Tag Archives: STEM

CfE, Sciences

Science for the Newly Qualified Primary Teacher

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SSERC, a Local Authority shared-service providing support across all thirty-two Scottish Education Authorities, is offering a practical hands-on CPD course for newly qualified Primary practitioners.

‘Science for the Newly Qualified Primary Teacher’ is a 2 part residential course, with part 1 on 31st January – 1st February 2014 and part 2 on 12th May 2014.

 The course will offer recently qualified primary practitioners, including probationers, the opportunity to share good practice, explore some of the “big ideas” in science and develop a variety of strategies to support delivery of the sciences within a Curriculum for Excellence.

This course is supported by the National Science Learning Centre.  Delegates from Local Authority schools will be granted an ENTHUSE Award, which covers the cost of the course on completion of all tasks and requirements.

For further information download the flyer: PrimProb_flyer_v3

A complete listing of CPD opportunities can be accessed through the SSERC website:   http://bit.ly/1aHrkVV

CfE, Mathematics, Sciences, Technologies

Scotland’s Environment Web Competition

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Your environment, your views – get involved!

Scotland’s Environment Web is running exciting competition for young people with fantastic prizes!

What is the competition about?

What needs to change in your local community that will make a difference to your environment and what role can you play in making it happen?

We want you to answer the question above. Tell us how you could make your environment better. Planet Earth faces tough environmental challenges which will directly impact your future. Everyone can be a part of the solution to these challenges and Scotland’s young people have a key role to play.

Who can enter?

This competition is open to all young people throughout Scotland between the ages of 5-18, whether through your school, as part of a group or as an individual.

You can also enter the Young Reporters for the Environment competition if you are eligible.

Join our Glow meet too at 11am on 6th November to share your story and ideas and to have the chance to win a further exciting prize of £200 to purchase Citizen Science equipment for your establishment: http://bit.ly/1daPP4b

For more information, visit www.environment.scotland.gov.uk/yd

Mathematics, Sciences, Technologies

The Queen’s Commonwealth Baton

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As Glasgow eagerly awaits the start of the 2014 Commonwealth Games one very important element has already been completed – the Queen’s Commonwealth baton.

The baton carries the Queen’s message to all competing nations and territories of the Commonwealth. The concept was introduced in 1958 at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

On 9th October 2013,  the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay began its 190,000 kilometre journey, unifying the two billion people of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace.

The hand-crafted baton made of titanium, wood and granite embodies Scotland and Glasgow’s culture, combining cutting edge technology with artisan skills.

Click on the link below to learn more about how the design team, 4cDesign, effectively utilised science, technology, engineering, maths, art and design skills to create the Queen’s baton.

http://bbc.in/19FDUIe

For further information regarding the Queen’s Commonwealth baton and the Queen’s baton relay, explore the official education programme, Game on Scotland:

 http://bit.ly/1gDOQcy

Mathematics, Sciences, Senior Phase, Technologies

Millennium Youth Camp 2014

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Applications for the fifth international Millennium Youth Camp have begun.

The 2014 Millennium Youth Camp will be held during 3rd–11th June 2014 in the Greater Helsinki area in Finland

The one week camp takes place in Finland every summer and is organised by the Technology Academy Finland, the Finnish Science Education Centre LUMA (University of Helsinki) and Aalto University.

The camp offers young people from across Europe, aged between 16-19, who are interested in mathematics, the natural sciences and technology, an opportunity to learn more about Finnish expertise and top level research in these areas.  It’s also a great opportunity to meet other young people who share similar interests.

In addition to lectures, workshops and visits to Millennium Youth camp partners, the project includes project work supervised by experts and carried out in small multi-national organisations.

There is a two phase application process and applicants choose their preferred topic area from the 10 listed on the application form: applied mathematics, climate, ICT and digitalization, water, renewable natural resources, energy, bio-sciences and -technology, food sciences and technology, material sciences and technology, and urban planning.

Application for the first phase begins on 15th October and ends on 15th December.

On 3rd February 2014, 200 young people will be chosen from these applicants for the second phase.

On 17th March 2014 the names of 60 participants chosen for the camp will be published.

For further information please contact:

Professor Maija Aksela, chairman of Millennium Youth Camp steering group
Finland’s Science Education Centre LUMA, University of Helsinki
maija.aksela(at)helsinki.fi, tel. +358 50 514 1450

Caroline Korhonen, Project Coordinator, Technology Academy Finland
caroline.korhonen(at)technologyacademy.fi, tel. +358 40 5569 999

A link to the application form and additional information about the application process can be found on the Millennium Youth Camp website.

CfE, Health and wellbeing, Mathematics, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Technologies

Remember, remember the 6th of November!! SEWeb Glow Meet

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Scotland’s Environment – Glow Meet

11am – 12pm, Wednesday 6th November 2013

Calling all citizen scientists!!!

Trying to change, protect and improve your local environment for the better? Collecting information to contribute to our knowledge of the natural environment?  Ready to share your research, data and ideas with us?

Scotland’s environment is world-famous and draws tourists and visitors from across the globe. It needs to be protected but many of the challenges facing our environment are complex, and can only be solved in partnership; a partnership which involves children, young people and adults working together as citizen scientists.

This Glow meet will explain how you can get involved and to better understand, care for and improve Scotland’s environment. We want to hear about:

  • All the ways you have been collecting, measuring, observing and recording information about your local environment
  • Your views and ideas on what needs to change to improve our environment and what role you are playing making it happen.

You will be able to question and share you information and ideas with our panel of experts and the school which most impresses the judges will win a superb prize!

The session will be led by:

  • Debbie Bassett, Head of the Biodiversity Team in Scottish Natural Heritage
  • Martin Marsden, Head of Environmental Quality in the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. 
  • Nick Wright, Scottish Wildife Trust

Visit http://bit.ly/SEWeb to register and join the Glow meet on the day.

Further links:

Scotland’s Environment website  http://www.environment.scotland.gov.uk/

Scottish environment youth discussion  http://bit.ly/19dnExK

Competition details :http://www.environment.scotland.gov.uk/get_involved/young_people/youth_discussion.aspx

CfE, Sciences

Sciences Conversation Day 2

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Delegates attending our second conversation day at Bishopbriggs Academy identified four priority themes for the sciences:

  1. Equity in education – science for all
  2. The importance of planning across school clusters
  3. Career long professional learning and support for practitioners
  4. Partnerships

Education Scotland is keen to hear your views regarding the second priority which addressed the importance of planning across school clusters.

