Ready for Emergencies?

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.

Have you used Glow Science yet?

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

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

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!

GTC Scotland Professional Standards

For the last few months, GTC Scotland has been working with colleagues across the profession on a revision of the GTC Scotland Professional Standards. The working titles of the revised standards are: Standards for Registration (encompassing a Standard for Initial Registration and a Standard for Full Registration), the Standard for Career Long Professional Learning, and The Standards for Leadership and Management (encompassing A Standard for Middle Leadership and a Standard for Headship). A generic set of values has been developed to be used across each of the standards.

The revised standards will be available online in August, as part of a consultation exercise. A programme of Glow TV events has been arranged, to enable teachers to hear our thinking about the content of the revised standards, and to engage in discussion about this. These Glow TV events will take place on the following dates 30th August, 6th, 13th and 27th September, with the first three focussing on the individual standards and the final session looking at the overall standards framework.

Further details and an opportunity to sign up to take part in these events will be available on the Glow TV schedule before the summer break. GTC Scotland Professional Standards Glow TV Events.

Launch of Community Learning and Development: Strategic Guidance for Community Planning Partnerships

On Monday 11th June the above guidance was launched on the Engage for Education website.

Michael Russell, MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, will kick-off a weeklong event via video blog – make sure you visit the Engage for Education website to join in the discussion.

Throughout the week of the 11th June there will be a series of themed blog discussions covering areas such as: the impact of CLD and how the Guidance will support this work, Curriculum for Excellence, community engagement & empowerment, young people’s transitions from school and the implementation phase of the Guidance

Be What You Want!

In March Glow TV was delighted to broadcast an event entitled International Women’s Day – Be What You Want! It was a great success with many schools across Scotland joining us on the day. If you missed it the recorded version can still be viewed in Glow TV’s Watch Again.

Following on from this is the Be What You Want campaign which may be of interest to schools and pupils. Despite the improvement in educational attainment of girls and young women, choices are constrained by assumptions about women’s capabilities and suitability for specific roles. Women and men are still segregated into jobs and industries which are based on stereotypes. The subjects that girls and boys study at school, and in further and higher education, are also heavily segregated according to gender.

The Be What You Want campaign aims to help young people make informed decisions about subject and career choices. The campaign, which was launched by Close the Gap in 2011, has produced a series of posters and comic strips depicting the different situations young people might experience when making decisions about their future. A campaign pack, which also includes a resource for teachers, has been sent to every primary and secondary school in Scotland. Close the Gap has also delivered a number of sessions on the Be What You Want campaign to pupils in schools across Scotland, which explore gender stereotyping and the causes of the gender pay gap.

For further information, campaign materials, or if you are interested in Close the Gap delivering a session in your school, please contact Anna Ritchie, Email: aritchie@stuc.org.uk or Tel: 0141 337 8146. Information on the Be What You Want campaign can be found at www.bewhatyouwant.org.uk where campaign materials can also be downloaded.

Cabinet Secretary announces positive future for Glow

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.

Join our Glow meet from Rio

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 20-22nd 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

Dynamic Youth Awards now credit rated on the SCQF by SQA

 Dynamic Youth Awards provide a peer-assessed approach to recognising non-formal learning for young people aged 10 – 14.

The Awards recognise young people’s involvement in any activity that they choose to participate in, and have included helping out at youth groups, peer education initiatives, buddying schemes and community arts projects.

Dynamic Youth Awards are now credit rated on the SCQF at Level 3, which is comparable to Foundation Standard Grade or the new Access 3 Qualification. Dynamic Youth Awards range from a One Star Award to a Five Star Award. Each of these star ratings have different amounts of credit points attached to them, to allow recognition of the amount of learning required of the young person to achieve each award.For more information about Dynamic Youth Awards credit points, click here

The additional currency that SCQF credit rating brings will also support the use of Dynamic Youth Awards to recognise, profile and report on achievement, delivering a key priority of Curriculum for Excellence.

Steven Greig, Youth Scotland Youth Work Manager said:

“Young people have gained Dynamic Youth Awards for their involvement in a range of fantastic projects that support their learning. The fact that the Awards are now SCQF credit rated by SQA adds currency to the high standard of delivery from Award Group Workers, as well as paying testament to the achievements of young people themselves. We are delighted that young people will now be able to see directly how their Dynamic Youth Awards compare with more formal qualifications, such as those gained at school.”

