Highland Virtual Learning Community News and Advice

New Home for the HVLC Blog

2007-12-09T09:33:00.000Z

The HVLC Blog has moved to a new web site

Christmas Resources Wiki

2007-12-09T08:41:00.000Z

This wiki (a web site that allows you to collaborate) has been set up by teachers to share teaching resources about Xmas.

Scottish CILT

2007-11-28T09:48:00.000Z

Scottish Languages Review – New Edition
Issue 16 of the Scottish Languages Review is now available on the Scottish CILT website. This issue includes an article on blogging in the language classroom by Thea Pallut from Grantown Grammar School. There is also an article by Catriona Oates on 'Education for Citizenship: Languages are the Key' (refers to Curriculum for Excellence).

Ten Ideas for using Google Maps and Google Earth in the Classroom

2007-11-27T09:30:00.000Z

Ollie Bray a teacher from East Lothian has posted on his blog a number of ways that Google Maps and the Google Earth program could be used in the classroom.

Lingro

2007-11-27T08:53:00.000Z

Lingro is a new translation website. It covers English, French, German, Italian, Polish & Spanish.
Lingro aims to create an open and free on-line environment for language learners worldwide. In addition to developing online study tools and online language games.

History - a portrait of current practice

2007-11-23T12:01:00.001Z

History - a portrait of current practice in Scottish secondary schools' is one in a series of portraits by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) depicting current practice in key aspects of the Scottish curriculum. This portrait is based on evidence obtained from HMIE visits to 24 secondary schools during the period April 2004 to June 2007. These visits included both general inspections and other visits to examine effective practice. Inspectors evaluated the quality of learning, teaching, meeting pupils’ needs and achievement.

Free Ordnance Survey Maps

2007-11-08T11:53:00.000Z

This year’s free maps scheme from Ordnance Survey is coming to a close on the 16 November and 30% of eligible Scottish primary schools have not yet placed their order for this free resource for their pupils. The maps come completely free and are for distribution to the children by the school. Schools should have a user name and password but if you don’t, please contact Ordnance Survey helpline for further assistance on tel: 0845 337 3133. Each eligible school is entitled to one map per Primary 7 pupil for the school year 2007-08. More details on the web site here.

Curriculum for Excellence in Highland

2007-11-07T12:24:00.000Z

This week saw the start of the Curriculum for Excellence workshops. These will involve nearly 2500 teachers in Highland. The aim is to update staff on the Curriculum for Excellence timeframe and the Highland Strategy for ACE for this and next session 2008-2009. To introduce teaching staff to the Curriculum for Excellence Learning Outcomes in Literacy and Numeracy. To explore how these Learning Outcomes might be delivered within a school or across ASG and discuss School/Subject Development Planning.
There is Highland Curriculum for Excellence web site to keep staff informed of CfE developments.

GLOW Newsletter

2007-11-02T08:40:00.000Z

The latest version of the GLOW newsletter in now online here. If you wish to subscribe to these newsletters by email you can do so here

Curriculum for Excellence

2007-10-29T15:39:00.000Z

This week saw the start of the Curriculum for Excellence workshops. These will involve nearly 2500 teachers in Highland. The aim is to update staff on the Curriculum for Excellence timeframe and the Highland Strategy for ACE for this and next session 2008-2009 To introduce teaching staff to the Curriculum for Excellence Learning Outcomes in Literacy and Numeracy To explore how these Learning Outcomes might be delivered within a school or across ASG and discuss School/Subject Development Planning.
There is Highland Curriculum for Excellence web site to keep staff informed of CfE development

Connected Magazine

2007-10-29T09:59:00.000Z

The latest edition of Learning and Teaching Scotland’s Connected magazine is now in schools and online. In-depth articles discuss leadership in education, this year's Scottish Learning Festival and the next generation of young entrepreneurs.

New Onlne Resources web site

2007-10-22T10:20:00.000+01:00

This new area of the Learning and Teaching Scotland Online Service has a selection of the best online learning resources, specifically selected and organised for Scottish education. To find a resource for you and your class, select the area of the curriculum or the educational level you need or choose the level first and then select the curricular area.

Games-based learning website

2007-10-05T09:09:00.000+01:00

As computer games become standard for today’s children and young people, this web site shows you how to incorporate games into your learning and teaching and the impact this can have on young people. Case studies show how Scottish schools are fostering engagement, pupil motivation and creativity through the use of computer games in the classroom.

Participation and Learning resource

2007-10-02T09:09:00.000+01:00

This Participation and Learning resource explores the issues around participation and decision making in school communities. It illustrates how Scottish school communities are enabling children and young people, teachers, parents and others to get involved in all aspects of school life. The resource was developed by Save the Children in partnership with Learning and Teaching Scotland and is being distributed to schools in hard copy as a book and accompanying DVD. More details about the resource can be found at the Participation and Learning web site.

New Learning about Learning website

2007-09-28T13:09:00.000+01:00

Our knowledge about learning is continually changing and there is a range of emerging insights, theories and practice on how we learn. This new Learning about Learning website offers practitioners a comprehensive overview of all the latest thinking about learning from around the world and complements the Journey to Excellence resource by developing knowledge and skills that can be taken into the classroom.

Online Climate Change Resource

2007-09-25T09:24:00.000+01:00

This new online Climate Change resource aims to inform senior pupils (S5-S6) and staff about the science and impacts of global warming and encourage debate about climate change and the dilemmas and challenges that it presents. The website provides a great deal of Scottish data and information. It also includes numerous free images for use in Scottish schools.