Delegates saw cluster working as being important for a number of reasons:

  • It is a key way of ensuring primary and secondary colleagues can learn from each other, and also build an understanding of learning and expectations for learners in each sector
  • It provides opportunities to support the professional development of practitioners
  • Issue of priorities – will clusters have science on their list of subjects to cover?
  • Pressures of resource and time to establish and continue effective clusters.  Teacher cover can be an issue, despite local authorities provide funds to pay
  • Need to give teachers adequate time for professional learning. Could an allocation be offered for a ‘block’ of cover for science?
  • Stronger cluster work could help address lack of consistency in primary experiences across a local authority – benefits for secondary in terms of ensuring good pupil progression.

 Primary and primary/secondary transition should be seen as a priority for cluster working:

  • STEM needs to be on school improvement plans
  • Will see benefits for learners once they reach secondary school in terms of seamless transition/progression
  • We need to avoid the fresh start approach in secondary schools – a greater focus on transition and progression is required
  • More time is required for secondary teachers teaching S1 secondary classes to work with primary counterparts
  • How can we encourage schools to use exemplification, and build on what is already being done?
  • Pressures of asking primary schools to take on development of all subjects
  • Signposting of support needed – what’s the best use of school funds and time?
  • Important to ensure smooth transitions, not just from primary to secondary, but also beyond school education into HE/FE or work.

 Education Scotland is keen to hear your views. Click on the title of this blog post to leave a comment.

Assessment, CfE, Mathematics, Sciences, Technologies

Resource Guide for the Sciences

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Following on from the STEM programme of events at the Scottish Learning Festival Education Scotland has produced a resource guide for the sciences.

The guide provides links to useful websites, relevant documentation, on line resources and methods of communicating about the sciences.

For example:

access the updated 3-18 sciences impact report

visit STEM Central to explore a wide variety of activities and learning experiences

keep up to date with STEM news through our twitter feed

To access and download a copy of the science resource guide click  Education Scotland Sciences Resource Guide

Assessment, CfE, Early Years, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Technologies

Sciences 3-18 curriculum impact report 2013 update

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This week Education Scotland published an update of the 3-18 Sciences Impact Report. The updated report evaluates current practice, supplements the good practice exemplars, reports on progress made regarding aspects of development in the 2012 report and highlights important areas for discussion and further development.

The evidence presented in this report tells us that children and young people are developing a range of knowledge, understanding and skills in the sciences and achievement is strong and improving.

The report is intended to continue to help practitioners reflect on how well they are developing these capacities, how much more needs to be done and act as a hub for ongoing professional dialogue and development.

There is a summary of the report written specifically for children and young people and, in response to practitioner feedback, there is now a separate document outlining the examples of good practice.

Education Scotland is keen to hear your views about the report and its findings. Visit the Talk with us blog http://bit.ly/GCHeZw   to share your thoughts on how best we can improve sciences education for all learners in Scotland. 

To download the report and associated documentation visit: The Sciences 3-18

CfE, Early Years, Sciences

A Cross Sector Approach to Science

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For the past 3 years the 16 schools in Perth High School Local Management Group (LMG) have been working collaboratively to develop learning and teaching in science. The aim of their partnership working has been to:

  • Support primary/secondary transition
  • Provide a progressive, cohesive science experience for all learners
  • Build staff partnerships and understanding across primary and secondary
  • Build staff confidence in teaching science
  • Promote science as being exciting and fun
  • Promote interdisciplinary learning
  • Support eco work and careers education.

A comprehensive science programme has now been produced comprising of rich tasks from Early to Second Level as well as a skills progression framework, a science glossary and teachers’ guide. The science programme that has been produced also incorporates a number of the learning journeys from STEM Central.

Each rich task suggests a range of activities that teachers can choose from to enable their pupils to learn about science through active learning and practical hands on experiences.

Perth and Kinross Local Management Group report positive benefits from the collaboration including the development of leadership capacity and growth in confidence amongst practitioners with regards to the sciences.

Learners have reported enjoying science, seeing its relevance to their everyday lives and felt they had a better understanding of their strengths and next steps in science.

All resources can be downloaded from Glow. See folder entitled A Cross Sector Approach to Science PHS LMG in the national Sciences Glow Group http://bit.ly/17ACPk8

Some of the work undertaken by the cluster has also been awarded a Quality Mark for moderation and can be downloaded from the Education Scotland NAR

http://bit.ly/1bDFU3M

CfE, Sciences

Generation Science Schools Programme 2014

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Edinburgh International Festival is an educational charity. Each year it delivers one of Europe’s largest science festivals, a primary school education programme and a variety of international projects.

 A key part is Generation Science.

Generation Science shows tour all over Scotland bringing educational and entertaining performances and hands on activities to the classroom.

Shows are constantly developed to meet the needs of teachers in line with the Curriculum for Excellence, with the aim of  helping to improve the teaching of Science in Scottish primary schools and support teachers in delivering the curriculum. Schools can be supported thorugh science weeks, transition projects or individual science days.

This year Generation Science  are presenting two revised versions of the popular Fizz, Boom, Bang workshop so it can be enjoyed by younger pupils and older pupils alike, as well as introducing the Space Base show as a brand new edition to the programme.

You can find further information on these activities alongside some Generation Science favourites like Little Giants and Body Builders, in the schools programme brochure.

Click on the link below to view and download the  Generation Science  Schools Programme 2014 brochure:  http://bit.ly/17rfYYj

Additional Support for Learning, Community Capacity Building, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Literacy, MCMC/16+LC, Outdoor Learning, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Social studies, Universal Support, Young people, children & families

Royal Horticultural Society – The Edible School Garden

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Royal Horticultural Society

The Edible School Garden
Dumfries House, KA18 2NJ – Tuesday 19th November 2013, 10 am – 3 pm

Kilbarchan Primary School, PA10 2LA Thursday 28th November 2013, 10 am – 3 pm
To give teachers of all age groups the skills to confidently grow and manage a simple productive garden throughout the year. To ensure that produce is used in tasting, cooking and enterprise activities. Every school should be a food growing school.
Objectives
At the end of this course you will:
a) Have the knowledge and skills to sow and grow the RHS top 14 fruits, vegetables and herbs for the school garden, to provide a range of fresh, healthy produce throughout the school year
b) Get hints and tips on tasting and cooking with the produce, outside in the garden and in the school canteen
c) Know how to add value to your produce through correct harvesting and storage, preserving and other simple enterprise ideas.
Experience: Suitable for beginners and those with some experience.
CPD Provider

Angela Smith
angelasmith@rhs.org.uk

RHS Development Officer for Scotland

CfE, Mathematics, Outdoor Learning, Sciences, Technologies

STEM at the Scottish Learning Festival

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Raising the Bar in Scotland – transforming lives through learning.

