Category Archives: Sciences

CfE, CLD, Community Capacity Building, Health and wellbeing, Outdoor Learning, Sciences, Social studies, Young people, children & families

Mission:Explore celebrates John Muir with launch of a new ebook

April 21, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

A partnership between the John Muir Trust and Mission:Explore – a group of teachers, artists, activists and adventurers – has launched a free ebook to introduce the great explorer, naturalist, writer, mountaineer and conservationist to a new audience.

Supported by Scottish Natural Heritage, Mission:Explore – John Muir, features a range of activities that reflect the adventures and ethos of the Victorian Scot, whose 175th birthday will be celebrated this month in his adopted homeland the USA as well as in the land of his birth.

It encourages people of all ages – including groups and families – to follow in the footsteps of Muir by taking part in an imaginative set of ‘missions’, which involve looking, touching, walking, exploring, thinking, and even dancing in wild nature wherever they find it.

Suggested activities range from observing how frogs swim to getting windswept, creating a mini-National Park, and staring at the stars.

The book launch ties in perfectly with Year of Natural Scotland 2013 and its theme of celebrating John Muir. There is already interest across the UK and in America.

Your ebook is free to download from Mission:Explore and John Muir Award web pages, and can be used on smart phones, laptops and tablets, or printed off and read in the old-fashioned way.

Link to John Muir Award launch page – http://www.jmt.org/jmaward-mission-explore-john-muir.asp
Link to Mission:Explore launch page – http://www.missionexplore.net/shop

Daniel Raven-Ellison, Guerilla Geographer at Mission:Explore, said: “Mission:Explore and the John Muir Award have much in common. We’re both all about discovering, exploring, conserving and sharing, so making this book together made perfect sense.

“We had a great time making it and we’re sure that our readers will have an even better time doing each of the quirky adventures inside. Good luck!”

“These missions are great, you can really see the spark they’ve generated with teachers.” Carol Walker, South Lanarkshire Outdoor Learning Development Officer

Featuring 20 activities that reflect the adventures and ethos of the Victorian Scot, you can access the free Mission:Explore John Muir eBook or PDF in a number of ways:

• eBook – on-line with Graphicly http://graphicly.com/mission-explore/mission-explore-john-muir/john-muir
• eBook for iPhone or iPad – via ‘Mission Explore John Muir’ in iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/mission-explore-john-muir/id627660952?mt=11
• eBook from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=The%20Geography%20Collective&search-alias=books-uk&sort=relevancerank
• Printable PDF version (5.3MB) from http://www.jmt.org/jmaward-mission-explore-john-muir.asp

Find hundreds of other missions on the Mission:Explore website http://www.missionexplore.net

About Mission:Explore

• Mission:Explore is a collection of books created by the Geography Collective, a unique team of over 25 geographers, teachers, educators and artists who work together to help young people explore and see the world in new ways. It makes books full of illustrated challenges that aim to make children a little more confident, happy, empathetic and knowledgeable.They think that learning in the real world, in real places and about real issues are vital to any childhood.

• Mission:Explore has won awards including National Trust & Hay Festival Outdoor Book of the Year 2011, and a Pink Stinks approved stamp for being gender neutral.

About Year of Natural Scotland 2013

• The Year of Natural Scotland 2013 is the latest in a series of themed years for the Scottish Government. It aims to highlight Scotland’s stunning natural beauty and biodiversity, and promote opportunities for visitors and residents to enjoy our beautiful landscapes, wildlife and heritage responsibly. http://www.snh.gov.uk/enjoying-the-outdoors/year-of-natural-scotland-2013

About The John Muir Trust

The John Muir Trust is the leading wild land conservation charity in the United Kingdom, with a membership of around 10,000.

We seek to ensure that wild land is protected and enhanced, and that wild places are valued by and for everyone.

The Trust does this by:
• Owning and managing wild land for conservation
• Assisting others in wild land management
• Campaigning for the long-term legal protection of wild land
• Encouraging people to connect with and care for wild places through the John Muir Award and volunteer conservation programmes.

We take our name and inspiration from John Muir (1838-1914), the pioneering, influential Scots-born American conservationist who dedicated his life to protecting wild places and campaigned successfully for the establishment of National Parks to safeguard vast tracts of wild land, including Yosemite Valley in California.

CfE, Glow TV, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Literacy, Literacy and English, Mathematics, Sciences, Technologies

Virtual Glow Roadshow

April 15, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Glow is packed full of educational resources and national communities where teaching staff can collaborate with colleagues across Scotland. To showcase some of these great resources RM is hosting a week of Glow Meets featuring a few of these. These 30 minute sessions are being run twice so sign up for the time slot that suits you best!

Twig on Glow – Over 1500 high quality films covering Maths, Science, Geography and Health – complete with support resources matched to the curriculum of excellence levels 2,3 and 4.

Join us either on Monday 22nd April at 8.15am or Thursday 25th April at 3.45pm

Just2easy is an online blogging tool. Children can create, sharing and learn in an esafe environment.
Join us either on Monday 22nd April at 3.45pm or Wednesday 24th April at 8.15am

Scran is a charity & online learning resource base with over 360,000 images & media from museums, galleries, archives and the media. These resources can be downloaded and used copyright free.

Join us either on Tuesday 23rd April at 8.15am or Wednesday 24th April at 3.45pm

The Daily What News is an online news service provided for Scottish Schools supporting the development of literacy and language across the curriculum. The site also provides a wealth of support materials.

Join us either on Tuesday 23rd April at 3.45pm or Thursday 25th April at 8.15am

Sciences, Senior Phase

Promoting Computer Science and Technology Careers to Female Pupils

April 8, 2013 User deactivated 5 Comments

she++ is a group set up by female undergraduates at Stanford to try and encourage more young women into careers in computing and technology.

This month sees the launch of their video documentary – visit the site for a trailer. This 12 minute film is intended to interest girls in the exciting opportunities that there are in pursuing a degree and career in computing. It is aimed primarily at the US audience but still has much to say to girls in Scotland.

The video is free but will not be openly available — each site must apply for a screening. This is very straightforward to do – see http://sheplusplus.stanford.edu/film/hostscreening.php for details.

Additional Support for Learning, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Literacy, Literacy and English, RME, Sciences, Social studies, Supporting Learners, Universal Support

Promoting Diversity and Equality

February 26, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Promoting Diversity and Equality: Developing Responsible Citizens for 21st Century Scotland

This publication aims to support schools and centres in promoting diversity and equality through all aspects of planned learning.

Diversity is about recognising and valuing difference, where everyone is respected for who they are. Equality is about creating a fairer society, where everyone can take part and where everyone has the opportunity to be all they can be.

