Gaelic ICT Implementation Group

Bitesize Update

2007-04-25T15:15:00.000+01:00

Tha na h-earrainnean ùra ann am Bitesize beò agus rim faicinn air :

http://www0.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/bitesize/higher/gaidhlig/index.shtml

Gaelic Masterclass 2

2007-03-06T10:40:00.000+01:00

This has been cancelled because of a lack of take up for the Masterclass 2 event schedued for the end of March in Glasgow.
However Learning and Teaching Scotland will be holding two regional Masterclass events for those people who could not go to the original Masterclass in November. It is planned to hold these later in the year in Highland and the Western ISles.

Technorati Tags: gaelic, LTS

Resources Commissioned by the Gaelic ICT Implementation Group

2007-02-26T15:23:00.000+01:00

Resource Description

Am Baile web development.
Development of a dedicated education portal within the Am Baile web site. This new feature will allow pupils and teachers to easily exploit the rich variety of resources within the site.
The following topics for S1and S2 classes are available:
Celts, Picts and Norse, Crofting, Energy, Famous Highland Personalities, Farming, Fishing, Highland, Crafts, Religion, The Clearances, Tourism and Traveling People.
Guidance is available on how this material could be used.
Available from June 2006.
Am Baile education web site

S1 S2 Modern Studies Resources
The package of resources is entitled ‘Inequalities’. It will provide a unit of work for S1/2 pupils containing approximately 20 hours of materials. It is primarily aimed at Level D/E. Some extension materials are embedded and others are provided.
Available from Gaelic Online from September 2006.

S1 S2 Modern Studies Resources
This new package will comprise 6 X 10 hours units of work for S1 and 6 X 10 hour units for S2. Authored by Irene Morrison from Dollar Academy, Principal Examiner in Advanced Higher Modern Studies.
Available from Gaelic Online from May 2007.

History Resources for S1 and S2
The project will produce a set of resources to support a Highland History Course. Authored by Iain Rose, PT at Lochaber High School. It covers the following topics. The Highlands in the 1740’s. The Jacobites. Emigration and Transport. It comprises 30 hours of teaching.
Available from Gaelic Online from June 2007

PSE Resources
Authored by Rachel McPherson from the Glasgow Gaelic School. The package will contain 20 hours worth of materials for S1 / S2 pupils with Teachers' Notes and cover topics such as Attendance, Punctuality, Homework, Study Skills, Career Choice, Bullying, Friendship, Relationships, alcohol, Drugs, Making Parliament Work, Healthy Eating, Energy Saving / recycling - what can you do?, Self Esteem, Disability Awareness, Multicultural Awareness and Road Safety.

Work to be completed by October 2006. Will be available for download from Gaelic Online May 2007.

Religious and Moral Education
A complete S1 and S2 course on World Religions. Authored by Dougie Nealy, PT at Portree High School. It covers the following topics. Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and Christianity.
Available from Gaelic Online from January 2007.

S1 Digital Maths Course.
S1 Digital Maths course. This will comprise of a web site developed by Cànan. The web site will host digital video clips of a teacher presenting short lessons. The digital course will be supported by worksheets, presentations and online activities. A course guide will also be supplied.
Available from May 2007

Science Terminology
To create a common terminology database for Science teaching. Led by Danny Clelland from Greenfaulds High School. A group of Science teachers have worked on collating this pack.
Available December 2006 from Gaelic Online.

National Gaelic Masterclass Programme
A programme to encourage Gaelic teachers in secondary schools to fulfill the potential of ICT through an on-line Continuing Professional Development programme linked to the provision of resources and on-line collaborative activities for the secondary curriculum.
Available from November 2006.

BBC Bitesize Fluent Speakers web site
The Higher Fluent Speakers Bitesize web site is designed to help pupils revise some of the important areas for their exams. Each subject is made up of Revision Bites and Test Bites. The Revision Bites focus on important topics in each subject, broken down into sections. The material is written by examiners and teachers and reflects key areas of the examination syllabus.
Available from the BBC Bitesize web site March 2006.

BBC Bitesize Learner Speakers web site
The Higher Learner Speakers Bitesize web site is designed to help pupils revise some of the important areas for your exams. Each subject is made up of Revision Bites and Test Bites. The Revision Bites focus on important topics in each subject, broken down into sections. The material is written by examiners and teachers and reflects key areas of the examination syllabus.
Available from the BBC Bitesize web site February 2007.

Masterclass Support. Provision of digital projectors and interactive whiteboards to participating schools.
Available from February 2007.

An interactive BBC web site to support Gaelic language and poetry using BBC archive audio and video material.
Available from December 2007.

The Storlann online terminology database for a range of subjects.
Available December 2007.

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

New Bitesize site for learners

2007-02-15T14:54:00.000+01:00

The Bitesize web site for Higher Gaelic learners commissioned by the National Gaelic ICT group is now available for pupils and teachers. Click here to visit it.

