Global Citizenship

February 29th, 2012

The Daily What News - School Journalist of the Year competition

kmayer

Comments: none Tags: Tags: learner voice
 : Categories citizenship, creativity, international, languages

Have a go at being a reporter for a chance to win a prize for your school and a family ticket to Edinburgh Zoo!

The search is on for the next generation of news reporters.

‘The Daily What News’ annual journalism competition for Scottish schools has been launched, giving you the chance to see your writing published on our website, and to win some fantastic prizes!

Pupils 16 or under are invited to submit an original news report (200 - 400 words) on something that is going on in your school or local area. It could be about something exciting, like a new cinema opening up; sad, like a school closing down; or weird, like an exotic insect turning up in your granny’s cornflakes.

Submission deadline: 22 March 2012

For more information visit: The Daily What News - School Journalist of the Year Competition

February 24th, 2012

Open Day Study Visit - St Paul’s High, Glasgow

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: CPD, democracy, events, Fairtrade, holocaust education, learner voice, nature, school improvement
 : Categories CPD, citizenship, community, curriculum areas, leadership, outdoor learning, secondary schools, sharing practice, social studies, sustainable development

9:30am – 3.00pm, Thurs 10^th May 2012

Theme: Sustainable Development Education and Education for Citizenship

St Paul’s High School is an inspiring example of a school that has adopted a whole school approach to global citizenship. The school’s achievements in this regard have earned it national recognition as a finalist in the 2011 Scottish Education Awards (Sustainable School Category) and as a winner of the 2009 Scottish Education Awards (Active Citizenship Category).

The school’s approach and vision for global citizenship has made an identifiable impact on learners, helping them grow in confidence and providing them with real-life opportunities to develop their skills and transform their local community. The school has supported a wide range of activities to achieve this, most notably:

• Dedicated time within the social studies curriculum for learners to choose and engage with local community projects and tackle anti-social behaviour in the wider community
• A strong school ethos which puts respect for others and service to others at the heart of school life and the curriculum
• A sustained commitment to learner voice and a well-established school parliament that provides learners with decision-making powers and a budget to make things happen
• A diverse range of activities and initiatives which support a whole school approach including a Fairtrade group, Eco-Schools group and pupil campaign group
• Planned opportunities for personal achievement through S1 electives, S2 citizenship and S3 skills academy.

This CPD event offers practitioners and school leaders from across Scotland the chance to visit St Paul’s High School to meet with the Head Teacher, staff and learners and also tour the classrooms, buildings and grounds.

Those participating in the open day will also have time to reflect and share their own experiences.

Download Programme for St Paul’s Open Day>>

How to book

To book, please email: [email protected] or Tel. 0141 282 5172.

Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. This is a free event!

February 24th, 2012

Learner Voice and Pupil Participation Event - 23 March, Edinburgh

kmayer

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories Uncategorized

Education Scotland invites practitioners in Primary and Secondary education to share and learn:

If you are interested in developing ‘learner voice’ and ‘pupil participation’ within your classroom, school or local authority, there will be a national conference in Edinburgh on Friday, 23 March 2012.

The event will feature sessions and workshops presenting successful and effective examples of developing and sustaining a pupil centred and participatory learning environment.

Some of the main themes covered on the day will include rights respecting schools, community partnership projects, pupil councils, learner engagement with Curriculum for Excellence and peer education. The event will also provide reference to global citizenship as a theme across learning highlighting how sustainability or international education allow for inclusive and pupil driven learning experiences.

Conference presenters and delegates with a wide spectrum of experience between them, will have the opportunity for peer dialogue and networking with colleagues from different settings, local authorities and organisations.

The keynote address will be delivered by Tam Baillie, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People.

A draft programme will be available shortly, when workshop and spotlight presenters are all confirmed.

If you wish to register for this free event please visit: http://conta.cc/LearnerVoice.