New Tobacco Law website

2007-09-21T13:38:00.000+01:00

From 1 October 2007, it will be illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under 18. This is a change from the current age of 16. As you can imagine, this will have serious implications for some of the young people we work with in our school communities.

In order to raise awareness of this important change in the law, efforts are being made to ensure all professionals and retailers know about where to access information.

Figures show that most addicted adult smokers began smoking as teenagers. The law has been changed to help prevent people from starting in the first place, so that they can avoid the serious health dangers of smoking – it’s addictive, causing serious harm and can have a dramatic effect on appearance and attractiveness.

This website has just been launched today and contains helpful information and guidance for young people, professionals and retailers. In Highland there is a great deal of support anyone to stop smoking in the form of a Highland Smoking Cessation Service, details can be found on the Highland NHS website

( From Louise Thomas Health Promoting Schools Manager )

Journey to Excellence launched

2007-09-19T11:31:00.000+01:00

Journey to Excellence web site launched
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) and Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) have together developed part 5 of The Journey to Excellence, which is intended to make an important contribution to raising standards in Scottish education. The whole Journey to Excellence resource is firmly focused on improving learning to help schools make the step change from being ‘good’ to being ‘great’. The five components of the programme have been developed over the past three years and part 5 is a powerful digital resource that features what will be a growing library of examples of good practice from a range of schools and centres. It features the voices of children, staff and senior leaders; people who work in partnership with them; and successful Scots and educationists.

Curriculum for Excellence

2007-09-18T22:32:00.000+01:00

Draft experiences and outcomes for numeracy and draft experiences and outcomes for science have now been published on the Curriculum for Excellence website.

Healthy Highland Week

2007-09-14T16:53:00.000+01:00

Louise Thomas the Health Promoting Schools Manager for Highland has asked me to give you advance notice of a new Healthy Highland Week. Information will be circulated to schools next week. See this Healthy Highland web site for information.
You will also find the following web sites useful in the lead up to the Healthy Highland Week. Highland's Children.
Healthy living page of the Highland Council web site. The national website for Health Promoting Schools.
You can also keep up with the work of Louise and her team at her own web site

Curriculum for Excellence newsletter online

2007-09-14T10:39:00.000+01:00

The latest Curriculum for Excellence newsletter (number 6) has now been published and includes a ministerial foreword by Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning. A PDF version of the newsletter is now available to view or download from the Curriculum for Excellence website.

Launch of 'Talk Money, Talk Solutions' resource pack

2007-09-10T10:35:00.000+01:00

This eagerly awaited primary school resource, developed by Learning and Teaching Scotland in partnership with the Clydesdale Bank, is being launched on Wednesday 12 September.

Attitudes to money develop early in people’s lives and this resource has been designed to give teachers in primary schools a means to engage children in real life situations which allow them to gain insight into the management of money.

The development of skills in numeracy and problem solving are core to Scottish education and this resource uses these skills throughout.

St Ambrose Primary School, Glasgow, has been heavily involved in the trial of the activities and has been chosen as the venue for the launch.

The resource will be available to schools at Financial Education CPD events or on request.

Debating in Schools

2007-09-10T10:22:00.000+01:00

This new online resource aims to encourage all young people and teachers to engage actively with debating.

Debating in Schools will help teachers to use speech and debate techniques in the classroom, set up debating societies and get young people involved in competitive debating.

There are practical exercises, step-by-step guides and exemplars, all accompanied by expert advice. The website also highlights Scotland’s world-class record in debating and the achievements of our young people.

Debate captures the spirit of Curriculum for Excellence and can play a significant part in a schools' citizenship and Determined To Succeed activities. It is a unique way of promoting critical thinking, communication, research and enquiry skills.

Debating in Schools was produced as a collaboration between the English-Speaking Union Scotland and Learning and Teaching Scotland.

Europa Youth

2007-09-05T12:23:00.001+01:00

A competition has been launched on the Europa Youth website to design a poster on the theme of 'Together Against Discrimination'.

Children and young people aged 12-14 and 15-18 are invited to create a poster illustrating the idea of non-discrimination throughout the European Union.

There will be national pre-selections and an award ceremony in each Member State on 20 November, the 'International Day of the Rights of the Child'. Then the three winning teams of each age group will be invited to come to Brussels from 15 to 17 December to meet Franco Frattini (Vice-President of the European Commission), take part in a European award ceremony and visit the European Institutions and Brussels city.

Further information and the submission form can be found on the Europa Youth website.

Screenonline

2007-09-03T08:51:00.000+01:00

Screenonline is the definitive guide to British Film and Televison in the UK, with over 300 hours of media clips. It also provides resources to support the curriculum across a range of subjects. The Screenonline education zone has been growing since February - filling up with lesson ideas, starters, plenaries, downloadable resources and teaching tips - with the aim of supporting a range of different subject teachers in using films and extracts in class.
Please note this web site can only be accessed from curriculum computers within schools. The license does not allow access from home.

Health Promoting Schools Online Resources

2007-08-31T10:44:00.000+01:00

Schools in Scotland have been set the target of becoming a health promoting school by 2007. This involves a whole school approach to promoting the physical, social, spiritual, mental and emotional well-being of all pupils and staff.
The National Health Promoting Schools Websites have information and resources to help schools take positive steps towards better health and well-being.
Primary Resources
Secondary Resources

The Healthy Kids web site also contains good information, games and resources

Study Skills

2007-08-31T10:40:00.000+01:00

Study Skills is a web site produced by Learning Teaching Scotland aimed at classroom teachers to help them develop these critical skills in learners.
Ages 5-9
Learn how to remember things, find information from what you read, and how to write about different things.
Ages 10-14
Find out how to get the most from lessons, make good notes, and prepare for exams.
Ages 15-18
Learn how to make the most of lectures, revise for exams, and find out more about different styles and strategies for learning.

