Global Citizenship

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

Business leaders support global education

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: research
 : Categories citizenship, international, modern languages, sustainable development

The Global Skills Gap

December 2011

Three-quarters (74%) of the 500 business leaders polled by ICM Research worried that young people’s horizons are not broad enough to operate a globalised and multicultural economy.

Employers agreed with the statement that: “Unless we better support schools to teach young people to think more globally, the UK is in danger of being left behind by emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil”. The survey conducted on behalf of the British Council and Think Global gauged the extent to which business leaders saw global thinking as an important skill amongst employees and potential recruits.

93% of businesses thought it was important for schools to help young people develop the ability to think globally. 80% said schools should be doing more; only 2% said they should be doing less. In recruiting employees, more employers (79%) said knowledge and awareness of the wider world is more important than: degree subject and classification (74%); A-level results (68%); or A-level subjects (63%).

Read The Global Skills Gap here: www.think-global.org.uk/resources/item.asp?d=6404

April 26th, 2012

Europe and schools

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories europe, games and sport, international, primary schools, social studies

May 9th is Europe Day, a chance to celebrate our place in the European Union, and many teachers will mark the occasion with some special activity in school. Modern Languages are often the focus of such activity, but teachers will approach the Day in different ways to explore aspects of culture, history and contemporary life - such as food and drink.

Euroquiz 2012 has stimulated a huge amount of positive work in Scottish primary schools, with teachers encouraging their pupils to increase their knowledge about European countries and institutions. Hundreds of schools are involved in this annual quiz organised by Scottish European Educational Trust, with each school putting forward a team of P7 pupils to represent them in local heats. An example; West Kilbride primary won the North Ayrshire heat. The local winners then go forward to the national Finals, which will be held in the Scottish Parliament on 14th May. If you would like to watch the Finals live, the event will be broadcast on Holyrood TV and you can test yourself against the questions presented to the pupils.

Football is often a topic which appeals to Scottish pupils and their teachers, and the Euro 2012 football finals in Poland and the Ukraine will provide another context for learning more about Europe. UEFA is running a Respect your Health campaign with schools in the two host countries, with another campaign for adults focusing on combating racism in the sport, showing how football can bring people together and encourage responsible behaviour. The Euros are now just 43 days away, and some of us are getting excited!

April 24th, 2012

Take One Action Film Festival

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, conflict, events, Fairtrade, film
 : Categories citizenship, creativity, curriculum areas, expressive arts, international, social studies, sustainable development

Are you aged between 15 and 21 years? Interested in great films that make a difference in the world? Would you like to organise inspiring film screening events in your local community? If so, here is your chance to take action!

Take One Action – Scotland’s global action cinema project – is organising it’s second Young Action Heroes Project for young people and their educators/youth workers at the Macrobert Centre in Stirling in late August 2012. We are keen to hear from schools and youth groups who want to take part in the residential and then screen a film to inspire action in others!

Application information is available to download from www.takeoneaction.org.uk/youth

THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS FRIDAY 25TH MAY, but if you have questions before then email [email protected] or phone Andy at 0131 5536335.

April 19th, 2012

School Open day - Stockbridge Primary School, City of Edinburgh

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: community, CPD, europe, school improvement
 : Categories CPD, citizenship, curriculum areas, expressive arts, health and wellbeing, international, languages, mathematics, primary schools, religious and moral education, sciences, sharing practice, social studies, technologies

School Open Day – Stockbridge Primary School, City of Edinburgh Council

Main focus: developing a strong pupil voice & partnership working with the local and international community

Thursday, 17 May 2012, 9.15 am – 3 pm (tbc)

The highly successful programme of Developing Global Citizens study visits to schools around the country continues with Stockbridge Primary School.

Stockbridge Primary School has worked hard to embed global citizenship themes at the heart of the curriculum. This work has involved the establishment of systems which promote pupil voice and meaningful partnerships with pupils, parents, the local community and international partners.

A focus of the event will be to identify and share the practical lessons and ideas that have helped the school move forward in its journey, and also to reflect on the challenges encountered along the way. Time will also be set aside for some professional dialogue and exchange of ideas.

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

April 19th, 2012

School Open Day - Kinnaird Primary School, Falkirk Council

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: CPD, democracy, enterprise, europe, events, Fairtrade, learner voice, school improvement
 : Categories CPD, citizenship, curriculum areas, europe, expressive arts, health and wellbeing, international, languages, leadership, learner voice, mathematics, primary schools, religious and moral education, sciences, sharing practice, social studies, sustainable development, technologies

School open day - Wed 23rd May 2012

Since opening in August 2007, Kinnaird Primary School has demonstrated a strong commitment to Global Citizenship. It was the first school in Falkirk to achieve Fairtrade status, has achieved two ECO Schools green flags, Falkirk Council’s International Education Awards (Stage 2) and the British Council Intermediate Level Developing Internationalism Award, in addition to Falkirk Council’s Platinum Level Enterprise Education Award.

