the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Standard Grade and Intermediate 2 Past Papers.
Booklets of past papers and answers have been collated for the three units and a problem solving booklet for teachers and students to use as part of their revision programme for the N5 exam.
Chemistry N5 Past Paper Questions Chemical Changes and Structure (pdf)
Chemistry N5 Past Paper Questions Chemical Changes and Structure
Chemistry N5 Past Paper Questions Chemistry in Society (pdf)
Chemistry N5 Past Paper Questions Chemistry in Society
Chemistry N5 Past Paper Questions Nature’s Chemistry (pdf)
Chemistry N5 Past Paper Questions Nature’s Chemistry
Education Scotland and SQA have identified questions from Standard Grade Credit and Intermediate 2 papers from the last three years and matched them to Key Areas in the N5 Biology Curriculum.
This resource has been produced in response to the requests from practitioners who attended the National Qualifications Sciences events at Hampden Stadium in December 2013 which Education Scotland organised in partnership with the SQA.
The questions in this resource relate to National 5 Biology and have been taken from the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Standard Grade and Intermediate 2 Past Papers.
Booklets of past papers and answers have been collated for the three units for teachers and students to use as part of their revision programme for the N5 exam.
Biology-N5-Past-Paper-Questions-Cell-Biology
Education Scotland and SQA have identified questions from Standard Grade Credit and Intermediate 2 papers from the last three years and matched them to Key Areas in the N5 Physics Curriculum.
This resource has been produced in response to the requests from practitioners who attended the National Qualifications Sciences events at Hampden Stadium in December 2013 which Education Scotland organised in partnership with the SQA.
The questions in this resource relate to National 5 Physics and have been taken from the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Standard Grade and Intermediate 2 Past Papers.
Booklets of past papers and answers have been collated for the three units for teachers and students to use as part of their revision programme for the N5 exam.
Physics-N5-Past-Paper-Questions-Dynamics-and-Space