Science Lessons on Teacher's TV

2007-08-30T08:36:00.000+01:00

This series offers a range of practical and theory-based lesson ideas for science teachers of at both primary and secondary level.

Free Images for Scottish Schools

2007-08-29T10:22:00.000+01:00

These images are free to download for educational use - whether you are a teacher making worksheets or getting ideas to spark creative writing, or a pupil who needs pictures for a presentation or website.

Chewonthis

2007-08-29T07:41:00.000+01:00

The Chewonthis website is designed for independent use by secondary school students aged 11-14.The website will also be useful to anyone who is interested in how our food is produced and its effect on our health and the environment.

The website is produced by The Food Commission Research Charity, a non government organisation that is totally independent of the food industry.

As we encourage children, young people and parents to think more about their food choices through our School Nutrition Action groups and across the curriculum we also ask people to consider making ethical food choices and try to think about how ‘honest’ food labelling.

This website provides sessions that can be used in the classroom or as a SNAG group activity in Secondary schools but it might also be appropriate for upper primary.

Assessment is for Learning newsletter

2007-08-24T10:59:00.000+01:00

Assessment is for Learning newsletter
The summer 2007 edition of the Assessment is for Learning newsletter (AifL) is now available for download in PDF from the AifL website. In this edition there is a review the learning journey travelled by many Scottish schools aiming to be AifL schools by 2007.

Scottish Learning Festival Newsletter

2007-08-24T09:28:00.000+01:00

For those going to the Scottish Learning Festival in Glasgow on the September 19th and 20th of September the latest newsletter, the Delegate, is now online.

Scottish Parliament's Education Service

2007-08-24T09:16:00.000+01:00

The Parliament's Education Service runs a programme of seminars for teachers in Scotland. The seminars provide opportunities to explore themes relevant to various curriculum areas including Citizenship and Modern Studies. The next event, for primary teachers, takes place on 19 September. Phone 0131 348 5401 for further information. The service also offers a popular visits programme for school groups. Education visits for January - March 2008 can be booked from Monday 3 September.

Online Tutorials

2007-08-20T09:39:00.000+01:00

The place for help when you stuck with ICT. This useful web site was created by Andrew Brown from Argyll and Bute Council and LTS. It contains a series of online flash video tutorials that cover using Adobe Captivate, Adobe Breeze presenter and Powepoint in the classroom.

Glowing newsletter

2007-08-17T11:44:00.000+01:00

A monthly round-up of Glow news items for June.
Contents include:
Phase 3 Pilots
Glow Learn detailed piloting
Glow Learn Briefing
Glow mentors
Introducing Glow Components – Glow Learn
Glow Pathways
Subscriptions

HandsonScotland

2007-08-16T14:13:00.000+01:00

This easy to use website provides practical information and techniques on how to respond helpfully to children and young people’s troubling behaviour, build up self-esteem and promote their positive mental wellbeing.
This website has been cleared for use by Fujitsu and anyone should be able to download the video / audio clips without difficulty. However, if you encounter any problems please telephone/email the helpdesk.

Connected Magazine Online

2007-06-21T13:42:00.000+01:00

The latest issue of Learning and Teaching Scotland's Connected magazine is now available online. Included in this issue are articles on: NEET (not currently enagaged in employment, education or training); cyber-bullying; international education; Highland 2007; and the Scottish Learning Festival.

On the Money

2007-06-21T08:55:00.000+01:00

The Scottish Centre for Financial Education (SCFE) at Learning and Teaching Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Book Trust and Standard Life, has launched a new resource to help educate children about finances.
The web site is here and is supported by a of a book of short stories written by Alison Price, Theresa Breslin, Jonathan Meres and Nicola Morgan which are themed around how families use money and look at the social and moral dilemmas that most of us face. The book can be downloaded from the web site.

SQA - Study Skills and Strategies

2007-06-19T09:26:00.000+01:00

SQA has published a guide that is all about doing well in exams and fulfilling our potential. Entitled, Study Skills and Strategies it makes use of scientific research but also common sense and the everyday experiences of teachers and students. The guide acknowledges that hard work does not come easily to most of us and provides tips and advice on how to overcome natural laziness and how to go about things more efficiently.
Study Skills and Strategies

Leadership for Learning

2007-06-15T12:29:00.001+01:00

HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) has published a report on 'Leadership for Learning: the challenges of leading in a time of change'. This report is accompanied by seven case studies. The report affirms that high quality leadership is essential in promoting excellent, effective learning across all sectors of Scottish education. It adopts a cross-sectoral approach which asserts that the principles of effective leadership are common to all sectors although the challenges and methods of approach may well vary depending on context. The report and the case studies can be downloaded from the HMIE web site

Technorati Tags: HMIE, Leadership

Register your school now for BBC News School Report 2007-2008

2007-06-15T12:22:00.001+01:00

Schools can now register for BBC News School Report 2007-2008, which gives 12- and 13-year-olds from UK schools the chance to make their own TV, radio or online news at school and to broadcast it via the internet.
Using lesson plans and materials from the BBC website, and with support from BBC staff, teachers help students develop their journalistic skills and become School Reporters.
Last year the BBC worked with 120 UK schools on this project, including Bridge of Don Academy in Aberdeen, Hillhead High School in Glasgow, Inverness Royal Academy, Kelso High School, Paible School in North Uist, Plockton High School in Ross-shire and Shawlands Academy in Glasgow.
For more information and to register your school visit the BBC School Report website.