Shanagh, a young person from Perth and Kinross Youth Council said:

“At last! After doing so many of these awards myself, it’s great to see they are getting the formal recognition that young people deserve.”

The process of credit rating the Awards has involved an ongoing partnership between Youth Scotland, SQA and the Award Groups currently delivering the Awards. Youth Scotland is also grateful to Craig Green, Information and Learning Services Manager at John Wheatley College, for his partnership support in developing the Award’s learning outcomes.

Community Empowerment

Local Government Minister Derek Mackay will launch a consultation on a proposed bill which will consider ideas to give more control to Scotland’s communities. Responses to the consultation will help shape the proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill.

Ideas being considered include greater community involvement in making decisions on local budgets, helping public sector organisations identify the needs and priorities in an area and target budgets more effectively, an idea first piloted in Brazil and in a number of European cities.

The consultation also includes ideas on making it easier for community organisations to get involved in designing and delivering public services and challenging public authorities if they feel an area of public service delivery is not being run effectively and does not genuinely meet their needs.

The consultation also explores how existing legislation can be better used to let local authority and housing authority tenants take on management of their own housing, and whether existing allotments legislation should be amended to better support communities taking forward grow-your-own projects.

2500 young people to be helped into work

 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/06/esf-employment05062012

Leading youth charity The Prince’s Trust will receive £750,000 of European Structural Funds (ESF) to help even more young people into the jobs market.

The investment builds on last month’s announcement by the Scottish Government that £25 million of ESF would be focused on projects designed to get young people into work.

The Prince’s Trust will use the funding to extend their core programmes to help disadvantaged 16-25-year-olds build their confidence and increase their motivation to get their lives working again.

Sainsbury store in Edinburgh stops selling tobacco

A Sainsbury’s store in Edinburgh has become the first in Scotland to stop selling tobacco. The move is part of a trial, which has no set end date, will look at the impact of the removal of tobacco from stores. The trial is being carried out because of the Scottish Government’s public health levy, and has lead Sainsbury’s to undertake a review of the sale of tobacco in company’s Scottish stores.

If you would like to read more see the link below:

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/104409-sainsburys-stop-tobacco-sales-in-edinburgh-store-due-to-new-policy/

MCMC 16+ Learning Choices newsletter

The April/May 16+ Learning Choices newsletter is available here (Glow log in required)

In addition to articles from Skills Development Scotland, this edition contains news from a number of local authorities, including: Angus, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, Perth and Kinross, Shetland Islands, Western Isles, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh.

Panda Progress and Lots More!

Join us live once again from Edinburgh Zoo on Thursday 6th June at 10.30am where we will be joined by experts to hear more about how our favourite pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang are enjoying life in Scotland.

Find out how they have settled in to their new home and what the keepers have found out about them since their arrival.

We’ll also be looking at other animals in the zoo that are endangered and we’ll find out more about them and why they have become endangered and how this can be prevented. You can join in our activity during this event by downloading the two documents stored here in Glow TV.

So sign up and join us for Panda Progress and Lots More in Glow TV.

Sharing learning and teaching ideas for early to second level

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.

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

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”

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.

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

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?

STEM Central Sounds Amazing!

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?

S1/S2 Assessment Tasks

I recently visited the Modern Langauges Department in St Mungo’s High School, Falkirk.  It was lovely to have the opportunity to meet the teachers there and have a cup of tea and chat with them in their French café!  It’s always interesting to exchange ideas and take part in professional dialogue with other practitioners and they even allowed me to visit some classes to see their young people “in action”.  The St Mungo’s team were more than willing to share their CfE materials with all of us and I’ve posted them on our National Glow group.  To access their materials please click here. (You will need your Glow password)

Many thanks to the teachers in St Mungo’s and to their principal teacher, Jim McWillliams for being willing to share their work.  If we all share our materials, it can only make life a little easier!