Curriculum for Excellence challenges schools and communities to develop children and young people as responsible citizens who:
• show respect for others
• understand different beliefs and cultures
• are developing informed, ethical views of complex issues.

All involved in successful learning need to understand themselves what it means to live in this diverse society, and to help children and young people understand what it means for them.

Sciences

Talk with us…about improving sciences education 3-18

February 15, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

With planning well underway for the next in our series of conversation days with a focus on the Sciences 3-18 Curriculum Area Impact Project report and improving sciences education 3-18 in Scotland, we have been sharing the discussions from our first day in December 2012 via our engagement blog. So if you are interested in joining the discussions online, or at one of our face-to-face conversations, why not take a look?

Taking a closer look at the National Assessment Resource: A professional learning resource

February 12, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Education Scotland have recently developed this professional learning resource. It provides an opportunity to reflect on effective practice in learning, teaching and assessment, drawing on the work published on the National Assessment Resource (NAR). It also provides a structured look at the NAR flow chart as a tool for planning effective learning, teaching, moderation and assessment.

The resource can be used by individual practitioners keen to reflect and improve on their assessment practice as well as pairs, groups of practitioners, associated school groups (ASGs) or clusters working collegiately to reflect on and improve practice.

It is available to download from the Education Scotland website and welcome section on NAR. There will be a Glow meet on Wednesday the 13th of February at 8:20am and Thursday the 14th at 4:15pm to explore the resource further.

Assessment, Early Years, NAR, Sciences

Assessing Progress and Achievement Professional Learning Resource

February 8, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

Education Scotland has recently published Professional Learning Resources on assessing progress and achievement designed to support quality assurance and moderation activities.

The resources are a work-in-progress and draw on emerging practice from practitioners from 3-15.

Tell us what you think

We would like to hear what you think about what has been produced so far for your sector or curriculum area. Your feedback will help inform on-going work on annotated exemplification of achievement of levels in each of the curriculum areas to be shared through NAR.

In particular we would be interested in your views on:

· How well does the outline of the significant aspects of learning in each of the curriculum areas describe the range of learning in the Es and Os in a clear and succinct way?
· How well do the descriptions of breadth, challenge and application in each of the curriculum areas support planning for progression?
· In what ways have you used (or intend to use) the resources to support professional learning and reflection?
· What aspects of the resources did you find particularly useful?
· What aspects of the resources could be improved ?
· In using the resources to reflect on your practice, what aspects have you identified for improvement in your approaches to supporting learners in their progress and achievement?
· What further support would be helpful in managing assessment within each of the curriculum areas?

In your comment response please can you let us know which sector you work in – early, primary, secondary, special and also the curriculum area you are responding to. Many thanks.

Assessment, BtC5, CfE, Expressive Arts, Moderation, NAR, Profiles, Profiling, Sciences

Assessment Professional Learning Community on Glow

January 22, 2013 User deactivated Leave a comment

The assessment team at Education Scotland are developing a professional learning community on Glow, in collaboration with practitioners across Scotland.

There are a number of opportunities in our Learn area, including a suite of Glow meets from January to March 2013:

Date Time Title

24.1.13      3:45 – 4:10    What is NAR?
29.1.13      8:20 – 8:45   The Moderation Process
31.1.13      3:45 – 4:10    The Moderation Process
06.2.13      8:20 – 8:45    Making Good Assessment Decisions
07.2.13      3:45 – 4:10    Making Good Assessment Decisions
13.2.13      8:20– 8:45     NAR professional learning resource
14.2.13      3:45 – 4:10    NAR professional learning resource
20.2.13      8:20 – 8:45    Profiling
21.2.13      3:45 – 4:10    Profiling
6.3.13        8:20 – 8:45    Glow to support assessment
7.3.13        3:45 – 4:10    Glow to support assessment

In the Share area, we continue to add a number of key power points which staff can use to explore the ideas in Building the Curriculum 5, including the ’10 key assessment messages’ and ‘What is NAR?’
You can always get help in our Support area and in the Change area you can add an intention of what you are going to do to improve assessment in the classroom, the wider school community, across the local authority or inter-authority.

I hope you will take the time to sign up and spread the word! And of course you are more than welcome to join us for the Glow meets and watch any you missed here: http://bit.ly/Teondr

Assessment, NAR, Sciences, Technologies

Assessing progress and achievement professional learning resources

December 21, 2012 User deactivated 5 Comments

Education Scotland has recently published Professional Learning Resources on assessing progress and achievement designed to support quality assurance and moderation activities.

The resources are a work-in-progress and draw on emerging practice from practitioners from 3-15.

Tell us what you think

In particular we would be interested in your views on:

In your comment response please can you let us know which sector you work in – early, primary, secondary, special and also the curriculum area you are responding to. Many thanks.

CfE, CLD, Community Capacity Building, Early Years, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Languages, Mathematics, National Qualifications, Outdoor Learning, Research, Responsibility of All, RME, Sciences, Senior Phase, Social studies, Supporting Learners, Technologies, Young people, children & families

Learning for Sustainability – report published

December 17, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Learning for Sustainability – the report of the One Planet Schools Working Group, was published 17 December 2012.

The report includes strategic recommendations to support the development of coherent whole school approaches to ensure that learning for sustainability, global citizenship and outdoor learning are experienced in a transformative way by every learner in every school across Scotland. The report includes a number of recommendations relating to career-long professional learning and initial teacher education and advocates genuine partnerships with local communities and action to improve the sustainability of the school estate. A key ambition of the report is to provide an agenda for strategic change that will create an enabling framework, remove barriers, and build on existing excellent practice.

Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages said:
“I welcome the publication of Learning for Sustainability and would like to thank the Working Group for their work and commitment to producing the report and recommendations. As we approach the Year of Natural Scotland in 2013, the report reminds us of the importance of learning which connects young people to local and global issues, an integral part of Curriculum for Excellence.

“A wide range of actions have been taken as part of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and we welcome steps to encourage and support schools in their approach to sustainability and global citizenship, including through outdoor learning.

“We will take time to consider the report, to engage with partners on its recommendations and respond in full in March 2013.”

The report can be downloaded from:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/curriculum/ACE/OnePlanetSchools

See the associated Engage in Education blog from Professor Pete Higgins, Chair of the One Planet Schools Working Group: http://engageforeducation.org/news/learning-for-sustainability/

Early Years, Sciences

Improving Sciences Education 3-18 Conversation Day

December 14, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

The first of our face- to-face Improving Sciences Education 3-18 conversation days took place on Monday 10th at Denholm House in Livingston.

Find out more on our Sciences Impact Project blog bit.ly/sciences3-18talk

Sciences, Senior Phase, Technologies

STEM Professional Learning: How is Education Scotland supporting you?

December 13, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

We’ve recently updated our Professional Learning section on STEM Central.

