Tag Archives: Technologies

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

fuselab logo

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

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

WHAT IS FUSELAB?

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

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

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

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

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

sciencefestival.co.uk/fuselab

WHAT OUR FIRST PIONEERS THOUGHT ABOUT FUSELAB…

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

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

‘I loved every minute of it!’

2015 TOUR SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION

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

a location near you:

Edinburgh – 6/7, 8/9 and 11/12 June

Greenock – 15/16 June

Inverness – 18/19 June

Aberdeen – 22/23 and 25/26 June

Dundee – 29/30 June

Glasgow – 4/5 and 6/7 July

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

HOW TO APPLY

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

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

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

KoduKup competition

kodukup logo

 

 

KoduKup

About the Competition

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

What Should be Submitted?

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

GameName_TeamName_KoduKupScotland

Closing date is the 29th May

Kodukup 2015 Scottish Flyer

Scratch Programming from Primary to Secondary

erc-logo-hires

 

 

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

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Pupils from Carolside Primary on a Scratch programming task.

 

 

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

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Social Studies Digital Learning Day

laptop-online-learningDate and time:

Saturday 21st March, 2015

9:30 – 15:00

Where:

Stirling Management Centre, Stirling Court Hotel

Organised and funded by Education Scotland, the day aims to engage practitioners in lively professional dialogue about the success and challenges of using digital learning in the Social Studies classroom. Download the full programme here: http://bit.ly/Ddayprogramme

There are 50 places available on a first come, first served basis and the day is open to all primary teachers and secondary Social Subject teachers. Book your place now: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2STXHJS

This is a free event, including a free lunch. However, delegates will be required to meet their own travel costs.

0911f6a762ac45e393b0c08706b2b061_400x400Keynote Speakers

1) Active History

Russel Tarr – Head of History at the International School of Toulouse

Russel will share the digital applications and programs he has developed for his websites www.classtools.net and www.activehistory.co.uk. All of these have been designed for the students in his own history classroom.

2) Digital Commonwealth 2104

Professor David McGillivray – Chair in Event and Digital Cultures

School of Media, Culture and Society, University of the West of Scotland

Jennifer Jones – Project Coordinator, Digital Commonwealth 2014

David and Jennifer will share the success of the Digital Commonwealth to engage learners in developing and applying skills in digital media.

3) Digital Learning with the BBC

BBC Learning Online

Learn about new online resources to support CfE, the success of School News Report and the creativity of BBC Scotland’s L.A.B.

4) Reconnecting with Glow

Glow Futures Team, Education Scotland

The Glow team want to highlight some of what’s on offer and would like to invite delegates to have a fresh look at how Glow can help support learning and teaching.

online-learningWorkshops

  • Apps and Maps Annette Iafrate, Geography teacher, Gryffe High School, Houston

As one of Microsoft’s Innovative Educator Experts, Annette will share her passion for digital learning through using a variety of apps on tablets and ipods that integrate ICT seamlessly into her lessons, as well as creating class textbooks in OneNote.

  • Digital StorytellingPhilip Donnolly, Education Manager, Scottish Film

A former Senior Lecturer on Glasgow University’s Initial Teacher Education programme, Philip has long been a passionate innovator and exponent of digital technology in the classroom.

Delegates will learn simple but powerful methods for pupils to use Digital Video to reinforce curricular learning across all ages and contexts of Social Studies. Delegates will develop skills in voice overs, selecting still and moving images, and using video editing software.

  • Online MappingCarol Blackwood, Digimap For Schools

Online mapping can be the starting point of any lesson that has place as a concept. Carol will show delegates how to get pupils to be creative and present information to demonstrate their understanding of something they are being taught.

  • Citizen JournalismAnna Brocklehurst, Sky Skills Studio (TBC)

A team from Sky Skills Studio will show delegates how to combine a range of digital and presentation skills to develop learners abilities to research, debate and report on news and politics.

 

Directions:

http://www.stirlingcourthotel.com/stunning-location/Getting-Here/

Technologies Impact Review, “Building Society: young people’s experiences in the technologies”

Education_Scotland_logoEducation Scotland will publish the report of the Technologies Impact Review, “Building Society: young people’s experiences in the technologies”, on 9th March 2015. This report continues the series in which Education Scotland evaluates the quality of young people’s learning and achievements, in this case in the technologies. The report contributes to the overall picture of what it is like to be a learner in a Scottish early years centre or school in this second decade of the 21st Century.