If anyone else would like to share something they have developed that would help to support either the BGE or Senior Phase, then please feel free to post directly onto the Modern Langauges National Glow Group, or send it to me and I’ll post it for you.  My email address is

fhiona.fisher@educationscotland.gov.uk

Get Ready for Rio+20 – UN Conference on Sustainability

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

Going bananas about Algebra!

Join us in Glow TV on Thursday 31st May at 2pm for this very different ways of learning about algebra.

This lesson will show basic uses of algebra using bananas as an everyday context, and be mainly suitable for P4 pupils.

During the live transmission Tom Renwick from Maths on Track will be seen working with a P4 class, initially measuring the weights of three bananas labelled a, b and c and then going on to evaluate simple expressions such as a+b and a-b etc.

Towards the end of the event you will have the weights of three bananas measured in your own classroom and your pupils will be invited to evaluate simple expressions based on their own data.

As in most areas of maths lack of associated numeracy numeracy skills can hamper understanding, so Tom has prepared graded practice sheets (three pdf’s provided in Supporting Materials and suitable for smart board use) showing the numeracy skills which will be associated with the algebra the lesson, given that bananas usually weigh between 100g and 200g.

It would be beneficial if pupils watching the live transmission were reasonably competent with these numeracy skills beforehand since it’s Tom’s intention to have as many P4 pupils as possible ‘going bananas about algebra’!

Sign up and join us in Glow TV!

Understanding Social Enterprise Programme (Perth)

The CLD Standards Council, in partnership with the Scottish Social Enterprise Academy, is offering a free two day Understanding Social Enterprise programme to CLD practitioners who work directly with young people in Scotland. The event will take place in Perth on 20th and 21st June 2012. The programme will introduce the concept of social enterprise, the challenges faced by enterprises and assess the future for this dynamic and emerging business model.This learning programme also offers an opportunity for participants to gain an Institute of Leadership and Management Award in Understanding Social Enterprise qualification (6 credits at SCQF level 8). Participants who wish to opt in for the qualification will be required to complete an assessed written report and to meet an ILM Registration and Qualification Fee of £82.00.

The booking form and programme can be downloaded here

Curriculum for Excellence: Have you made the link?

Glasgow, 27-Jun-2012

The reach of Curriculum for Excellence aims to be wider than schools. There is increasing emphasis on it being a lifelong learning curriculum, requiring us to evidence how we can play our part in its implementation.

Learning Link Scotland is working in partnership with Education Scotland Communities Team to run a new one day workshop to help you make links between your work in adult learning/CLD and Curriculum for Excellence. The Workshop will explore:

  • Key features of Curriculum for Excellence
  • What links CfE to your practice in adult learning/CLD
  • Why do you need to engage with CfE?
  • Linking CfE to How Good is Our CLD?

The event is open to voluntary organisations and local authorities. There will only be 20 places available at this event. It costs £20 for members of Learning Link Scotland and £25 for non-members.

Sign up now

Contact: Learning Link Scotland, [ e-mail | website ]

LEAP Online

SCDC is pleased to announce the launch of a brand new software package to support participatory, outcome focused planning and evaluation.

LEAP – Learning Evaluation and Planning is a values based approach to planning and evaluating work with communities and is now available as an online software application. The user friendly online version encourages users to ask critical questions about their project or programme, and it is designed to support joint working by allowing access to shared project aims and reports among various partners and stakeholders.

Download the LEAP online flyer for more information.

Contact: SCDC, phone: 0141 248 1924 [ e-mail | website ]

Credit Ratings of Programmes Within the Community Learning and Development Sector

Invitation to Submit Proposals

Over the last two years The SCQFP made funding available to a range of organisations that supported the wider achievement of young people. This resulted in seven programmes being credit rated onto the Framework. Now that these have been allocated an SCQF level and credit points it allows them to be compared with other Scottish qualifications.

This year the SCQFP, with funding from the Scottish Government, would like to start a project to run over three years to enable a number of CLD learning programmes to be credit rated onto the Framework. SCQFP is looking for organisations to submit bids to have their learning programmes credit rated, during this financial year.

In addition, a number of other CLD organisations could be supported to develop their learning programmes into the structure required for credit rating with a view to submitting them in the next stage of this project if funding is continued from Scottish Government during 2013-14.

The Closing date for receipt of submissions is Thursday 21 June 2012.

More information is available here.