Download programme for open day>>

Programme

9.30 Registration and Coffee

9.45 Welcome and introduction by Pamela Adamson, Headteacher

10.00 Tour of school

Participants given tour of school by pupils/staff in small groups, including visits to classes

11.00 Coffee break

11.30 Presentation about the school’s journey (Pamela Adamson and pupils)

12.00 Informal question and answer session

12.30 Lunch

13.15 Presentation by Megan Farr, Policy Officer, outlining the work Falkirk Council Education Services do to support and promote Global Citizenship in schools

13.30 Reflection and professional dialogue

Participants exchange ideas and reflect on personal experience in the light of the visit

14.45 Close

If you wish to register for this Open Day, please contact Megan Farr on 01324 506671 or [email protected]

March 29th, 2012

Europe and inter-generational solidarity

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags:  : Categories ICT, creativity, europe, expressive arts, health and wellbeing, international, technologies

2012 is the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, and celebrates the contribution that older people make to life and society. One aspect of this theme is the quality of the relationship and interaction between the different generations in society, and among the initiatives addressing this theme are two which will interest teachers.

The European People’s Party has launched a Film competition for young people in the European Union aged under 30 years old. It invites them to create a film on the theme of ‘Solidarity between generations’, to last just one minute - short and focused. The rules and application process are online, and the closing date is 15th May.

Another opportunity for Schools is the Life Story Challenge, run by the new generations@school project. This competition asks young European citizens to work with older people to collect stories about people’s lives, and then share these through the project website using text, images, audio and video. There is a particular emphasis on gathering material through activities around 29th April, the European Day of Inter-generational Solidarity, but uploads can be made until 30th June.

Such competitions offer a chance for students to demonstrate their creativity, film-making and communication skills, and some understanding of inter-generational issues.

March 28th, 2012

Enterpreneurial skills education across Europe

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags: Tags: entrepreneurship education
 : Categories europe, international, social studies

The European Commission’s Eurydice unit has published ‘Entrepreneurship Education at School in Europe’. This thematic report is a useful summary of the current position of education for entrepreneurial skills in schools across the European Union, providing both an overview and descriptions of the position in individual member states.

Scotland is in a strong position, having undertaken years of extra activity through the broad ’Determined to Succeed’ Enterprise education programme and also implemented a new curriculum framework . Organisations such as Young Enterprise Scotland and EthCo continue to work with schools to promote the Enterprise agenda and help our young people become enterprising, ethical global citizens.

Two of the categories in the Scottish Education Awards 2012 relate to Enterprise activity in Primary and Secondary schools, and these awards continue to expose excellent practice in many Scottish establishments.

March 22nd, 2012

School Open Day at Bo’ness Academy

imenzies

Comments: none Tags: Tags: CPD, europe, events, modern languages, school improvement
 : Categories CPD, china, commonwealth, curriculum areas, europe, expressive arts, health and wellbeing, international, languages, mathematics, religious and moral education, sciences, secondary schools, sharing practice, social studies, technologies

School open day - using international education to develop a whole school approach to global citizenship

Venue: Bo’ness Academy, Falkirk

9:30am – 3.00pm

Thursday 17th May 2012

Note: this event was due to place at an earlier date in the year but has now been rescheduled for the date above.

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.

Download Programme for Bo’ness Academy Open Day 17May12

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!

March 22nd, 2012

Students model the UN

nickmorgan

Comments: none Tags: Tags: united nations
 : Categories international, languages, learner voice, secondary schools, sharing practice, social studies

This March weekend the Model United Nations programme takes place in Edinburgh, organised and hosted by George Watson’s College. This annual event brings together hundreds of senior pupils and teachers, not just from Scotland and the UK but also groups from Germany, Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Norway.

The students take on the role of delegations to the United Nations, and work through a series of debates and deliberations to address key issues faced by the international community. It is a great example of global citizenship education in practice, encouraging consideration of global issues, democratic participation, and intercultural exchange. Students research, present and discuss topical subjects, demonstrating their abilities as effective communicators.

Afterwards: a news piece about MUN appeared in the Edinburgh Napier News. Congratulations to all the participants and the organising team at George Watson’s.