Glow Scotland

May 31st, 2009

Debating masterclass a success

Tina Stevens

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On 20th May Rob Marrs from the English Speaking Union delivered an informative and well-received masterclass to teachers’ across the country. The session focused on using debating techniques to help pupils’ achieve a deeper understanding of texts. Rob covered areas such as four ways of using debating in English and gave ideas related specifically to teaching drama texts such as Shakespeare.
The comprehensive session also covered the process of introducing debating to a whole class, follow-up work and also the skills which are developed by pupils when participating in ‘balloon debates’ and games such as, ‘if I ruled the world’.
The resources accompanying this session can be found on the national English teachers’ Glow group. Click on the link to request access.

Watch this space for June’s masterclass!

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.

May 26th, 2009

Glow scores top marks at Global learning Impact Awards

Lorna Arbuckle

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Glow took the top platinum award at the IMS Global Learning Impact Awards in Barcelona. The Awards are designed to recognise the most impactful use of technology worldwide in support of learning.

The vision of the Scottish Government, Glow is managed by Learning and Teaching Scotland and delivered by education technology company RM. The online network is revolutionising the way Scottish education is delivered. It is breaking down geographical and social barriers to allow greater joined-up working across the country, linking pupils and educators from Shetlands to the Borders, in a hive of innovative educational activity.

Glow is central to the successful implementation of Scotland’s new curriculum, Curriculum for Excellence. It provides the tools for learners and teachers within a safe, secure environment for enabling web-based learning, teaching and professional development anytime, anywhere.

Bernard McLeary, Chief Executive of Learning and Teaching Scotland said: “This is a significant achievement for Learning and Teaching Scotland. The vision of Glow was always to help improve the life chances of the young learners of Scotland. To gain international recognition for this is a testament to the vision and commitment of all those who have been involved in Glow from its inception to its deployment in the classroom.”

Terry Sweeney, CEO of RM said: “Glow is the perfect reflection of RM’s vision to unlock the full potential of the learning environment and provide schools with the tools they need to achieve their goals.

“This is a great result and accolade for Glow and it is well deserved recognition for all who have worked to develop and implement Glow to its current stage.”

May 19th, 2009

Highland pupils get glowing

Joanne Connolly

Comments: 6 Comments » Tags:  : Categories Highland, Pupils

P4-7 pupils from Arisaig Primary school joined S1/2 pupils in Mallaig High School today to become the first pupils in Highland to log on to Glow.

Accompanied by Arisaig Headteacher Chai Jones and Mallaig DHT John Fisher, the pupils learned many things, including how to take part in discussions, add news items and upload images to a picture library. They completed a glow survey at the end of the day to feedback on their initial experiences of using Glow. When asked in the survey what they had most enjoyed doing in Glow, one Arisaig pupil said, “I liked everything it is very hard to pick a favourite thing I loved it all so much.”

The staff were delighted with the enthusiasm of the pupils and plan to tap into this when providing support for staff use of Glow.

May 19th, 2009

A Brief History of Advertising - By 3E1 (inspired by Glow!)

Tina Stevens

Comments: Comments Off Tags:  : Categories Aberdeenshire, Curriculum for Excellence, Events, Glow Groups, Glow Meet, National Groups, Perth and Kinross, Uncategorized

Last month Neil Winton of Perth Academy delivered a free on-line CPD session through the English Teachers’ national Glow group. The session was a huge success and one teacher who logged in was Miss Coates of Mearns Academy in Aberdeenshire who was inspired to try using WIKIs with her own class:

The other day, whilst planning an advertising unit for my S3 I wondered if I could use the wikispace for that. In just 3 days the result has been rather dramatic! The task is up and running and the kids are creating their own websites for their very own companies detailing the history of their advertising campaigns. We even have “The Apprentice” style PMs who I have made organisers. I am very chuffed with their progress.

The WIKI has been such a success that in only a few days the class have added nearly 300 different edits.

3E1 have now opened their WIKI for public viewing and you can access it HERE. There are several discussion threads open already and the class are keen to get as many ‘hits’ as possible and hear your thoughts on their work.

The English Teachers’ national Glow group runs a free CPD session for teachers’ every month. The May masterclass is scheduled for tomorrow (May 20th) between 4pm and 5pm and will feature Rob Marrs from the English Speaking Union giving practical advice on how incorporating debating techniques into teaching can help pupils gain a better understanding of text - for example ‘This house believes that Macbeth was to blame for his own downfall’

You don’t have to be an English teacher to join in these sessions but you do have to be a member of the group! To join click on this LINK, log into Glow and then press the Request Access button.

Finally, if you are also a teacher who has been inspired through Glow to start something new it would be great to hear from you! You can post a reply at the bottom of this blog or email the Glow team at [email protected]

May 15th, 2009

Anthony Horowitz on Glow!

Katie Barrowman

Comments: Comments Off Tags: Tags: Anthony Horowitz, books, English, Events, Glow Chat, Glow Meet, Literacy, reading
 : Categories Events, Glow Chat, Glow Meet

This morning I was at a wonderfully exciting event, shared by thousands of children all across Scotland. The Scottish Book trust arranged for Anthony Horowitz, the best-selling author of the Alex Rider novels (among many, many more fantastic books) was broadcast live over the internet on streaming video and via Glow Meet. It’s estimated that up to 7000 fans around the country viewed the event, and hundreds then joined the Glow Chat afterwards.

