Global Citizenship

September 30th, 2010

Scottish Learning Festival - follow up

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories CPD, international

The Scottish Learning Festival 2010 is now over, and all our visitors and exhibitors have returned home - probably exhausted but also exhilarated by their time at the event ! SLF 2010 attracted around eight thousand education professionals to Glasgow over two days, to enjoy the seminars, exhibition, meetings and networking. This grand total included our biggest ever number of international educational visitors, from 14 different countries, many of whom took the opportunity to also meet with staff at Learning and Teaching Scotland and visit schools in the West of Scotland. The high quality of the intercultural dialogue is a regular pleasure at this event each year, and helps us to discuss different approaches to challenges we have in common.

Keynote presentations are already available online, and one of the BBC Scotland Education staff has blogged about the presentation by Cabinet Secretary Mike Russell MSP.

September 30th, 2010

Commonwealth Games 2010

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories citizenship, commonwealth, games and sport, india

The 2010 Commonwealth Games in India are about to begin, with the Delhi handover only a few weeks away. Many schools in Scotland have been using this occasion as a stimulus for learning, and the Developing Global Citizens team at Learning and Teaching Scotland is supporting this activity. We are delighted to introduce a new Games Legacy for Scotland blog, which will feature posts from Scots participating in the Games and the handover ceremonies - such as the young Scots who travel to Delhi as ‘Interaction Ambassadors’.

The Teachers TV online service has a new short video about the Games, in its ‘Learning from the News’ series about how students can gain from coverage of topical news stories.

September 29th, 2010

Networking CPD twilight event in Scottish Borders

imenzies

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories CPD, citizenship, sustainable development

This twilight CPD event for practitioners in the Scottish Borders will seek to develop and strengthen professional learning communities to develop children and young people as global citizens through sustainable development education (SDE).

Participants will have an opportunity for peer-to-peer sharing of interesting practice and explore effective strategies for developing successful whole-school approaches to global citizenship and sustainable development education through Eco-Schools and other programmes. Those attending will also have the opportunity to learn more about the role of global citizenship and sustainable development within Curriculum for Excellence and will also have the chance to preview the latest support videos, websites and other resources from Learning and Teaching Scotland.

Who should attend?
Early years/primary/secondary practitioners in the Scottish Borders who are interested in/or have a remit for global citizenship, sustainable development education, Eco-Schools or other similar programmes such as Forest Schools or John Muir Award.

All practitioners attending will be expected to give a brief informal presentation (5 minutes max) outlining their whole-school activities and describing how their school is seeking to embed global citizenship and sustainable development education within Curriculum for Excellence. PowerPoint equipment will be available if required.

Date and venue
Thursday 7th October 2010
Eildon Room, CPD Centre
Langlee
16.30 – 18.30
Cost: Free

Facilitator
Ian Menzies, Development Officer, Developing Global Citizens
Learning and Teaching Scotland

To book
Contact Sarah Glen on Email: [email protected] or Tel: 01896 662185.

September 17th, 2010

Holocaust Education

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags: Tags: holocaust education
 : Categories citizenship

This week saw the first of this year’s Scottish flights to Poland as part of the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ project managed by the Holocaust Education Trust. The Edinburgh flight group was joined by Schools Minister Keith Brown MSP, and is described in a Scottish Government news release. The Minister has now blogged about his experience in Poland. A flight from Glasgow for several hundred students and teachers will go to Auschwitz in October.

Learning and Teaching Scotland will be running of its free Holocaust Education workshop days for teachers on Thursday 7th October in Stirling. Participants will engage with recent new approaches and fresh thinking on Holocaust Education, and explore new resources for use in school. Contact Nick Morgan for details.

Many Scottish schools already use the book ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne, or the movie version of his story. There is an excellent Film Education online resource to help practitioners use the book to teach about the Holocaust. Now LTS has produced video from a Glow Meet videoconference session with the author, held during the recent Edinburgh International Book Festival. This video is available to Scottish teachers through a Glow intranet national group.

