Global Citizenship

May 4th, 2012

Global Citizenship and Film

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories africa, games and sport, health and wellbeing, international, languages

A few very different opportunities for teachers to reflect on how to use film viewings and film-making as a tool for supporting global citizenship education:

With a good fit to current work in schools around Games Legacy and the Olympics, the Edinburgh Filmhouse has a schools-only showing of the African film ‘Town of Runners’ on Monday 28th May. This showing has been organised by Take One Action  film festival, a charity which promotes the different perspectives offered by films from developing countries. The film tells the story of two Ethiopian girls struggling to become athletes in a town which has a history of producing great distance runners, and is reviewed in the Guardian.

Take One Action is also seeking secondary schools to participate in its Young Heroes action project between June and December 2012. It’s a residential and follow-on screening project for young people aged 15-21 and their educators or youth workers, and builds their capacity to consider global issues and use film to encourage wider debate.

Thirdly, the Northern Lights project aims to create Scotland’s first ever mass participation documentary, an innovative way to build a movie about contemporary Scotland. Basically it will be composed, and edited into a final feature-length film, from videos made by people all over the country and contributed to a common pool of rich material. Read this blog post for more detail and weblinks.

April 30th, 2012

Global Citizenship – teacher achievement

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories africa, europe, international, sharing practice

Teachers are adept at finding effective and innovative ways to support student learning, and I often see great examples of this for various aspects of global citizenship. Here in Scotland there’s a system run by the General Teaching Council Scotland by which teachers can get Professional Recognition for excellent practice. 

Last week a celebratory event was held in Glasgow at which local teachers received their Award certificates for their achievements in education for global citizenship. It was a pleasure to talk to the teachers involved, and see the displays of material about school partnerships with sub-Saharan Africa, e-twinning projects, Comenius school partnerships in Europe, and much more. Congratulations to all involved.

Ten of those teachers are also involved in the ‘Global Storylines’ project led by WOSDEC (West of Scotland Development Education Centre), Glasgow City Council and the University of Strathclyde. This uses the Storylines approach to get pupils to develop stories around themes such as conflict, sustainability and food. A dissemination event to be held at Strathclyde University later this week will share some of the experience gained from this project with a wider group of teachers.

April 26th, 2012

Global storylines – CPD opportunity

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: CPD, events
 : Categories africa, citizenship, creativity, curriculum areas, expressive arts, languages, primary schools, sharing practice, social studies, sustainable development

Global storylines is an exciting, innovative three year project in which storyline and drama are used to embed an exploration of global issues into the learning experiences of pupils in Glasgow.

Now in its second year, teachers from 17 Glasgow primary schools are exploring challenging global issues with their pupils, within the safe fictional community that storyline offers. Each global storyline uniquely combines global citizenship methodologies with both the pedagogies of “Storyline” and the associated pedagogies of process drama.

Learners are supported to think creatively, make connections, solve problems, and examine values and attitudes.

The event will be introduced by Steve Bell, Co-creator of Storyline, followed by a presentation by the Global Storylines Team on the scope of the project, the methodology, learning contexts and research findings.

Displays and videos of children’s work, and presentations from the project teachers, help to give a flavour of the project.

Venue & Registration:

Thursday 3rd May 2012, 2.30-5.00pm

University of Strathclyde, McCance Building

If you would like to attend this event, please register at:

http://ewds.strath.ac.uk/engage/Events/GlasgowGlobalStorylinesProject.aspx

February 20th, 2012

Fairtrade fortnight

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags: Tags: Fairtrade
 : Categories africa, citizenship, commonwealth, health and wellbeing, international, religious and moral education

Fairtrade Fortnight starts on 27th February 2012 and runs until 11th March. As usual, hundreds of Scottish schools and community groups will be involved in local efforts to change attitudes and behaviour and establish Scotland as a Fairtrade Nation.

The Fairtrade Foundation’s campaign focus this year is ‘Take a Step in 2012′. Their website provides background information about the inequalities of world trade, the difference a fair deal for producers can make, and some ideas for action. An interactive map displays some of the local projects and events taking part.

Many charities will be contributing to the overall campaign in their own ways, offering extra opportunities for schools and learners to engage with Fairtrade. For example, Tradecraft is encouraging local people to host a Big Brew event in their own area, and provides resources for schools and organisers to help them set things up.

