Glow Scotland

December 21st, 2009

Does your school have the “x factor” – nominate now for the Scottish Education Awards 2010!

Lorna Arbuckle

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The Scottish Education Awards 2010 were launched on Wednesday 16 December 2009 by the Education Secretary, Michael Russell at Mearns Primary School in East Renfrewshire. Mr Russell said “I hope schools, parents, pupils and teachers across Scotland will be inspired to think about what they’re doing that could be a good example to others. So if you think your school has got the “x factor” get online and nominate your school for the Scottish Education Awards.”
Entry to the Awards is open to all publicly funded schools, including secondary, primary, nursery and special schools across Scotland in 15 categories including Health and Wellbeing, Literacy and Numeracy across Learning, Sustainable Schools and Teacher of the Year. Nominations are open until Friday 5 March 2010.

For further information and to nominate visit the Scottish Education Awards website.
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December 21st, 2009

Poetic panache in South Lanarkshire

Lorna Arbuckle

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Scottish poet Elspeth Murray (www.elspethmurray.com) was a roaring success in Calderside Academy, Blantyre on Wednesday 16th December. Elspeth presented the first of two sessions on Glow based around heroes and heroines and writing your own poems. Pupils from around Scotland were enthusiastic participants, all tasked with writing their own heroic verse for Part 2 on 22nd January 2010.

Elspeth provided some fascinating insights into the life of a poet and some top tips for budding poets.

Teachers and/or classes who didn’t participate in Part One can catch up on the Literacy and English National Glow Group by clicking on the link to the Heroes and Heroines Glow Group. The whole session from Wednesday along with full details of the pupils’ poetic task will be posted there over the next couple of days

Anyone wishing to register for 22nd January can do so in the Poetry Glow Group or by emailing [email protected] .

December 21st, 2009

Scottish CILT Professional Reading Group: Thursday 28th January 2010

Katie Barrowman

Comments: Comments Off Tags: Tags: CPD, Events, Glow Meet, language teaching, Modern Foreign Languages, Scottish CILT
 : Categories Events, Glow Meet

Guest Post from Catriona Oates of Scottish CILT

If you have ever taken part in a book discussion group and thought the format might well be useful for professional purposes, then put this date in your diary – Thursday 28th January 4pm -5pm.

At Scottish CILT ( the Scottish Centre for Information on Languages Teaching and Research ) we are committed to supporting the professional development of languages teachers across Scotland. We do this in several ways: through our programme of CPD events both national and local, on an outreach basis; through our news updates and enquiry service, and through the on-line educational journal, the Scottish Languages Review. We dipped our toes into Glow last session and had our first on-line CPD event in June, which was very successful, attracting 17 participants from across Scotland. We then live streamed the keynote talks from our national conference on MLPS in September.

This session, we took inspiration from David Niven of Wallace High School in Stirling and decided to follow his lead and organise a virtual professional reading group. This is a great idea that David started in his department and it hits a lot of targets for us. We like to think that we help teachers develop professionally through reflection on their own practice and engaging in professional dialogue.

We know that money is tight and CPD budgets are coming under increasing strain; we edit and publish a cost –free educational journal of relevance to languages teachers. It is the most frequently visited part of our website attracting hits worldwide, but we’d like more teachers in Scotland to be aware of it and make use of it, so our first reading text will be Content and Language Integrated Learning : Motivating Students, Motivating Teachers by Prof Do Coyle of Aberdeen University. Do gave the keynote talk at our September national conference and inspired many teachers to think about content and how we approach this in languages classrooms. We’d like to take a closer look at her thoughts on this and make a space to discuss what might be attractive in this idea; what might the barriers be, and where these ideas fits in with Curriculum for Excellence.

If you’d like to join us please get in touch – either with Mandy Reeman Clark ([email protected]) or myself, [email protected] to register interest for the event and download your free copy of the reading paper. Looking forward to seeing you in the new year!

December 18th, 2009

Talent at Christmas

Jennifer McDougall

Comments: Comments Off Tags: Tags: dancing, singing, talent
 : Categories Curriculum for Excellence, Events, Expressive Arts, Glow Meet, Local authorities, Pupils

Once again the children around Scotland entertained us with their singing and dancing during Glowing Thursday’s ‘Scotland’s Got Christmas Talent’. The afternoon was filled with renditions of Jingle Bell Rock, All I want for Christmas is You and a wonderful array of songs from school shows and pantos.

