RESIDENTIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS IN SCOTLAND – What Bees Taught Me: Exploring What can be Learnt from More-than-Human Teachers

We would like to invite you to take part in a research project which will take place on University of Stirling campus, from teatime on Friday 24 May to the afternoon of Sunday 26 May 2024.

The weekend is funded by University of Stirling Crucible and is free to attend (costs covered include food, accommodation on campus, and a travel bursary). Places are open to teachers of any kind (primary/secondary/FE/HE/adult/community) who are currently based in Scotland.

This will be an exciting research study which aims to explore what we can learn from teachers who are not humans. In our current ecological predicament the potential teachings of more-than-humans such as insects, plants, water and trees are often overlooked. This project aims to find out what happens when we look to creatures from the order Hymenoptera (bees and wasps) as beings with the potential to educate us about the environment, community, survival, and our relationships with the natural world.  During the course of the weekend, we will undertake a range of creative, pedagogical and scientific activities and reflect on how these might impact your future teaching practice. One outcome will be the creation of a teaching toolkit which you can use in your own future educational adventures. You may wish to use this project as CPD or to further your own teaching interests.

Please note that, whilst the project is centred around Hymenoptera, there will be no handling of insects during the project. However, as activities may involve close observation of bees, those with phobias or allergies may want to consider this aspect carefully before applying to take part.

The research element involves completing two short questionnaires and a walking ‘intra-view’ after the event. Further information on participation, ethics and consent will be shared with those who express an interest in being involved.

Do contact me if you need any further information. I look forward to hearing from you.

Dr Kay Sidebottom

Lecturer in Education

University of Stirling
Contact: Kay.Sidebottom@stir.ac.uk

Headteacher Engagement – Play Pedagogy     Thursday May 2^nd Inspire Tweedbank

9:30 – 12:30 (Tea/coffee from 9am)

Catriona Gill from Education Scotland will be leading a workshop on high quality play pedagogy

Aims of session:

• To further explore the key principles behind national guidance document Realising the Ambition: Being me.
• To explore the concept of pedagogical leadership and consider the development of staff as adult learners.
• To explore the key elements of high quality early level provision.

Please note this session is for all head teachers.

Could you please share the AI week page within your schools and also the details of the Aidea sessions.

Scottish AI in Schools – DigiLearn (glowscotland.org.uk)

These are free to Scottish Teachers.

A.I.deas – Gen A.I. for Maths & Science teachers – Future Skills (gsa.ac.uk)

A.I.deas – Gen A.I. for Social Sciences teachers – Future Skills (gsa.ac.uk)

A.I.deas – Gen A.I. for English and Modern Language teachers – Future Skills (gsa.ac.uk)

Kirsty McFaul | Senior Education Officer Learning Teaching and Assessment | Education Scotland

I’m delighted to share details of several upcoming free-of-charge events and opportunities that may be of interest to you and your networks, and would be very grateful for your help in spreading the word to contacts you feel may be interested.

More details on all events and the links for signing up can be found here: Spring 2024: Upcoming opportunities and events from Learning for Sustainability Scotland (mailchi.mp)

• ‘Connect’ – our monthly sessions for educators with the General Teaching Council of Scotland (29 February, 21 March, 25 April)
• ‘Effective collaboration for Scotland’s Learning for Sustainability Movement for Change’ – a pan-sectoral discussion opportunity (05 March)
• ‘Learning for a Sustainable Future’; our highly-successful online learning opportunity, which has, to date, attracted over 17,000 learners from nearly 160 countries. Developed in partnership with British Council and University of Edinburgh (starts 11 March)
• ‘Responding to Scotland’s Good Food Nation consultation’ – in collaboration with Nourish Scotland (20 March)
• ‘Monitoring Education for Sustainable Development in Colleges’ – in collaboration with EAUC Scotland (21 March)