This section includes a number of videos in the “Exploring Engineering” series from “Getting started in engineering” to “Inspiring Space Engineering”. These can be used to help you understand more about STEM and engineering jobs and careers for children and young people, or used with learners to inspire them to pursue STEM careers.

With an overview of Education Scotland’s STEM work, and information on contemporary engineering jobs in Scotland, and links to partner resources such as myOilandGascareers.com and World of Work online, why not take a look to find out more?

Join our STEM Professional Learning Community (Glow login required) bit.ly/stemhome

Early Years, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Languages, Mathematics, Religious and Moral Education, Responsibility of All, RME, Sciences, Social studies

BBC Class Clips

October 12, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

A group of Development Officers from Education Scotland worked with the BBC yesterday exploring BBC Scotland’s Learning Scotland website and the BBC Class Clips resource. It’s possible to embed BBC Class Clips in blogs and share links through social media. One handy feature for practitioners who are subject specialists is the ability to search for the clips used in BBC Bitesize. To find the clips, include Bitesize as a keyword along with your subject specialism.

Early Years, Literacy, Sciences, Technologies

Sound context on STEM Central

October 8, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

This week we’ve launched our Sound context which includes learning journeys from early to fourth level. The context builds the storyline through our ability to make sound, sound as a tool of communication, for example through talk or by using music to convey a message. It progresses on to sound as a tool of communication at a distance and our ability to manipulate sound.

The progression begins with What’s that sound? for early level, an exploration of sound sciences and technologies through constructive play. Make the Sound provides further opportunity for enquiry-based learning, and hands-on sciences and technologies in the context of sound.

How animals use sound, sound applications and communicating through sound are three learning journeys for second level, to illustrate breadth and application, and the basis for progression to Engineering Sound at fourth level, developed in conjunction with SSERC.

Literacy, Modern Languages, Sciences

Space Junk

October 2, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

This Space Junk clip from the BBC could be used to support and enrich learning ideas found in, Passeport pour la Francophonie ,a new website from Education Scotland. This website was developed to support the teaching and learning of French at 2nd Level. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14762620

Assessment, CfE, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, National Qualifications, Research, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Senior Phase

The Sciences 3-18 Curriculum Area Impact Project Report Launches at SLF 2012

September 20, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Yesterday saw the launch of the Sciences 3-18 Curriculum Area Impact Project report in a lively and challenging session at SLF 2012. We were delighted to welcome to the session practitioners, partners, young people and parents as we shared the key messages from the report, and our strategies for taking this forward. Delegates were enthusiastic in joining the debate around the key strengths and aspects for development, talking together and reflecting on these, and on their role in taking forward the sciences 3-18 in Scotland.

If you haven’t yet seen the report, you can find it on the Education Scotland website and join the debate on our Sciences Curriculum Area Impact Project blog. We have posted the shared outcomes of the discussions at SLF2012, which we hope will inspire you to blog and comment too!

Assessment, CfE, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, National Qualifications, Research, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Senior Phase

Launch of The Sciences 3-18 Curriculum Impact Project report

September 19, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Education Scotland today launches The Sciences 3-18 Curriculum Impact Project report. The sciences and social studies reports are the first two reports in a Curriculum Impact series designed to present a subject-by-subject picture of how children and young people are experiencing learning in different areas of the 3-18 curriculum across the country.

Providing subject-specific analysis and evaluation of current practice, based on a range of independent inspection activities, the report identifies emerging innovative and thought-provoking practice, while highlighting important areas for development. Published on the web, the report will be refreshed from time to time with links to newly-identified, practice and evidence, a dynamic approach that will keep the reviews contemporary on an on-going basis, and relevant to developing needs.

A summary for children and young people has also been published, along with a summary of key strengths and aspects for development.

The publication is intended to provide a focus engagement by children and young people, parents, practitioners and the wider sciences community in Scotland.

Through our Sciences 3-18 Impact Project blog, we want to engage all those involved in the sciences 3-18 to talk together about how we can work together to take forward the key messages of the report.

This outward facing, public blog is a mechanism to allow engagement by all.

Talk with us on bit.ly/sciences3-18.

The STEM Professional Learning Community will also act as a focus for professional dialogue and learning around the Sciences 3-18 Impact Project. Join us, using your Glow login in, on bit.ly/stemhome.

CfE, Early Years, Research, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Technologies

SLF 2012: Forensic Rookies, Transition and the AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust: Scottish Islands and Mainland ICT and Science project

September 11, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

With a week to go until SLF 2012 kicks off, there are only a few spaces remaining in session N1A “Forensic Rookies”, presented by Professor Susan Rodrigues and Neil Taylor. The workshop will share the findings of a recent project involving 3 pairs of primary & secondary schools from several different local authorities, and the sustained impact in those local authorities where this project is being rolled out further. Learners and practitioners views and feedback will be shared, and delegates can get hands on with forensic investigation activities. This project was supported by funding from AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust and led by Professor Susan Rodrigues and Neil Taylor as part of the suite of ‘Partnerships in Primary Science’ (PIPS) CPD projects.

There have been a series of videos made using learners and practitioners which will be used within the session, and these will are also available via the ScienceEdResearch channel YouTube.

The individual vodcasts for each school:

Brae High; Blairgowrie; Coupar Angus; Inveralmond Community High; Urafirth; Westfield

Visitor registration for SLF 2012 is now open!

Assessment, CfE, CLD, Early Years, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Languages, Mathematics, National Qualifications, Research, Responsibility of All, RME, Sciences, Senior Phase, Social studies, Supporting Learners, Technologies

Glow TV – Watch Again!

September 6, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Have you read about an event in Glow TV and wanted to join in live but were unable to because of other classroom commitments or timetabling? Do you want the ability to view exciting or interesting pupil focused Glow Meets at a time that is convenient to you? Do you want to enhance your Professional Learning at a time that suits you? Well you can in Glow TV’s Watch Again facility!

All Glow TV events are recorded so if the time of the live event isn’t suitable for you and/or your class to join in you can still have the opportunity to watch the recorded version at a time that suits your timetable or other classroom/personal commitments.

Watch Again is available in Glow TV and you can filter all the recordings that have taken place over the past 17 months either by name or by the programme category eg Literacy and English, CPD etc or by the programme tags.Once you have found what you want to watch simply click the Watch Again link which will take you to your chosen programme (and all the others in that channel category too!) and you can then view the recording at your leisure. You can also have the opportunity in our Watch Again Feedback Forum to let us know how useful you found the recording and if/how it enhanced your or your classes learning.

So why not take part in Glow TV when it suits you? You may not be able to ask questions in a live environment but you will still be able to see and listen to experts in their field and have fun in our numerous interactive Glow TV events.

Mathematics, Sciences, Technologies

If you could be an engineer…what would you do?