A huge thanks goes to all the individuals and classes who took part that afternoon and to their teachers for making it happen!! We were delighted that we were also joined by many other schools who were our audience and kept writing wonderful comments about the performances. “Fantastic”, “brilliant” and “well done” are amongst a few of the comments made on our public message board.

Thanks again to all those who took part and we hope to have another event like this in the summer term - and find even more homegrown Scottish talent!!

December 17th, 2009

Glider challenge a Glowing success

Lorna Arbuckle

Comments: 1 Comment Tags:  : Categories Benefits, Curriculum for Excellence, Events, Glow Chat, Glow Groups, Local authorities, National Groups, Sciences, Uncategorized

The Glider Challenge Glow Meet took place on 15th December live from the Concorde hangar at the National Museum of Flight, East Fortune. The Glow Meet was run by the central Glow team in collaboration with the sciences and technologies team. Mr Cain’s Primary 6 class from Pencaitland Primary school were live at the Museum carrying out the challenge.

Earlier in the day they had been in the museum’s Fantastic Flight interactive gallery where they had explored a range of hands on exhibits to help them learn more about flight and the training needed to become a pilot.
Through Glow, 30 classes took part, with over 500 pupils and teachers taking part in the challenge. The Glow Meet kicked off with a representative from the museum presenting on the four forces of flight and then the classes were presented with the challenge and began drawing and discussing their ideas. At the Glow Meet and in classrooms around the country gliders were built, tested, adjusted and retested. One class managed to get their glider to fly 15 metres! Adam Love Rodgers, the programme and Learning Officer answered questions on Glow Chat as people carried the challenge.

The event was great fun and many classes had learnt about flight in the run up to the Glow Meet.

Resources and reflective questions are posted in the glider challenge tab on the national Glow science site; why not take a look? A photograph competition is being run where classes can send their photographs to Wendy French, [email protected] The best photograph will win a prize for the class and will be announced in January.

December 17th, 2009

COP15 - Glow gets involved

Jennifer McDougall

Comments: Comments Off Tags: Tags: climate change, COP15, Copenhagen, SDE, summit
 : Categories Curriculum for Excellence, Events, Glow Meet, Local authorities, National Groups, Pupils, Social Studies

As the world’s eyes were turning towards the UN Climate Change Conference 2009 Glow was getting involved both nationally and internationally.

On the 9th December we were joined by Heather Reid, former BBC weather presenter and professional meteorologist - and 69 Scottish schools!! The opportunity to pose a question to Heather seemed to be a great start to Learning and Teaching Scotland’s coverage this important event. Heather answered the questions posed to her during the live Glow Meet and those that she was unable to answer she will be answering soon in the Sustainable Development Education Glow Group.

In further coverage of COP15 during the Sustainable Development Education Showcase in Stirling on Friday 11th December Glow linked up live to Copenhagen with 2 representatives from Oxfam and WWF. Schools from across Scotland logged in to hear what they had to say and to ask them questions about their roles and how they felt COP15 was progressing. The highlight however had to be at the end of the Glow Meet when Whitelees Primary School played their Climate Change(We Believe) song live in Stirling to Copenhagen. The WWF representative was so impressed he asked for the lyrics which were written by the children and will be using them during the summit to highlight the views of young Scots!!

December 16th, 2009

Glowing Successes!

Jennifer McDougall

Comments: Comments Off Tags: Tags: careers, early years, Glowing Thursdays, Scottish Ballet, transition
 : Categories Co-Create, Curriculum for Excellence, Events, Expressive Arts, Glow Meet, Local authorities, Pupils

At the start of the December Glowing Thursdays was delighted to host the second in a double bill of Glow Meets with Scottish Ballet. Entitled ‘Inspiring Careers’ this Glow Meet allowed the viewers to hear directly from four ‘Scottish’ ballet dancers, each of them outlining why they had chosen to be a dancer and how as a career they found it fulfilling. During this session we were joined by 15 schools who also had the opportunity to ask questions and those who were unable to take part posted questions on a discussion board before the event. Who knows this Glowing Thursday might have inspired a pupil to be the next greatest Scottish ballet dancer?!

That same day Glowing Thursday also hosted an Early Years session which was attended by more than 38 individuals. We were joined by Professor Aline-Wendy Dunlop, Chair of Childhood and Primary Studies, Strathclyde University and Gerard McKernan, Quality Improvement Officer, Glasgow City Council who discussed their recent involvement in the National Transitions Advisory Group as well as their own current work from pre-school into primary. It was a lively event and people were keen to ask questions, all of which were answered during the event and the presenters who had never used Glow Meet before were delighted with the experience an at how easy it was.