Technorati Tags: BBC

The Child at the Centre: Self-evaluation in the Early Years

2007-06-06T09:46:00.000+01:00

HM Inspectorate of Education has published a revised edition of The Child at the Centre.
Along with a revised edition of How good is our school?, this document forms the third part of How good is our school? The Journey to Excellence. The sets of quality indicators will continue to provide the core tool for self-evaluation for all early education centres and schools, but they are now complemented by the very useful materials in other parts of The Journey to Excellence series.

GLOW Update

2007-06-05T11:36:00.000+01:00

You can read about the phase 2 piloting of Glow which included input from 13 local authorities and 600 mentors and find out how some primary and secondary schools across Scotland have been using Glow to support learning and teaching.

SQA Results Online

2007-05-21T09:45:00.000+01:00

SQA Results Online provides secure online access to a candidate's SQA record. A text messaging service is also available. 2007 results will be available online and by text from Monday 6 August, the day before the SQA Certificate is delivered by post. Candidates have to register for this service before 30 June 2007.

The Global Dimension in the Curriculum

2007-05-17T09:18:00.000+01:00

Learning and Teaching Scotland, in association with the Department for International Development, has developed revised advice for Scottish schools and early education settings in developing the global dimension. The publication is consistent with the values and purposes of Curriculum for Excellence, and fully supportive of it. It is also consistent with the Scottish Executive’s strategy for international education.

The purpose of the publication is to explain why the global dimension is central to the education of young people, and what it might look like when it is embedded in the curriculum, ethos and values of a school. The advice is to be used in conjunction with two accompanying documents: the Practitioner Resource and Case Studies. The pack has been distributed to schools and is now also available online.

Positive Images from the British Red Cross

2007-05-16T11:45:00.000+01:00

The General Teaching Council for Scotland announces that a new British Red Cross DVD, Positive Images, has been released to publicise the success of a recent educational programme for children. An education provider specialising in promoting humanitarian values to young people, the British Red Cross designed Positive Images as a pilot study. It developed an educational programme for children and young people which would challenge myths surrounding refugees and encourage young people to be more humanitarian in their interpretation of world events.

Technorati Tags: citizenship, education, Red Cross

CPD SCOTLAND

2007-05-14T08:51:00.000+01:00

CPD Scotland is a new, national, online CPD service which gives us all a place to:

share information about CPD, PRD, and other important areas such as leadership, coaching and mentoring and Teachers for Excellence
showcase interesting CPD experiences
and (very soon) find CPD opportunities using an online database called CPDFind

Technorati Tags: curriculumforexcellence, LTS, LTScotland

Free Maps of Europe

2007-05-03T10:36:00.000+01:00

It is Europe Day on 9 May and the European Day of Languages on 26 September. To celebrate these events, the European Commission's office in the UK is making available 90,000 maps of Europe (new 2007 edition) to schools in the UK. The EU office is offering the maps (normal sales price €20) completely free-of-charge to any school or other education service. For details of how to get these maps visit the European education web site.

Technorati Tags: citizenship, puppy

Physical Education website

2007-05-02T09:34:00.000+01:00

Learning and Teaching Scotland has created a new Physical Education website.
This website is aimed at supporting PE teachers, practitioners and anyone else involved in physical education in Scotland.

A wealth of useful information is available including:
the latest research and reports
national guidelines and other key publications
examples of good practice from schools around the country
a wide range of resources featuring ICT, health, sports organisations and many more.

Technorati Tags: education, LTScotland, teaching

ICT in learning and teaching

2007-04-26T14:51:00.000+01:00

The HMIE report on Information and communications technology (ICT) is available online from the publications section of the HMIE web site.

The findings outlined in this report confirm that Scotland is well placed to build on current strengths in order to realise the full potential of ICT to improve learning and achievement. The challenge is to make that happen
Graham Donaldson
HM Senior Chief Inspector of Education

Here is a link to a presentation on the publication given by HMIe to a recent meeting of the Scottish ICT Development Group. It’s quite a useful summary of the document and the actions HMIe are taking in relation to it.

Technorati Tags: education, HMIE, Scotland

Edwin Morgan Resource Web Site

2007-04-26T12:34:00.000+01:00

Literacy and Numeracy Scotland is developing a new Edwin Morgan online resource for schools. The resource will feature video clips of Liz Lochhead and Edwin in conversation about his life, inspirations and poetry, as well as audio performances of 27 of Edwin's poems with accompanying teaching ideas and interactives.

Technorati Tags: poetry, Edwin Morgan, Scotland

Exam Guides

2007-04-16T12:09:00.001+01:00

These Exam Guides were produced by the Sunday Herald in Spring 2007 to help pupils with revision. It contains useful information on exam structures and technique with practice questions and worked examples for Standard Grade, Intermediate 1 and 2, Higher and Advanced Higher subjects. They can be downloaded from this section of the LTS web site.

Technorati Tags: LTS, SQA

Curriculum for Excellence newsletter

2007-03-30T10:28:00.001+01:00

The spring edition of the Curriculum for Excellence newsletter has now been published. It includes articles on: shaping options for consultation on qualifications and achievement; feedback from the March seminars; Teachers for Excellence website; Skills for Work update; global citizenship; active learning; and implications of Curriculum for Excellence for school buildings. The newsletter can be downloaded from the Curriculum for Excellence website.