Education Scotland have organized a launch event for this report and the college aspect report Computing and Digital Media.

Making tomorrow happen: technology education in Scotland

 will be held in Celtic Park, Glasgow on 9 March 2015.

 The event has been organized to raise awareness of the reports and to discuss the implications for future developments in the Technologies area of the curriculum.

It would greatly assist the organisation of the conference if you could send your nominees to Kenneth Rae – Kenneth.Rae@educationscotland.gsi.gov.uk by 27th February 2015, stating their name, role and email address.

Ask Scotland: exciting new search engine!

logoHeaderAsk Scotland is an online information service provided by Scotland’s libraries that lets you get real answers from real people, without leaving your computer. Have a go yourself here: http://askscotland.org.uk

Your question will be sent to a librarian who will use their rich library collections to research your query and send back a personal response. We aim to provide you with reliable information that you can trust, whether for study, research or just plain curiosity.

Ask Scotland is coordinated by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), the advisory body to the Scottish Government on libraries, and is staffed by librarians and library assistants in Scotland’s libraries. It is a non-profit service, jointly funded by the Scottish Government through the Public Library Quality Improvement Matrix and the participating libraries.

Also, a wee reminder of Education Scotland’s excellent Studying Scotland site full of resources to support deep and rich learning about Scotland’s history, culture and landscape.

And if it is Scottish History you are interested in then delve in to the past through Education Scotland’s Scotland’s History website.

“What should I be?” – Careers in the Food and Drinks Industry

Herald Mag - food industryEducation Scotland and partners link up with The Herald and Evening Times

The third issue in a series of publications for young people called ‘What could I be?’ has been produced by The Herald and Evening Times newspapers, together with Education Scotland, the Scottish Government, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Parents, carers and teachers will also find this innovative series of publications about careers helpful. This edition looks specifically at career ideas in the food and drink industry.

Access the Magazine here

Raspberry Pi Network on Glow

Raspberry Pi ImageDo you like Raspberry Pi? How about checking out the tasty offerings over at the…… Raspberry Pi Network.

What is the Raspberry Pi?
The Raspberry Pi is a low cost, credit-card sized computer that plugs into a computer monitor or TV, and uses a standard keyboard and mouse. It enables people of all ages to explore computing, and to learn how to program in languages such as Scratch and Python. It’s capable of doing everything you’d expect a desktop computer to do, from browsing the Internet and playing high-definition video, to making spreadsheets, word-processing, and playing games.

Where can I learn more about the Raspberry Pi?
Education Scotland has developed a Raspberry Pi Network on Glow.

Log into Glow, open any MS Office tile and click on the following link (www.bit.ly/raspberrypiedscot)

The Raspberry Pi Network is a dedicated site where both teachers and learners can create, collaborate and innovate. Some of the features available on the site include:

•NEWSFEED
Discuss approaches to teaching with colleagues from across Scotland.

•ANNOUNCEMENTS
Keep up to date with Raspberry Pi events throughout the year.

•USEFUL RESOURCES
Share your own resources and access those created by other teachers and learners.

•CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Find out about events in relation to the Raspberry Pi.

•RASPBERRY PI NOTEBOOK
Using OneNote to explore relevant discussion themes.

•WEB LINKS
Explore links to find out about other related Raspberry Pi projects.

•VIDEO DISCUSSIONS
View and discuss relevant videos aimed at promoting some of the projects which can be carried out using the Raspberry Pi.

BBC Learning Survey and Social Studies Resources


A wee reminder about all the fabulous learning resources to support Curriculum for Excellence on the BBC.
BBC Scotland Learning are currently developing new CfE materials but are also looking at how they improve communicating with teachers about these resources. the BBC have put together a very short, multiple-choice survey that attempts to find out how they could be better at keeping teachers informed.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/997CYLT
Please share with your friends, neighbours and colleagues who teach. There’s also a box for further comments where any thoughts, gripes, requests or ideas are welcomed.

When you have completed the survey check out the revamped Bitesize site that has resources to support National 4, National 5 and Highers. BBC Bitesize

The fabulous new iWonder site, designed to ‘feed your curiosity’ has some brilliant thought provoking materials. Have a look at the various resources supporting History and the BBC’s Democracy Day.