Science, technology, engineering and maths are key priorities within Curriculum for Excellence.

The Scottish Learning Festival 2013 provides numerous opportunities for practitioners to engage in meaningful discussions and attend seminars and workshops relating to STEM.

 A select showcase of innovative practice will demonstrate how STEM skills are being developed in creative, exciting and thought provoking ways.

Come along and watch learners from Hamilton College demonstrate how Lego Mindstorm robots helped develop their problem solving skills, take the I-pad journey with Bellshill Academy pupils and find out how to bring science into your school community through Citizen Science activities.

Download the STEM programme of workshops and seminars detailing dates and times:

STEM at the Scottish Learning Festival 2013

To book and register for the Scottish Learning Festival follow the link below:

http://bit.ly/1eqaimD  

CfE, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Technologies

Scottish Engineering Special Leaders Award Challenge 2013

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SCOTTISH ENGINEERING SPECIAL LEADERS AWARD CHALLENGE – “If you could be an engineer in Scotland – what would you do?”

 Scottish Engineering and the Leaders Award are challenging Primary and Secondary school pupils in Scotland to consider what they would do if they were an engineer.

The challenge addresses many of the Experiences and outcomes within Curriculum for Excellence and, at secondary level, the project will meet the requirements of level 4/5 National Qualification in Engineering Science. 

 To participate, research engineering in Scotland, download resources from www.leadersaward.com, talk to practicing engineers and complete an annotated illustration answer to the challenge question. Discover the numerous career paths an engineer can follow.

 Already there are over 60 primary and secondary schools registered to be a part of the challenge, many of which have already put in their requests for help from engineers. 

 Closing date for all entries is 20th November 2013, with the best entries going on display on 20th December 2013 in Glasgow City Councils Banqueting Hall.

 Register here.

Health and wellbeing, Sciences

e-Bug: free microbiology, hygiene and health educational resource

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e-Bug is an exciting, fun and free microbiology, hygiene and health educational resource for junior (P2 – P7) and senior (S1 – S3) school students across Europe. Designed by health professionals, with input from schools and young people, the e-Bug resource comprises of a teacher website containing detailed lesson plans and a student interactive website.

e-Bug for teachers

The teacher pages on the e-Bug website, www.e-bug.eu, contain detailed interactive lesson plans covering each of the topics below. You can also find school competitions, films of each of the activities, MS Powerpoint presentations, animations to help teach some of the more difficult topics as well as some alternative activities to those found in the pack.

Micro-organisms

An Introduction

Useful Microbe

Harmful Microbes

 Prevention of Infection

Natural Immunity

Vaccinations
Spread of Infection

Hand Hygiene

Respiratory Hygiene

Food Hygiene

Farm Hygiene

Sexual Transmission

 Treatment of Infection

Antibiotic Use

e-Bug for students

The colourful and fun student website encourages children of all age ages to venture further into the world of microbes playing interactive games and accessing lots more educational materials. The student website has a lot of fun features which include

Microbe of the week: Facts and images of a new microbe every week, some useful, some harmful, but all interesting.

Fact of the week: Some quirky, fun, disgusting and some outright weird microbe facts.

Revision Guides: For students who want to learn a little bit more, or to be used in the classroom.

Disease fact files: Fact files on important infectious diseases such as measles, influenza, holiday infections, and much more.

Quizzes: Students can test themselves with fun quizzes.

Hall of Fame: Here students can visit a lab or hang out in an art gallery hall of fame to learn about those ‘boring old’ scientists who have made important contributions to microbiology and medicine.

Home science: A series of experiments to do in the home.

Interactive games:Fun games designed to highlight key learning points. How long can you survive the sneeze?

Downloads: Images of microbes and pack characters are available to download for use in any school project.

Early Years, Responsibility of All, Sciences, Technologies

CITIZEN SCIENCE – WE NEED YOU!

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Scotland’s Environment Web has a unique set of on-line guidance and digital tools to help people set up their own public environmental monitoring projects.

 Public monitoring or ‘citizen science’ can be described as “scientific activities in which non-professional scientists volunteer to participate in data collection, analysis and dissemination of a scientific project…”. It can be a great, fun way to gather information and get involved – scientists need your help!

 Whether you are a teacher keen to get your students outdoors, a member of the public wanting to get more involved in your local environment, or an organisation wanting to set up a project, there is something in the Scotland’s Environment Web toolkit for you. The tools make it easier to start and run a project, using some of the new digital technology to help. 

 The site provides a Guide to Citizen Science and a Teacher’s Guide.

Click on the link to access Scotland’s Environment Website: http://bit.ly/18JGXwU

CfE, Early Years, Mathematics, Research, Sciences, Technologies

Equalities in STEM education – An exciting professional learning opportunity

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Education Scotland is offering a very exciting opportunity to any practitioners interested in looking at equalities issues around STEM. The facts are stark in this area.

“In Scotland, 27% of women graduate in STEM work in the sector they qualified in, compared with 52% of male graduates.  This means that of the 56000 female STEM graduates in Scotland, just over 15000 continue to work in the sector.”

The Royal Society of Edinburgh, 2012.  Tapping all our Talents: Women in STEM: strategy for Scotland, 10.

“23% of the most socially advantaged pupils aspire to become a scientist, compared to just 9% of disadvantaged pupils.”

TISME, spring 2013.  Interim Research Summary, ASPIRES project:

What shapes children’s science and career aspiration age 10 – 13, 7.

This is an opportunity to develop a fuller understanding of the issues and consider approaches to tackling them.

The first of two day long sessions will include a morning with SLF keynote speaker Dr Avis Glaze, Edu-quest International Inc and Former Chief Student Achievement Officer of Ontario. Dr Glaze brings a wealth of experience and expertise in addressing issues of equity and this is a unique opportunity to spend time with her in a small group setting. The afternoon will consider relevant research into equalities across STEM and how this is relevant to practitioners’ own contexts. A second day will be planned for early 2014 and will be held in a STEM industry setting with an opportunity for practitioners to share their own experiences and thinking and hear about equalities in STEM from a business perspective.

