Glow Scotland

September 21st, 2010

The Daily What News service is now live

pcurrie

Comments: Comments Off Tags: Tags: CfE, cross curricular, English, Glow, health and wellbeing, Literacy, Literacy and English, Mathematics, Maths, news, news service, Numeracy, politics, relevant learning, science
 : Categories Curriculum for Excellence, Glow, Literacy, Mathematics, National Groups, Pupils, Sciences, Social Studies, Technologies

The Daily What News is the all new Glow news service for schools. Launched this week, the service provides a sophisticated and interactive news service for Glow users, with articles written by a specialist news content editor especially for a schools’ audience. Articles will be published every school day and there will be two versions of each article: What? gives readers a less complex approach to the story; What’s More…provides a bit more of a challenge. In the very near future, there will also be three articles each week which will be published in Gaelic.

The articles are arranged in news categories and will be tagged according to CfE subjects and experiences and outcomes. The articles will be archived and searchable from the main homepage, giving users a rich learning resource that offers learners the opportunity to make meaningful and relevant connections across different curricular areas. Many of the articles will feature an interactive activity that will provide Glow account holders with a fun way to extend or cement users’ learning on the story’s topic. Users can also use their Glow logins to take part in forum discussion topics for each article.

Teachers will find the Teachers’ Area Blog an excellent resource. Beneath each daily news article there is a link to a blog post that provides Glow users with a wealth of lesson ideas and suggestions for several curricular areas from the one news story. The posts are written by a specialist education content editor who links the news story to CfE outcomes and experiences and provides links to other interesting and relevant content. Teachers themselves are encouraged to contribute to these posts so that we build up an extensive bank of cross-curricular lesson suggestions for each news story. The blog is organised in the same way as the news site itself and offers users the option to browse in several different ways or search for specific content.

From each blog post, there is a link to a Glow group that allows users to upload resources to a document store. The documents will be tagged according to CfE level, subject area, date the article was published and article title, offering users the ability to filter searches in several different ways.  In delivering their curriculum outcomes through The Daily What News service, Teachers are encouraged to upload any materials they develop and share with other Glow users, so that we build up an extensive store of learning resources that can be archived for future use.

Feedback received so far has been very encouraging indeed and the service provides educators with a real opportunity to have relevant curricular content that can be accessed through a number of different subject areas in a truly meaningful way.

A recent article in the Sport category focused upon Rangers’ fans’ trip to Manchester and how their behaviour was better than on a previous occasion that had led to trouble in the city centre. The article would surely be a popular one with young people and, because they are known for their reluctance in reading, it is of note that it would be of particular appeal to boys. There is even an interactive activity attached to this article which invites learners to test their knowledge of SPL club nicknames. What better way to engage reluctant learners in purposeful and relevant learning? In the Teachers’ Blog, lesson suggestions were offered in a number of CfE subject areas (Social studies, Health +Wellbeing, English+Literacy) and links were provided to video content and discussion stimuli that would encourage even the most reluctant learner to engage with such relevant and meaningful subject matter.

This is, of course, just one example. There is already a good stock of interesting content on the site, with stories ranging in topic from the floods in Pakistan, for a World focus, to how young people made an impression on the Scottish Parliament, for a story that is closer to home. Each school day sees another story added to the archive, so we are building a wealth of content that Glow users can benefit from.

Whatever the story’s subject-matter, it is always the case that it will be written in a manner that is appealing and relevant to our learners. Add to that the interactive activities and lesson suggestions in the teachers’ blog, and you might just find that The Daily What News is just what you have been looking for!

August 19th, 2010

Brain Doctors Glow Meet Thursday 26th August

J Jelly

Comments: Comments Off Tags: Tags: CfE, science
 : Categories Curriculum for Excellence, Glow Meet, Sciences, Uncategorized

Connecting contemporary Scottish Scientists with schools pupils is a great way of inspiring a generation and debunking stereotypes of ‘men in white coats’. This coupled with the aims of the Topical Science organiser of CforE led to the birth of Too Hot To Handle? which aims to support Scotland’s teachers deliver just this, regardless of geographical location, using Glow.

During a series of Glow Meets on topical science issues, pupils and teachers have been able to question scientists in the field and take part in some interactive tasks. The Glow meets are supported by a Glow group which provides a discussion board where questions can be posted and answered by real scientists, vidcasts of the scientists talking about their work and access to teaching resources.