August 20, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Engineers touch every aspect of our lives but frequently we do not recognise who they are or what they do. To inspire young people to become engineers we must first help them to understand what it is that engineers do, what inspires them and what it takes to become one. Engineering as a rich, stimulating and challenging context for learning in sciences, technologies and maths is the basis of Education Scotland’s STEM Central resource.

Today saw the launch of a challenge for learners in primary schools in Scotland. Scottish Engineering and The Leaders Award for STEM are challenging learners to become Leaders for STEM in their schools by considering what they would do if they were an engineer.

Engineers will visit schools and answer questions from learners, hoping to inspire a generation with their experiences.

Learners are challenged to draw or write ‘What I would do if I was an engineer in Scotland.’ Competition closing date is 30^th November 2012 with winners announced on the 7^th December 2012 and all shortlisted entries displayed in The Barony Hall at the University of Strathclyde Glasgow on 15th and 16th December.

For more information how to enter visit: www.leadersaward.com.

Leaders Award co-ordinator: Susan Loxley susan.loxley@leadersaward.com

Health and wellbeing, Literacy, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Senior Phase

Advice and Guidance to support National Qualifications in Sciences

August 14, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Yesterday, we published new advice and guidance associated with National 5 Biology associated with Inheritance.

There are a number of areas in this advice and guidance which would lend themselves to discussion in the classroom. What does this look like? What is the difference between learners talking, and discussing? Arguing and debating? What tools and approaches can be used to ensure learners are developing their skills in discussion, argumentation, and debate?

The teacher’s handbook from the English-Speaking Union (ESU) Scotland may be of use in planning for learning and teaching for the senior phase. 2012 is the year of the ESU’s Speak up Scotland! Science Debating project. Within the easily digestible, practical teacher’s handbook are a range of techniques and approaches which can be used to structure debate within the science classroom, and include all learners within the class. It explains how to plan and structure a formal debate, if that is what you are looking for, including how to structure a speech, a format for judging the content and skills of the participants – useful for teacher observation or peer evaluation. Other approaches described include balloon and role play debates. Exemplification is given for role playdebates in bio-prospecting and badger culling.

The booklet also contains starters for debates such as:

“this house would ban research on embryonic stem cells” – ties in with the National 4/5 qualifications in Biology and our published advice and guidance on Health and Disease.

Each section includes “fast facts”, and suggested questions to ask – does an embryo have human rights? how do we know how old the universe is? how do we control nanoparticles in our environment; or artificial organisms we create?

All of this is also available on the project website where you can find out how schools are using the debates and the feedback from learners.

If your learners need support in building confidence to speak in front of others, why not look back to our Debating in Schools resources published in 2007 which include Building Speaking Confidence: Guidance for first-time speakers.

CfE, Health and wellbeing, Literacy, Sciences, Technologies

SLF 2012: Forensic Rookies, Transition and the AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust: Scottish Islands and Mainland ICT and Science project

August 13, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

We’ve been keeping you up to date with this inquiry based science project since last December. Don’t forget that you can find out more by joining us at session N1A at SLF 2012, presented by Professor Susan Rodrigues and Neil Taylor. A vodcast overview of the project can be found on the scienceedresearch channel on YouTube.

The workshop will share the findings of a recent project involving 3 pairs of primary & secondary schools from several different local authorities, and the sustained impact in those local authorities where this project is being rolled out further. Learners and practitioners views and feedback will be shared. This project was supported by funding from AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust and led by Professor Susan Rodrigues and Neil Taylor as part of the suite of ‘Partnerships in Primary Science’ (PIPS) CPD projects.

The workshop will include an opportunity for delegates to have hands on experience of the six investigative tasks, using the kit provided to schools, funded by AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust. There have been a series of videos made using learners and practitioners which will be used within the session, and these will are also available via the ScienceEdResearch channel YouTube.

The individual vodcasts for each school:

Brae High; Blairgowrie; Coupar Angus; Inveralmond Community High; Urafirth; Westfield

Visitor registration for SLF 2012 is now open!

Sciences, Technologies

STEM Central Games context and a festival of games in Dundee

August 10, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

If our recently published STEM Central Games context, celebrating Scotland’s position in this diverse and creative industry, has sparked your interest, an ideal opportunity to find out more this weekend at the three day computer games festival in Dundee. Running from today until Sunday 12th August, this event at Dundee’s Caird Hall provides an opportunity for visitors to try out some games, including those developed especially for the games.

Mathematics, Sciences, Technologies

STEM Central: supporting you to enhance learning and teaching

August 1, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Our STEM Central Electric Transport context is currently aimed at third and fourth level. In the next school year, we will be publishing an extension to the context for second level. Offering opportunities to embed sustainable development and give insight into STEM in everyday life, the second level extension will highlight green buses on Scottish roads. Last year 15 buses engineered at Alexander Dennis Ltd in Falkirk took to the streets of Edinburgh, with partial funding from the Scottish Government’s Green Bus Fund.

The video Electric Vocabulary from TEDEd’s YouTube channel tells the story of how “charge” and “battery” became part of our everyday language of “electricity”. Useful for your own background and understanding, or for learners at second level.

Sciences, Technologies

STEM Central

July 24, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Is the BBC Focus Magazine using STEM Central’s contexts for inspiration? In this month’s edition, two articles which might be of interest if you are planning for learning and teaching using STEM Central.

In February 2012 we published our Bioengineering context. Something to extend this context is an article “Grow your Own Body” about advances in regenerative medicine, and use of our own stem cells to grow new body tissue to order.

Coming soon is our early years to fourth level journey through Sound. “Souped-Up Sound: Are these the most high-tech headphones ever” suggests another use for the learning within our fourth level journey.

Early Years, Sciences, Technologies

STEM Central Sound context…a holographic link

July 18, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Holoxica, a company based at the University of Edinburgh, has used sonar scan data to build a 3D hologram of the HMS Royal Oak, where it sank on the seabed near Orkney having been hit by torpedoes in October 1939. The 3D holographic image is expected to go on display to the public around Scotland. A perfect link to our soon to be published EY to fourth level context on Sound.

Assessment, CfE, CLD, Early Years, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Languages, Mathematics, National Qualifications, Responsibility of All, RME, Sciences, Senior Phase, Social studies, Supporting Learners, Technologies

Schools IT Excellence Group set up

July 5, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

The Scottish Government has announced that Education Secretary Michael Russell has appointed the Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Muffy Calder to convene an ICT Excellence Group to consider the future development of the schools’ intranet ‘Glow’.

The new ICT Excellence Group will draw on the experience and expertise of end-users, and educational technology experts to scope the long-term user-centred future of Glow.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell said:

“It is crucial that the next generation of Glow allows schools to harness the power of technology for learning, to keep pace with rapidly evolving developments and speak the language that young people speak online.