Anthony took questions from the children from Uphall Primary and Canal View Primary, and also answered questions that had been submitted by schools in the weeks leading up to the event. He entertained everyone with his irreverent stories of evil grandmothers and detestable teachers - according to Anthony, every teacher he has ever had has appeared in one of his books, and he’s had them all meet a sticky end!

After his very enjoyable talk, Anthony joined children on Glow Meet, answering as many as he could of the thousands of questions that flowed in - so many, that the computer eventually gave up the ghost! Not to worry, though - Anthony will be blogging about the experience on his website, www.anthonyhorowitz.com, and you’ll be able to comment there and ask him the questions that didn’t get through.

May 14th, 2009

Glow Meet masterclass 3 - Debating In The English Classroom

Tina Stevens

Comments: Comments Off Tags:  : Categories Curriculum for Excellence, Events, Glow Groups, Glow Meet, National Groups

On 20th May from 4pm to 5pm Rob Marrs, the Speech and Debates Officer at English Speaking Union Scotland will be delivering an online CPD session entitled ‘Debating in the English classroom’.

Rob has developed the successful and highly acclaimed ‘Debating In Schools’ materials for Learning and Teaching Scotland, and is in overall charge of the Debating In Schools CPD programme - so far in 2009, Rob has worked with over 200 teachers in this format.

His session will focus on the use of debating as a tool in the English classroom. Specifically, though not exclusively Rob will look at how to use debates to explore texts (for example ‘This house believes that Macbeth was to blame for his own downfall’). There will also be some focus on how to explore other areas of the English curriculum.The session will also include some techniques on introducing debating to a group and how to use the format within classes.

A successful debater in his own right at the University of Glasgow, Rob was selected for the ESU Tour of America as a student - arguably the highest accolade that can be given to a British student debater. As well as his work across Scotland, Rob has coached, judged and spoken all over the world. This is a unique opportunity for teachers’ to take advantage of Rob’s expertise and he will be happy to answer questions both during and after the session.

The debating masterclass will run through Glow Meet on the English Teacher’s national Glow group and full details of how to access the session and use Glow Meet can be found there. If you are interested click on this LINK and then the Request Access button. The masterclass session is free to join (and you don’t even have to be an English teacher!)

May 14th, 2009

Calling all chocolate lovers…

Tina Stevens

Comments: Comments Off Tags:  : Categories Curriculum for Excellence, East Dunbartonshire, Events, Glow Groups, Glow Meet, Local authorities

Laura Kerr from the East Dunbartonshire Glow team sent me this wonderful piece of news about how Glow was used to help run a fantastic authority-wide Easter event.

“On the run up to Easter, pupils in East Dunbartonshire were given the opportunity to participate in an Easter Egg-stravaganza challenge. Pupils were set the challenge through Glow to design an Easter product, design packaging and create branding for the product. With over 160 entries from 11 different schools, the standard was exceptional. Entries were uploaded to the glow group by each participating school and our Chocolatier judge had the difficult task of picking the winners.

7 lucky winners from 4 schools were announced via Glow Meet and they had the opportunity to visit a real chocolate factory! The children came together for the morning and talked about their entries with others while making friends from schools across the authority. They had a tour of the factory, watched the experts at work and even had the chance to make their own chocolates to take home.

Craigdhu Primary, the overall winners of the competition,
received a donation from the chocolate factory of a 40KG Egg! They are currently in the process of raffling tickets to win the egg and raise money for another Interactive Whiteboard.

What an experience the pupils and teachers had although, there wasn’t an Oompa Loompa in sight!”

May 12th, 2009

The sum of the parts…..

Joanne Connolly

Comments: Comments Off Tags:  : Categories Curriculum for Excellence, Glow Groups, National Groups

On a cold, wet and windy Saturday morning, and for the second time this session, a group of eager practitioners arrived at the LTS offices in Glasgow. The group, which consisted of Primary teachers, Secondary teachers (Maths teachers and non maths teachers!), Headteachers and QIO’s from a range of Local Authorities, gathered to discuss and begin creating the next batch of lesson ideas and support materials for the national Numeracy/Mathematics Teachers glow group.
The group split into smaller teams, each working on items for different levles of Curriculum for Excellence.
A sub group has now been created within the main glow group, to enable the Saturday ‘Glow Getters’ to continue working together on the resources they have started, and to continue their collaboration.
There was a great deal of work done throughout the day, and the fruits of the group’s labours will be appearing in the Numeracy/Mathematics Teachers glow group soon.

May 7th, 2009

Glow Helps EDC Pupils Meet Titanic Survivor (kind of…)

Tina Stevens

Comments: Comments Off Tags:  : Categories Curriculum for Excellence, East Dunbartonshire, Events, Glow Groups, Glow Meet

David Baker from the East Dunbartonshire Glow Team contacted me today to let me know about a fantastic use of Glow that has been happening in his authority.

“Pupils in several East Dunbartonshire schools recently had the privilege of interviewing Molly Brown, one of the most famous survivors of the sinking of the Titanic.

Thanks to the wonders of Glow Meet, the pupils were able to ask Molly Brown (aka Susan Morrison, a teacher at Gartconner Primary School, Kirkintilloch) about her time on the Titanic and how she coped with the tragic events.

The idea was originally put forward by Susan as a way of enhancing the Joining the Learning topic her class were studying. Feedback from all those who took part has been very positive and is a “Glowing” endorsement of using ICT in this way.

We look forward to using Glow in further, new and innovative ways in the months to come.”

So Glow can even help you see dead people…kind of