Download the CLD Credit Rating Project application form here.

Glowing Thursdays – Sailing for Olympic Gold

Join us in Glow TV on Thursday 31st May at 12pm to meet another inspirational Olympian – double gold medal-winning sailor Shirley Robertson who will be speaking at Perth Grammar on the school Olympic-themed fundraising day.

Shirley Robertson OBE made it in the history books by becoming the first British woman to win two Olympic Gold Medals at consecutive games, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. Shirley has gone on to develop a highly
successful media career including with the BBC and CNN. She will be visiting Perth Grammar to tell the compelling and inspirational story of her personal journey to achieve her dreams and to support S1 pupils with their Olympic challenges. This will be part of the school fundraising day when all pupils will be involved in a sponsored walk to raise more funds for Sport Relief.

Sign up and join us in Glow TV.

Learning Stories – An Education Scotland Identified Good Practice Event

Join us in Glow Tv on Wednesday 30th May for an exciting insight into a new way of reporting in a school. In Ormiston Primary School every child has a journal called a Learning Story containing photographs, video links and comments from parents, children and teaching staff. These Learning Stories have become integral to the life of learning at Ormiston Primary School and have replaced the end of term report card.

These colourful and detailed books help children to share purposefully their learning with their families and helps to give the families more depth of knowledge of how they can support their child at home. They also give the school the opportunity to find out what children are learning at home which forms a rich picture of all the achievements for each child.

During this Glow Meet headteacher Helen Gardyne and her pupils will share their journey of development with their Learning Stories and this will hopefully inspire you on your own journey and to reflect on the nature of reporting on children’s learning.

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

Simple Acts – Spirit Project Update

Do you know about Simple Acts and the Spirit photography project? If not this is another chance for students to get involved in the project and share any videos or interviews they have taken so far.

As part of Refugee Week 2012 the Scottish Refugee Council are a running a photographic project around the theme Spirit. An online gallery will be created where people can upload videos and interviews with each other. Schools across Scotland will be invited to take photos and videos that capture this theme and these will be added to the online gallery.

In this Glow Meet, students will get to see photographs and videos that have already been uploaded and will be able to discuss how these represent Spirit and can ask questions about taking their own photos/videos.

This project is most suited to P4 and upwards and will take place on Wednesday 30th May at 11am.

Sign up and join us in Glow TV!

Moderation in Practice – What does it mean to you?

Join us on Tuesday 29th May at 4pm in Glow TV to find out more about what moderation can mean to you. A number of personnel from local authorities and Education Scotland will take part in an open discussion around ‘participating in moderation activities – the opportunities and challenges it presents’

During this session practitioners from across the country will share their experiences of moderation in practice. There will be practitioners from all sectors participating in this event, relating their experiences: within their own establishment or sector, across different sectors and in particular at key points of transition.

Practitioners who have participated in the Quality Assurance and Moderation exemplars on the NAR will relate their experiences. The Quality Assurance and Moderation Team in Education Scotland will give an update on work being developed at present to support the moderation process.

Sign up and join us in Glow TV.

That’s Not Me – Launch of new Mental Health Resource

This week sees the launch of a new education pack which will enable secondary school teachers and other youth workers to address some of the issues around mental health and wellbeing.  ‘That’s Not Me…’ uses the medium of film to explore mental health through the eyes of young people.  The 12 minute drama was written and performed by young people with professional advice and input from adult health professionals and film makers.  The project was jointly funded by two projects within Scottish Borders, Choose Life which aims to reduce the rate of suicide and Voice of My Own (VOMO) which gives young people an opportunity to express themselves through the moving image.  The project also received input from Penumbra Youth Project, a community based mental health project working with 16-21 year olds in Scottish Borders.

The film was well received by young people, schools and health professionals as well as winning acclaim as an artistic endeavour in the wider world of film making.  Not surprisingly, it was felt that it was important to make it available to a wider audience and after securing additional funding, VOMO and Choose Life worked together to create this pack.

Robert Sproul-Cran directed the film and designed the pack. He said ‘The group which developed the project drew on personal experiences and emotions, which gives the film a real authenticity. The powerful performances by Perri Walsh as Rosie and Shelagh Hynd as her mother really strike a chord. I’m just delighted that we now have the chance to take this significant work to a wider audience, supported by the excellent material created by Haylis in the education pack. It may just be the most important project I’ve ever been involved in.’