There are 20 places available to any interested practitioners and these will be allocated on a first come first served basis. If you are interested in taking part please email Diane Carson at Diane.Carson@educationscotland.gov.uk .The first day will take place on Tuesday September 24th in The Optima building in Glasgow. The second day will be held in early 2014 in an industry setting, date and venue are yet to be confirmed.

CfE, Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, National Qualifications, Sciences, Senior Phase, Supporting Learners, Technologies

Food and Science ‘Teach Meet’ Free Professional Learning @ Dundee Science Centre

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When? 4th September 2013, 16:30 – 18:30

Where? Dundee Science Centre

Recommended for: Practitioners with responsibilities for Food and Health, sciences, and Health and Wellbeing, and planning for learning for early years to senior phase.

Sign up by contacting Michael Smith on michael.smith@dundeesciencecentre.org.uk or 01382 868609

Food and drink offers an engaging context for learning within Curriculum for Excellence, providing opportunities for

interdisciplinary learning, and for rich and meaningful partnerships between schools, the food and drink industry and other organisations.

4.30-5.15: Registration, light refreshments, networking and tours of the Cooking Bus

http://www.focusonfood.org/cookingbuses.html

5.15 – 6.00: Micro presentations from:

Education Scotland – Food for Thought – Food Education: an overview

Scottish Food and Drink Federation – How to link real life industrial applications to food education in schools

University of Abertay – What help can higher education provide and what are the next stages of study

Food Industry, Agrico– Why we get involved and how we can help support schools

Food and Drink Ambassadors – What we can offer schools

Eco-Schools Scotland – Food and the Environment’ topic; resources and case studies for interdisciplinary learning and teaching

Dundee Science Centre – Bringing food and science to life in Curriculum for Excellence

Scottish Schools Education Research Centre (SSERC) – sharing exciting activities on food chemistry

6.00 – 6.30: Food and Science marketplace, meet experts who can help with practical ideas and ways of using food as a context across learning.  Discover the resources available from a range of        organisations to support your planning for learning and teaching in the context of food and drink.  Hear a selection of micro-presentations, explore exhibitor stands, take away free resources, network with  colleagues and take the chance to visit the Cooking Bus

Delivered by Education Scotland, Scottish Food and Drink Federation, Dundee Science Centre and partners.

CfE, National Qualifications, Sciences

SSERC – CPD Opportunities for Secondary Practitioners

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The new term is about to begin and SSERC are once again offering a range of practical hands-on CPD courses for Secondary practitioners.  

Places remain on the 2-part residential courses for Biology, Chemistry and Physics, which support CfE up to National 4 and 5.

Places are also available on the Leading for Excellence in Science course which is supported by the National Science Learning Centre.  Delegates from Local Authority schools will be granted an ENTHUSE Award, which covers the cost of the course.

 Download flyers below:

 Biology Residential – Innovative and Practical Workshops

Chemistry Residential – Ceramics, Metals and Products from Plants (1)

Physics Residential-Innovative and Practical Workshops

Leading for Excellence in Science

Please visit our website for our complete listing of CPD opportunities.

SSERC is a Local Authority shared-service providing support across all thirty-two Scottish Education Authorities. Our services are available to elected members and officers of Local Authorities, teachers, student teachers and technicians. In addition, the majority of FE colleges and independent schools within Scotland are members of our organisation.

CfE, Sciences

Women in Science – Think Exchange Debate

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TEDX Women – Think Exchange Debate

TEDx was created in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading.” The program is designed to give communities, organisations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level.

At TEDx events, a screening of TEDTalks videos — or a combination of live presenters and TEDTalks videos — sparks deep conversation and connections. TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis.

TEDWomen 2013 will continue TED’s multi-year conversation about women’s work and lives, present and future. A powerful conversation was started at TEDWomen in 2010 and continued through the next two years as TEDxWomen in New York, LA and Washington, D.C. The spark: How are women and girls reshaping the future? From the developing world, where a small loan to a young woman can transform a village, to the West, where generations of educated women are transforming entire industries, women are change agents, inventors, idea champions.

The success stories of all women, regardless of age, are lauded and applauded. The success of Brittany Wenger is just one to read and view on line. 

 “With Science, the more you know the more you wonder.”(Brittany Wenger)

Links:

http:/tedxwomen.org/speakers/brittany-wenger

http://tedxwomen.org/

TEDxWomen on Facebook

@TEDxWomen on Twitter         

 #TEDxWomen


CfE, Sciences

Glow Meet – The Physics of Superheroes

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Glow Meet – 20th August 2013- 12.00pm

Event suitable for S2-S6

Join our Glow Meet, where author and Physics Professor, James Kakalios, will explain the basic principles of Physics within the context of superheroes!

Professor Kakalios earned his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1985 and began his comic book collection as a graduate student, as a way to relieve stress. At Minnesota University one of his teaching seminars, Everything I Know About Science I Learned From   Reading Comic Books, used the physics of superheroes as a way to motivate students. This course gained great popularity as an enticing alternative to the typical inclined planes and pulleys of physics.

The success of this seminar led to writing articles in popular magazines, lectures on the subject and the publication of his popular book “The Physics of Superheroes”. In his talks, favourite examples are the death of Gwen Stacy (Spider-Man‘s girlfriend), “can Superman jump over tall buildings and what does this tell us about Krypton?”, the high-velocity actions of The Flash, and the shrinking problem of the Atom. His analysis of Gwen Stacy’s death eventually became integral to the plot of a new Spider-Man comic.

“The most important thing is getting the students to ask the right kinds of questions. If a character has wings on her back, what important physical forces and issues do we need to consider if she’s going to use them to fly? What kind of wingspan and muscle structure would that require? Hopefully, pointing out issues like these will help students think critically in other situations,” says James.

Professor Kakalios has also acted as a consultant in the film industry, specifically for the films Watchmen and Green Lantern. The real science knowledge that he provides has made these movies more scientifically correct and may help attract more of the younger generations into the field of Physics.

Join Glow Meet on the day through:
http://bit.ly/1477joh

CfE, Mathematics, Outdoor Learning, Sciences, Social studies, Technologies

Forth Replacement Crossing – education centre now available for bookings

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The Forth Replacement Crossing Contact and Education Centre is now open and taking bookings for school groups to find out about the construction of the new bridge across the Firth of Forth – recently named ‘The Queensferry Crossing’.