For any further please contact Diane Carson at 0141 282 5172 or email [email protected]

February 20th, 2012

Food and Global Citizenship

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories health and wellbeing, international

Food - Something everyone has an interest in, and a great subject for some innovative thinking about education for Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development. Issues like food poverty and food justice can be discussed and understood by young people alongside their learning about Health and Well-being and ethical decision-making.

Here are some current programmes and initiatives which teachers can adopt, use and work with to help address Food issues in the classroom:

Eco-Schools Scotland has recently launched its new Food and Environment Topic giving school the opportunity to explore sustainability and food related issues and work towards their green flag at the same time.

Oxfam has resources and background material about food justice, such as its report ”Growing a better future“, and the charity is also running its ‘GROW’ campaign to work for improvements in global systems of land ownership, agricultural use, trade, etc.

The ‘School of Fish’ programme, supported by Marks and Spencer, is a fun resource for Primary schools with material aimed at both teachers and pupils. It supports learning about the place of Fish in a healthy diet and also deals with marine conservation issues. There are facts, games, videos and ’codcasts’ (great name), intended to get children thinking about the marine environment and eating fish. Schools can get a pack posted to them which contains more material such as magazines and stickers.

And finally, the Big Lunch and a competition with breadmaker Kingsmill. The Big Lunch will be held on Sunday 3rd June and this year will form part of national celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The website describes many of the activities taking place around the UK and offers ideas for more. Kingsmill is one of the companies partnering and supporting this nationwide event, and offers recipes for street parties, information about nutrition, etc. Downloadable resources are available for local organisers. A Fun Lunch Competition for primary schools invites children to ‘Design your Dream Sandwich’, and the winning entries will feature in a downloadable recipe book. The overall winner will receive a toy store voucher, chefs outfits and a Big Lunch for their own street. - So here you could have some discussion about food types and nutrition, healthy eating, food sources and the concept of ‘food miles’, sustainable farming, etc.

Eat well!

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. [email protected]

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.

February 9th, 2012

Developing global citizens through sciences, social studies and technologies

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: climate and energy, CPD, events, resources
 : Categories CPD, creativity, curriculum areas, expressive arts, mathematics, renewables and climate change, sciences, secondary schools, sharing practice, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

Developing global citizens through sciences, social studies and technologies

Interdisciplinary learning for a low carbon and zero waste future

CDP event for practitioners in secondary schools

Menzies Hotel, Washington Street, Glasgow G3 8AZ

9:30am to 3:30pm, Friday 30th March 2012

Target audience: Practitioners, Principal Teachers and Faculty Heads of Technologies (e.g. CDT, Food and Textiles, Business and Enterprise), Sciences and Social Studies. Also local authority coordinators and QIOs.

Aim of the event:

This CPD event provides an exciting opportunity for secondary school practitioners to discover how cradle to cradle technologies and a circular economy can be used as a rich and stimulating context for interdisciplinary learning relating to sustainable development education and global citizenship within Curriculum for Excellence.

The Scottish Government is committed to a low-carbon and zero-waste economy, and the development of enterprise, creativity, STEM (Sciences, Technologies, Engineering and Maths) and higher order thinking skills in young people are essential if we are to realise these ambitious plans for the future. The circular economy concept proposes the use of sustainable technologies, innovative design and production methods and systems thinking to minimise waste and reduce the exploitation of the Earth’s precious resources. This event will draw on practical and exciting developments within industry which are set to transform the way our economy operates in the decades ahead.

Education Scotland is working in partnership with The Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the University of Edinburgh to develop strategies for professional development around sustainable development education and the circular economy to encourage the setting up of communities of practice among practitioners in Scotland. These will provide opportunities for ongoing, localised support and collaboration.

To find out more about the circular economy visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCRKvDyyHmI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

How to book

To book, please email: [email protected] or Tel. 0141 282 5172. Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. This is a free event!

