Glow Scotland

October 10th, 2011

Daily Quote - FIFA 2010 World Cup in Inverclyde

ggallacher

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“I wanted to increase the use of Glow in a fun way, so I hope I’ve achieved that by giving them lots of different activities.”

Diana Rolland is ICT Support Teacher and Glow Development Officer for Inverclyde Council

Read more in the Cookbook here

May 4th, 2011

Glow, Inverclyde, and the Tall Ships Races 2011

Lesley Dickson

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This year the town of Greenock in Inverclyde will be one of the host ports for the ‘Tall Ships Races 2011′. Setting off from Waterford in Ireland, the ships will arrive at Greenock on Saturday 9th July and will be in the port until Tuesday 12th. The ships will then set off on the next stage to Lerwick in the Shetland Isles.

Traditionally, huge crowds (from many hundreds of thousands to well over a million) visit a port during the four days of the event, bringing welcome income to the port, city and local businesses, plenty of national and international media attention, and a range of opportunities for community involvement and enjoyment.

The Tall Ships last came to Greenock in 1999 and those who were lucky enough to attend the event will remember how Greenock was transformed by the crowds of visitors, the brilliant weather and a host of activities and events.

Run by Sail Training International, the Tall Ships Races are an annual event calling at different host ports each year. The purpose of the charity ‘is the development and education of young people through the sail training experience, regardless of nationality, culture, religion, gender or social background.’

More information about the charity can be found here:

Sail Training International web site

Race schedule and host port information

‘Get On Board!’ Glow Group

Diana Rolland of Inverclyde Council has set up a Glow group for the event and has generously opened this to teachers and pupils across the country who would like to make use of the information and activities she has created.

Click on the ship to go to the group.

World of Work Wednesday

A related WOWW , Working on the River Clyde, will take place in Glow Meet on the 11th May between 2 and 3pm.

You can sign up for the event here.

May 2nd, 2011

Working on the River Clyde

Jennifer McDougall

Comments: Comments Off Tags: Tags: Inverclyde, River Clyde, Tall Ships, WoWW
 : Categories Career Opportunities and Pathways, Curriculum for Excellence, Glow, Glow Meet, Inverclyde, National Groups, Pupils

This WOWW event will demonstrate some of the employment opportunities that exist in riverside and coastal communities and the variety of work that can be accessed in the maritime and shipping industry as well as demonstrating how to maximise the benefits of the water for all communities.

Inverclyde’s location has also enabled the area to host a range of water based events in the last twenty years and a key employment role within Inverclyde Council is Events Management. In July 2011, Inverclyde will welcome around 60 Tall Ships to the James Watt Dock for a four day event and today’s guests represent companies involved in the day to day activities of Inverclyde’s maritime and shipping industry and also have a key role in ensuring that this event goes smoothly.

Our speakers for this event will provide an overview of their jobs and also give pupils an sense of how their work relates to the Tall Ships Event.

Captain Ron Bailey is Clydeport’s Harbour Master at the Ocean Terminal
Helen Drummond is Inverclyde Council’s Events Manager and the Project Manager for the Tall Ships Event
Also attending will be a River Pilot, Kenny MacLeod from RNLI and Peter Stewart Coastguard Sector Manager for the area from Largs to Lochgilphead with responsibility for operations during the forthcoming Tall Ships Event.

Sign up and join us on Wednesday May 11th from 2-3pm in the World of Work Wednesday Glow Group.

March 13th, 2011

Glow Light Image 14.3.2011

Lesley Dickson

Comments: 1 Comment Tags:  : Categories Glow Light Images, Inverclyde

Gaudi Sunflowers

This week’s image is the winner of a competion held by Inverclyde Council.

Primary 5 pupils at Gourock Primary have been studying the work of Gaudi and loved his sunflower tiles. They used paint and oil pastels to represent the tiles.

Gaudi’s work is admired by architects around the World as being one of the most unique and distinctive architectural styles. His work has greatly influenced the face of the city of Barcelona, Spain and you will see Gaudi’s work all over the city.