Visit the Centre to find out more about the project, view the works and get involved in engineering and construction related activities.

The Centre can provide customised sessions related to school topic areas including maths, geography, science and technology and the visits can be linked to Curriculum for Excellence.

Did you know?

■     Multiple bookings can be made by each school for groups of 12 or more

■     Visits are tailored to your needs

■     School groups of all ages are welcomed

■     The centre provides amazing views of the bridges

The Centre provides a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to view the works and find out more about the largest engineering project in Scotland in a generation.

To find out more and make a school booking:

–          visit website : www.forthreplacementcrossing.info

–          email : frcenquiries@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk

–          phone: 0800 078 6910

Sciences

BP online science resources

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The BP Educational Service provides over 200 free science teaching ideas, videos, online activities and challenges. All the resources are searchable by age and topic.

The free primary resources cover topics from electricity and energy to forces, materials and life processes.

Stepping into Science is targeted at learners aged 4 – 7 years whilst the InvestiGATE section helps prepare learners aged 9-12 years for the transition to secondary school science.

At secondary level the free teaching resources feature topics from Chemical and Material Behaviour, Energy Electricity and Forces, and the Environment, Earth and the Universe.

There are films on the properties of hydrocarbons, an interactive challenge on wind power and a Carbon Footprint Toolkit for schools.

Secondary teachers can also order the free Periodic Table poster – and test themselves and their students in the Periodic Table Challenge .

 Visit www.bp.com/bpes to view the resources 

Sciences, Technologies

Ask An Astronaut with the Scottish Space School

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Join us in Glow TV for the fourth year of ‘Ask an Astronaut’ in collaboration with the Scottish Space School.  Take part in this exclusive opportunity to talk to two star guests Rick Hieb and Amber Gell.    

Rick Heib is a former NASA astronaut and a veteran of three space shuttle missions. He has logged over 750 hours in space, including over 17 hours of EVA (space walk). He was a mission specialist on STS-39 and STS-49, and was a payload commander on STS-65. He is currently the Vice-President of Lockheed Martin and part of what they do, alongside other partners, is combining their talents to launch a bold new era of space exploration.

Find out more about Amber’s experience as a Rocket Scientist and Spacecraft Systems Engineer with NASA/Lockheed Martin. She is a member of the team that is designing the Orion Spacecraft which will replace the Space Shuttle and can be used to return humans to the Moon, rendezvous with asteroids, and explore Mars.

Use this unique opportunity to ask questions of our guests to get a better idea about the fascinating world of space and their experience of it.

Take part in some space polls to find fabulous facts – do you know what was the first music video from space was?

Also watch Amber and Rick taking part in a simulation to move a robotic land rover around the surface of Mars. This will mimic what astronauts have to do when they collect samples from the surface of Mars but they also have the extra task of challenging pupils on this mission!

To find out more and sign up for this event in Glow TV click here.

To learn more about the NASA Space Shuttle Missions and program here click here.

To learn more about Orion (America’s new spacecraft for human exploration) click here.

Health and wellbeing, Technologies

Cheese comes from plants and fish fingers are made of chicken

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Research conducted by the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) among over 27,500 children across the UK(Scotland: Primary – 1,794; Secondary – 3,763), shows that nearly a third (29 per cent) of primary school children think that cheese comes from plants, one in ten secondary school children believe that tomatoes grow under the ground, and nearly one in five (18 per cent) primary school children say that fish fingers come from chicken.

Roy Ballam, Education Programme Manager at the British Nutrition Foundation, said: “Schools throughout the UK require a national framework and guidance for food and nutrition education to support the learning needs of children and young people, especially at a time when levels of childhood obesity are soaring. Through Healthy Eating Week, we hope to start the process of re-engaging children with the origins of food, nutrition and cooking, so that they grow up with a fuller understanding of how food reaches them and what a healthy diet and lifestyle consists of. The fact that so many schools in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have registered to participate in the Week demonstrates their understanding of how important healthy eating is and their commitment to giving children a solid grounding from which to create healthy lives for themselves.”

Further findings of the BNF study reveal that an encouraging number of the youngest primary school children recognise the eatwell plate* – 64 per cent of 5-8 year olds identified it correctly from four different images. However, when presented with four pie charts and asked which best represented the eatwell plate, less than half (45 per cent) of 8-11 year olds answered correctly.

Over three quarters (77 per cent) of primary school children and nearly nine out of every ten (88 per cent) secondary school pupils know that people should consume five or more portions of fruit and vegetables each day. However, 67 per cent of primary school children and 81 per cent of secondary school pupils reported eating four or less portions of fruit and vegetables daily, while two in every five children at secondary school don’t think that frozen fruit and vegetables count towards their five a day.

The research also shows that an alarming number of children do not eat breakfast each morning, which increases with the age of the children. On the day of the survey, eight per cent of primary school children said they hadn’t eaten breakfast that morning; this increased to nearly a quarter (24 per cent) in 11-14 year olds, and then to over a third (32 per cent) of 14-16 year olds. When quizzed on the more general point as to whether they have breakfast each morning, six per cent of primary school children, 19 per cent of 11-14 year olds and a quarter of 14-16 year olds reported not eating breakfast every day.

To read the full article click here.

CfE, Expressive Arts, Mathematics

Working in the Music Business

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Yes World of Work Wednesdays is back again just in time for the summer break!

This event will give you a great insight into the real world of the music industry. The UK music business employs 150,000 people and is worth £3.5billion to the UK economy. We’ve brought together experts from all aspects of the industry including a manager, a singer, a record producer and a marketing manager.

As well as discussing their different roles, they will also be taking your questions. So if you want to ask, “how do I break into the music business”, “how do I get my song on iTunes”, “how can I get my band on T in the Park”, “is X Factor a good way of starting out”, or anything else you can think of then this is your chance!

You’ll hear from the panel that there are many career opportunities in the industry and how certain school subjects such as English, Maths, Art, ICT and of course Music can help you achieve them. With an interactive pop quiz included, it promises to be a fun, interesting and exciting event and we hope to see you there!