Download CPD event flyer and programme >>

February 9th, 2012

Falkirk Council DGC Showcase and open day at Bo’ness Academy

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: CPD, europe, events, modern languages, school improvement
 : Categories CPD, Uncategorized, china, citizenship, curriculum areas, early years, europe, expressive arts, health and wellbeing, international, languages, leadership, mathematics, modern languages, primary schools, religious and moral education, sciences, secondary schools, sharing practice, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

Falkirk Council global citizenship showcase and school open day

Venue: Bo’ness Academy, Falkirk

9:30am – 3.00pm

This event will now take place on Thursday 17th May 2012

Theme: International Education

This CPD event offers practitioners and school leaders an exciting opportunity to visit Bo’ness Academy and attend Falkirk Council’s Global Citizenship Showcase Event.

Bo’ness Academy is an inspiring example of a school that has used international education as a vehicle to engage the whole school in global citizenship activities. Through the Comenius Programme and other well established links the school has developed a rich international programme connecting it to countries across the world including: The Gambia, The Netherlands, China, France, Germany and The Czech Republic.

A focus of the event will be to identify and share the practical lessons and ideas that have helped the school move forward on its journey including:

• Making global citizenship a key priority in the school and a focus for the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence
• Using international links to explore important issues in a global context and to create engaging, meaningful and challenging learning experiences
• Developing strong international partnerships which can be sustained and which have made an impact on every learner.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet and talk with the Head Teacher, International Coordinator, staff and learners and also tour the classrooms and school. Time will also be set aside for participants to reflect and share their own experiences.

Following the open day event, participants will also have the opportunity to attend Falkirk Council’s Global Citizenship Showcase event which will also be taking place in Bo’ness Academy from 4pm – 6pm. This will feature exhibitions and displays from leading organisations such as Eco-Schools Scotland and the British Council and will showcase innovative global citizenship practice from many Falkirk schools.

How to book

To book, please contact Megan Farr, Policy Officer, Falkirk Council. Email: [email protected] or Tel. 01324 506671.

Places for the open day section of the event are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. This is a free event!

Download programme for Bo’ness Academy Open Day >>

February 6th, 2012

UNESCO - Art Contest: Youth, Skills and Work

kmayer

Comments: none Tags: Tags: competition
 : Categories citizenship, creativity, expressive arts

What skills do we need to create a better future?

Young people (18 - 24 years old) are invited to express their views creatively on education and the ways in which it provides them with the necessary opportunities and skills for life to participate successfully as global citizens in creating a thriving future.

Design brief:

The submission may be artwork of any size (between A5 and A3 or equivalent). Submissions can be in the form of photos, drawings, paintings, computer-generated images etc. Submissions can be in electronic format or on paper. Each artwork should be accompanied by a short artist biography and description of the work in relation to the theme of the contest. If electronic files only are submitted, a high-definition version (in PDF or JPEG) is required. We would prefer the artwork to be accompanied by a standard to high-resolution PDF file in A4 format for viewing by the jury.

Submission deadline: 1 April 2012

For more information visit EFA Global Monitoring Report

February 5th, 2012

First Minister calls for a year of Climate Justice

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, climate and energy, events
 : Categories renewables and climate change, sustainable development

First Minister Alex Salmond has urged world leaders to make 2012 a ‘year of climate justice’ ahead of a major United Nations conference on sustainable development in June.

The FM said climate justice should be the focus of sustainable development during 2012 and form a major part of discussions at the Rio+20 to be held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Climate justice would link human rights and development, put people at the heart of our economic system, and allow all to share the burdens of climate change and benefit from its resolution.

The call comes after the FM raised the issue of climate justice during a speech to the influential Communist Central Party School in Beijing during his recent trip to China.

Climate justice was also raised by the FM and Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a joint communiqué to the UNFCCC meeting in Durban, South Africa, earlier this month.

Mr Salmond said:

“It is vitally important that, as the world moves towards economic recovery in 2012, we place climate justice at the very heart of the decisions we make on energy policy and economic and social development in the coming months.