Oxfam has resources which enable teachers to cover the issue of Trade as part of their Global Citizenship teaching. The SCIAF Youth website also has material to support young people thinking about this key issue.

If your school comes up with an innovative way of promoting fairtrade, let us know. globalcitizens@educationscotland.gov.uk

The Scottish Government has confirmed that Scotland is likely to meet the criteria to become a Fair Trade Nation in 2012, with many local authorities, towns and schools already committed.

December 9th, 2011

Last day at UN Climate Talks in Durban

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, climate and energy, poverty
 : Categories africa, citizenship, renewables and climate change, sciences, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

As major UN climate talks in Durban, South Africa reach their final day, the most likely outcome is a modest step towards a broader deal to cut greenhouse gas pollution to fight climate change.

Scottish climate campaigner, Lexi Barnett (Campaigns Officer with SCIAF), has been attending the talks with one of Latin America’s leading climate scientist. Check out her blog and the news from the last day.

October 9th, 2011

Calderglen High School – Open Day Study Visit

mfarrell

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories CPD, africa, citizenship, commonwealth, curriculum areas, games and sport, health and wellbeing, international, secondary schools, sharing practice

Main focus: Global Citizenship and Games Legacy for Scotland

Tuesday, 25^th October 2011,   9.30 am – 3.30pm 

Calderglen High School –  the first Community Sports Hub in Scotland, Calderglen has a strong focus on community sport, health and well being and global citizenship.  Staff and pupils will provide you with the opportunity to spend the day hearing how the theme of the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games has provided a platform for transforming the school’s ethos and its approach to interdisciplinary learning, developing rich learning experiences and activities including:

• Strong international partnerships through an ‘International Inspirations’ link with South Africa and the ‘BBC World Olympic Dreams’ link with Namibia.
• Engagement with the London 2012 Get Set programme.
• Linking school and community sport to promote health and well being and provide coherent pathways for children and young people.

The aim of the event is to identify and share the practical lessons and ideas that have helped the school move forward in its journey towards a whole school approach to global citizenship within Curriculum for Excellence – and also to reflect on the challenges encountered along the way.  Fundamental to the event will be the professional dialogue and exchange of ideas that takes place on the day, enabling participants to network, reflect on their own practice and develop intentions for improvement in their own context.  With this in mind, participants are encouraged to join the Leadership of Global Citizenship online community and share their reflections.

The programme for the event can be downloaded here >>Calderglen High School Open day Flyer_Programme

September 28th, 2011

British Council supports international school partnerships

kmayer

Comments: none Tags: Tags: europe, funding, modern languages, resources
 : Categories CPD, africa, china, citizenship, europe, india, international, modern languages

British Council supports schools in Scotland to make connections in Europe and globally and provide a wide variety of opportunities including accreditation and grants for CPD, exchange visits, work placements abroad and joint curriculum project work with partner schools.

The following up-coming opportunities and deadlines are opened to any school in Scotland in order to develop new and existing global connections:

 Connecting Classrooms:  Project with schools in the Middle East– Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi  Arabia, United Arab Emirates.    Deadline:  21 October

 Schools with existing China school partnerships can also apply on 21 October to receive funding to develop joint curriculum work and involve students in partner visits.

 For more information visit:   www.britishcouncil.org/connectingclassrooms

 £250 is available for staff costs, travel and subsistence to explore the idea of long term equitable partnerships with schools in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

 Reciprocal Visit Grants (for partnerships with Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean): 1 November- 9 January (deadline)

 For more information: www.dfid.org.uk/globalschools

ETwinning and Comenius:  These projects can help schools to start new partnerships projects with European partners.   In-Service Training on  professional development courses or job shadowing and to host Comenius Assistants in 2012.  under:   www.britishcouncil.org/comenius or  www.etwinning.net

Online resource including partner finding and accreditation to receive recognition for schools’ global citizenship and international work is also available through www.britishcouncil.org/schoolsonline.

September 26th, 2011

The History of White People – opportunity for schools

mfarrell

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories CPD, africa, citizenship, international, religious and moral education, secondary schools, social studies, united states

The History of White People by Nell Irvin Painter

To mark Black History Month in the UK, a leading African American historian asks why white people became white.

