At the start of the December Glowing Thursdays was delighted to host the second in a double bill of Glow Meets with Scottish Ballet. Entitled ‘Inspiring Careers’ this Glow Meet allowed the viewers to hear directly from four ‘Scottish’ ballet dancers, each of them outlining why they had chosen to be a dancer and how as a career they found it fulfilling. During this session we were joined by 15 schools who also had the opportunity to ask questions and those who were unable to take part posted questions on a discussion board before the event. Who knows this Glowing Thursday might have inspired a pupil to be the next greatest Scottish ballet dancer?!

That same day Glowing Thursday also hosted an Early Years session which was attended by more than 38 individuals. We were joined by Professor Aline-Wendy Dunlop, Chair of Childhood and Primary Studies, Strathclyde University and Gerard McKernan, Quality Improvement Officer, Glasgow City Council who discussed their recent involvement in the National Transitions Advisory Group as well as their own current work from pre-school into primary. It was a lively event and people were keen to ask questions, all of which were answered during the event and the presenters who had never used Glow Meet before were delighted with the experience an at how easy it was.

A very busy day for Glowing Thursdays but a great opportunity for pupils and practitioners to learn, share and collaborate together!

Join us for another Glowing Thursdays double bill this week (3rd December)!

At 2pm we welcome back Scottish Ballet after their successful Glow Meet last week and this time they will be discussing Inspirational careers – Join our “Scottish” dancers for a live Q&A about their career pathways and an insight into their lives as dancers. Hosted by Ailsa-Mary Gold, Associate Director Education, and live studio audience of Senior Associates. We are delighted that on the day we will be joined by all 4 of Scottish Ballet’s Scottish dancers. If you are unable to be part of the live event please leave a question in our discussion board which can be found in the Glowing Thursdays National Group.

Then at 4pm we are pleased to welcome Professor Aline-Wendy Dunlop, Chair of Childhood and Primary Studies, Strathclyde University and Gerard McKernan, Quality Improvement Officer, Glasgow City Council to lead the Glow Meet session. They will discuss their recent involvement in the National Transitions Advisory Group as well as their own current work from pre-school into primary.

Find out more about Glowing Thursdays at glowhelp.me/thursdays

In a Glow first we will be featuring not one but two Glow Meets at the same time on Thursday 26th November. From 2-3pm that day you and your pupils will have the opportunity to engage with two very important arts organsisations.

From the National Galleries of Scotland we will be joined by Martin Boyce in an exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ interview with the Contemporary Scottish Artist. As part of the Glow Meet he will be showing short (time-lapse) films of his installation being constructed in the gallery, as well as mini interviews with key people involved in the entire process of installing contemporary artworks – such as the curator, the art handling team, the conservators and the Director of SNGMA, Simon Groom. This event is supported by Homecoming money.

In addition you can also join Kate Morrison from Scottish Ballet to find out about the concept, costume and design behind Ashley Page’s Nutcracker, delivered by Scottish Ballet education and featuring the resident wardrobe department.

You and your pupils will have the opportunity to view both of these events and if you are not able to attend live you can leave a question on the discussion board and also, as the events are being recorded, you can watch them at your leisure. Find out more about this exciting event at glowhelp.me/thursdays

A ‘Speed Dating’ event with a difference was held at the DCA in Dundee last week to foster new partnerships between arts organisations and new media and technology companies.

The Co-Create project is inviting Scottish Arts Council funded arts organisations to develop proposals for projects with schools using Glow, working in partnership with learners and with media companies who can help create innovative new resources for Glow. Co-Create provides a fantastic opportunity to illustrate the key role the arts can play in supporting Curriculum for Excellence via Glow.

Almost 30 representatives of arts and media organisations attended the Speed Dating event with a view to meeting new creative partners. Media companies were each given a five minute slot to present their work and this was followed by a networking session where arts and media companies met each other for short introductory conversations on a rotational basis.