Antoni Gaudi was born in Reus in 1852 and received his Architectural degree in 1878. From the very beginning his designs were different from those of his contemporaries.

Gaudi’s work was greatly influenced by forms of nature and this is reflected by the use of curved construction stones, twisted iron sculptures, and organic-like forms which are traits of Gaudi’s Barcelona architecture. Gaudi also adorned many of his buildings with coloured tiles arranged in mosaic patterns. This added another important dimension to his buildings which is so often overlooked by architects - the use of colour.

The combination of original design, interesting shaped stonework, and vibrant colours in Gaudi’s work give the viewer a truly breathtaking visual experience.

Gaidi’s most famous work is the still unfinished Sagrada Familia.

Image: Primary 5, Gourock Primary School, Inverclyde.

January 17th, 2011

YDance – Supporting Higher Dance through Glow

Julia Fenby

Comments: 1 Comment Tags:  : Categories 16+ Learning Choices, Career Opportunities and Pathways, Co-Create, Curriculum for Excellence, Dumfries and Galloway, East Dunbartonshire, Expressive Arts, Glow Meet, Inverclyde

YDance (Scottish Youth Dance) is the National Dance Agency for children and young people in Scotland. It is a leading provider of quality dance experiences and education, encouraging young people to get creative and active through dance.

Through the Co-Create project, YDance is providing continuing support to teachers of Higher Dance at Greenock Academy, Lenzie Academy and Dumfries High School including live CPD and choreography sessions through Glow Meet and pupil and teacher zones with lots of useful resources and helpful hints.

As well as practical workshops delivered by YDance in the schools, participating PE teachers have been meeting YDance tutors every week through Glow Meet for guidance on all aspects of the course, including the four set dances they have to teach. This approach has given teachers the opportunity to discuss choreography, share ideas and see examples of pupil work.

The YDance Glow Group is under development and is due to go live later this month. As well as providing an overview of the Co-Create project and the Higher Dance curriculum, it will include lots of useful guidance and support materials for anyone thinking of teaching or studying Higher Dance. A Pupil Zone will include hints and tips on the course, with practical advice on what to wear and healthy living, plus videos of pupils talking why Higher Dance has been a positive experience for them. A Teachers Zone will include sample videos of technique exercises and set dances, examples of written work and choreography lesson plans, together with support materials on career paths and opportunities for pupils.

For more information on YDance and the support and resources on offer for schools visit their website at www.ydance.org

Co-Create is funded through a partnership between Learning and Teaching Scotland and the Creative Scotland National Lottery Fund.

November 24th, 2010

CfE and ASN

Jennifer McDougall

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 : Categories Curriculum for Excellence, Events, Glow, Glow Meet, Inverclyde, Local authorities, Pupils

This week in Glowing Thursdays we will be joined by Angela Edwards, formally of HMIe and is now Head of Planning and Culture in Inverclyde.

Angela has in-depth knowledge of special schools and units arising from her experience as a teacher, depute and headteacher. In her role as HMIe she has been able to gain a national perspective and has also been able to consider the opportunities and challenges facing the sector as they implement CfE.

This Glow Meet will focus on meeting the needs of children and young people within the framework for learning and teaching with particular emphasis on broad general education, coherence and progression. Angela will consider the key messages and this will be followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion.

Sign up on the Glowing Thursdays page and join us from 4-5pm on Thursday 25th November.

November 19th, 2010

STATE OF EMERGENCY - Day Five

Julia Fenby

Comments: Comments Off Tags:  : Categories Argyll and Bute, Co-Create, Curriculum for Excellence, East Ayrshire, Expressive Arts, Glasgow City, Glow, Glow Meet, Health and Wellbeing, Inverclyde, Literacy, Mathematics, Moving Image Education, National Groups, North Lanarkshire, Outdoor Learning, Religious and Moral Education, Sciences, Social Studies, South Lanarkshire, Technologies, West Lothian, modern languages

On the final day of State of Emergency, S2 year groups from all seven schools came together via Glow Meet to share their learning experiences from this intensive week of activity.