“Professor Calder’s group will have the challenge of imagining a future for the service that can be customised to the individual requirements of our young people, is dynamic and can remain relevant for years to come. I look forward to receiving their advice later this year.”

The group members are now announced as follows: Prof Muffy Calder, Prof Ian Sommerville, Prof Mike Sharples, Mr Ewan McIntosh, Mr Charlie Love, Prof Bill Buchanan, Mr Hamish Budge, Prof Jeff Haywood, Mr Neil Winton, Mr Tony Rafferty, Mr Fraser Speirs, Ms Jaye Richards Hill and Mr Martin Dewar who will facilitate the involvement of two school pupils in the group.

See announcement on Engage for Education.

Sciences

STEM Central and Ready for Emergencies?

June 30, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

The Ready for Emergencies? Glow meet on Friday 15th June featuring Stewart Borthwick (Strathclyde Emergency Coordination Group), Sally Dempsey (Red Cross) and Paul Hendy (Director of the Scottish Flood Forum) was interesting and thought provoking. It provides an ideal starter for looking ahead to our forthcoming STEM Central context on Rescue Vehicles.

How do we rescue people in the event of major emergencies such as floods? This time last week up to 150 people were rescued from flooding in Wales, some of them by RNLI lifeboats and by rescue helicopter. In ourSTEM Central Rescue Vehicles context, aimed at second level, we will explore the science of lifeboats and rescue vehicles. The full Ready for Emergencies? resource is available on the Education Scotland website.

uk-514-154 — Exercise 'Flipper', Carbisdale Castle, Sutherland, Scotland. British Red Cross Emergency Response Training Exercise. Credit Derek Gordon, British Red Cross

Early Years, Expressive Arts, Sciences, Technologies

Sound Context Goes Live on STEM Central

June 27, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

STEM Central makes connections between sciences, technologies and mathematics through the context of engineering allows learners to broaden their understanding of the applications of concepts and skills developed in curriculum subjects. It allows learners to develop solutions to problems and demonstrate creativity through inquiry.

We are delighted to annouce that our Sound Context for learning is live on STEM Central.

Sound is an important part of our lives and we are constantly surrounded by it. From talking in the classroom, to animal sounds in the forest, from listening to music to hearing a fire engine siren, different sounds can make us feel different emotions; they can trigger memories and remind of us of key events in our lives. It can also affect how we remember different events. Animals and humans use sound to communicate with each other in a variety of forms including song, voice, ultrasound, and the telephone. Sound can be about survival and can warn us of danger but it can also be used for relaxation and entertainment through the medium of music.

The learning journeys with a Sciences and Technologies focus within early and first levels will give learners the opportunity to investigate a variety of sound making materials. They will recognise and produce different sounds through constructive play, design and construct their own instruments and create and record sounds. There will also be second and fourth level learning journeys coming soon.

Click here to visit the new Sound Context on STEM Central.

Sciences, Technologies

Games Context on STEM Central

June 27, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

We are delighted to annouce that our Games Context for learning is live on STEM Central.

The games industry in Scotland is thriving. Providing jobs for skilled professionals of all nationalities, games companies are at the forefront of Scotland’s electronic technologies and software industry. Games have been used throughout the ages to teach, entertain and amuse. In some respects games have changed over time with changes in technologies, tools and materials, yet in other ways simple games that resemble those from past societies are still played.

In the Games Development Second Level Learning Journey learners are offered stimulating experiences and the opportunity to develop their understanding not only of the history of gaming in Scotland, but will also encourage them to explore technological developments in society, and ultimately how to design, create and market their own game.

The Electrifying Games Second Level Learning Journey offers a range of opportunities for learners enquiry based learning and to develop and apply knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to circuits and components, and to engineering of a 3D game which demonstrates energy transfer and movement.

Click here to visit the new Games Context on STEM Central.

Sciences

New advice and guidance published for Science National 4

June 26, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

This resource for National 4 Science exemplifies the teaching of scientific skills. It is set within the context of health and demonstrates the transferrable skills that are required within science. The skills demonstrated can equally be used by practitioners of Biology, Chemistry and Physics at National 4.

Visit latest advice and guidance published.

Health and wellbeing, Sciences

The International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine in Sport

June 21, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

The International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine in Sport (ICSEMIS) will take place at the SECC Glasgow from July 19 to 23, bringing together world-leading scientific minds, experts and policy makers involved in sport and physical education. Researchers, students and practitioners from every branch of sports science and education can attend to benefit from the showcase of the latest publications, equipment, expertise and master classes. Please visit www.icsemis2012.com

CfE, Sciences, Technologies

Invitation to the Fibonacci Project

June 20, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

The Europe-wide Fibonacci Project promotes and supports Inquiry-based Learning in Science Education (IBSE). It aims to help pupils develop concepts that enable them to understand the scientific and technological aspects of the world around them through their own thinking, using critical and logical reasoning about evidence that they have gathered. This involves group work, making arguments, dialogue and debate, as well as direct exploration and hands-on experiments. Meaningful contexts are provided by making links with the local community (companies, museums, science centres, associations, etc), where parents, scientists and industrialists can be involved.
During 2011 a number of primary teachers developed Engineering Challenges, in collaboration with members of the University of Glasgow Fibonacci Project team.
Inquiry-based approaches are at the heart of the Curriculum for Excellence Sciences and Technologies curricula and contribute very strongly to developing the four “capacities” which Curriculum for Excellence aims to promote.

The Project Team would like to invite primary school practitioners to participate, in collaboration with the team, in implementing Inquiry-based Learning in Science and/or in developing further activities/materials.

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You are invited and encouraged to take up the opportunity to continue (or begin) to put inquiry-based approaches into practice from August 2012 and/or to develop new activities, with support from the Fibonacci team.

For more information or to discuss the project, please contact Ernie Spencer Ernest.Spencer@glasgow.ac.uk

CfE, Health and wellbeing, RME, Sciences

Organ Donation and You

June 18, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Join us on Wednesday 20th June at 11am live from Holy Cross High School South Lanarkshire to hear how schools have been using the ‘Organ Donation Teaching Resource Pack’ and find out how important organ donation can be with a live panel including;

John Forsythe – Scotland’s Lead Clinician for Organ Donation and Transplantation. He has worked in the field of transplantation since 1991 when he was appointed as a consultant surgeon at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle before transferring to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in 1995 where he is currently a Consultant Transplant Surgeon. Mr Forsythe will outline the facts about organ donation, as well as address any myths which learners might believe on the issue e.g. ‘organ donation will hurt’.

Neil Healy – a Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation (SNOD). SNODs work closely with intensive care and emergency department staff to identify potential donors as well as supporting bereaved families through the organ donation process. Mr Healy will talk about facts surrounding organ donation, including the process itself.

Gill Hollis – Gill received a single lung transplant in 2004 due to a rare lung disease. She lives in Edinburgh and regularly visits schools across Scotland to talk about the importance of organ donation and transplantation. She will be able to talk from the point of view of someone who has had a transplant and how it has changed her life.

Find out about their different experiences in the field of Organ Donation, ask the panel any questions that you are curious about on a very thought provoking subject.

Early Years, Literacy, Sciences, Technologies

STEM Central: Have you heard about our new Sound context?

June 17, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

By the time the new school year starts in August, you’ll find our newest STEM Central context “Sound” available!

Helping practitioners to understanding learning around the science of sound as it progresses through early to fourth level, these learning journeys incorporate sciences and technologies, with everything from listening walks to the X-factor! So if you’re looking for materials to inspire you, or help you to understand the levels and progression within the broad general education (BGE) check back here, or on the STEM Central website for publication info.

Don’t forget that the Glow Science videos and fantastic mind map tool can provide inspiration and CPD.

Health and wellbeing, Literacy, Research, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Social studies, Technologies

SLF 2012: Forensic Rookies, Transition and the AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust: Scottish Islands and Mainland ICT and Science project

June 16, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

We’ve been keeping you up to date with this inquiry based science project since last December and we are delighted to confirm that you can find out more by joining us at session N1A at SLF 2012, presented by Professor Susan Rodrigues and Neil Taylor.

The workshop will include an opportunity for delegates to have hands on experience of the six investigative tasks, using the kit provided to schools, funded by AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust. There have been a series of videos made using learners and practitioners which will be used within the session, and these will also be available via YouTube after the session for delegates to follow up.

Visitor registration for SLF 2012 is now open!

CfE, Health and wellbeing, Sciences

Ready for Emergencies?

June 12, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

The Ready for Emergencies website which launches on the 13th June is a new and exciting context for learning in line with Curriculum for Excellence.

This session that follows the launch will be interactive with opportunities for learners to share their thoughts and experiences and reflect on emergencies and ask questions in relation to key topics such as emergency situations arising from severe weather, flooding and security preparations for the Olympic Games and Torch relay by the police forces across the country.

Presenters on the day will include the Stewart Borthwick (Strathclyde Emergency Coordination Group), Stewart Prodger (SEPA) and Sally Dempsey (Red Cross) who will be providing exiting background information on a variety of national as well as international approaches to emergency situations and will answer any questions on the issues arising.
This Glow TV event is aimed at learners from upper primary to upper secondary (but relevant for senior school as well)
Sign up and join us in Glow TV.

Sciences

Have you used Glow Science yet?

June 12, 2012 User deactivated 1 Comment

TES Scotland takes a look at this high quality, film-led resource perfect for teachers right on time: http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6210994.

The resource includes over 650 short films that hundreds of teachers are using to enrich and support their teaching in the sciences and technologies. Tailored to Curriculum for Excellence – and tagged to levels 2, 3 and 4 – the films provide teachers with accurate and engaging visuals for the teaching of science, technology and HWB.

Created by Twig – and rigorously checked by teachers and academics – all films come complete with supporting materials, including quizzes, extension questions, transcripts and diagrams.

Teachers and students alike love the quick and intuitive design of Twig, which is user friendly and simple to use.

“I introduced my colleague to Twig yesterday and she nearly wept with delight” P7 Teacher, West Lothian

All resources can be accessed at www.glowscience.org.uk and are FREE with your Glow log-in.

Why not check out some sample films to get an idea of what’s available? www.glowscience.org.uk/films

Early Years, Mathematics, Sciences, Senior Phase, Technologies

Ask an Astronaut with the Scottish Space School…or an Evening with NASA

June 12, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Wednesday 13 June 10:00 – 10:45 http://glo.li/MsbNg9

Join us again this year for a fantastic opportunity to explore space travel and meet three NASA guests all in one day. Find out about what they’ve done, ask your own questions, take part in space quizzes and use this unique opportunity to enter the world of space exploration.

The University of Strathclyde’s Scottish Space School runs from 10-15 June for learners in S5. Find out more at the Scottish Space School web page.

The Scottish Space School will also be hosting its annual public lecture on Wednesday 13th June 2012 from 18:30 to 20:00, when the guest speakers will include two astronauts with six space missions between them, and a lead engineer on spacesuit design. If you would like to attend this event please apply for an e-ticket by clicking on to the link: E-ticket application

Did you know Scotland is active in space research? STEM Central’s Exploring Engineering is aimed at learners and practitioners for CPD and includes interviews with Scottish and global engineers, working in Scotland, round the world, and beyond!

Cabinet Secretary announces positive future for Glow

June 8, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Mr Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, made an announcement today on the immediate and long-term future of Glow.

You can read full details of Mr Russell’s announcement on Engage for Education.

CfE, Religious and Moral Education, Religious Education in Roman Catholic schools, RME, Sciences, Social studies

Join our Glow meet from Rio

June 7, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

11am – 12pm Tuesday 19th June 2012

WATCH again: See our Glow meet live from Rio+20 where young people from across Scotland put questions to Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change.

What are your green dreams for the future?

What message will you send to world leaders?

How can Scotland become more sustainable?

What can we expect from this globally important event?

Over 150 heads of state and world leaders will gather in Rio de Janeiro from 20-22^nd June 2012 for crucial talks at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, will be one of those travelling to Rio as part of the official UK delegation.

Education Scotland, through Glow, is giving you the chance to link with the Minister live from Rio to learn more about the event and the hopes and expectations of the UK delegation.

The conference, referred to as Rio+20, will mark 20 years since the historic Earth Summit in the same city in 1992 which put issues such as climate change and the protection of biodiversity on the map and gave birth to Agenda 21 – an action plan for a sustainable future which was adopted by national governments, cities and local authorities across the world. Rio+20 will focus on seven priority areas including: decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness.

Rio+20 provides an opportunity to move away from business-as-usual and to take bold steps to end poverty and address environmental destruction.

This will be an interactive Glow meet so get your questions, messages, ideas and green dreams ready for Rio!

What is Scotland doing to protect the environment and promote sustainable development? What more could we be doing?
What are your green dreams and ideas for the future? What should we have achieved by the time Rio+40 comes around?
What messages would you like the Minister to pass onto other government officials and world leaders when he meets them for discussions?

This Glow meet will be suitable for learners in primary and secondary schools.