The event generated a real buzz, with lively conversation and ideas exchange. A follow up Open Day at the Optima Building, Glasgow on 15 October will allow participants to find out more about the technical possibilities of Glow.

‘Glow is an exciting idea…..allowing interaction with us and several schools at the one same time is very exciting…..’

Sonja Lowe, Playwright Studio Scotland

‘It’s been particularly good to share with people…. and to hear about how other companies are utilising new media in reaching different sectors within education…’

Sara Kinnear, Screen Media

Arts organisations have until 16 November to submit their proposals to Co-Create. Successful applications will be announced in January and projects will take place throughout 2010.

If you would like to be involved in the Co-Create Project, please contact the Glow Arts Development Officer by emailing GlowAdmin@ltscotland.org.uk or via the Co-Create Glow Group.

For more information on Co-Create visit the Glow Scotland website or
Visit the project page on Scottish Arts Council website
Follow #CoCreate on Twitter

The Glow Arts Project Co-Create is funded through a partnership between Learning and Teaching Scotland and the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund

Visible Fictions, known for its vibrant, high quality, accessible theatre, is running a pilot project using Glow to give Higher Drama students and teachers access to the people and processes involved in the creation of a contemporary Scottish play. The company’s production Curse of the Demeter starts its autumn tour on Thursday 24 September at Platform in Glasgow and travels to a further 23 venues across Scotland. The production is based on a passage from Bram Stoker’s Dracula and promises an exciting and spine chilling experience.

Using Glow Meet, pupils will have the opportunity to watch a scene being rehearsed and to meet the Artistic Producer and Set Designer. Pupils will have the opportunity to explore the key artistic questions addressed by the creative team. Glow Meets are taking place from 4-5pm on 1, 8 and 15 September. Recordings of these sessions, together with teaching resources and learning opportunities supporting the Higher Drama syllabus are accessible via the Curse of the Demeter Glow Group, which will also include documentation of project progress throughout this academic year.

If you would like to join the Glow Group to access resources and contribute to discussions, please contact Paul Gorman at Visible Fictions: email Paul@visiblefictions.co.uk with your Glow username and email address.

For more information on Curse of the Demeter click here

During the summer months, the Glow Team has been on tour demonstrating Glow to arts organisations and members of the National Arts and Education Network. Events in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Dundee gave participants across the country the opportunity to see how Glow is being used as a platform for online collaboration and sharing, making new and exciting learning experiences and resources more widely accessible to learners and teachers across Scotland.

“Glow is such an amazing resource and it was great to see it first hand” Sonja Lowe, Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland

Engaged audiences, excited by the possibilities of Glow, have wanted to find out as much as possible about the practicalities of getting started and how to use Glow tools and set up Glow Groups. Lively discussion centred around subjects such as quality assurance, responsible use, good practice and access for all users. The events have provided a great opportunity for Scotland’s creative/learning professionals to come together, with conversation and ideas flowing about the creative ways in which Glow could be used to create amazing learning opportunities through the arts.

“Thanks for the day, it was really informative – and very exciting in a mind blowing way” Simon Sharkey, Associate Director – Learn, National Theatre of Scotland

The Glow Arts Project, Co-Create, is inviting Scottish Arts Council funded arts organisations to submit proposals for projects which will explore innovative ways of using Glow and demonstrate the key role the arts play in supporting Curriculum for Excellence. Proposals will be developed in partnership with Local Authorities, teachers and learners and a number of demonstration projects will be selected later in the year. Visit ‘The Arts Get Glowing’ Showcase at the Scottish Learning Festival on 23 September to hear more.

To follow news on the Glow Arts Project Co-Create:

Visit the project page on Scottish Arts Council website: http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/artsinscotland/education/features/glow.aspx

Follow #Co-Create on Twitter

The Glow Arts Project Co-Create is funded through a partnership between Learning and Teaching Scotland and the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund