The CPD Award in Computing Studies for Teachers (2023) at The University of the Highlands and Islands

The CPD award in Computing Studies for teachers was created for primary teachers and secondary teachers for 1st and 2nd year pupils to give the confidence and skills to teach computing to pupils. More than 50% of our current cohort are primary school teachers. The course is open to any teacher with the relevant entry qualifications (degree and existing teaching qualification) who have an interest in computing or cyber security.

There is normally a weekly lecture and support session that lasts for approx. an hour, or more if required, with further e mail support available. The sessions are certainly beneficial as they allow you to ask questions there and then.

However, the course is designed to be taught when is convenient for all the students and all lectures and tutorial session are recorded for viewing at your leisure.

There is only one module delivered each semester with no time off required during the school day. The lectures are recorded for students unable to attend in person. All activity is carried out online the majority of which happens asynchronously. The modules have a notional 200 hours per module over the semester. It would depend on your previous experience on whether you needed all that time. If you were able to set aside a day at the weekend or a couple of evenings for study, you would not be far off what is required for achieving the award.

The course will be starting either week beginning 23rd January 2023 or 4th September 2023 dependant on applications, with the next module being the Database and Computer Systems module which will be delivered over 14 weeks.

You can apply to join the course with this link or searching for the Computing Studies for Teachers CPD award at https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/ under courses.

The price is £215 per module, and this can be paid on a module-by-module basis. As the modules are 20 credits each if you were to do two in an academic year you may be eligible for SAAS funding. It is suggested contacting SAAS directly if you are planning to start next semester and confirm whether you would be eligible for funding.

The course does not carry any GTCS accreditation.

The programme leader, Gordon Macpherson, can be contacted on email with this link: gordon.macpherson.ic@uhi.ac.uk

Your Voice Is Power: Enrich your computing curriculum by bringing together music, coding & entrepreneurship

“Your Voice is Power”? A collaboration between @Pharrell @GeorgiaTech @YELLOWORG @CompAtSch &@AmazonUK

BCS are teaming up with Amazon Future Engineer, Georgia Tech and YELLOW to bring you the Your Voice is Power UK competition: an opportunity for students aged 11-18 can make beats, learn code, and promote equity.

From the Your Voice is Power curriculum and a range online EarSketch training opportunities, teachers can provide all the skills required for their students to mix music using Python or JavaScript. Students can enter the competition with a remix of Pharrell Williams’ song, ‘Entrepreneur’. YVIP is a great way of promoting coding through creative and cross-curricular approaches.

The competition and resources enable students to develop their Python or JavaScript skills, including making use of sequence, selection, iteration, functions parameters and arguments.

With our forthcoming Hour of Code resource, students can code-along, developing the necessary skills and knowledge with engaging content and pause points with an introduction to EarSketch, and how to remix their first track.

The competition comes with a wonderful selection of prizes on offer:

  • Winner receives a £500 Amazon gift card
  • Four runners-up receive a £250 Amazon gift card
  • Grand prize-winning school receives a £2000 Amazon gift card

To get started, access training and find out more, teachers can access:

https://www.amazonfutureengineer.co.uk/your-voice-is-power

 

We would be delighted if you could share this unique opportunity with your networks by forwarding this email or by making use of our social media asset pack (attached or available to download https://tinyurl.com/yvipukassets)

This is micro:bit 3 part course

The micro:bit is a pocket-sized computer that introduces you to how software and hardware work together. It has an LED light display, buttons, sensors and many input/output features that, when programmed, let it interact with you and your world.  The new micro:bit, V2, with sound adds a built-in microphone and speaker, as well as an extra touch input button and a power button.

Join Micro:bit Educational Foundation in this 3 part course.

Workshop 1 – Getting started with the micro:bit

Workshop 2 – Discovering micro:bit Classroom

Workshop 3 – Embedding micro:bit across our curriculum – Examples from practitioners in primary and secondary. Ask the experts Q&A

Book via our webinars page 

Digital Xtra Fund – find out more webinar recording

 

The core objective of Digital Xtra Fund is to inspire young people to learn digital technologies skills through high quality, exciting extracurricular activities, thus expanding the talent pipeline of young people who study technology related disciplines and ultimately pursue a career in digital technologies.