Masterclass 2

2007-01-31T13:30:00.000+01:00

Details about this event have now gone out to schools. It is hoped to run the event over three days at the end of March in Clydebank near Glasgow. The course is available to any Gaelic secondary teacher who did not attend the course in Stirling in November.
So look out for details in your school.

Technorati Tags: gaelic, LTS, Scotland

Gaelic News Podcasts

2007-01-19T10:36:00.000+01:00

Learning and Teaching Scotland are going to provide a daily news service for pupils as part of GLOW. These will be available as a podcast. There will be a Gaelic version. LTS are looking for a few schools to pilot this for a short period. If you are interested in this exciting project than please contact either myself or Paddy Patterson from Learning Teaching Scotland.

Technorati Tags: gaelic, Glow, LTS, Podcast, Scotland

Science Terminology

2007-01-17T09:16:00.000+01:00

Dànaidh Clelland has set up a wiki so people can access, contribute and collaborate on the Science Terminology Database. A wiki is a web site that you can edit and collaborate within.
Follow the link here
Join wikispaces and then request membership to this wiki.

INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARDS

2007-01-12T10:46:00.001+01:00

Those teachers involved in the Masterclass event at Stirling will have been contacted about interactive white boards and digital projectors. You will receive a follow up email from Alex Barber who is arranging for installation.

Masterclass Materials

2006-12-20T12:54:00.000+01:00

It was agreed that teachers would post their worksheets or work units on the Gaìdhlig air-loidhne forum within the thread that already exists for Secondary staff, just as you were doing at Masterclass. Several teachers have already made a contribution since the Masteclass course in November. I would be grateful if you could make your contribution so that we can keep the momentum of the course going.

Masterclass 2

2006-12-20T12:50:00.000+01:00

We are hoping to run another Masterclass in March of next year. This will be aimed at those teachers who would have liked to have come to the event in Stirling but could not do so. The event will be run and organised by Learning and Teaching Scotland. We are meeting in the new year to plan the event - so watch this space!

Masterclass a great success!

2006-12-12T14:03:00.000+01:00

The Masterclass event that took place between the 22nd and the 24th of November at the Stirling Management Centre proved to be a great success.

There were 50 teachers drawn from 32 different schools and from across 13 Local Authorities.
The programme included sessions on A Curriculum for Excellence and GLOW.
Delegates were involved in workshops on Whiteboards, Powerpoint, Digital Editing, Podcasting and Blogging.
Delegates have already started to post and share some of the work they have created using their new skills and their new laptops in the Gaelic Online forums.

The evalautions for the event were very positive.
Participants will be invited to take part in a local recall day in March.

Gaelic Masterclass Stirling 22nd-24th November

2006-11-03T09:38:00.000+01:00

Following a meeting in Stirling on the 2nd of November, the programme for this event has been finalised. Nearly 50 teachers will attend the event in the Stirling Management Centre. The event starts on Wednesday the 22nd of November at 3pm and lasts until Friday the 24th of November. All participants will receive a copy of the programme and details of accommodation etc. by letter early next week.

SETT Seminar 2006

2006-09-14T18:21:00.000+01:00

Wednesday 20 September 2006
9.30-1015
Venue: Morar

What current national initiatives in ICT are taking Gaelic Education forward? Contributors to this session will include representatives from the Gaelic Secondary ICT Implementation Group who have been involved in developing a virtual approach to meet the demand of Gaelic medium education. Contributors will report on progress made to date and current developments. BBC Scotland is also active in providing on-line services and representatives will describe current projects including resources being developed by BBC Jam.

Masterclass Update

2006-08-29T14:19:00.000+01:00

The Masterclass will take place on Wednesday 22nd November to Friday 24th November at the Stirling Management Centre.
So far 50 teachers from across Scotland have signed up for this. Their will be a range of sessions and workshops covering ICT skills, podcasting, blogging, using whiteboards and using digital video. There are still some places available contact your local authority for details or Nick Morgan from Learning Teaching Scotland.

Am Baile Education Portal Goes Live

2006-06-28T08:46:00.000+01:00

Visit the dedicated education portal within the Am Baile web site. This new feature will allow pupils and teachers to easily exploit the rich variety of resources within the site.
The following topics for S1and S2 classes are available:
Celts, Picts and Norse, Crofting, Energy, Famous Highland Personalities, Farming, Fishing, Highland, Crafts, Religion, The Clearances, Tourism and Traveling People.
To go to the site click here

Masterclass Update

2006-05-26T14:53:00.000+01:00

Details of the Masterclass programme will be sent to local authorities soon asking for nominations from interested fluent speaking Gaelic teachers in secondary schools. The programme is also open to Quality Development Officers. Look out for details.