September 17th, 2010

Energy efficiency and Schools

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories europe, sustainable development

The European Commission has launched a new U4energy schools competition on Energy efficiency, inviting schools to learn more about energy saving and usage and to take action.

The competition aims to increase energy efficient behaviour among young people in Europe through an initiative involving thousands of primary and secondary schools in EU member states plus Norway, Croatia, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It invites schools to enter the competition categories of ‘Best energy efficiency measures’, ‘Best pedagogic actions to raise pupils’ awareness on energy efficiency’, and ‘Best school campaigns to save energy’. The U4energy website has competition details and news stories, and will encourage pupil and teacher contributions. European Schoolnet has developed this resource on behalf of the European Commission.

This initiative is part of the Intelligent Energy Europe programme, aiming to reduce Europe’s energy consumption and help achieve climate change targets, such as making Europe less dependent on fossil fuel.

Teachers TV has two useful documentaries about environmental projects and energy efficiency in UK schools, ‘Save Money - Green Savings’ and ‘Great Green schools - Ringmer Community College’ , which describe the activities and impact of such work.

September 13th, 2010

Pakistan floods

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories citizenship, international, pakistan

The recent floods in Pakistan have caused a humanitarian disaster in the region, putting thousands of lives at risk. Many organisations are involved in the Aid and relief work, and some of these organisations are producing educational resources to help schools address the issues and also assist with fundraising.

Here in Scotland the Edinburgh Disaster Response Committee and charity Mercy Corps have produced a Pakistan Floods 2010 Education pack for teachers. (For Scottish teachers, this is now available to download from the Glow intranet, in the International Education national Glow group).

The Global Dimension website has a very useful listing of educational resources, which will help teachers cover the reasons behind the floods, the relief and development work to deal with the aftermath, and their pupils’ responses to this natural disaster. For example, the Oxfam education website has a section on ‘Dealing with Disasters’, targeted at secondary pupils. It has background information, photos, assembly presentations, etc.

For additional contextual information, the Department for International Development website includes a news section which updates the public about the UK government response.

September 8th, 2010

Games Legacy and Volunteering

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories citizenship, games and sport, international

Volunteering is hugely important for the success of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, as the events cannot run without the time and thought people contribute to make it happen. Volunteering provides a great opportunity to gain experience of new activities, participate in different communities, meet new people and share experiences. Participants will also play an active part in ensuring a legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The different schemes usually require volunteers to be over 18. If you fit this category by January 2012 or 2014, or know of young people who do, then these opportunities may excite your interest.

‘London 2012 Games Maker’ is the official London 2012 volunteering programme. There will also be a Young Games Maker programme to be launched in summer 2011 for under eighteen year olds.

And the ‘Wave of Friendship’ is another volunteer programme, and promotes and supports the exchange of volunteers between Scotland and London by providing bursaries to cover travel, accommodation and other expenses. Volunteers can choose any opportunity that takes place between now and September 2012 that demonstrate the values of the Olympics movement: Friendship, Respect, Excellence, Courage, Determination, Equality and Inspiration. Suitable opportunities are likely to be for a set time period, rather than an ongoing commitment, and could include supporting an event, carrying out an assignment, etc.

At a European level, 2011 has been designated the European Year of Volunteering, and many more openings for volunteers and stories about their experiences will be highlighted during the year.

September 7th, 2010

Global Citizenship and Cycling

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories africa, international

Students in West Lothian schools are extending their knowledge of global citizenship and other countries through engaging with a charitable bike ride. West Lothian Council’s Chief Executive and colleagues have been taking part in the Auld Alliance charity ride to Paris, raising funds for schooling in Malawi. A press release ‘Going the extra mile’ gives details. Schools were able to follow and discuss the cyclists’ progress by using various forms of ICT, such as Glow Meets (videoconference sessions), Twitter, GPS maps and Glow blogs.