The ever popular topic of Space kicked off the project back in March, with Astrophysicists Duncan Forgan, Noe Kains and Chris Evans, to an audience of 1000 pupils. Following on from this success have been three further topics:    Flu Fighters, Biodiversity Buzz and Doable Renewables.

The last in the current series is Brain Doctors which will take place next Thursday, 26^th August, from 2-3 pm, with additional 20 minute Q&A slots throughout the day for classes unable to make 2-3 pm.

This timely hot topic, fits in well with the news this last week which claims that scientists in London have devised a ’15 minute test for autism’ using brain imaging techniques. If you or your class fancy asking two eminent scientists, Professor Stephen Lawrie and Professor Neil Roberts, questions about this, or anything else to do with the brain or brain imaging, then tune in – it will be great to have you join us!

The Too Hot to Handle team have learnt a lot about Glow, particularly Glow Meet, and how to maximise its potential, and send a big thank you to all those schools and teachers who have provided valuable feedback. They will be putting all of this learning together and feeding it back to the community – watch this space! One idea for secondary schools, though, that is being implemented next week is the availability of Q&A time slots throughout the day for those struggling to make live events due to timetabling – think this is helpful? Do leave feedback here or in the Glow Group.
Join in next week and start the term with some topical science.

To sign up and to find out more, click this hyperlink –  Too Hot To Handle?
or

• Log onto Glow
• Go to the National Science Glow Group
• Go to the Glow meet tab
• Go to the Too Hot To Handle?  link
• The Brain Doctors tab will tell you all about the Glow Meet

For more information or for help getting involved contact
Dr Cathy Southworth at cathy.southworth@ed.ac.uk
or by phoning 0131 650 5367

May 21st, 2010

WoWW – World of Work Wednesdays

Jennifer McDougall

Comments: 2 Comments » Tags: Tags: careers, engineering, enterprise, Heather Reid, science
 : Categories Curriculum for Excellence, Events, Glow Meet, Local authorities, Sciences

Introducing the new Enterprise in Education feature – Work of Work Wednesdays.

Have you ever wondered how business people start out on their chosen career path? How do you get to become what you most want to do – what are the qualifications that you need? How can I learn a trade and start my own business?

Well wonder no more as World of Work on Wednesdays is here to give you some ideas, help and advice on making your way into the World of Work from the people who really know! Yes we will be Glow Meeting with the people who really have the jobs that you are interested in doing and they can tell you what it is really like and how they made their way into their chosen career pathway. Ask them questions that are of interest to you and maybe even eventually follow in their footsteps!!

We are launching this exciting feature with television personality Heather Reid who will be interviewing three/four women from The Royal Observatory Edinburgh, who will be telling us more about what it is like to work in the field of science and engineering. Pupils will have the opportunity to question scientists who use data from the Hubble Space Telescope to study galaxies, an engineer working on technology for what will be the world’s largest optical telescope and find out about the different careers at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh.

Join us on Wednesday 2nd June from 12.15 – 1.30pm to hear more about science and how it can open doors for you into the World of Work.

May 10th, 2010

Learn more about SCHOLAR – Glowing Thursday 13th May

J Jelly

Comments: Comments Off Tags: Tags: Accounting, Advanced Higher, biology, Business Management, chemistry, CPD, Economics, French, German, Glow Meet, Higher, Information Systems, Maths, physics, Psychology, SCHOLAR, science, Spanish
 : Categories Uncategorized

Many secondary teachers in Scotland, and beyond, have already discovered what a great resource SCHOLAR is.  From mainly Advanced Higher, and then Higher, in Maths, Computing and Science subjects, SCHOLAR now has online courses in Information Systems, French, German, Spanish, Accounting, Economics, Business Management and Psychology.  There are even introductory lessons in Mandarin that can be accessed without a login, along with previews of other courses. 

Did you know that if you access SCHOLAR from this Glow page in the National External Resources area, your Glow login can be “married” to your SCHOLAR login (so you just need to remember one login!)?

Jim McGill, SCHOLAR’s National Co-ordinator, will be delivering SCHOLAR’s first virtual CPD event via Glow Meet on Glowing Thursday this week (13 May from 4-5pm).

Jim has a lot of experience in education, with a background in physics teaching and school management, before joining the SCHOLAR team in 2004. His current role means he coordinates all the training events across Scotland, and trains the trainers. He sees SCHOLAR as a terrific resource which can improve lessons and help pupils.

Jim’s presentation will be a general introduction to SCHOLAR and will be useful for teachers of all subjects covered by SCHOLAR.  It will be of particular interest to teachers new to the system and those who need a refresher. Jim hopes that more teachers will build SCHOLAR into their lessons, and encourage their pupils to use all the helpful features.

