This morning, P7/6 at Eastertoun Primary had a creative morning working with the Digital Team, exploring Adobe Express to share their learning from their digital research project this term, all about planets. They began a few weeks ago by learning to use Microsoft Search Coach to identify accurate and reliable information online and exploring the filtering options to narrow their searches, and used Microsoft Whiteboard and Microsoft Assignments to collaborate and share their findings.
Today they used this knowledge and information to share their learning in their own, incredibly impressive, creative projects, with pupils choosing to create posters, animations, videos and even podcasts!
We are looking forward to seeing what else you can create over the next few months. Well done P6/7!
Primary 7 at Southdale Primary School were recently visited by the Sky Up team as they explored the latest teacher-led resource from Sky Up – The Edit.
In the Fiction lessons, learners gain an understanding of the design process behind film trailers and an insight into the skills required to work in the TV, film and media industries. They work collaboratively to produce their own 30-second film trailer, unleashing their creativity and digital skills, with the help of Adobe Express.
A special event to showcase the final trailers will take place soon and we can’t wait to see them!
Sign up to Sky Up and register for The Edit to receive your free lesson guides and resources. Booking are also open to attend the Sky Up Academy Studios with your class.
P7 Pupils at Eastertoun Primary School enjoyed exploring the Microsoft Search Coach tool this morning, to support them in finding accurate and reliable information online. Pupils confidently identified the benefits and importance of finding and using trustworthy websites, and enjoyed critically evaluating sites to assess their reliability.
“Using Search Coach can help you find trustworthy websites instead of ones with viruses or false information.”
P7 Pupil
Pupils then utilised their digital skills to collaborate online, sharing their learning through Teams and enhancing their understanding by using the Accessibility Tools built into Microsoft Edge.
By the end of the session, pupils were feeling proud of their achievements and excited to continue to explore other digital tools available to them.
“In Search Coach, you can filter by domain, country and timescale, to get accurate and up-to-date information.”
We had a great start to the relaunch of the Internet of Things project, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh. Thank you to P6 from Blackridge Primary, P5 and P6 from Livingston Village Primary, for joining us on this exciting project.
“CO2 was low until everyone came in the class.” P5 pupil at Livingston Village PS
Pupils found the information and videos interesting and informative, and the sessions prompted fantastic discussions around the effects of environmental factors on learning.
“It really got the pupils thinking. Thank you” P6 teacher
The sessions were designed to introduce the data sensors and encourage pupils to investigate their learning environment, by analysing the data.
The data sensors collect readings on the temperature, light level, CO2 level, motion and humidity of the classroom environment.
Thank you again to all our schools, staff and of course to Tommy & Antonia, for your involvement.
We are delighted to share that Croftmalloch Primary School have recently been awarded their Digital Schools Award.
Accredited by Education Scotland, The Digital Schools Award Scotland is a national award to promote, recognise and encourage a whole school approach to the use of digital technology.
West Lothian currently has 39 primary schools, 9 secondary schools, 1 ELC and 1 ASN school who have achieved this award. We know there are schools who are working towards their validation this session, so look out for more announcements soon!
We would like to share the fantastic digital learning opportunities coming up over the next few weeks.
Live Lessons 4th & 6th February
We are excited to invite P5-S3 classes to join us online for an introduction to the Data Literacy Project with IoT in Schools. Learners will explore data and build digital literacy skills, collecting & analysing data from within their own school. This opportunity is open to all schools with the Internet of Things Data Sensors and is being delivered in collaboration with The University of Edinburgh.
Tuesday 4th February 11am or 1.30pm: Beginners Sessions
Thursday 6th February 9.30am or 1.30pm: Intermediate Sessions (for classes who have explored the sensors before)
If you’d like to be involved, please sign up using this link.
Our Digital Learning Pedagogy Officers will be running bitesize training sessions demonstrating how to use Seesaw effectively for Profiling.
There will be examples of Seesaw Profiles as well as demonstrations of how to use key features, such as the Highlight tool, automatic Translate with Google and how to tag Meta-Skills as Standards.
These sessions are primarily aimed for P1-3 staff, however ELC, SLT or other staff members are welcome to come along too.
No need to sign up, just join the meeting online, through the #Digiken Team.
Adobe Express are continuing to run a wide range of online Live Lessons for classes, as well as teacher training sessions.
ACE Level 1 – Intro to Adobe Express – this session will get you hands on with Adobe Express and talking about creativity in the classroom, how it works and how to foster a creative culture.
Safer Internet Day 2025 will take place on the 11th of February 2025, with celebrations and learning based around the theme ‘Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online‘
Some key questions being explored this year include:
How is changing technology like generative AI going to impact the approach of scammers?
What role can the government and internet industry take to tackle this threat?
What changes would young people like to see to help protect themselves moving forward?
We are also very excited to announce the launch of the new Safer Schools Scotland resource Hub: Teach Hub – Safer Schools
Safer Schools is a multi-award-winning safeguarding ecosystem, created to educate, empower and protect your entire school community, in a digital World.
The Teach Hub is a free library of resources created for teachers by teachers, specifically designed for teaching in the classroom, including age-appropriate lessons, activities, worksheets and PowerPoints on topics affecting children and young people today.
The Teach Hub also has shareables resources and guides around a range of platforms, apps and websites which can be downloaded and shared with staff and parents.
These resources focus on sharing positive messages, and highlights the benefits of building good habits online, building self-esteem and forming good relationships.
All teaching staff have been sent the access code by email as this resource is only available to West Lothian staff.
If you are interested in finding out more about the new national learner profile, launching soon on My World of Work, there are free webinars coming up on the following dates:
Education Scotland and Skills Development Scotland has been working in partnership with a National Co-design Group to shape approaches to profiling and digital profile, co-designing each step of the way with young people.
In 2024 the Cabinet Secretary indicated that the national approach for digital profile will be delivered through My World of Work.
The solution can help learners capture their achievements from all settings, reflect upon them and build a profile to showcase who they are and their evolving strengths.
The digital profile will go live at the end of January.
What the webinar will cover
You’ll find out about future development plans, approaches for implementation within the curriculum and future ambitions to strengthen connections across the education and skills landscape.
We were delighted to continue our annual tradition of a live reading of a Christmas Story by Greg Welsh, Head of Education (Primary, Early Learning and Resources).
Over 200 teachers joined us on Microsoft Teams, from schools all over West Lothian, to hear We’re Going on an Elf Chase by Martha Mumford, followed by a chance to share some Christmas jokes.
Thank you to everybody who voted for the story and who joined us live.
We are thrilled to introduce our latest cohort of Promethean Certified Trainers, who are excited to share their knowledge and new expertise of the Promethean panels and the ActivInspire software with their schools and clusters.
This technology can significantly enhance learner engagement, ensuring that learners benefit from more interactive and dynamic educational experiences.
Key takeaways and most impactful learning experiences identified by the participants included:
Promethean tools available on the panels and online (such as spinner, annotate and timer)
ActivInspire tools, tips and hints (such as the use of templates, interactive manipulatives, reveal sliders and overlays)
Laptop and Online tools to boost engagement and collaboration (such as MS Whiteboard, floating keyboard, split screen functionality and MS Accessibility Tools)
Features to enhance productivity (such as importing and annotating PDF’s, exporting lessons as JPEGs or PDFs to share and ability to use the board separately from the laptop)
Congratulations all, we are excited to see how you take this new knowledge forward in your schools.