The pack will be distributed to all schools and youth groups in Scottish Borders and is available to buy for other organisations across Scotland.  For further information, please contact Haylis on hmackay@scotborders.gov.uk tel 01835 824000.

Sunday Herald – essay of the week!

Fighting Fire with Fire
Article in the Sunday Herald, which discusses, women and smoking. The article discusses how tobacco companies and public health campaigns have used marketing to target women. The essay also talks to young women about why the smoke and their views on tobacco branding and what effect plain packaging may have.

If you would like to read more, follow the link below:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/fighting-fire-with-fire.12723018

New German Materials for Senior Phase

 

A German teaching project has sprung to life led by Maike Muthel, the German teacher at Mallaig High School in Lochaber. It will particularly benefit pupils in remote areas and those within schools where German is not currently provided.

On offer is a one year online Intermediate 2 course via  GLOW, which will be available to all senior pupils.  The materials will also be easily adaptable to suit candidates sitting National 5 in 2014.   Learners will undertake the course working mainly on their own after a weekly face-to-face session with the teacher introducing grammar, tasks and providing feedback. A week to week programme is available on GLOW and this year the course is on offer to the whole of Scotland. For pupils with prior knowledge of German, provision of a Higher course could also be discussed.

To access the materials please click here.  ( you will need your Glow password.)

For more information please get in touch directly with Maike Muthel:

MMuthel839@highlandschools.org.uk

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

STEM Central and the Bionic Eye invented to help restore sight

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.

Resources and ideas now available!

If you visit our Early Years Saturday Conference Community you will see links, resources and information from delegates.

If you are developing new ideas using this inspiring information why not make a pledge and let the community know all about it? Other You may be able to join other members of the community in developing your idea.

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

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.

Learning Stories from Ormiston Primary

On Wed 30th May at 3.45pm , staff and young people from Ormiston Primary will tell us about their Learning Stories.

In Ormiston Primary School every child has a journal called a Learning Story containing photographs, video links and comments from parents, children and teaching staff. These Learning Stories have become integral to the life of learning at Ormiston Primary School and have replaced the end of term report card.

During this Glow Meet, headteacher Helen Gardyne and her pupils will share their journey of development with their Learning Stories and this will hopefully inspire you on your own journey and to reflect on the nature of reporting on children’s learning.

Sign up and join us for this inspiring CPD opportunity on Glow TV

I was very fortunate to spend a day recently with Helen Gardyne, the head teacher to work on a CPD opportunity for parental involvement and was bowled over by the work being done on this area.

Follow this link, Pupil Voice, to see a Prezi slideshow which will give you a flavour of Ormiston Primary. Press the play button to start and select More and Fullscreen if you want the cinematic experience!

1:1 Scotland – a new CPD community on Glow

On Thursday of this week, Derek Robertson of Education Scotland will be introducing a new CPD Community on Glow, 1:1 Scotland. If you are interested in how some schools in Scotland are taking learning forward in a school or class where every student has a computer or other device, then this is for you!

The first online 1:1Meet takes place on Thursday 24th of May at 4pm. More details and sign-up here on Glow

This is the first of several 1:1Meets planned to help build the community. In future opportunities, Ian Stuart of Islay High and Fraser Speirs of Cedar School of Excellence will share their experiences of 1:1 learning.

Learning about Scotland in the Early Years

Saturday was a very inspirational day for the Early Years team at Education Scotland. Our Saturday Conference, Learning about Scotland in the Early Years was a great success. There was singing, poetry writing and even a competition!

 

If you would like to follow up on any interesting discussions from the day or revisit and reflect on the presentations then visit our Early Years CPD community. The presentations are within the Early Years Saturday Conference mini CPD site.

If you have not joined our community yet, then please do. We had a queue of enthusiastic delegates who couldn’t wait to join on Saturday and you can meet them (virtually!) when you do.

Well done to Sharon from South Lanarkshire who won the well deserved prize of two Scots books to share with her establishment.