Technorati Tags: curriculumforexcellence, education

Connected 17

2007-03-26T09:26:00.000+01:00

The spring issue of Learning and Teaching Scotland's Connected magazine has now been published. Some of the articles from the magazine are also available online.The special feature in this issue of Connected explores plans for the roll-out of a Curriculum for Excellence, examining how it will work in practice, what challenges lie ahead and what role ICT might play. Other articles include: 'Get on Board' with education guru Stephen Heppell; 'Lighting up learning' Glow mentoring; and 'The Graphic Novel' - looking at reading anew.

Technorati Tags: curriculumforexcellence, LTS, teaching, technology

‘Planet Earth’ experiences and outcomes published

2007-03-26T09:10:00.000+01:00

Newly published on the A Curriculum for Excellence website are some materials from the ‘Planet Earth' science area of the curriculum. These are being used as illustrations of what A Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes look like and how they will be applied. They have been through a quality assurance process but at this stage they remain work in progress. Full engagement on science education 3-15 will not take place until the complete set of science experiences and outcomes is available.

Technorati Tags: curriculumforexcellence, LTS, science

Graphic novels across the curriculum

2007-03-21T09:23:00.000Z

Learning and Teaching Scotland has launched a new literacy resource which highlights how graphic novels can engage pupils and be used throughout the curriculum.

The graphic novel resource is aimed at supporting teachers/librarians in developing their knowledge of graphic novels and understanding their full potential in a classroom/leisure reading situation. The materials featured are based on the work of Mel Gibson, a lecturer in Childhood Studies at the University of Northumbria. She lectures in various areas concerning literacy and specialises in graphic novels.

The resource includes;

tips on how to get started with a graphic novel collection
a helpful list of recommended for schools
practical ideas on how to use graphic novels with pupils
further reading material and links to a host of useful websites

Technorati Tags: education, literacy, LTS

VoteScotland's virtual voting

2007-03-19T16:50:00.000Z

New online resources for Citizenship and Modern Studies.
The VoteScotland campaign is using footballers and pop stars to explain the voting systems to young people before the May 3 Scottish Parliament and local council elections.
This website now has two interactive digital games. One encourages people to vote under the Additional Member System (AMS) to create a Scottish 'super group' from the country's leading acts such as KT Tunstall or Belle and Sebastian. AMS will be used for the Parliament elections.
The second game uses the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system to set up a dream team for five-a-side football from Premier League players. STV will be used for the council elections.

The VoteScotland campaign, run jointly by the Scottish Executive and the Electoral Commission, also offer a virtual 'walkthrough' of the voting process from the delivery of a person's polling card to the announcement of the results.

Technorati Tags: elections, citizenship, Scotland

Learn with the Scottish Parliament

2007-03-15T09:31:00.000Z

Schools can take advantage of colourful booklets produced by Holyrood's Education team. They include 'A Day in the Life', designed to make pupils think about the areas in which the Scottish Parliament has legislative powers. Another publication explains how a School Council works.
Find out how to download the booklets, which are aimed at upper primary classes.

Technorati Tags: citizenship, education, Scotland

Scotland and the Slave Trade - new online resource

2007-03-14T08:27:00.000Z

Learning and Teaching Scotland, has launched a new online education resource: Scotland and the Abolition of the Slave Trade.
LTS has launched a new online education resource, 'Scotland and the Abolition of the Slave Trade', as a contribution towards the UK-wide commemoration of the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, 1807. The website, aimed mainly at pupils in upper primary and at lower secondary, will assist teachers to raise awareness of slavery issues with pupils and incorporate these ideas into their teaching plans in the longer term. The resource, funded by the Scottish Executive Education Department, contains information on Scotland's role in the transatlantic slave trade; on the abolitionist campaign and its legacy; on contemporary issues; ideas for religious observance assemblies; and links to other resources, including to events and exhibitions planned across Scotland in 2007.

Technorati Tags: education, LTS, slave trade, Scotland

Ideas for inspiration at Easter time

2007-03-09T13:30:00.000Z

A new section of the Modern Foreign Language Environment (MFLE) on the LTS Online Service has some Easter classroom resources in French, German, Italian and Spanish. The resources include information about the traditions of Easter, recipes, competitions, and ideas for activities and games.

Technorati Tags: education, LTS, languages, Scotland, teaching

Education for Citizenship - Fairtrade section

2007-03-07T09:10:00.000Z

This new section on the LTS Education for Citizenship website provides an overview of a range of resources that are available for developing work on fair trade.

Technorati Tags: fairtrade, LTS, citizenship

World Book Day

2007-02-21T09:20:00.000Z

World Book Day takes place in the UK on Thursday 1 March 2007. A main aim of World Book Day is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own. To support that, a Schools’ Pack full of ideas and activities, and information about how to get involved in World Book Day, was sent to schools and some pre-school centres from mid-January 2007. Check the World Book Day website for details.

Technorati Tags: education, worldbookday

Health Promoting Schools website

2007-02-13T09:34:00.000Z

The Health Promoting Schools website has been updated to include new games for primary and secondary pupils to help them learn more about health. Visit the interactive schools in the Children and Young people sections to tackle the School Run game, quizzes, word searches and more. There are also royalty-free illustrations of food stuffs and school items.

Today is Internet Safety Day for Children

2007-02-06T10:14:00.000Z

Efforts to make the net less risky for children are being marked by the fourth Internet Safety Day on 6 February.
Adults and children use technology in very different ways
Events are being held in 31 nations and a blogathon will record activities held as far apart as Australia and Canada.
A good site for pupils that teaches them about staying safe online is the ThinkYouKnow web site. The Childnet web site is also a great resource for teaching children about internet safety.
Information for teachers on internet safety day can be found here.