May 4th, 2010

Generation Science – Early Years Science Event

Katie Barrowman

Comments: Comments Off Tags: Tags: early years, science
 : Categories Events, Glow Meet

Join Generation Science on June 9th (time to follow) for a show and activities based on their workshop Little Giants, which explores the world of bees.

This meet is suitable for primary 1-3 (nurseries welcome too)

Click here to find a sign up sheet.

March 30th, 2010

Science on Glow and in the Media

J Jelly

Comments: Comments Off Tags: Tags: BBC, biology, chemistry, Events, Glow Meet, physics, problem solving, science
 : Categories Curriculum for Excellence, Events, Glow Groups, Glow Meet, Local authorities, National Groups, Pupils, Sciences

Have you noticed how many Glow events exploring science there have been recently? Scotland needs to nurture young scientists to ensure our country has a prosperous future – and Glow is doing its best to help. From Doctor Bunhead to the research scientists who took part in last week’s “Too Hot to Handle?” Space Glow Meet, to the Industrial Chemistry Glow Meet engineers, scientists and industrialists have been using Glow to reach our youngsters and share the excitement and rewards of science. There is a buzz about science at the moment. Television is also playing its part. Professor Brian Cox’s “Wonders of the Solar System” is inspiring young physicists. “Richard Hammond’s Invisible Worlds” sets the imagination alight. “Bang goes the Theory” is encouraging a new generation of Spoofbusters! Pupils can take part in school in live Glow Meets with real scientists and then get reinforcement at home on their TV sets. It will be interesting to see if there is more uptake in the sciences over the next few years as pupils with this sort of stimulus choose their career paths.

Our young people are already fantastic problem solvers. When the JANET link was down on 18^th March and the west of Scotland’s schools had no internet access, one school in Motherwell was able to access the Chemical Industry Glow Meet through a pupil’s laptop and mobile connection. Good thinking!

If you have missed any of the recent Glow Meet science events, or want to access presentations and other files associated with the Glow Meets, click on the hyperlinks in the paragraphs above, or go to the national Sciences Glow Group and explore it to see what’s coming next.

March 13th, 2010

25th March – First Glow Meet in Too Hot to Handle? Science Series

J Jelly

Comments: Comments Off Tags: Tags: biology, CfE, chemistry, competition, Glow Groups, Glow Meet, physics, resources, science, space, topical science, transition
 : Categories Curriculum for Excellence, Events, Glow Groups, Glow Meet, National Groups, Sciences

Pupils across Scotland will have the chance to take part in activities and Glow Meets about five hot science topics in the Too Hot to Handle? series in the next few months, starting next week with Space for P6-S1 on 25^th March.

Cathy Southworth from Edinburgh University is heading up this development and is keen to involve as many youngsters as possible. She says, “Too Hot To Handle? is here to support the Topical Science organiser of a Curriculum for Excellence from P6-S3. It provides access to current scientists in Scotland that work on a range of hot topics, through a vidcast, teaching materials and a discussion board for questions about the topics that are answered by the scientists, and a GLOW meet where you can grill the scientists with questions.”

As well as learning about the science, pupils will get a flavour of the excitement of being a scientist.

Visit the Too Hot to Handle Glow Group. Have a look at the wealth of materials for the Space topic, show your class the videos, post some questions for the scientists on the discussion board and come into the Glow Meet on 25^th to grill the space scientists – Noe Kains from The University of St Andrews and Duncan Forgan and Chris Evans from The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh.

There will be a competition challenge on the day and members of your class could win a prize.  

Other topics in the series:
Flu Fighters for 2nd level (P6-P7) ready for after the Easter break; Glow Meet 20th May
Biodiversity Buzz for 2^nd & 3^rd  levels (P7-S2) ready for after the Easter break; Glow Meet 25th May
Doable Renewables for 2^nd & 3^rd  levels (P7-S2) ready for May; Glow Meet 15th June
Me and my Brain for third and fourth levels (S1-S3) ready for May; Glow Meet 17th June

This week too, we have another two science based Glow Meets:
Dr Bunhead’s Spoofbusters on 16^th (1.30 – 2.30) for upper primary and secondary pupils,
Industrial Chemistry on 18^th (1.45-2.45) for Higher and AH Chemistry pupils.

All these Glow Meets use the same Science Glow Meet webpart in the National Sciences Glow Group. 