Free Rio+20 resources are available at: http://bit.ly/JxZr5G

Assessment, CfE, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Mathematics, Moderation, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Technologies

Sharing learning and teaching ideas for early to second level

June 4, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Participating in in-service today provided an opportunity to talk with practitioners around learning and teaching in science and share some of the ways in which Education Scotland can provide support. Issues explored included assessment and moderation, a shared understanding of standards, progression, meeting the needs of learners, transitions, using effective partnerships and keeping the curriculum alive and relevant to inspire young learners.

The following were used to exemplify support for practitioners:

STEM Central

Weather and Climate Change

Exploring Climate Change

Marks on the Landscape

Glow TV

Education Scotland Learning blog – sharing by the Development Officers in Education Scotland

STEM Central in Motion blog – sharing by practitioners and partners

Food for Thought leaflet and poster – we will shortly be developing the new Food Security context for STEM Central

STEM Central Learning Journeys from the Sound context, early years and first level due for publication later this month, and the draft second level journeys due for publication within the next few months

Journey to Excellence

NAR (National Assessment Resource)

and

Glow Science

Practitioners shared resources they also find useful such as Planet Science , I’m a Scientist, get me out of here and I’m an Engineer, get me out of here.

Mathematics, Sciences, Technologies

Learning in the Broad General Education for EY to Second Level: Speak up Scotland! A Year of Science Debating

June 4, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

We had the opportunity to participate in a local authority in-service today, working with early years and primary practitioners from a cluster. One aspect of this was to discuss how we are supporting teachers in achieving the vision of Curriculum for Excellence in sciences, and STEM.

One important aspect of learning and teaching in sciences is to create opportunities or learners to gain confidence in using scientific language, and to be able to express informed views within discussion and debate. What tools and approaches can be used to ensure learners are developing their skills in discussion, argumentation, and debate?

A teacher’s handbook from the English-Speaking Union (ESU) Scotland came across my desk recently and I thought this was something worth sharing at the session. 2012 is the year of the ESU’s Speak up Scotland! Science Debating project. Within this easily digestible, practical handbook are a range of techniques and approaches which can be used to structure debate within science, and include all learners within the class. It explains how to plan and structure a formal debate, if that is what you are looking for, including how to structure a speech, a format for judging the content and skills of the participants – useful for teacher or peer evaluation. Other approaches described include balloon and role play debates. Exemplification is given for role playdebates in bio-prospecting and badger culling.

The teachers who reviewed this booklet immediately saw opportunities to use this to support learning and teaching, to enrich the development of our learners as scientific thinkers.

The booklet also contains starters for debates such as:

”this house believes the government should fund research on planet earth rather than the cosmos”

“this house would ban research on embryonic stem cells”

All of this is also available on the project website where you can find out how schools are using the debates and the feedback from learners.

National Qualifications, Sciences, Senior Phase, Technologies

Learning for the new NQs: Beyond the X-ray machine

June 3, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

If the X-ray machine is a 20th Century icon, is this high tech surgical “ipad” an icon for the 21st century? This touchscreen “operating table”, the brainchild of Jack Choi of Anamotage, is in use in a UK hospital where applications include training future surgeons and planning real-life surgery. Interested in hearing Jack Choi talk about his virtual dissection table? Try this short TED Talk from February 2012.

This could raise some interesting questions for learners: what are the principles behind the imaging techniques used? Is this £60k equipment really an advance over the traditional X-ray?

Sciences, Technologies

STEM Central Sounds Amazing!

June 1, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

We are progressing the development of our new contexxt on STEM Central “Sound”. Early years and first level learning journeys will be published within the next few weeks. Something to think about in preparation: what distinguishes music from noise? Why not view the Glow Science video “How do Musical Instruments work?” and explore this further?

The Sound context will continue to be developed to incorporate second and fourth level journeys. We’ll be bringing you vodcasts on bats, robots and echolocation and sharing the experiences of learners at Balfron Primary School, when they worked with the Engineering the Future project. The fourth level journey could be used to support your planning for learning and teaching for National 4 Physics.

And, it might sound like something from Dr Who but researchers at the University of Dundee have recently announced the invention of a “sonic screwdriver”, an ultrasonic device which has potential for developing new, more precise surgical techniques. Sounds amazing? More on this from the BBC. Unsure about ultrasound? Why not use the Glow Sciences videos Beyond the Range of Human Hearing, or Medical Marvels: Ultrasound for a bit of background?

CfE, Sciences, Social studies, Technologies

Get Ready for Rio+20 – UN Conference on Sustainability

May 30, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

WATCH again: See our Glow meet live from Rio+20 where young people from across Scotland put questions to Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change.

What are your green dreams for the future?

Between 20-22 June 2012 world leaders will gather in the Brazilian city of Rio for crucial talks at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. The conference, referred to as Rio+20, will mark 20 years since the historic Earth Summit in the same city in 1992 which put issues such as climate change and the protection of biodiversity on the map and gave birth to Agenda 21 – an action plan for a sustainable future which was adopted by national governments, cities and local authorities across the world. The establishment of the international Eco-Schools movement was another practical outcome of this process.

The 1992 Earth Summit achieved much but clearly there are still many challenges to be addressed if we are to build a safer, more equitable, cleaner, greener and more prosperous world for all.

The hopes and expectations for Rio+20 are high and the preparations have highlighted seven priority areas including: decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness. Rio+20 is a chance to move away from business-as-usual and to take bold steps to end poverty and address environmental destruction.

Sustainability in Scotland

The document, A Flourishing Scotland, produced for Rio+20 outlines the many achievements we should celebrate with regards to Scotland’s success in promoting sustainable development education. IN the context of the Rio Summit it may be of interest to note that Chapter 36 of the Agenda 21 document, which focussed on education, was written by a Scot – Professor John Smyth.

However, other key achievements nationally include: the embedding of sustainable development education, global citizenship and outdoor learning within Curriculum for Excellence; we also have one of the most successful Eco-Schools programme in the world with over 98% of local authority school registered; and Scotland has shown leadership on a world stage by introducing ambitious targets on climate change and in planning for our transition to a low-carbon economy. By 2020 it is estimated that 130,000 people will be employed in low carbon and green industries in Scotland and that renewable energy will provide 100% of our energy needs. Scotland is also the only county in the world to have debated the issue of climate justice in its parliament.

Whilst much has been achieved, there is still work to be done. Nevertheless, there is a real opportunity for Scotland to show leadership on a world stage with regards to its commitment to sustainable development and to set an example for other nations to follow.

What you can do

Our ambition is that every learner in Scotland recognises themselves as a global citizen; has a strong commitment to living sustainably and has an enthusiasm for the outdoors and nature.

You can help by ensuring that global citizenship, sustainable development education and outdoor learning are on your school improvement plan and embedded in your curriculum. Make these areas the responsibility of everyone in your school, not just the eco-warrior or group, so your school can adopt a successful whole school approach and make an impact on every learner.