Royalty-free illustrations and photographs for 5-14 education

2007-02-05T12:44:00.000Z

Royalty-free illustrations and photographs for 5-14 education:
These illustrations and photographs are free for any kind of educational use - whether you are a teacher creating topic worksheets or looking for ideas to spark creative writing, or a pupil who needs illustrations for a presentation or website.

You can download them, print them off or use them online.
Copyright. You can use these images for educational purposes without worrying about cost or copyright.

Technorati Tags: education, LTS

Assessment is for Learning

2007-01-31T09:37:00.001Z

Assessment is for Learning
Following the success of the AifL – Assessment is for Learning Self-assessment Toolkit for schools, Learning and Teaching Scotland has published a version tailored to the needs of early years centres.

These toolkits allow staff in schools and early years centres to audit and develop their practice in AifL using quality indicators relevant to each context. In the new early years version, approaches to assessment are evaluated by using performance indicators from ‘The Child at the Centre – Self-evaluation in the Early Years’ and the National Care Standards.

Both versions of the toolkit are also available online. They contain all the same information as in the print versions, but with the added benefits of an interactive ‘clickable’ AifL triangle, hyperlinks to ‘How Good is Our School?’ (schools’ version), ‘The Child at the Centre – Self-evaluation in the Early Years’ and the National Care Standards (early years version), and stand-alone downloadable audit sheets in both PDF and Word formats.

Technorati Tags: assessmentforlearning, education

Leadership in the early years

2007-01-26T09:15:00.001Z

What skills do you need to become a leader in early education and childcare? The LTS Early Years Online web site has a new list of links to articles and research.

Leadership in the early years web site

Technorati Tags: education, Leadership, LTS

BECTA ICT Excellence Award

2007-01-19T12:50:00.000Z

The British Educational Communications and Technology Award (BECTA) announces that the search is on for schools who can demonstrate best use of ICT in the classroom, the prize: a prestigious BECTA ICT Excellence Award.
The ICT Excellence Awards scheme for schools aims to identify and reward schools throughout the UK approaching ICT in outstanding or innovative ways, benefiting their whole community inside and outside the school building.
The final deadline for entries is 23 March 2007. Schools and organisations that are short listed for an ICT Excellence Award will be visited by judges between May and July. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in November.

Details here

Technorati Tags: BECTA, education, technology

The impact of ICT in schools - a landscape review for Becta

2007-01-17T08:33:00.000Z

Becta has published a major review of the evidence on the impact of ICT in schools.
The review, carried out by researchers at the Quality in Education Centre, University of Strathclyde, looked at over 350 sources to build a 'big picture' of where and how ICT has had an impact across the schools sector, including:
Impact on teaching and learning
Impact on attainment
Personalisation of the learning experience
Impact on home-school links
Impact on administration, management and workload.
The review found that evidence of impact is inconsistent across schools, subjects and technologies.
The greatest impact is found where the use of ICT is embedded in everyday classroom experience, has clear educational goals, and is seen as purposeful by pupils.
Other key findings include:
A whole-school strategy that addresses the development and sustainability of ICT is a critical factor in the effective use of technology.
Teachers' ICT skills have developed significantly over the years, as has the range of both hardware and software available in the classroom - there is evidence that these developments have led to a reduction in teachers' workloads.
Use of ICT is most effective where teachers integrate a number of technologies - for example, laptops, interactive whiteboards and the internet.
ICT can contribute to personalising learning by putting greater control in the hands of the learner, but the challenge this presents to the traditional teacher-pupil relationship means this may not always be welcomed.
A copy of the review can be ordered (free of charge) or downloaded from the Becta website

Technorati Tags: education, BECTA, teaching, technology

Assessment is for Learning - Scottish Survey of Achievement

2007-01-16T11:04:00.000Z

The Scottish Survey of Achievement (SSA) evaluation of procedures documents are now available for download on the 2006 SSA page of the Assessment is for Learning website.

Technorati Tags: education, LTS, assessmentforlearning, teaching

Information Literacy

2007-01-12T12:43:00.000Z

Learning and Teaching Scotland has launched a new resource for pupils aged 9-18. The Information Literacy website provides a range of interactive materials designed to help pupils improve the ways in which they identify, gather, organise and use information.

Technorati Tags: informationliteracy, LTS, web

Goals and Gaels

2007-01-12T11:28:00.000Z

Article in TESS about the Highland Year of Culture and its impact on Highland schools.

Technorati Tags: highland, teaching, yearofculture

Virtual play for today's pupils

2007-01-12T09:53:00.000Z

TESS reports that a web-based project where partner schools across the globe work with professionals to produce dramas is heading for Scotland. Arts education charity WebPlay, which works with 100 primary schools in England to offer them drama via the internet, could soon be working with schools north of the border. The WebPlay programmes allow children to work on creative projects with theatre professionals and other schools. Pupils can link up with partner schools through a secure website and use creative arts to find out about each other’s livesVirtual play for today's pupils

Technorati Tags: Drama, teaching, TESS, web

Robert Burns resources for teachers

2007-01-12T09:24:00.000Z

Working in partnership with Determined to Succeed, the Robert Burns World Federation and West Lothian Council, Learning and Teaching Scotland is offering a variety of pupil resources to help celebrate the birth of our national bard on 25 January and to encourage learning and teaching about Burns in Scottish schools. The material provided aims to support the celebration of Burns by offering teachers ideas and inspiration with activities that can be easily adapted to suit classrooms and learning situations. There are links to the Robert Burns World Federation, cross-cutting activities for primary and secondary pupils and A Curriculum for Excellence resources. The material can be found here

Technorati Tags: LTS, poetry, determinedtosucceed, RobertBurns Burns, teaching, web

Teachers For Excellence

2007-01-09T09:37:00.000Z

Education Minister Hugh Henry launches the Teachers for Excellence debate.
This internet discussion forum was launched on 8 December to allow teachers to debate issues affecting the profession including the plans for A Curriculum for Excellence.

