Community Learning and Development

We would love to showcase your practice showing STEM education in CLD contexts.  If you have something to share then please email the STEM team at  STEM@educationscotland.gov.scot

Girlguiding Scotland and YMCA Paisley Maker Space

The YMCA Paisley Maker Space are working in collaboration with Girlguiding Scotland to deliver the Guides’ Digital Scotland Challenge Badge.​ The badge ​aims to empower every girl to make the most of the opportunities technology offers.

​The Digital Scotland Challenge Badge was created in partnership with Skills Development Scotland and Education Scotland.

The badge offers a range of activities and challenges and is open to Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers – so girls of all ages can get involved in STEM-related learning.Research by Girlguiding Scotland highlights that science and technology still continue to be perceived as more male subjects, with one in two girls saying science, technology, engineering and maths subjects were ‘more for boys’ while only 37% of girls said they would consider a job in technology. The Digital Scotland Challenge badge aims to change those perceptions and teaches young girls about computers, algorithms, creativity, design, and computational thinking, as well as highlighting career options in the industry.​For further information on this approach, follow this link and head over to the National Improvement Hub.

Pizza Maths, Renfrewshire

Pizza Maths was delivered to families of P4 and P5, by Adult Learning and Literacies staff (CLD). This was delivered over a 10 week period using a range of learning and teaching methods and techniques, including using mini wipeboards, games; tactile participative activities, and challenges for home to encourage transferable and continued learning. A free crèche was provided.

The learning and teaching was planned using the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy Reports and Renfrewshire Council’s Progression and Support Pathways, and in negotiation with the School Numeracy Champion and the families.

For further information on this approach, follow this link and head over to the National Improvement Hub.

 

​West Kilbride Primary School, North Ayrshire

This practice exemplar explains how one primary school used ‘science boxes’ to encourage parental engagement in children’s learning at home and promote an interest in science at early level. The boxes were sent home at the weekend and contained a variety of activities which children could explore with their parents or extended family members.

​The science boxes detailed in this exemplar were designed for an early years and childcare setting but they could also be used by childminders, or adapted for use in primary 1. Parents’ groups might also find them useful.

For further information on this approach, follow this link and head over to the National Improvement Hub.

 

​Glasgow Clyde College, Family learning

This exemplar highlights the creative approaches used to engage parents with little or no previous experience in science to undertake a series of learning experiences related to STEM topics (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

Between 2016 and 2017, a group of parents from St Mary’s Primary School in Maryhill, Glasgow were supported by Glasgow Clyde College’s Community Learning and Development section to undertake a series of classes that focused on STEM, literacy and numeracy and wellbeing. The motivation for the parents to undertake these areas of study was driven by the need to be more engaged with their children’s learning. However, it ultimately engaged the parents in gaining greater knowledge for themselves as adult returners. As well as increasing confidence to support their children in these topic areas, the classes resulted in the parents, for the first time, gaining a qualification in a science based subject.

For further information on this approach, follow this link and head over to the National Improvement Hub.