Scottish schools offering Higher and Advanced Higher courses on Civil Rights in the US are being encouraged to attend and already around 50 pupils from schools across Scotland have signed up!

On October 11, Nell Irvin Painter, Professor Emerita at Princeton and Fulbright Visiting Professor in the UK will be giving a public lecture at the University of Edinburgh.  Prof. Painter is a leading expert on the history of race and race relations in the US and beyond. Her lecture is titled ‘The History of White People’ and historicises the concept of whiteness in western thought. This is a free, but ticketed event. 

Doors open at 5.30pm.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011 from 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM (GMT)

Teviot Lecture Theatre

Doorway 5, Old Medical School

Teviot Place

EH8 9AG Edinburgh

United Kingdom

The University of Edinburgh

Register for this event now at :

http://edinburgh-university-72-rss.eventbrite.com

Please note:

This event may be photographed and/or recorded for promotional or recruitment materials for the University or University approved third parties.

For any further information contact: Anna Moslow, Anna.Moslow@ed.ac.uk or Frank Cogliano f.cogliano@ed.ac.uk

September 19th, 2011

Film and Global Citizenship

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags: Tags: cinema, film
 : Categories ICT, africa, international, languages, modern languages, social studies

Global Citizenship teaching and learning within ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ can benefit from the thoughtful, selective and informed use of Film. Many teachers will have their students watch chosen extracts or entire movies, films picked carefully which cover themes or narratives which will add to the knowledge and understanding of their students. Working with films also enables students to acquire and deepen skills in research, critical analysis and media literacy, helping them to handle different sources of information, form and communicate informed viewpoints.

In Scotland we are lucky to have a number of cinema festivals and venues which enable teachers to work with films about global citizenship issues and films from other countries which offer different and diverse viewpoints.

The Take One Action film festival begins today in Edinburgh and Glasgow and runs for the next two weeks. It offers a wide range of movies about global issues such as land, poverty, climate change, food, conflict and much more. There are documentaries and dramas, and many showings are complemented by themed audience discussions, interviews with film-makers and NGOs, etc. I’ve picked out just three of the films on offer, which may have particular use in school: ’Fezeka’s Voice‘, about an inspirational teacher and musicians from South Africa; ‘Blood in the mobile’, about child labour and mineral extraction in Congo; and ‘There once was an island’, about climate change in Polynesia. For full details of the films show dates and associated activities, check the Take One Action website.

Independent Film venues often host parts of such annual film festivals, but also run their own extensive programmes of film showings which expose teachers and students to alternative perspectives. Glasgow Film Theatre, Edinburgh’s Filmhouse, and Dundee Contemporary Arts are all active in this regard, and teachers should contact their nearest venue for advance programme details which may include special showings for schools (with associated educational elements) or teacher CPD sessions.

These independent venues are also imaginative in working with partners to develop their own festivals and seasons of films which focus on a particular theme. Two examples:

- Filmhouse hosts the ‘Africa in Motion’ festival in early November, running a series of films and events which deal with the lives and issues of young people in Africa. The films include shorts, animations, fiction and documentaries.

- The Discovery Film Festival takes place at DCA in Dundee, and its schools programme runs from 22nd October to 6th November. There are teacher CPD sessions alongside the film programme.

Many venues also take part in National Schools Film Week, which for Scotland in 2011 will be from 27th October to 4th November.

September 19th, 2011

Bring learning to life with the brand new Global Citizenship calendar 2011/12

kmayer

Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, climate and energy, competition, democracy, enterprise, europe, events, games legacy, resources
 : Categories Uncategorized, africa, biodiversity, citizenship, commonwealth, games and sport, international, scottish culture

We are delighted to offer you a free Global Citizenship calendar containing major events and dates to help you plan rich and stimulating learning experiences across the curriculum throughout the year.

Go to Global Citizenship calendar 2011/12 and download the pdf version or email globalcitizens@educationscotland.gov.uk to request a printed (A2) version.

An exciting online version of this calendar connecting you to support materials for each entry will soon be available on the Education Scotland website (http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/ ).  So, whether you are planning learning around religious festivals, Holocaust Memorial day or World Environment Day, the Global Citizenship calendar will point you in the right direction.