Technorati Tags: curriculumforexcellence, LTS

Modern Foreign Languages and Blogging

2007-01-09T09:28:00.000Z

Learning and Teaching Scotland have set up a web site that links to various blogs and podcasts to support teaching and learning.

Technorati Tags: Blog, LTS, web 2.0

Highland Podcast Web Site

2006-11-13T13:19:00.000Z

You now have a "one stop shop" to download podcasts that support Intermediate 1 Biology, Advanced Higher Geography and Advanced Higher Physics.

Technorati Tags: Blog, iTunes, Podcast, web 2.0

Open University free online resources

2006-11-08T10:16:00.000Z

The Open University has launched a set of free online resources covering a whole range of subjects. Many of these online modules could be suitable for senior pupils as reinforement for their current courses and as preparation for going to University.

Modern Foreign Languages Environment

2006-11-08T10:12:00.000Z

Modern Foreign Languages Environment
The MFLE has just launched its new Sharing practice area within the LTS web site.
Find examples of practice in foreign languages from schools and local authorities around the country, from early years through to secondary. Cross-curricular areas covered include Assessment and Citizenship.

A Curriculum for Excellence: Building the Curriculum

2006-11-03T09:13:00.000Z

A Curriculum for Excellence: Building the Curriculum

A new area of the A Curriculum for Excellence website, Building the Curriculum, is now live. It includes the latest thinking from the programme on how curriculum areas can contribute to the development of A Curriculum for Excellence.

The main aim of this new material is to involve groups of teachers in professional reflection, debate and rethinking which will be an essential part of successful implementation. To support planning for the curriculum as a whole there will be further Building the Curriculum papers published which will include cross-cutting themes including literacy and numeracy, and interdisciplinary studies and projects.

Support for New Teachers

2006-10-31T11:17:00.000Z

Support for New Teachers
Learning and Teaching Scotland has developed a specific area of its online service for teachers in the early stages of their career. This new area provides classroom resources and advice such as top tips from experienced teachers. There is also a ‘sharing practice’ section including articles and case studies from teachers with experiences across the curriculum. In the ‘classroom resources’ section LTS resources for early years, primary and secondary are highlighted. There are also links to websites relating to professional development.

Internet Safety Web Site

2006-10-23T09:53:00.000+01:00

Childnet has developed an exciting range of award-winning online projects as well as offline resources.
This is an excellent online resource dealing with aspects of internet safety.

Another excellent web site dealing with these issues is the Think You Know web site.

Supporting modern foreign languages

2006-10-05T10:32:00.000+01:00

The Modern Foreign Languages Environment (MFLE)
The MFLE image bank has been revamped to make it easier to find exactly what you're looking for. Use these images for your worksheets etc.

Christmas plays for modern languages
Find a play to perform with your languages class at Christmas time.

GLOW at Scottish Learning Festival

2006-10-03T11:10:00.000+01:00

Glow at The Scottish Learning Festival - SETT 2006
LTS recorded all the Glow events at the Scottish Learning Festival, so if you missed any you can now listen to them online.

Podcasts from The Scottish Learning Festival - SETT 2006

There are 47 podcasts from SETT now available from the SETT website and iTunes. You can access the podcasts by searching for 'SETT' in the iTunes podcast directory. From there you can choose individual podcasts you may want to listen to or subscribe to the entire feed. Alternatively you can paste the following URL http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/rss/settpodcasts.xml into your podcast software, such as iTunes. For example, in iTunes, you would choose 'Advanced' from the top menu, then 'Subscribe to Podcast' and paste the url into the box.

SETT Seminar 2006

2006-09-29T09:22:00.000+01:00

If you wanted to go to SETT but could not make it. You can catch up with some of the events. A selection of audio and video recordings of the seminars and keynotes at this year's Scottish Learning Festival is now on the SETT website.

Yacapaca

2006-09-14T18:12:00.000+01:00

Yacapaca online assessment resource

Yacapaca offers full support (free) to write your own material (free) and caters for a wide range of resource requirements:

end-of-topic tests
revision material
formal assessment
data gathering for subsequent classroom discussion
fun quizzes
e-portfolio (currently in Beta trial phase)

Writing your own material onto the system is free. Technical Support is free too - as much as you need to become familiar and comfortable with the system.

Learn Listening Online - A new interactive resource for students of NQ Music

2006-09-13T09:48:00.000+01:00

Learning and Teaching Scotland has launched a new resource for students of NQ Music. The interactive resource is for teachers and students of National Qualifications from Access 3 to Advanced Higher, including Standard Grade.
Students can listen to hundreds of sound files while reading clear explanations to aid their understanding of musical topics and periods. The resource ranges from baroque and classical vocal and instrumental examples, through to twentieth century jazz and world music. The website also features an extensive audio dictionary of musical terms.
Visit Learn Listening Online at http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/nq/resources/learnlisteningonline/

Pathfinder News

2006-09-04T09:29:00.001+01:00

A £70 million project which will provide high capacity broadband links to schools, libraries and other council buildings throughout the Highlands and Islands took a step forward with the appointment of telecommunications company, Thus plc, as the preferred supplier. The Highlands and Islands Pathfinder Broadband Procurement Project aims to deliver a very high bandwidth infrastructure to more than 800 sites across the area, with a focus on schools. It is hoped to sign a contract with Thus plc in October and that 60% of all sites will be connected next year with the roll out completed within two years.
To read more visit the Pathfinder North web site

New Art Site for Highland Teachers

2006-09-04T09:18:00.000+01:00

The art + design site is being developed as a joint venture between Grantown Grammar School and Nairn Academy. It contains a range of resources and material for pupils and teachers. Is has been created by Dugal McCrow from Grantown Grammar School. It will be updated on a weekly basis. You can visit by clicking here.