Sign up and join us in Glow TV on Wednesday 5th June at 2pm – Working in the Music Business

CfE, Mathematics, Sciences

Scottish Engineering Special Leaders Award for STEM 2013

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Leaders Award for STEM and Scottish Engineering are challenging primary and secondary school learners in Scotland to consider what they would do if they were an engineer. Learners are being asked to research engineering and interview practicing engineers to illustrate and annotate their interpretation of the statement “If I could be an engineer in Scotland, what would I do?”

This award is a great opportunity to engage both primary and secondary school learners with real engineers who will convey the importance of STEM in their daily working lives. Schools will be able to develop relationships with industry, both local and worldwide, giving children and young people a unique perspective of the diversity of engineering professions and their significance in the wider world.

Register your school via the website and state that you are participating in the Scottish Engineering Special Leaders Award.

CfE, Early Years, Sciences

Developing progression in science – Perth High School Local Management Group

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Over a year and half ago the 16 schools in Perth High School Local Management Group (LMG) decided to work collaboratively to develop learning and teaching in science. The aim of their partnership working was to:

  • Support primary/secondary transition
  • Provide a progressive, cohesive science experience for all learners
  • Build staff partnerships and understanding across primary and secondary
  • Build staff confidence in teaching science
  • Promote science as being exciting and fun
  • Promote interdisciplinary learning
  • Support eco work and careers education.

In the first phase of development, six primary and two secondary practitioners worked together with Education Scotland’s Sciences Development Officer to produce three sets of rich tasks from Early to Second Level which focussed on the themes of energy and forces, biodiversity and materials. The positive response to these resources persuaded the LMG to invest further in the programme and led to a practitioner from each of the primary schools and secondary school being allocated time to work together to produce a comprehensive science programme comprising further rich tasks from Early to Second Level as well as a skills progression framework, a science glossary and teachers’ guide. The science programme that has been produced also incorporates a number of the learning journeys from STEM Central.

An LMG engagement event in March was used to roll out the suite of meaningful and useable support materials to all practitioners across the 16 schools. These materials will be used to support learning and teaching in sciences from the start of the next academic session. The LMG also report other positive benefits from the collaboration including the development of leadership capacity and growth in confidence amongst practitioners with regards to the sciences. The LMG will continue to network and share their practice between the schools involved and across their education authority. In the coming months they also hope to publish their resources for others to use. Watch this space for further details.

Sciences, Technologies

How the Twig Summer Challenge fits CfE

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This summer Twig on Glow is offering Scottish students a chance to tackle some ‘big questions’ that even scientists struggle to answer.

How will humans continue to evolve?
Are we alone in the Universe?
Is plastic mankind’s worst invention?

Using Twig’s film editing software, Twig Studio, students can create their own short films in answer the these ‘ungoogleable’ questions. This is a great opportunity for students to demonstrate a secure knowledge and understanding of the big ideas and concepts of the sciences.

Visit this page to see how the Twig Summer Challenge fits experiences and outcomes for Science and Technologies at levels 2,3 and 4.

Responsibility of All

Event: The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games – A rich context to inspire learning

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When? 08:45 – 15:00, Monday, 17 June 2013
Where? Commonwealth House, Glasgow

Who should attend?
School leaders, local authority staff and those with a whole school responsibility for Games Legacy, including cluster initiatives and wider curriculum remits related to the Games (e.g. health and wellbeing).

About the event:
On Monday 17th June, there will be just 401 days before the biggest multi-sport and cultural event ever to come to Scotland opens in Glasgow. That’s less than 58 weeks! Fortunately, education establishment across the country are already preparing to incorporate learning opportunities around the Commonwealth Games in the next academic year and this event is designed to help you join their number.

It will also showcase other inspirational programmes and initiatives available to teachers to stimulate learning around the Commonwealth Games. A variety of engaging workshops delivered by practitioners and organisations experienced in Games Legacy work will provide practical, hands-on exemplification on the impact of the Games as a context for learning. Workshops will include:

• exemplification from primary and secondary schools,
• an outline of the latest curriculum developments in the areas of health and well-being, numeracy and literacy by Education Scotland,
• funding opportunities around food education in the context of the Games,
• international education and partnerships
• cluster and local authority initiatives.

A number of prominent speakers, including David Grevemberg (CEO, Glasgow 2014) will provide inspirational addresses and testimonies for anyone who seeks to use the Games as a unique opportunity in education.

How to register:
We invite you to join us for an inspirational day of sharing and collaborative thinking around a variety of exciting opportunities by registering for the event on line (http://bit.ly/GOSEvent-17June) or directly with Diane Carson: Diane.Carson@educationscotland.gov.uk

CfE, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Responsibility of All

Choices for Life Online 2013

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Choices for Life Online is pleased to announce its first event for the 2013 – 2014 school year!

The live broadcast is aimed at all P7 pupils and their teachers in Scotland with a focus around the risks and dangers of alcohol, negative peer pressure and substance misuse.
Choices for Life provides credible information to our young people on a range of important issues facing them in 21st Century Scotland in an inclusive, engaging and thought-provoking manner, to help them make positive lifestyle decisions and maximise their future potential.

Join us to see drama, video clips, music and have the opportunity to join a Glow Chat where pupils can comment on what they have seen in relation to key themes (drugs, alcohol and tobacco).

Watch ‘Liam’s Story’ which explores the issues around negative peer pressure and smoking. After this specially commissioned film there will be a chance for you to ask questions to a panel of studio guests examining the range of issues,including family,negative peer pressure, substance misuse, aspirations and regret.
There are also teaching resources available on the website to help you have a classroom discussion about Liam’s Story or do some further activities around the drama – Teaching Resources

The event will be live and presented by Mark Martin and Laura Marks from our very own Choices for Life TV studio and will also include some other fantastic video clips and messages from other inspirational role models and sporting stars.

Choices for Life Online is pleased to announce its first event for the 2013 – 2014 school year!

The live broadcast is aimed at all P7 pupils and their teachers in Scotland with a focus around the risks and dangers of alcohol, negative peer pressure and substance misuse.
Choices for Life provides credible information to our young people on a range of important issues facing them in 21st Century Scotland in an inclusive, engaging and thought-provoking manner, to help them make positive lifestyle decisions and maximise their future potential.

Join us to see drama, video clips, music and have the opportunity to join a Glow Chat where pupils can comment on what they have seen in relation to key themes (drugs, alcohol and tobacco).