The home of BBC Learning Scotland is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/

Invitation to Love your Clothes with Betty & Bee at SR:D Limited Edition store

Please find attached an invitation to attend a fun evening with Love your Clothes and Zero Waste Scotland, hosted in the Scotland Re:Designed store at Ocean Terminal, Leith. 

The event, on Thursday 22nd January 2015 6pm – 8pm, will be co-hosted by bloggers Betty & Bee, who will illustrate and demonstrate how they love their clothes, and how easy it is for us all to make more mindful choices when it comes to waste in fashion.

Full details of the event, and how to RSVP can be found by clicking here.

Game Masters: Teachers Orientation Event

Game Masters: Teachers Orientation Event

Date: Monday 2 February 2015
Time: 16:30-18:30
Venue: Studio 1, Learning Centre, National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
Cost: Free
Booking: Please book your FREE space by emailing schools@nms.ac.uk or phoning 0131 247 4041. Tea/coffee and cake will be provided. Spaces are limited so please book your place as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

This session will introduce teachers to the Game Masters exhibition in preparation for visiting with a class.

The event will run as follows:

4.30pm – Registration and Refreshments

4.45pm – Introduction, practicalities about visit & overview of resources

5pm – Sarah Rothwell, Assistant Curator (Modern & Contemporary Design), introduces exhibition

5.15pm – Short tour of exhibition, followed by opportunity to explore exhibition and try games

6.15pm – Finish

More details about school visits to Game Masters: www.nms.ac.uk/schoolgames

Save The Date: Social Studies and Digital Technologies Day


Social Studies and Digital Technologies Day
organised by Education Scotland

Date: 21st March 2015

Time: 9:30 – 3:00

Venue: Stirling Management Centre, Stirling

Places: 40 – open to all primary and secondary practitioners

This is an excellent CLPL opportunity to refresh and learn new approaches to integrating ICT and Technologies through Social Studies.
There will be three exciting keynote speakers in the morning, followed by an afternoon session with a choice of three interactive workshops.
A complete programme for the day and the opportunity to book a place will be published in early February.

Learning Through Technology Award

 

Do you know a school or centre that has:

  • Developed a vibrant and progressive culture and climate of continuous innovation.
  • A culture and ethos that promotes respect, ambition and achievement while improving outcomes for all learners in ways which eliminate inequity.

If so the Scottish Education Awards would like to hear about your nomination.

Further details can be found at: SEA2015_Flyer_Learning through technology_Final

Computing Science – CPD materials

Staff training materials commissioned by Education Scotland covering the new web development topics in Higher and Advanced Higher Computing Science are now available here: http://cfecomputing.org.uk/.  Coding languages included in the resource are

  • HTML5/CSS3
  • JavaScript
  • JQuery
  • PHP
  • PHP/MySQL

The HTML5/CSS3 and JavaScript materials have been created using Codecademy. The JQuery, PHP and PHP/MySQL materials are available as online or downloadable HTML pages with access to a live MySQL database to further develop your skills in this area.

You can see more details of the course here.

Examples of what is available illustrated below. 

 

PHP/MySQL Screenshot

 

If you have any comments or suggestions please forward to

Kirsty.McFaul@educationscotland.gsi.gov.uk

Elizabeth.montgomery@educationscotland.gsi.gov.uk.

Raspberry Pi Day 17 January 2015 – University of Strathclyde – 10am to 4pm

The Raspberry Pi is a credit card sized computer, designed to improve computer programming knowledge. It is a low cost but capable device that can be used by people of all ages to learn about computing. It connects to the Internet, plays HD video, and can be installed with a variety of Linux operating systems. The Raspberry Pi supports a multitude of applications and development tools – like Scratch which is designed to teach programming concepts to young people. The Raspberry Pi also makes it easy to connect to external sensors and electronics, allowing it to be incorporated into a wide range of projects, such as robots, games, weather stations and more.

The Raspberry Pi day is an event for all levels of ability and involvement. Several talks will be given during the day, covering the basics of the Raspberry Pi, as well as programming and electronics applications. There will also be a laboratory area, with Raspberry Pis for interactive demonstrations and space for guest projects.

