Apple Professional Learning Specialist (APLS)
Welcome Ruth Burnett, Our New Apple Professional Learning Specialist!
We are delighted to announce that our very own Ruth Burnett has officially achieved accreditation as an Apple Professional Learning Specialist (APLS)!
In her new role as an APLS, Ruth is certified by Apple to deliver tailored professional learning, coaching and strategic mentorship across all our local authority establishments. Having an in-house specialist means our establishments gain direct access to expert-led digital pedagogy with Apple technology.
Here is how Ruth will be supporting staff, leadership teams and learners across our council:
- 1:1 & Small Group Coaching: Working directly alongside teachers in the classroom to model best practices, co-teach lessons, and build confidence using iPad.
- Enhancing Accessibility & Inclusion: Training staff on built-in Apple tools (like Spoken Content, Reader Mode, and Voice Control) to support learners with additional support needs.
- Curriculum & Creativity: Helping schools embed Apple frameworks like Everyone Can Create and Everyone Can Code seamlessly into everyday learning.
- Strategic Leadership Support: Partnering with Senior Leadership Teams to ensure digital investments directly boost engagement and reduce workload.
Ruth is looking forward to working closely with schools to build sustainable, long-term digital capacity. If you would like to explore how Ruth can support your team, school, or cluster, please feel free to reach out to her directly!
Over the next few months ICT will be deploying an upgrade to Windows 11 to ensure that our council devices remain secure. This update is larger than the normal monthly update and we recommend that when prompted to reboot your computer to install the update, please wait until the end of the working day as it will take longer to update than usual.
Daydream Believers
Daydream Believers, Education Scotland’s creative curriculum and AI partners have recently published their Impact Report which may be of interest.
‘Inside this report is a year of proof: pupils solving real problems, qualifications gaining recognition, and creativity earning its place at the centre of the timetable. If you are weighing up what a creative curriculum could do for your school, this is where to start’
Safer Schools Scotland
Educate • Empower • Protect
Official Safeguarding Updates & Guidance
Certified Training 💡
Available to all registered Safer Schools Professionals for FREE
Artificial Intelligence in Education: Understanding the Risks and Opportunities
Learning Objectives:
- Understand what Artificial Intelligence is and how it is used within education and wider society.
- Recognise how children and young people are engaging with AI and the potential impact on learning.
- Identify practical ways AI can support teaching, assessment, planning, and time efficiency.
- Understand the safeguarding, ethical, and data protection considerations linked to AI use in schools.
- Apply key principles for the safe, responsible, and effective use of AI in line with policy and guidance.
Exploited by Image: Grooming, Blackmail and Control
Learning Objectives:
- Understand what $3xtortion is and the different forms it can take, including the use of real and AI-generated images.
- Identify those most at risk, such as children and young people.
- Learn about the laws surrounding $3xtortion.
- Recognise the emotional, social, and financial impact $3xtortion has on victims.
- Apply your knowledge to identify potential cases of $3xtortion and provide effective support to children and young people.
Learning Objectives:
- Enhance their knowledge of the most popular social media platforms and their basic functions.
- Develop confidence in navigating social media and gaming platforms.
- Explore online risks and trends associated with individual platforms.
- Understand how to keep children and young people safer on these platforms.
Request from ITZA – survey exploring independent learning in secondary schools
There is a forthcoming national investigation in secondary education and we need to understand your experiences and perspectives.
Below is an invitation to participate in a survey about your current practice and perspectives on important topics, such as technology use, independent learning, teaching new subjects, and assessment. Your valuable insights will help to establish the baseline data that will inform the development of a research programme involving the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, West of Scotland and UCL.
The survey takes five to seven minutes and there is an optional second part for anyone who wants to say more. Your answers are reported only as part of a group, and never attributed to you, your school or your local authority. Completing it enters you into a prize draw for £100 Amazon gift cards or other prize packs.
The survey is here: https://graspandrecall.typeform.com/uk-indplearn
Findings will be shared towards the end of the year once the analysis is complete.