Watch ‘Liam’s Story’ which explores the issues around negative peer pressure and smoking. After this specially commissioned film there will be a chance for you to ask questions to a panel of studio guests examining the range of issues,including family,negative peer pressure, substance misuse, aspirations and regret.
There are also teaching resources available on the website to help you have a classroom discussion about Liam’s Story or do some further activities around the drama – Teaching Resources

The event will be live and presented by Mark Martin and Laura Marks from our very own Choices for Life TV studio and will also include some other fantastic video clips and messages from other inspirational role models and sporting stars.

We look forward to hearing from you on the day !

The event will be delivered twice on the same day, to maximise and facilitate as many pupils as possible to view. Sign up for Wednesday 20th November – Morning Event at 10.30am OR Wednesday 20th November – Afternoon Event at 1.30pm.

We look forward to hearing from you on the day!

CfE, National Qualifications

Major milestone reached in delivery of new curriculum materials

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Dr Bill Maxwell, Chief Executive of Education Scotland, outlines how a major milestone has been reached in the delivery of Curriculum for Excellence.

‘Today marks the successful completion of a major programme of work designed to help support the ongoing development of the new curriculum in schools as our team in Education Scotland published the latest tranche of materials to support the new National Qualifications.  As of yesterday, all of these materials are now available on Glow.

Providing these support materials means teachers have an opportunity to see some good examples of how courses can be shaped and delivered. They provide some examples of materials which teachers can use directly in building their own courses, but we will also continue to encourage and champion the development of practitioners own teaching materials and the sharing of good practice.

We have worked with hundreds of teachers in developing this material. I am confident they will become a valuable resource for many others across the country, as have many of the earlier support materials we have already published.

Local authorities and schools are already making good use of the materials we have already issued and our inspections are increasingly providing us with real-life examples of how schools are rising to the challenge of increased expectations brought about by the implementation of the new curriculum.  We will continue to work with teachers and respond to their feedback on these materials to help ensure we are delivering the best support resources possible.

As of the end of April, 95 sets of web-based course materials have been published across the full range of National 4 and National 5 qualifications.  This adds to 69 sets of advice and guidance notes which are already available as well as 77 professional focus papers, covering all subjects at National 4 and National 5.  

I’m pleased to report this major milestone has been achieved on target as we continue to deliver resource materials in support of the new curriculum.’

Dr Bill Maxwell, Chief Executive, Education Scotland

 

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

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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

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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

Assessment, CfE, Glow TV, Languages, Literacy and English, Mathematics, National Qualifications, Senior Phase

Maths and English Exam Revision – Support Online

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Revision support for NQ English and Mathematics

With the SQA National Qualifications examinations looming, the National Glow Team are pleased to announce the launch of exam revision support for NQ English and Mathematics. Aimed at pupils and supported by teachers, this Glow revision resource will help pupils in their preparation for national examinations by allowing them to post questions and queries into a teacher facilitated Glow Forum. The resource will be open to all pupils and teachers with the potential to become a vibrant self-supporting community.

Find out more here.

Sciences, Senior Phase

Promoting Computer Science and Technology Careers to Female Pupils

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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.

Literacy, Literacy and English

Featured community – Literacy

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A year ago, in March of 2012, Claire Hancox and Hilary Bombart of Education Scotland approached me with their plans for a Literacy Unconference. Taking its lead from TeachMeet and other educator-led CPD models, there was to be minimal talking from the front, lots of impromptu 5-minute slots and ‘co-create sessions’. All participants had to commit to joining an online community and sharing online the impact of the event. And so the Literacy professional learning community on Glow was born!

It now features a grand collection of professional learning and classroom resources as well as:

  • videos of the all the 5-minute slots at all Literacy events since May 2012
  • co-created collections focusing on wider texts, critical literacy and research skills
  • contact details for over 220 literacy champions from across Scotland

The Literacy community now has offshoots such as the National Literacy Network, Librarians and the Moray Literacy hub (but more about these in future posts!)

Claire moves on this week to a new depute post in East Dunbartonshire but she will continue to be active in the #literacy community, and maybe all its various offshoots! I wish her all the best in her new post!

Like all of the PL communities on Glow, colleagues on this community are making their professional learning visible for the benefit of other educators. You can find the community on the drop-down on http://bit.ly/plcommunity or go straight to http://bit.ly/lithome

Sciences

Talk with us…about improving sciences education 3-18

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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?

Recent posts:

Talk with us…improving sciences education 3-18

Talk with us…about exemplification

Talk with us…about sharing practice

Technologies

Call for Scottish Entries for the Kodu Kup 2013

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If you are interested in game design then a good place to start is with a free application called Kodu. This is a visual programming language and games lab environment which allows students from Second Level upwards to design and build three dimensional games using either a PC or an XBox and XBox controller.  When using an application such as Kodu learners can begin to learn the core concepts of computer science within the context of a project which includes narrative writing, design and maths etc: a wonderfully creative and innovative exercise.  Kodu was developed in the Microsoft Research Labs and is completely free and free for anyone to download and use.

If you are interested in submitting an entry to the Kodu Kup then full details are available here..

Scottish teachers can also access class sets of 20 Xbox controllers for the PC that can be used to create games in Kodu. These are accessible form the CPDConsolarium community in Glow. Please do bear in mind that that loaning equipment from us means that you undertake to share your experience and practice in using the equipment.

There are also some tutorial videos for Kodu in the Consolarium Glow group as well as other further information about the Kodu cup which is accessible via these links:

Please do let us know if you plan to submit an entry to this years competition. Good luck!

Assessment, BtC5, CfE, Early Years, Expressive Arts, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Languages, Literacy, Literacy and English, Mathematics, Moderation, Modern Languages, NAR, Outdoor Learning, Profiles, Profiling, Religious and Moral Education, Responsibility of All, RME, Sciences, Social studies, Supporting Learners, Technologies

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

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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

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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.

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.

Expressive Arts

Flexible Routes to Headship Programme – Cohort 7

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Join us on Glow TV on Monday 4th February at 3.45pm for a session presented by Laura McAllister and Kate Paton from Education Scotland looking at Flexible Routes to Headship.

During the session there will be information shared with regards to the programme content, timeline , key roles and responsibilities and how Education Scotland will support coaches and participants in their learning journey.

Our target audience are Local authority officers with responsibility for leadership development and promoted staff in all schools and early years establishments who are interested in achieving The Standard for Headship.

Sign up and join us in Glow TV!