Tarbert Academy journalists gave a live report on the conflict as news broke in the west of Scotland. Their broadcast was interrupted when freedom fighters broke into the newsroom in protest against the government regime.

A Bathgate Academy human rights campaigner gave a powerful speech about the importance of integrity and trust.

During the week, Lochend Secondary pupils had explored war poetry in English and code breaking in Maths. In Drama they’d made a film about a boy who wanted to join the army and in PE they’d learned what it might feel like to be in the army as they were made to run outside in the cold!

Clyde Valley High had a visit from the Red Cross and found out about refugee camps; they created Facebook pages and video messages for viral communications; they made images of war by acting out and photographing scenes involving rebels, civilians and government soldiers.

The Army marched into Cumnock Academy hall and set up an assault course – the highlight of the week for the reporters:

“It was amazing, great fun – I didn’t come first but I did enjoy it!”

“It helped build my confidence”.

They also had visits from the Red Cross and a Human Rights lawyer and learned that everyone has rights to equality and protection. Pupils had purified water in Science, and designed and built devices to transport black market goods through underground tunnels in Technology and Art.

At Greenock Academy aid workers had training in basic first aid and learned to cook nutritious meals with limited supplies. The army launched a search for a missing soldier and through constructing a refugee camp, they learned team work, how to filter water, make up ration packs and distribute food to refugees.

Holy Cross High reported that propaganda was rife, with posters put up around the school by both factions; normal lines of communications had been destroyed. The Department of PE had transformed soldiers into ‘lean, mean fighting machines’ in Sniper Alley; the Department of Technology investigated ways of disposing of human waste; the Department of Social Studies researched the causes of conflict, whilst the Department of Drama explored the motivations of those involved.

State of Emergency has clearly been an amazing experience for both pupils and staff. I would encourage you to visit the Glow Group to read pupil diaries about their learning, look at more photographs of cross-curricular activities and see the rich variety of resources shared by participating teachers. This really has been Curriculum for Excellence in action.

Co-Create is funded through a partnership between Learning and Teaching Scotland and the Creative Scotland National Lottery Fund.

Image credit: Kath Morley, Greenock Academy

November 18th, 2010

STATE OF EMERGENCY - Day Four

Julia Fenby

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This project is so rich that it is impossible to fully reflect the depth and breadth of the activities and learning taking place in seven secondary schools across Scotland.

Today I went out to visit Cumnock Academy in East Ayrshire where staff have embraced the project and as well as designing an exciting timetable of activities for S2, have created opportunities for other pupils, such as the higher media studies students who are recording and reporting on the week’s activities, and the S6 pupils who are helping S2 build emergency shelters.

I arrived in time to join pupils in the hall to watch the fourth and final webisode. They were totally engaged and focused as the drama reached its sad and shocking conclusion. The atmosphere was palpable as pupils silently started to take in and make sense of what they’d seen.

The online dramas have provided the stimulus for the week’s activities and have generated deep discussion and raised big questions. Some of the pupils later engaged in a conversation with a group at Tarbert Academy via Glow Meet and had a serious debate about the motives behind different characters’ actions. Would they have stolen food if they were freedom fighters? Did they think being an insurgent would put their family in danger?

Yesterday, a Human Rights Lawyer visited the school as an expert witness. He was surprised by the pupils’ depth of knowledge, their insight into conflict situations and the challenging nature of their questions.

Participants have explored the physical, ethical and political issues and challenges thrown up by conflict and they have seen the relevance and connectivity of learning across the curriculum. The project has provided a stimulus for learning and a platform for creative response. The impact of State of Emergency looks set to be long lasting.

Co-Create is funded through a partnership between Learning and Teaching Scotland and the Creative Scotland National Lottery Fund.