Thank you

The Early Years Team

Learning for the new NQs: Carbon Capture and Storage

If you are planning for learning and teaching associated with the new National Qualifications in Environmental Science, Physics or Science, the BBC’s short video “Norway tests carbon capture and storage” may be of interest. What is the science behind carbon capture? What are the risks associated with use of this technology? Do we need it?  NASA scientist Dr James Hansen discussed the future of coal-fired power stations with carbon capture technologies in a Scottish and UK context at the recent Edinburgh International Science Festival, ahead of his award of the prestigious Edinburgh Medal. As experimental capture gets underway in Scotland, the Zero Emissions Platform website provides a wealth of information.

Learning for the new NQs: Research tie in with Food Security

At the beginning of May, The James Hutton Institute announced the award of £1.25 million to work towards more sustainble, disease resistance crops to enhance our future food security.

This ties in with Education Scotland’s recently published work on Food Security for National 4 Science and National 5 Biology, along with work associated with Inheritance for National 5 Biology.  Published advice and guidance is intended for use by practitioners in creative and innovative ways, to plan approaches to meet the needs of learners. Flexibility within the new National Qualifications offers the ideal opportunity to plan for learning and teaching which incorporates cutting edge Scottish and global research, and builds in meaningful partnerships from the rich STEM landscape in Scotland.

Looking ahead to the forthcoming school year, we are developing the theme of Food Security for first through to fourth level as a context in STEM Central, providing scope for working within clusters to build a continuous learning journey. More news will be published on the ES Learning Blog later this year.

Creative Connections fife 2012 – An Early Years Gathering

Fife Council’s Cultural Partnerships Team, in partnership with Fife’s Childcare & Early Years Services and The Byre Theatre are delighted to announce their early years event ‘Creative Connections fife 2012’ on Wednesday 23 May 2012 at The Byre Theatre, St Andrews.

Bookings are still open, so if you are an early years practitioner or have a professional interest in this field, then this day will be of interest to you. Book today!

To book contact cultural.partnerships@fife.gov.uk or telephone 01592 583255.

Find out more about Creative Connections 2012 – An Early Years Gathering. Also visit our Glow Group

If you are unable to attend in person please join us via Glow. All sessions will be live on Glow TV – sign up and register for all the events in Glow TV!

Learning for the new NQs in Sciences

Have you had an opportunity to explore the advice and guidance published to support practitioners in planning for learning and teaching for the new National Qualifications? Education Scotland has published a suite of advice and guidance exemplifying skills, teaching approaches, challenge, the use of context and incorporation of literacy, numeracy and ICT in learning and teaching in sciences.

The published advice and guidance is intended for use by practitioners and is non-mandatory. It is intended that practitioners will use it in a reflective and selective manner.

Throughout, reflective questions for learners are provided to aid practitioners in planning learning and teaching to meet the needs of learners. In many cases, investigative work and inquiry-based practical learning will supplement the learning and teaching described.

The Daily What News – iPads for all?

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

Hi-tech future for Scottish classrooms

 The government wants young people to be able to use more mobile devices and handheld computers in schools.

Hundreds of pupils at almost 20 schools in Scotland are already using cutting-edge technology in their classrooms. P7 children at Sciennes Primary School in Edinburgh, for example, each have an Apple iPad, while students at Morgan Academy in Dundee use Android technology.

To read the rest of this news article click here.

For suggestions on how to use this article with your learners click here.

Your learners can take part in the debate Do you think schools should use more moibile technology? in the Glow Forum. (Glow log in required)

Learning for the new NQs: X-ray machines – a 20th century icon

Is the x-ray machine a 20th century icon? If you are planning for learning and teaching using the published advice and guidance associated with Nuclear Chemistry and Physics then this 7 minute video from The Guardian’s Newton Channel “X-ray machines – a 20th century icon” may be of interest. What is the connection between the work of Marie Curie and this crucial advancement in diagnostic and therapeutic healthcare?

Education Scotland Identified Good Practice – Aboyne Academy

The practice of inter-disciplinary learning in the Secondary context is one that is central to the underpinning ethos of Curriculum for Excellence. Schools all over Scotland are looking at ways in which this can be made as purposeful and meaningful as possible for both pupils and teachers and in that aspect Aboyne Academy is no different from any other.