“I believe we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enshrine this important principle - that economic development should be linked to human rights - in global energy policy, ensuring that countries and communities least able to cope with the extreme weather events climate change brings are not further disadvantaged.”

“In the run up to the UN Rio+20 conference in Brazil in June and beyond, I am calling for climate justice to be made central to decisions taken by major countries on energy and development.

“It is also my sincere hope, given the fact one of the themes of this year’s conference is the green economy linked to sustainable development, that climate justice forms an important part of Scotland’s contribution to Rio+20.

“Only by focusing on the inequalities brought on by climate change, can we formulate meaningful policies that will truly help the poorest in our global society, and I urge all world leaders and decision makers to make 2012 the Year of Climate Justice.”

February 3rd, 2012

SCIPD Group Study Visit to the Netherlands

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: climate and energy, CPD, enterprise, europe, events, research
 : Categories creativity, europe, international, mathematics, renewables and climate change, sciences, secondary schools, sharing practice, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

SCIPD Group Study Visit to the Netherlands

6th - 10th March 2012

Theme: The Circular Economy - Sustainable technologies, design, economics and production for the 21st century

Education Scotland is inviting applications from secondary teaching staff for a group study visit to ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands to investigate how cradle to cradle technologies and a circular economy can be used as a rich and stimulating context for interdisciplinary learning relating to sustainable development education and global citizenship. This visit has been arranged in partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

The Scottish Government is committed to a low-carbon and zero-waste economy, and it is important to develop enterprise, creativity and STEM (Sciences, Technologies, Engineering and Maths) skills in young people to ensure the realisation of these ambitious plans for the future. The circular economy concept proposes the use of sustainable technologies and innovative design and production methods that minimise waste and reduce the exploitation of the earth’s precious resources. Industrial companies in the Netherlands are at the forefront of developing products that mimic natural processes and that are designed for disassembly and reuse.

Education Scotland, in collaboration with The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, is developing strategies for professional development around sustainable development education and the circular economy to encourage the setting up of communities of practice among practitioners in Scotland. These will provide opportunities for ongoing, localised support and collaboration as recommended by Teaching Scotland’s Future.

It is expected that the visit to the Netherlands will include:

- Orientation sessions with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the Dutch curriculum agency SLO, to introduce participants to the model of the circular economy and brief them on the structure of the Dutch school system and curriculum

- Visits to businesses which have adopted cutting-edge approaches to circular economy principles

- Visits to schools to see how learning relating to the circular economy is being used as a theme for interdisciplinary learning around sustainability

Travel to the Netherlands will be on Tuesday 6th March, with three working days in the area, followed by return to Scotland on Saturday 10th March.

SCIPD funding will cover return flights to the Netherlands, airport to hotel transfers, and overnight hotel accommodation in ‘s-Hertogenbosch on a bed and breakfast basis.

Participants will be offered a pre-visit preparatory meeting, and a post-visit meeting to support follow-up activity and encourage wider impact.

This study visit is targeted at education professionals in Scottish secondary schools, particularly teachers of sciences, technologies, mathematics, business studies, economics and geography.

Expected learning outcomes

Participants will have an opportunity to:

• Increase their knowledge of the circular economy concept, its implementation in industry, and its impact on education for sustainability
• Investigate and discuss Dutch educational practice for sustainable development and its place in the curriculum
• Share professional dialogue and reflection with their hosts and with colleagues in the group

Upon returning from the study visit, participants will be expected to:

• produce reports for Education Scotland which demonstrate the impact on their professional practice of the study visit experience
• disseminate findings, share ideas and new approaches within their own establishment and beyond
• make changes to learning and teaching practices in their own professional context.

Applicants may wish to use the experience of the study visit towards professional recognition by GTCS or simply to enhance their professional understanding and practice.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified members of Scottish school or authority staff, who should complete the Netherlands group application form available below or from Nick Morgan at [email protected]

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 21st Feb 2012

SCIPD Netherlands application form