In 2011 there is an opportunity for teachers and other adults to take part in a bike ride in Malawi itself. Link Community Development, which supports educational development in several African nations, has organised a ten day sponsored ride to raise funds for local school improvement.

September 6th, 2010

Climate change - new resource and forthcoming events

imenzies

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories CPD, ICT, sustainable development

Learning and Teaching Scotland has launched a significant new online resource for practitioners. Our new Weather and Climate Change website supports the development of children and young people as global citizens and comprises over 50 high quality videos as well as images, background information and extensive links to other online resources.

The Weather and Climate Change website is now live at http://www.LTScotland.org.uk/weatherandclimatechange/

This new online resource complements our existing website for learners in secondary schools which has recently been updated as part of the wider restructuring of LTS online. The Exploring Climate Change website can be viewed at http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/exploringclimatechange/

The popular Schools Global Footprint resource on LTS online has also be revamped and can be viewed at http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/schoolsglobalfootprint/

The launch of the new website kicks off a series of events that will support learning and teaching on climate change in the run up to the next United Nations Conference on Climate Change which this year will take place in Cancun, Mexico, in December.

These forthcoming events include:

CPD Glow meet – Weather as an interdisciplinary context for learning

3:45pm – 5:45pm, Tuesday 7^th September 2010

Target audience: Practitioners in primary and secondary schools

This CPD glow meet for practitioners will led by meteorologist and former BBC weather presenter Heather Reid OBE. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about this important and popular topic and pose questions to Heather. It will also highlight how the theme of weather relates to the experiences and outcomes and can be used to support interdisciplinary learning within Curriculum for Excellence. Opportunities will also be provided for participants to share interesting practice and ideas. To register and take part in this glow meet visit the national sustainable development education glow group or email: [email protected]

Glow meet – International Year of Biodiversity

Oceans, climate change and biodiversity

11 am – 12pm, Monday 13^th September

Target audience: Learners in secondary schools

This Glow meet will be led by meteorologist and former BBC weather presenter Heather Reid OBE and Anuschka Miller from the Scottish Association of Marine Science. It will explore the often forgotten importance of oceans in climate science and explore issues relating to ocean currents, temperatures and impact on weather events. In this, the International Year of Biodiversity, participants will also have the opportunity to learn about the impact of climate change on biodiversity in and around oceans. To register and take part in this glow meet visit the national sustainable development education glow group or email: [email protected]

Scottish Learning Festival - Climate change as a context for learning

9:30am – 10:15am, Thursday 23^rd September

This spotlight session will explore some of the high-quality weather and climate change resources that have been developed by LTS and will also exemplify good practice taking place in schools across Scotland with regards to partnerships and interdisciplinary learning relating to climate change. The seminar will also highlight some of the benefits of Glow and outdoor learning. This session is just one of many global citizenship seminars and activities taking place at the Festival this year. A full copy of the global citizenship programme is available from Glow or via email: [email protected]

Regional events - Developing global citizens through sciences, social studies and technologies

Focus - climate change as an interdisciplinary context for learning within Curriculum for Excellence

Hilton Grosvenor Hotel, Edinburgh - 2^nd November

Drumossie Hotel, Inverness - 12^th November

Hilton Hotel, Glasgow – 19^th November

These three regional events for practitioners in primary and secondary schools will showcase innovative school practice with regards to climate change within Curriculum for Excellence. Participants will have the opportunity to attend workshops and visit exhibitions from a wide variety of schools and support organisations and will also have the chance to explore how this important global issue can be embedded across curriculum areas – particularly within sciences, social studies and technologies. More details to follow in due course.

September 2nd, 2010

Human Rights education

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories citizenship

Amnesty International UK has produced a new resource pack for primary school teachers, ‘Learning about Human Rights in the primary school’. The launch was fronted by children’s author Julia Donaldson, and is described in a press release.

The pack of lesson plans and activities, and a document suggesting links to Curriculum for Excellence, are both available to download from Amnesty’s Education webpages.