Watch this webinar with the team from Digital Xtra Fund to know why there is a Digital Xtra Fund, get some insights about the application process and how to apply. Find out what can you use the funding for, and more importantly what can and cannot be funded.

 

 

 

Digital Xtra Fund

The goal of Digital Xtra Fund is for every young person in Scotland to have access to innovative and digitally creative activities regardless of their gender, background, or where they live. Through supported initiatives, the Fund aims to inspire young people to understand and create with technology, not simply use it. Schools and educational organisations positively engaging young people in tech can apply for up to £5,000 to support an extracurricular activity which focusses on digital tech, especially initiatives that also provide opportunities for young people to informally engage with industry and learn more about how digital skills and tech are relevant in the ‘real-world’.

Find out more about Digital Xtra Fund with this link: https://www.digitalxtrafund.scot/

Since its inception in 2016, Digital Xtra Fund has awarded £875,000 in grants to 137 exciting and meaningful extracurricular computing and digital technologies initiatives across Scotland. This funding has helped grant recipients engage nearly 45,000 young people in tech. For the current academic year, Digital Xtra Fund has recently awarded 35 grants to schools and educational organisations which are projected to engage another 7,500 young people (including 3,800 girls and young women) and show them the breadth of opportunities these skills can provide.
View the 20/21 impact report with this link: https://www.digitalxtrafund.scot/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Digital-Xtra-Fund-2020.21-Impact-Report.pdf

Applications for next round of grant awards (Round VIII) will open in January 2023 for activities delivered during the 2023/24 academic year. However, now is the perfect time to think about what you would do with the funding and who you could work with to better engage more young people!

Find out more about the latest recipients and their projects using this link: Digital Xtra Fund awards 35 grants to drive digital skills.

Please follow Digital Xtra Fund on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for future updates.

Quick Links for Digital Xtra Fund

Digital Xtra Fund website

20/21 impact report

Round VII (2022/2023) initiatives supported by Digital Xtra Fund 

05 December 16:00, The Future of Digital in Scottish Education with Maureen McKenna, former Executive Director of Education, Glasgow City Council

Education Scotland are hosting 3 highlight sessions focusing on ‘The Future of Digital in Scottish Education’.  Each of these sessions will include an input from a key figure in Scottish Education followed by a short question and answer session.

Sign up for THIS SESSION with Maureen McKenna using this link to Evenbrite

If you would like to ask a question at any of these sessions, please complete the registration form using this link Registration Form

(If you have any issues using the form, please contact kirsty.mcfaul@educationscotland.gov.scot)

05 December 16:00, The Future of Digital in Scottish Education with Maureen McKenna, former Executive Director of Education, Glasgow City Council

Education Scotland are hosting 3 highlight sessions focusing on ‘The Future of Digital in Scottish Education’.  Each of these sessions will include an input from a key figure in Scottish Education followed by a short question and answer session.

Sign up for THIS SESSION with Maureen McKenna using this link to Evenbrite

If you would like to ask a question at any of these sessions, please complete the registration form using this link Registration Form

(If you have any issues using the form, please contact kirsty.mcfaul@educationscotland.gov.scot)

The Future of Digital in Scottish Education with Professor Ken Muir, the University of the West of Scotland

Education Scotland recently hosted three highlight sessions focusing on ‘The Future of Digital in Scottish Education’. In this video Professor Ken Muir, The University of the West of Scotland, explores:

  • the generational shift and the increasing use of digital amongst young people
  • the skills and technologies of the future and what this means for learning and work
  • the Scottish curriculum
  • noteworthy innovative projects
  • future developments, such as AI

 

You can view Professor Ken Muir’s slides with this link Slides for digital presentation.pptx (dropbox.com)

 

YOU CAN NOW LISTEN TO AN AUDIO ONLY VERSION OF THE CALL