Advanced Higher Geography Information

2006-09-01T13:08:00.000+01:00

Nearly half of the Advanced Higher Geography course in now online. We plan to have the whole course online by December. You can use the site by clicking here

The 2nd ACEL/Microsoft Professional development e-vent.

2006-08-24T10:14:00.000+01:00

So what is the future of school?’
and ‘What is a future school?’

The Australian Council for Educational Leaders and Microsoft are combining to offer a second ACEL/Microsoft online conference in 2006.

Monday 13 November to midnight Sunday 19 November 2006

Informative papers, website presentations, MP3 files and interactive discussions will be available for 7 days on the internet (24 hours a day). There is no cost for participation in this professional development e-vent.

The online conference will be active for seven days. We hope to have a wide range of papers and presentations, sent to us by classroom teachers, school leaders and education academics, to stimulate online discussion and debate. Each day participants will have the opportunity to discuss the future of schooling, with education colleagues in Australia and around the world.

PRIZES
Microsoft is kindly offering three prizes, for papers and/or website presentations.
Best Website or MP3 Presentation: 1 X-Box 360
Best Paper by a Teacher with Less than 3 Years of Teaching Experience: 1 PDA
The Most Innovative Vision of Future Schooling: 1 Smart Phone

We invite all educators who are interested in the future of schooling to submit a short essay-style paper and photo, or a website presentation, or an MP3 file to the Online Conference Manager by Monday 2 October 2006 (or 1 November for website/MP3 presentations).
All members of the international education community (teachers, school leaders and education academics) are welcome to attend this online conference on the future of schooling, providing that they register in advance. If all, or many, staff in a school wish to participate, each person should register separately as an individual, so that online conference information and updates are emailed directly to them. There is no limit on the number of participating staff from each school. To register, log on to website: http://www.cybertext.net.au/acel2_06.htm

Preparation for the Scottish Schools Digital Network - GLOW

2006-08-23T08:53:00.000+01:00

Appointment of SSDN (GLOW) mentors.
ECS is looking for eight highly motivated staff from primary and secondary schools at all levels to act as SSDN mentors from September 2006 to June 2008.
Information about this opportunity has been circulted to all schools.
Please note that applications have to be returned by August 30^th

Learning at the British Library

2006-08-22T09:44:00.000+01:00

The British Library’s new Learning website offers an exciting programme of workshops, activities and resources for teachers and learners of all ages. Explore a wealth of source material online.

Glow

2006-08-20T18:47:00.000+01:00

Glow - the new name for SSDN National Intranet

To visit Glow click here

Intermediate 1 Biology Video Podcast

2006-06-03T10:49:00.000+01:00

Intermediate Biology 1 Course now available via a video podcast.
To subscribe follow this link and follow the instructions.

The BBC Open Schools Archive

2006-05-31T09:04:00.000+01:00

The BBC has opened up yet more of its archive material this week.
For teachers, the BBC has launched the Open Schools Archive.

Content here is divided into six categories, covering geography, history, nature, politics, places and audio resources.

As well as an educational resource for the subjects covered, they will also prove useful to the budding video editor. The clips are available under the BBC's Creative Archive licence, so they can be downloaded, edited and modified.

Open and Distance Learning Opportunities

2006-05-30T08:48:00.000+01:00

The following courses are available to pupils in all secondary schools.

Beginners Spanish (audio-conferencing)
Intermediate 1 & 2 Geology
Higher History
Higher Modern Studies
Higher Geology – only available to certain schools – this will be confirmed with tutor.
Higher Religious Studies
Higher Philosophy (online)
Intermediate 2 Gaelic (on-line).
(Usernames and passwords supplied via the Open Learning Unit following registration)

NB THE SCHOOL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENROLLING CANDIDATES FOR STANDARD, HIGHER & ADVANCED HIGHER COURSES

For more details contact Fiona Paterson.

Online Gaelic Course

2006-05-11T14:46:00.000+01:00

Online Gaelic Course.
From August 2006 pupils in Highland will have the opportunity to study for the Intermediate 2 Gaelic Learners course. This is an online course, with online tutor support. This will be offered through the Open and Distance Learning Unit. Further information on enrolling pupils is available from Fiona Paterson.

Online Courses for AH Physics and AH Geography

2006-05-11T14:32:00.000+01:00

From next August pupils studying Advanced Higher Physics and Advanced Higher Geography will be supported by online digital lessons. Advanced Higher Physics pupils and Advanced Higher Geography will be able to view lessons and download support material. Both courses will also be video podcast. Both web sites will be available from August.

Internet Safety for Children

2006-05-11T14:10:00.000+01:00

The Guardian reports that new research reveals that teachers feel uneducated about protecting children from inappropriate websites and do not know who they should to turn to for advice. Research by telecommunications provider, BT, found that 70% of teachers did not know where to get advice if they suspected a child was being exploited on the internet or had accessed inappropriate material. The research was produced in conjunction with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, the Internet Watch Foundation, the Internet Content Rating Association, Get Safe Online, Stop It Now!, and internet portal Yahoo!
To download the report go here
For more information on internet safety for pupils go here