Image credit: Eoghann MacColl, Cumnock Academy

November 17th, 2010

STATE OF EMERGENCY – Day Three

Julia Fenby

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“This is an act of peace not war”, the politician announces in a TV news broadcast as government troops are mobilised for Operation Democracy – “the aim, to disable the unelected regime and restore democracy”. The reality for State of Emergency narrator Chloe is chilling – she is able to watch military strikes online whilst her own building shakes.

So began day three of State of Emergency, an intensive week for S2 pupils in seven schools, exploring the dilemmas and complexities of war, supported by Visible Fictions Theatre Company, and using a project Glow Group to share information, ideas and resources.

At Greenock Academy, staff and pupils have been living out a conflict, using role play to explore issues faced by refugees, soldiers, journalists and politicians.

“We don’t belong anywhere and we can’t trust anyone. We don’t want to fight, we just want to go home.” S2 ‘Refugee’ Pupil to Journalists, Greenock Academy

Clyde Valley High mathematics pupils were faced with the challenge of constructing new bridges to transport supplies over the Clyde after a bombing raid had destroyed the existing ones. They also learned how to make and break codes.

With the threat of shortages caused by the conflict, home economics pupils investigated what food supplies would be needed and where to locate them. At Bathgate Academy, the dining staff are involved too – their State of Emergency lunch time menu includes a ‘No deliveries’ day, with store cupboard ingredients only, and ‘No power or cooking facilities’ day when only cold food will be available.

“Its exciting, really different from normal school” S2 Pupil, Clyde Valley High

“We could have done a whole month on this”. Teacher, Lochend Secondary

Co-Create is funded through a partnership between Learning and Teaching Scotland and the Creative Scotland National Lottery Fund.

Image credit: Julie Austin, Lochend Secondary

November 17th, 2010

STATE OF EMERGENCY – Day Two

Julia Fenby

Comments: Comments Off Tags:  : Categories Argyll and Bute, Co-Create, Curriculum for Excellence, East Ayrshire, Expressive Arts, Glasgow City, Glow, Health and Wellbeing, Inverclyde, Literacy, Mathematics, Moving Image Education, North Lanarkshire, Outdoor Learning, Religious and Moral Education, Sciences, Social Studies, South Lanarkshire, Technologies, West Lothian, modern languages

“The first victim of war is the truth”, The journalist’s view – Greenock Academy

Day two of the project and the second State of Emergency webisode starts to bring home some of the realities and complexities of war. What would it be like to live in a war zone?

Pupils and teachers have been engaged in challenging and thought provoking discussions…….What are the differences between needs and wants? Which version of a story is the truth? What is it like to live in a refugee camp? Who is right – the government or the freedom fighter?

Each school involved in the project is using conflict as the focus for learning and teaching, exploring war from both subject specific and interdisciplinary perspectives. Pupils at Tarbert Academy have created their own images of what war might look like for them; Clyde Valley High have been discussing war art and the deeper meanings hidden within it. At Bathgate Academy, pupils are working in groups to write their own blogs or online diaries about their learning experiences. At Greenock Academy, the resource centre has been converted into a field hospital and physical borderlines have been created in the school.

One thing is certain– this week is providing many participants with a completely new experience and way of working that is all engaging.

“Day one is over. Two webisodes down and not a technology disaster in sight! Now I know why we say “lines of communication”, how fast soup can be cooked (or not). The young people are engrossed in the fight for freedom. Can’t wait for Sniper Alley tomorrow….” Teacher, Holy Cross High

Male pupil: Miss, see in maths- are we gonnae dae that State of Emergency thing tae? Maths teacher: Yes we are Male pupil: Yabby dabby dabby do! Conversation, Lochend Secondary

For an overview of the project read the recent TES article and visit the State of Emergency Glow Group.

Co-Create is funded through a partnership between Learning and Teaching Scotland and the Creative Scotland National Lottery Fund.

Image credit: Pupil, Tarbert Academy