Book your tickets now. Tickets for children are free. Adult tickets are £2.50. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

For more information: http://phys.strath.ac.uk/raspberrypiday/

Japan Webpage Contest

This contest is open to any UK school that is teaching Japanese or doing any kind of project related to Japan. Your school does not need to be teaching Japanese to enter the contest.

http://bit.ly/japanwebcontest

To enter the contest, all you need to do is make a simple webpage about the work that your school is doing with Japanese or Japan. This could be a blog, a wiki, or a page that’s part of your school’s website.

Your webpage could feature:

  • A project with your Japanese partner school
  • A report on your school’s visit to Japan
  • A report on your school’s Japan Day
  • Japanese or Japan-related resources that you have made to help your students
  • Japanese language work made by students
  • Other Japan-related work by students, e.g. from geography, history, art, sports, music, intercultural understanding, cross-curricular lessons
  • Students’ experiences of learning Japanese or about Japan
  • An overview of Japanese at your school

All entries to the contest will be featured on the website. You will also have your chance to vote for your favourite shortlisted entries, in the online voting poll.

Cash prizes and other prizes will be awarded to the best entries. Click here for more information.

In 2010, the Public Vote Award was won by Bearsden Primary School for their Godzilla’s Den website.

Look at other past entries for more inspiration. http://www.japanwebpagecontest.org.uk/vote2011.php

(The contest is organised by the Japan Foundation London. The Japan Foundation is Japan’s principal organisation for promoting international cultural exchange.)

Game Masters – The developmeny of Video Games – National Museum of Scotland

Exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland

5 December 2014 – 20 April 2015

The exhibition explores the development of video games through interviews with game designers and rare original game artwork, as well as looking forward to how independently produced games are leading the way in design, aesthetics and game play.

Location

Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3

Pricing

Adults £10
Concession* £8
Child £6.50 (under 5s free)
Family of 3** £23
Family of 4** £28
Students*** £5 (Tuesdays only)

Members go free!

National Art Pass holders receive 50% discount (only available in person and by phone).

* Concession prices apply to 60+, students and unemployed with ID, disabled people. Carers of disabled people free.

** Must include at least 1 adult and 1 child

*** A valid NUS or Young Scot card must be shown

Further details about the exhibition can be found at: http://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/whats-on/game-masters/

Last Chance: Community Resilience Conversation and Networking event – Monday 17th March 2014 at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel. (09:30 for 10:00 start – 15:00)

There are still places available at Education Scotland’s Community Resilience Conversation and Networking Event on Monday 17th March.

The day is aimed at members of the Scottish Government, emergency planning and civil contingencies teams from local councils, representatives from local education authorities, and members of other key organisations to consider community resilience as a rich and exciting context for teaching and learning.

Conversation activities will provide delegates with opportunities to network with one another and engage in professional dialogue in relation to preparing for emergencies and developing resilient communities. Selected examples of good practice will also be shared through engaging presentations delivered by government, local council and school representatives.

We would like to invite you to take part in the event at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel on the 17th March 2014 to explore how we might take forward resilience education in schools and consider important developments in teaching and learning.

We would be grateful if you could register online at http://svy.mk/Mb8ZM7 by end of day Thursday 13th March 2014 to confirm your attendance and inform us of any special dietary or access requirements you may have.

Community Resilience Education – Conversation Day and Networking Event – Mon 17th March 2014

Time: 09:30 (for 10:00 start) – 15:00

Venue: Glasgow Hilton Hotel, William Street, Glasgow, G3 8HT

Education Scotland is excited to be hosting its first community resilience conversation and networking event with a view to developing a shared, partnership approach to provide 3-18 resilience education opportunities.

The day aims to bring together members of the Scottish Government, emergency planning and civil contingencies teams from local councils, representatives from local education authorities, and members of other key organisations to consider community resilience as a rich and exciting context for teaching and learning focusing on a range of contexts such as flooding and other forms of extreme weather and their impact on our lives.

Conversation activities will provide delegates with opportunities to network with one another and engage in professional dialogue in relation to preparing for emergencies and developing resilient communities. Selected examples of good practice will also be shared through engaging presentations delivered by government, local council and school representatives.

We would like to invite you to take part in the event at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel on the 17th March 2014 to explore how we might take forward resilience education and consider important developments in teaching and learning. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. There is no cost to attend.

We would be grateful if you could register online at http://svy.mk/Mb8ZM7 by Monday 10th March 2014 to confirm your attendance and inform us of any special dietary or access requirements you may have.