Early Years, Health and wellbeing, Health and wellbeing, Technologies

Wise Up Wednesday: Healthy Eating Week June 2013

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The British Nutrition Foundation is launching a Health Eating Week for nurseries and schools throughout the UK to further promote healthy diets, physical activity and an understanding of where food comes from and how to prepare it.  By registering at www.healthyeatingweek.org.uk you will receive a resource pack for your establishment. The website however contains a wealth of materials and information that could be used at any time.

As always we’d love to know what you are doing to support health and wellbeing in your establishment!

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

Assessment Professional Learning Community on Glow

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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

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

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.

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.

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

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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

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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?

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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

CfE, Literacy and English, Sciences, Social studies

Professional Focus Papers now available

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Education Scotland has launched the first in a set of Professional Focus Papers.

These materials have been designed to assist teachers and others with the delivery of programmes of learning within the new National 4 and National 5 courses.

The papers highlight important features of learning which are enhanced or different from previous arrangements.  They provide advice on approaches to learning and teaching which build directly on those used in the 3-15 Broad General Education in order to promote continuity in learners’ acquisition of knowledge, understanding and skills.  The papers are also intended to stimulate professional reflection and dialogue about learning.

This first tranche features 10 subjects: Biology, Chemistry, English, Environmental Science, Geography, History, Modern Studies, People & Society, Physics, and Science, each with papers published at both National 4 and National 5 level, except People & Society and Science which are only available at National 4.

They come as part of the development of exemplar course materials across the full range of National 4 and National 5 qualifications, being managed by Education Scotland in partnership with ADES.

The Professional Focus Papers are now available for download on the National Qualifications area of the Education Scotland website.

CfE, Health and wellbeing

Speakers for Schools comes to Scotland

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Glow TV and Education Scotland is proud to announce that it will once again to be working with the charity initiative Speakers for Schools . Last year through this initiative Glow TV brought you ‘Jonathan Edwards live in Glow ‘ which you can Watch Again.

Speakers for Schools is a programme originally launched in October 2011 in England by BBC Business Editor Robert Peston and The Education and Employers Taskforce. Each speaker commits to one talk per year, completely free, for a state school or college. Over 800 people have already agreed to participate with a range of speakers including CEOs of major companies, politicians, media and arts people, scientists, entrepreneurs and academics – ranging from the Astronomer Royal Lord Rees to the founder of LastMinute.com and digital entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox.

The 12th of November Speakers for Schools is officially launching in Scotland, with all state secondary schools eligible to apply for a talk on a range of topics.

This year Glow TV will be broadcasting live events from a range of speakers from various areas of commerce so that your school can be part of the experience as well (and if you are unable to attend the session live you can view the recording through Glow TVs Watch Again facility)

We will be starting our exciting series of events on Monday 12th November live from Perth College with inspirational speaker Alice Enders who is a former senior economist at the World Trade Organisation and was professor of economics at York University, Canada. Alice will be speaking about the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sign up and join us in Glow TV for this exciting event.

In addition to this event Glow TV will also be broadcasting live an event with Stewart Regan
the CEO of the Scottish Football Association on Thursday 15th November live from Smithycroft High School in Glasgow. Sign up and join us for this event in Glow TV.

Speakers for Schools will be announcing more inspirational speakers appearing live over the coming weeks so keep checking the Glow TV schedule for more being added.

To register and more information Speakers for Schools, visit www.speakers4schools.org

Literacy

Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy resource

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This professional learning resource provides both an overview and further detail on children and young people’s strengths and areas for improvement in numeracy within measurement, and fractions, decimal fractions and percentages (including ratio and proportion).

It also provides guidance and advice to help inform leaning and teaching practice in line with the SSLN survey’s main objectives.

You can download the PDF entitled SSLN 2011 for all the following information from the Education Scotland website – Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy resource

The findings set out within this resource are based on an in-depth analysis of children and young people’s responses to tasks in the SSLN survey Section 1.

For each area of numeracy covered, survey-type questions are provided for illustrative purposes. This analysis provides all practitioners with an opportunity to reflect on, and explore planning for effective learning and teaching as set out in Section 2.

Explore aspects of performance at the following levels:

First level P4 – Measurement – Fractions, decimal fractions and percentages

Second level P7 – Measurement – Fractions, decimal fractions and percentages

Third level S2 – Measurement – Fractions, decimal fractions and percentages

Section 3 includes guidance and advice to support the delivery of ideas of chance and uncertainty.

Links to sections in the resource

Overview of strengths and areas for improvement in:

* Measurement and
* Fractions, decimal fractions and percentages (including ratio and proportion).

Online learning and teaching resources

Additional resources are available for fractions, decimal fractions and percentages, measurement, and ideas of chance and uncertainty are available at:

* First Level P4
* Second Level P7
* Third Level S2

You can find out more about SSLN on the Education Scotland website.

CfE, Health and wellbeing, Responsibility of All

Ready for Winter?

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With the first autumn storms sweeping across the country, widespread flooding and gale force winds already affecting communities up and down the country this is your chance to reflect on what you can do to prepare for the winter ahead.

We will mark this year’s ‘Ready for Winter?’ campaign (starting on 22 October) with a Glow Meet where top tips on how to prepare for severe weather will be explored by the Red Cross and others involved in preparing Scotland for emergencies.

Along with the opportunity to interact and ask questions, you can find out about the winning entries of the 2012/13 ‘Ready for the Year Ahead’ calendar competition. The event will also feature pupils and staff from Crookfur Primary School who will share their experiences and work on resilience education and emergency planning.

Sign up and join us on Thursday 25th October at 11am!

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

BBC Class Clips

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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

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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.

CfE, Sciences, Senior Phase, Social studies

21st Century Zoo – The Role of the Modern Zoo

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Why not find out more about the modern zoo and join the free one day Global Classroom Conference at Edinburgh Zoo on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th November 2012?

Find out if zoos really make a difference to the many species on the IUCN Red List under categories such as ‘Critically Endangered’

Join us, as students take part in free workshops to help answer these questions and more:
· Is there a place for zoos in the 21st Century?
· Should we have captive breeding programmes?
· What role does a zoo play in conservation?

The conference runs 9:30am – 3:00pm and is suitable for S3 – S6 students.

To book and further information please email: education@rzss.org.uk or phone: 0131 314 0335. Maximum of 15 pupils per school limited spaces available so book early.

Booking deadline: Friday 12th of October

Literacy, Modern Languages, Sciences

Space Junk

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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