June 10th, 2009

Glow for Science and Transition

J Jelly

Comments: Comments Off Tags: Tags: , safety, science, transition
 : Categories Dundee City, Glow Groups, Glow Meet, Uncategorized

At this time of year, many P7 pupils are getting a taster of a day or two at secondary school to prepare them for S1. P7 pupils at Craigiebarns PS in Dundee are ahead of the game through Glow! Two P7 classes and their teachers were able to take part in a series of lessons about Burning and the Gases of the Air through Glow Meet video-conferences with Kath Squire, PT Biology at the associated secondary school, Craigie HS. Some S2 volunteers helped Kath to show live, various aspects of burning. She had also prepared presentations to deliver though Glow Meet’s whiteboard space. The two classes were able to annotate on the whiteboard in different colours, reponding to Kath’s questions and interacting in the lesson. This Glow tool is a powerful way to support transition and help enhance topics which are difficult to deliver safely in the primary classroom.

This week’s Glowing Thursday Glow Meet session will enable Glow users to meet Kath, and also, Avril Martin, DHT at Craigiebarns PS. Avril set up the project Glow Group and arranged for the two P7 classes to participate. If you have a Glow login, navigate to the Glowing Thursday page and read more about the project and then join the Meet around 4pm Thursday 11th June.

June 1st, 2009

Science Challenges Glow Meet

Dawn Adams

Comments: Comments Off Tags: Tags: chemistry, science
 : Categories Glow Meet, Perth and Kinross, Pupils, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Uncategorized

Mission Impossible Science Challenges

Find out about how schools from across Scotland are talking part in science challenges and collaborating using Glow Meet. From 9am until 3pm today, June 1st, three schools from across Scotland are taking part in the Foam Fire Extinguisher challenge by Kitchen Chemistry. Pupils from Perth High School, Marr College and Calderglen High School will be exploring a range of chemical reactions with the aim to produce foam. The design process will then begin as pupils from S2 – S3 strive to create a fire extinguisher which can put out a fire in the shortest time. One of the challenges they will face is to find a way to keep the chemicals apart to ensure the fire extinguisher doesn’t go off until they need to put out a fire!

These schools are exploring the possibilities of creating their own fire extinguishers through hands on experiments and sharing their findings in Glow Meet. Pete Johnson from Kitchen Chemistry who is also a teacher at Stewart’s Melville College will be working with all four schools to guide them through their scientific discoveries using the audio, video and white board in Glow Meet. Pupils will be collaborating and updating discussion boards in a Science Challenges Glow Group throughout the day to update everyone with their findings, sharing top tips and eventually their finished products.

The fire service will be joining S2 at Perth High School to give a presentation on fire safety to all the schools involved and then judging the competition to find the most successful fire extinguisher.

You can join this Glow Meet now, Monday 1st June to watch their progress. Join the Science Challenges Glow group by clicking on the link below and then clicking on Send request.
https://portal.glowscotland.org.uk/establishments/nationalsite/Science/Science%20Challenges/default.aspx

May 28th, 2009

Glow Enhances Body Building!

J Jelly

Comments: 1 Comment Tags: Tags: biology, Generation Science, Glow, health, primary, science
 : Categories Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Glow Groups, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, Uncategorized

A pilot Glow Group has been set up at national level to enhance the experience of a visit from Generation Science’s outreach show – Body Builders. Schools that have access to Glow and have booked a Body Builders Show from Generation Science in the next few weeks are able to use the Glow Group to extend the value of the visit.

The show scenario has four characters visiting the doctor:
Timmy Hawkes, a skater with bone trouble
Kevin Shearer, an out of breath football hero
Rome Zeglobe, an itchy explorer
Don Pupi Panti, a chef extraordinaire with flatulence

Through the very humorous interviews, the pupil audience gains a good understanding of body systems, general health, anatomy, and how to act in a responsible way regarding personal health. The Glow Group enables schools involved to follow up the visit by pupils’ responding to the patients requests for advice, by staff uploading pictures from the visits or posting further work related to the health topics.
It is hoped that teachers will give feedback on whether they feel the Glow Group gave extra value to the visit. This will help the Glow Team and Generation Science plan for next year’s shows.
Generation Science brings shows and workshops into schools to make the learning of science simple and fun. The website has details of all the shows, a downloadable programme and teachers’ notes. These back up the science covered in the shows with the Curriculum for Excellence links for teachers and with follow on experiments for pupils. The shows run from January to June each year. In 2008, 66000 children got to see a show!
If you have had Generation Science visits this year, please leave some feedback about it here and what you would want from Glow in supporting future visits.