Professional learning – read Learning for Change: Scotland’s Action Plan for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and make use of our resources on sustainable development education, global citizenship and outdoor learning.

Join our online community to share practice and ideas with other practitioners around Scotland and engage in professional dialogue.

Activity ideas

Raise the profile of the conference in your own school or community – organise your own version of the Rio+20 conference.

Invite learners to develop their green dreams – what is their vision of a more sustainable future? What would they like to see happen in the next 20 years? What would their message to world leaders be?

Web links

Official website of the Rio+20 Summit

Twitter – follow the conversation at #Rioplus20

My green dream – add your voice and dream to thousands of others

Education Scotland Online

Sustainable development education pages and videos

Global citizenship resources

Outdoor learning resources

Weather and Climate Change

Exploring Climate Change

Schools Global Footprint

Resources

Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Scottish Sustainable Development Forum have created a Rio+20 resource pack for schools and youth groups. This resource pack can be downloaded from the Eco-Schools Scotland website. Hard copies, plus the accompanying DVD, can be ordered via email: kelly.johnstone@ksbscotland.org.uk

WWF has produced a free Rio+20 teaching resource and associated competition for young people aged 11-14 years. Download for free at: www.wwf.org.uk/futures

Download the special edition Living Planet Report – On the Road to Rio produced by WWF.

Stop Climate Chaos has produced Rio+20 resources for students and teachers. Download from: http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/rc-youth

Sciences

Forensic Rookies, Transition and the AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust: Scottish Islands and Mainland ICT and Science project

May 28, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Last December, we blogged about an exciting project “Forensic Rookies” involving primary and secondary schools in West Lothian, Shetland and Perth & Kinross. Collaboration via Glow Wikis and culminating in a Glow meeting in February was the key to success for the learners, in this ASZTT funded project.

The first of a series vodcasts with feedback and reflections from learners and practitioners is available on YouTube’s ScienceEdResearch channel. In this first vodcast Janette Kean and learners from Westfield Primary in West Lothian share their experiences of the project. Each of the authorities is taking the “Forensic Rookies” project forward with a variety of approaches being used to meet the needs of the learners within each setting.

This TESS article “Young Sleuths get right on the case” discusses the project further.

Mathematics, Sciences, Technologies

STEM Central and Renewables in Scotland

May 27, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

If you are using the STEM Central Renewables context with learners, the news of the latest tests on a giant tidal turbine off Orkney may be of interest.

National Qualifications, Sciences, Technologies

STEM Central Electric Transport and a context for learning for the new NQs

May 26, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Many thanks to our Engineering the Future colleagues for highlighting this link which could be used to enrich learning around the STEM Central electric transport context. In Meet the Inventor of the World’s Fastest Electric Motorcycle Michael Czysz talks about making his dream a reality, and what it feels like to travel at 200 mph on a motorbike hearing only the sound of the air.

Thinking about sustainable transport as a context for learning for the new NQs? Along with the world’s fastest electric motorcycle, what about freight ships towed by massive kites to reduce fuel demand? Scope for creative design and practical investigative work with learners in sciences and technologies?

For more on electric transport see our 13th May blog post STEM Central Electric Transport, the smater Smart car and a context for learning for the new NQs.

Literacy, National Qualifications, Sciences, Senior Phase

Learning for the new NQs: Will Bioenergy play a part in our secure energy future?

May 26, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Exploring Bioenergy could feature within your plans for learning and teaching for the new NQs in Environmental Science, Physics or Science. What is it? Could it form part of our strategy for energy security in Scotland and the UK?

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has published the UK Bioenergy Strategy with handy “key facts” on the front page. In addition the Frequently Asked Questions highlights issues such as ‘Shouldn’t land used for food production rather than energy crops?’ which could form the basis of debate and investigative work with learners.

This DECC website has, under the “Meeting Energy Demand” tab, information on everything from hydrogen fuel cells to nuclear power, along with easily accessible useful links to relevant websites. This could provide a rich source of background material for your planning associated with our recently published advice and guidance on energy security.

Literacy, National Qualifications, Sciences, Senior Phase

Learning for the new NQs: Speak up Scotland! A Year of Science Debating

May 25, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Within our recently published advice and guidance associated with the new NQs in science, there are a number of areas which would lend themselves to discussion in the classroom. What does this look like? What is the difference between learners talking, and discussing? Arguing and debating? What tools and approaches can be used to ensure learners are developing their skills in discussion, argumentation, and debate?

A teacher’s handbook from the English-Speaking Union (ESU) Scotland came across my desk this week. 2012 is the year of the ESU’s Speak up Scotland! Science Debating project. Within this easily digestible, practical handbook are a range of techniques and approaches which can be used to structure debate within the science classroom, and include all learners within the class. It explains how to plan and structure a formal debate, if that is what you are looking for, including how to structure a speech, a format for judging the content and skills of the participants – useful for teacher observation or peer evaluation. Other approaches described include balloon and role play debates. Exemplification is given for role playdebates in bio-prospecting and badger culling.

The booklet also contains starters for debates such as:

”this house believes the government should fund research on planet earth rather than the cosmos” – ties in with the new National 4/5 qualifications in Physics

“this house would give up non essential flying to help curb dangerous climate change” – ties in with the sustainability elements across a number of the new NQs including Environmental Science

“this house would ban research on embryonic stem cells” – ties in with the National 4/5 qualifications in Biology and our published advice and guidance on Health and Disease.

All of this is also available on the project website where you can find out how schools are using the debates and the feedback from learners.

Sciences, Technologies

STEM Central and the Bionic Eye invented to help restore sight

May 25, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

Since publication of our STEM Central Bioengineering context earlier this year, there has been no shortage of advances in this field to incorporate into learning and teaching within this context.

This BBC News article Light-powered bionic eye invented to help restore sight describes innovation at Stanford University in California, using near infrared signals and photovoltaic cells. This is being reported as an advancement on the patient trials blogged on 5th May – an opportunity for learners to examine the two technologies, and compare and contrast.

National Qualifications, Sciences, Senior Phase

Learning for the new NQs in Environmental Science, Physics or Science: Energy Security and Sustainable Living

May 24, 2012 User deactivated Leave a comment

If you are planning learning and teaching for the new NQs around themes of energy security and sustainability, the Institute for Public Policy and Research website might be a good port of call. Bringing together articles, publications, reports and rich data this site provides a wealth of information which could be used in your planning, or for learners incorporating numeracy and literacy into learning.

For example, will our household energy bills be increased by use of renewables? What are the options given our increasing energy demands? Is media reporting of renewables fair and balanced? Articles such as Telegraph distorts the truth on energy bills , ITV must show BBC the way on accurate green reporting and Three ways we can face up to ‘green energy’ backlash make for interesting reading.

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A training blog for PLSuperheroes