Check out the recording from session 3 of our professional learning network for the ELC digital award. This one is all about setting culture.
Early Years Professional Learning Network, Session 3
Glow Updates
Unsure where to check when something in Glow appears to be not working? Education Scotland have a very useful page – the Service Status page – which alerts users to any issues affecting Glow Services, the Education Scotland websites and also Education Scotland managed SWAN circuits.
Staying up to date via the Service Status page may save you time if something isn’t working for you when trying to access any of these services. If the issue is not highlighted in this page then you know it is a local issue and can take appropriate action.
Use the link below to access it. You could bookmark this so you can access it quickly.
Read&Write in Renfrewshire
We have an authority wide subscription to Read&Write. Here’s a quick guide to get you started.
Digital Skills for Scottish Educators
Did you know that Education Scotland have published a revised Digital skills for Scottish educators Digital skills for Scottish educators – DigiLearn Further support is coming soon and we will be incorporating this new guidance into our Transform to Innovate plans.
Renfrewshire Apple Regional Training Centre
Did you know that we are a certified Apple Regional Training Centre (RTC)? We have regular RTC sessions to support you with all things iPad and have a dedicated website as well (see below)! Alongside this, we are building a staff toolkit for using iPads which you can access here. If there is anything in particular you would like to see or you have something useful that we can add, please use the feedback form to let us know,
Young Games Designer competition
Making Games: BAFTA Young Games Designer competition 2026 – DigiLearn
I am delighted to be able to share Education Scotland’s schedule of learning to support educators with the aim of entering the BAFTA Young Games Designer (YGD) competition. Making Games: BAFTA Young Games Designer competition 2026
Once again, the amazing Into Film will support this by delivering:
- a webinar about YGD and their Games Lite resource: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
- two LIVE lessons to guide educators, children and young people through their game concept development:
Attendance at all 3 sessions would be preferred as the sessions are planned that educators will know about YGD and Games Lite, have the resources and the time to teach these lessons.
Spaces are limited to 30 classes.
Digital Critical Friends – ScotlandIS
What is this project?
In response to the tech skills crisis, ScotlandIS run an innovative project to provide every secondary school across Scotland with a tech expert at their disposal – these are Digital Critical Friends.
ScotlandIS aim to raise awareness of the skills and knowledge required for working in the tech sector amongst educators, learners and their families. The programme will help teachers shape a curriculum that matches the needs of industry and ensure learners are aware of the opportunities for careers, training, and further study.
Why is this programme needed?
There is currently a shortage of learners qualifying in, studying, or having the opportunity to study Computing Science in schools across Scotland – especially amongst girls and young women.
Only 27% of young women say they would consider a career in technology, and only 3% would say it is their first choice of career. (PwC UK, Women in Tech Report)
The tech industry in Scotland promises creative, flexible, and highly rewarding career pathways, and it is estimated that around 80% of future jobs will require STEM skills, including Computing Science.
13,000 digital tech job opportunities are created every year in Scotland; filling all of them would add £1bn to Scotland’s economy. (ScotlandIS)
How does this work?
ScotlandIS will work with interested schools across Scotland to provide a Digital Critical Friend in every secondary school interested in the project.
Digital Critical Friends will inform teachers and pupils of what is happening in the sector: where the new technologies are, share emerging career opportunities and how to access them.
Digital Critical Friends can connect flexibly, by video call, email or over coffee. They will act as a sounding board, a friend, a guide to the teachers. They’ll be willing to take part in catch-ups and could present to students about subjects that interest them, demonstrating how exciting the tech sector is. Teachers and Digital Critical Friends may also arrange a visit to each other’s workplace in order to understand the opportunities and challenges that they work with.
How do I get involved?
To discuss further, and register your interest, please contact Fiona Thomson at fiona.thomson@scotlandis.com.
Adobe Express
Here’s all the latest offering from Adobe Express!
1. Live lessons (English & Cymraeg)
75 minutes long with a natural half time break if you need to leave early. Register for the recording if the dates or times don’t suit and to get pupil certificates. Ideal for ages 7-13.
· 14 Jan = New Year Resolutions
· 20/21 Jan = Energy Saving Week
· 22/23 Jan – St Dwynwen’s Day
· 27 Jan – Holocaust Memorial Day
· 9/12 Feb – Children’s Mental Health Week
· 10/11 Feb – Safer Internet Day
All account registrations have now been reset so register as if for the first time J
2. Adobe Creative Educator Teacher Training
Join the ACE Leader community here to access extra teaching resources, online community meets and creative challenges with swag prizes.
Sign up for your next Adobe Express teacher training session by clicking below.
· 22 Jan = Get Started with Adobe Express: The Create Tab
· 29 Jan = Build Your Skills: Digital Drawing
· 2 Feb = Build Your Skills: Presentations & Webpage
· 11 Feb = Build Your Skills: Templates & Classrooms
· 16 Feb = Get Started with Adobe Express: The Edit Tab
· 23 Feb = Build Your Skills: Animation and Video
All account registrations have now been reset so register as if for the first time J
3. Video tutorials
· Winter Drawing Series – very relevant given the weather!
o Made by Suzanne Pritchard, the Geometric Polar Bear is my favourite!
· Ebook – click on your country for aligned planning
o Relevant spring topics include – Frozen Kingdom, Healthy Minds
o Wales / Northern Ireland / Scotland / England
Back to School with Glow! #Glow_Scot
Glow Connect publishes lots of helpful hints and tips. They also have a termly newsletter. Check out their latest collection.
AI Champion Educators – November 2025
This is your chance to Watch Again our recording of the last AI Champion Educators professional learning session in November 2025. This session looks at Google Vids, Nano Banana and Gemini Gems!