Aboyne Academy’s efforts in this area were given favourable comment during a recent inspection so much so that the inspection team recommended that this practice be celebrated and shared via Glow TV.
During this Glow Meet you will be able to meet the teachers from a range of departments who have begun to collaborate in order to make inter-disciplinary learning work for them. You will see how Geography, Science and Maths, Drama and Guidance and RME and Physics have all worked together on different projects in a complementary fashion. You will be able to hear how the teachers worked together and what impact they feel such working has had on the teaching and learning at Aboyne.

Join in the Glow Meet in Glow TV on Tuesday 22nd May at 11am and get the chance to ask questions of colleagues who are are making inter-disciplinary learning work in their setting. Sign up and join us in Glow TV.

Creativity and You! Embedding Creativity Across Learning – National Event

25 May, Glasgow Science Centre, 10 am – 3.30 pm

#creativityandyou

http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/newsandevents/events/2012/eventgeneral_tcm4720739.asp

This national event, organised by The Scottish Government, Education Scotland and Creative Scotland, will showcase innovation across teaching and learning in a range of subjects beyond the expressive arts.

It will highlight just how imaginatively schools and teachers are already embedding creativity into their daily work, often in partnership with external organisations.

Teachers and senior managers in schools and the education sector will be able to draw on a range of good practice in promoting creative learning and improving learners’ creative skills within all subjects.

The day is designed to:

  • Explore what is meant by ‘Creativity skills for learning, life and work’.
  • Experience new and exciting approaches to motivating children to learn.
  • Discover different approaches taken to working with professionals and partners in delivering creative learning experiences.
  • Find out about the many resources and networks available to support creative teaching and learning.

To book a place, please contact Elisabeth.zelger@creativescotland.com with your name, title, contact details and local authority and any special requirements.

STEM Central Renewables and Learning for the new NQs: A Bright Solar Future?

Are you working with learners using the STEM Central Renewables context? Or planning for learning and teaching in the context of Energy Security associated with Physics or with Environmental Science?

The Guardian’s Newton Channel includes an 11 minute video about the world’s first commercial solar power plant, in Spain. Could this technology be used more widely to help the world build a sustainable, low carbon future? What are the limitations of this technology? What are the limitations of our ability to harness the sun’s energy? How much energy are we talking about? Learners in sunny places could try to recreate Sir John Herschel’s 1838 experiment or watch Brian Cox Measuring a Sunbeam.

Euroquiz for Primaries

A P7 team from St Mary’s Primary School in Duntocher, West Dunbartonshire, was the winner of yesterday’s Euroquiz 2012 Finals held at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. This annual competition continues to encourage learning about Europe and thinking about what it means to be a citizen of the European Union.

http://ltsblogs.org.uk/globalcitizenship/2012/05/15/euroquiz-success/

STEM Central Electric Transport, the smarter Smart car and a context for learning for the new NQs

Electric cars – are they a viable option as we seek a low carbon future? What are the limitations of the technologies currently available? If you are working with learners using the STEM Central Electric Transport context The Guardian’s Newton Channel includes a 6 minute video “Making Smart cars smarter” may be of interest. Scientists at the University of Newcastle are working to enhance Smart cars to allow them to travel longer distances without recharging.  

If your learners are interested in technologies associated with driving and transport, research from Newcastle University using an adapted electric car may also be of interest.

Or perhaps you are exploring Energy Security in the context of the new National Qualifications for Environmental Science, Physics or Science? In future, will we be plugging our electric cars into the Smart Grid to sell our excess  energy to others at times of peak demand? The University of Strathclyde is working in conjunction with leading energy companies to kick start Smart Grid development here in Scotland, with world class facilities under development in Cumbernauld.

Energy, energy security and our sustainable future, whether exploring the future of transport or the National Grid, offers an exciting and engaging context for planning learning and teaching to meet the needs of a range of learners, working within a range of levels.

Learning for the new NQs: The rise of performance-enhancing genes

A recent article from The Guardian “The rise of performance-enhancing genes” provides a link between advice and guidance to support planning for learning and teaching associated with National 5 Biology and the 2012 Olympics.

An athlete’s performance can be enhanced significantly by a single ‘super’ gene, but is it fair?

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