Check out our latest digital professional learning opportunities.
All posts by Pam McDowall
Google Jamboard
Google Jamboard will no longer be available after December 31, 2024. Your Jam data will be available for you to export or migrate to one of Google’s whiteboard partners until that date.
Check out this Glow Connect post for some useful alternatives: Google Jamboard is winding down
Cyber Scotland Week 2024 #CSW2024
Check out what is happening for Cyber Scotland Week by clicking the link below!
https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/glowblogs/digilearn/events/event/cyber-scotland-week/
Access to New Teams in Glow
From 26th February 2024, the Glow Team are enabling New Teams as the default within Glow. This is to allow users to continue to familiarise themselves with the New Teams interface in advance of the retiral of Classic Teams at the end of March 2024.
Please note users will still have the option to revert back to Classic Teams between 26th February 2024 and end of March 2024. Post March 2024, Classic Teams will no longer be available and all users will be utilising New Teams.
Check out this video guide on how to use.
Highlights Be Internet Awesome
Following on from Safer Internet Day on 6 February, we thought it would be useful to share this new magazine for kids from Google and Highlights to help them feel safe and confident navigating the digital world. You can check it out here.
Scotland Google Level 1 and 2 Certification Program #GoogleEDU
A fantastic opportunity has arisen with the launch of a fully-funded professional development opportunity by Google for Education (delivered by our partner Canopy), especially for educators in Scotland.
To register, follow this link for our upcoming bootcamp later this month, and please keep an eye out for subsequent bootcamp information.
This is a chance to become a Google Certified Educator (Level 1 and/or Level 2) and a digital leader at your school.
Why become a Google Certified Educator?
- Enhance your teaching and learning skills by using Google Workspace tools to their full potential, such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Forms and many more.
- Reduce your workload using Google tools to manage your teaching as efficiently and effectively as possible.
- Connect with our supportive community of educators who will support you with challenges, and celebrate your successes!
- Achieve a globally recognised certification for your technological skills in the classroom by passing the exam to be a Google Certified Educator.
- Feel confident to lead your students and school in digital learning.
How will the training be organised?
A weekly 1-hour live training webinar for 3 weeks. The training package will be hosted remotely. You will receive access to high-quality training resources and support to help you get the most out of the course.
| Level 1 | Cohort 1 |
| Week 1: Key Essentials in Google Workspace for Education
(Docs, Drive, Slides, Sheets) |
Friday 23rd February 11am-12pm |
| Week 2: Communication & Collaboration
(Meet, Classroom, Gmail, Groups, Calendar, Forms) |
Friday 1st March 11am-12pm |
| Week 3: Creativity & Engagement
(Sites, Chrome, Youtube, Drawings, Keep) |
Friday 8th March 11am-12pm |
Safer Internet Day 2024 – 6th February
Safer Internet Day 2024 will take place on the 6th of February.
Each year Safer Internet Day covers an online issue or theme that speaks to the things young people are seeing and experiencing online. Created in consultation with young people across the UK, this year Safer Internet Day will be focusing on change online, this includes covering:
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Young people’s perspective on new and emerging technology
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Using the internet to make change for the better
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The changes young people want to see online
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The things that can influence and change the way young people think, feel and act online and offline
To help schools, youth groups, police services, libraries and others, the UK Safer Internet Centre has created education resources which are free to download. The resources are tailored for 3-18 year olds and are designed to support educators in delivering messages about the campaign theme of change online.
The resources can be accessed here.
Additional resources for learners can be found via Get Safe Online.
The Digital Learning Renfrewshire blog also contains a number of helpful resources. Just click on the CR-IS category on the right-hand side menu.
Annual Glow Password Change #GlowScot
At the beginning of the academic year, all Glow users will be prompted to change their password when they login to Glow.
We would like to encourage everyone to remember the Glow Community Rules when using Glow. Be secure: always keep your Glow password to yourself and remember to log out of Glow when you are no longer using it.
Password Change for Pupils (from Thursday 10 August 2023)
From the 10th August pupils will be prompted to change their password next time they log into Glow. Any changes or password resets prior to this date will be replaced by the annual password change on the 10th August. This password change should provide an opportunity for pupils to choose a password that is easy for them to remember but difficult for others to guess.
Please follow the Password Guidance on Glow Connect to help stay safer online and to find out what makes a strong password when using Glow.
Supporting Pupils with a Password Change
Staff should be aware that if they are supporting pupils to choose a strong/new password that this should be unique to each pupil. They should not be advised to use the same password as the rest of the class. It is not good practice to have a whole school or class password as this may encourage inappropriate use of Glow. In addition, the previous 12 passwords may not be used.
Staff may be supporting pupils to choose a strong password or younger learners to change their password whilst in school or at home. We would encourage pupils to change their password in school, however we are aware that some pupils may be learning at home, with the password change being supported by parents/carers. We would ask that parents/carers do not access Glow directly.
The Password Guidance page will also provide hints like using a group of words or a phrase or a using password grids to support younger learners.
Password Change for Staff (from Wednesday 30 August 2023)
Staff are also encouraged to choose a strong password. When prompted to choose a new password there is a minimum requirement and a password rating is displayed to reflect this. The Change Password button will only be enabled when the minimum requirement for this account type is met. Again, the previous 12 passwords can not be used.
Issues with changing passwords
Staff can contact the Glow RM Unify Administrator at their school/establishment.
Staff at each school/establishment should be able to support pupils’ to reset their Glow password.
Thank-you,
Annual Glow Password Reset
The dates for the annual Glow password reset have been agreed. These are as follows:
Students: 10th August, 2023
Staff: 30th August, 2023
From these dates, students and staff will be prompted to change their Glow password the next time they login to Glow.
Happy holidays!
We made it! We hope you all have a well-earned rest over the summer break!
If you are looking for some educational things to do over the summer, check out our DigiLearnRen video playlists or catch up on our blog posts using the tags to help you find what you are looking for.
Enjoy the summer!