A very busy day for Glowing Thursdays but a great opportunity for pupils and practitioners to learn, share and collaborate together!

December 15th, 2009

Local school girl lets her creative juices Glow

Lorna Arbuckle

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A local Renfrewshire pupil has beaten off stiff opposition from over 230 other applicants from across Scotland to win the top prize in a creative competition.

Amy Brummitt, age 9, a P6 pupil from Bridge of Weir Primary, designed a brand new graphical background theme for Glow which will soon be available to all Glow users. In addition to seeing her creation brought to life, Amy also received a Nintendo DS console for herself and a Wii console and Wii Fit for her school.

Amy says: “I am speechless. When Mrs Doherty, the head teacher, told me in front of my class I couldn’t believe it. The whole class cheered and clapped and were very excited for me but not as excited as I was. I have a DS at home but it is broken so a new one will be just great. My mum, dad, sisters and brother will enjoy playing it too! The Wii fit will be great for all the pupils at Bridge of Weir Primary School to play at Golden Time. I think the teachers will enjoy it as well. Thank you very much for the two prizes.”

Brogan Gellaty, age 11, an S1 pupil from Craigie High School, also designed a graphical background theme for Glow which was judged to be the best entry from a secondary school pupil. In commendation for her efforts, Brogan received her very own Nintendo DS console, just in time for Christmas.

Brogan says: “I’m really excited to be getting a Nintendo DS. I have one already which I am now able to give it to my cousin. My whole class entered the competition and I though their designs were brilliant too”.

Andrew Brown, Head of Glow at LTS, says: “We were delighted with the response from Scotland’s pupils when we announced the competition to design a new theme for Glow and we were inundated with entries. However, we had to whittle it down to two winners, one overall winner and one runner up. Amy’s overall winning entry really stood out to us thanks to her depiction of a row of children holding hands as the border to her theme. We felt this perfectly illustrated how Glow connects people. Brogan’s entry stood out to us because of its bold use of colours and imaginative content”

Pictured above: John McCarney, Head of Education at RM, the solution provider for Glow that sponsored the competition and Amy Brummitt; overall winner.

December 14th, 2009

Scotland’s Got Christmas Talent

Jennifer McDougall

Comments: 1 Comment Tags: Tags: Christmas, Glowing Thursdays, Scotland, talent
 : Categories Curriculum for Excellence, Events, Expressive Arts, Glow Meet, Local authorities, National Groups, Pupils, Uncategorized

Yes the highly popular national talent event is back once again and this time it has a Christmas theme!

Why not join us on Thursday 17th December from 1.30pm - 3pm to see what fantastic talent the pupils in Scotland have to offer?

Our last event before the summer featured 15 wonderful acts with singing, comic performances, dancing and even bagpipes all showcasing within Glow. Make this event just as good by registering your interest with Jennifer McDougall - [email protected] and taking part in this exciting event.

You don’t have to peform to join us on the day, you can be part of our audience and enjoy the event from the comfort of your own classroom. For more details go to glowhelp.me/thursdays and we hope to see you there on the day!

December 13th, 2009

Glider Challenge - Glow Meet 15th December

J Jelly

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

There are so many great Glow Meet opportunities just now. What did we do before this great Glow tool became available to us?
On Tuesday 15th December, many P6-S2 pupils across the country are taking part in a Glider Challenge via a Glow Meet in the National Sciences Glow Group thanks to the National Museum of Flight.

On December 17th 1903 the Wright Brothers achieved the first powered, controlled, heavier than air, aeroplane flight. It took about 12 seconds and flew less than 40 metres. Pupils face a similar on Tuesday!

The Glider Challenge:

● To build a glider that will carry 50 grams of modelling clay to fly as far as possible

● The glider must be able to fit through a hole 300mm by 300mm

● The glider must not weigh more than 250 grams including the modelling clay

The Glow Meet will begin at 1.30pm on Tuesday, with a member of the National Museum of Flight giving a short presentation about the museum, outlining what it offers and explaining the four forces of flight. The challenge will then start and classes will have just over an hour to make their gliders. The class hosting the Glow Meet from the Museum of Flight will make their gliders and test them at the museum for everyone to see. Finally there will be a summing up session.

Get more details, sign up, and access the Glow Meet on the Glider Challenge page of the National Sciences Glow Group.