Ask a Teacher is now open for Higher Gàidhlig

2006-05-01T13:56:00.000+01:00

Online tutor support for pupils studying Higher Gàidhlig. Click here to go to the site.

BBC Website Now Online

2006-04-20T14:18:00.000+01:00

The Fluent Speakers Bitesize web site is now online. Click on the link above or here to start revising for your Higher exam.

BBC Bitesize for Fluent speakers

2006-03-02T14:05:00.000+01:00

As a result of collaboration between the ICT Gaelic Committee and the Gaelic Department of the BBC in Scotland there will be a new Bitesize exam revision web site for fluent speaker at Higher level. This will be avaialble for pupils to use from March 2006. Just in time for this years SQA examinations.

National Gaelic Masterclass

2006-03-02T13:50:00.000+01:00

Following discussions between the Gaelic ICT Committee and Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) it has been agreed to introduce a national Masterclass programme for Gaelic teachers in secondary schools. All teachers who participate in this scheme wiill receive three days residential CPD in ICT. They will also receive a laptop to aid them. This scheme will start in November 2006.

Highland Masterclass Information

2005-12-06T10:31:00.000+01:00

This inset has been recheduled to take place on 9th Feb 2006 in Inverness High School. Letters will be going out to schools in the next week. If you are interested in attending contact Nick Morgan at Learning Teaching Scotland.

Bid to boost Gaelic teacher numbers

2005-12-06T10:27:00.000+01:00

Scottish Executive Education Department has announced a package of measures to increase Gaelic medium teacher numbers in Scotland and ensure there are sufficient teachers to meet demand. This follows the publication of the report of the Gaelic Medium Teachers Action Group.
You can read about this here

Am Baile Web Site Development

2005-10-28T14:19:00.000+01:00

With support from the Gaelic ICT Committee, the Am Baile web site will be refined to incorporate an specialist learning area for Gaelic medium education.

Gaelic Masterclass Update

2005-10-28T14:16:00.000+01:00

Western Isles:

An Online Skills development day was held at the Nicolson Institute in
Stornoway on 25th October, attended by 12 teaching staff from Western Isles
Council. This represents a much better attendance than the two residential
courses at Stirling. It achieved positive feedback, with all participants
rating it 'good' or 'very good'. When asked about the future, they asked for
two things:

1. More professional development for ICT skills, with Powerpoint, Gaelic
Open Office software, and Interactive Whiteboards mentioned as specifics.

2. That the Internet filtering applied in schools be relaxed, or managed
differently, as 'excessive blocking' is preventing them accessing many sites
and services that are valuable for Education. These include most search
engines and a number of educational websites, including specific Gaelic
language resources. The filtering caused frustration among teachers, and
inhibits their willingness and ability to enhance learning through use of
online resources.

Highlands:

A course has been organised to take place on a local closure day at
Inverness High School on 22nd November, and information about the
opportunity is already being circulated around schools in the Highlands.

BBC Web Sites Feedback

2005-09-12T11:09:00.000+01:00

Thank you to all the teachers who took the time to email and participate with in the Gaelic Online forum to discuss the suitability of the BBC web sites for Gaelic medium education.
Following this feedback discussions are ongoing with the BBC.

Summary Report

2005-09-12T10:50:00.000+01:00

The 7th meeting of the group took place on Friday 9th september at the offices of the General Teaching Council, Clerwood House, Edinburgh.

There were presentations and discussion about how the following projects could benefit online learning for Gaelic medium education
1. The Am Baile Project led by Jamie Gaukroger and Norman MacArthur
2. LanguageZone, Mark Pendleton
3. Marratech - demo of the software, Steve Milligan

There was also discusion on the need for a parent and pupil information paper.
The meeting also discussed work that has been commisioned so far. By August 2006 there will be a range of online resources to support Geography, History and Modern Studies in the medium of Gaelic.

Stornoway Meeting

2005-09-12T10:38:00.000+01:00

There was a very successful meeting in Stornoway on the 25th of August to discuss the work of the ICT committee. The meeting was briefed about the work of the committee and the desire to involve schools from CNES in commissioning material for the project. There was also a discussion about possible Western Isles involvement in piloting of online resources for Maths Science and History .
Those attending the meeting included Bruce Robertson, Director of Education, Culture and Sport for Highland, Murdo Macleod the Director of Education for CNES, Catriona Dunn, Donald John Maciver and HT’s and representatives from: Sir E Scott School, Shawbost, Castlebay, Back, Bayble, Lionel, Sgoil nan Loch and The Nicolson.

History Online Pilot Update

2005-09-12T10:23:00.000+01:00

History Online Pilot Update
A second meeting took place in LTS offices Glasgow on Friday 22nd of August 2005.
This is a jointly funded project. With funding from the Gaelic ICT Committee and Learning Teaching Scotland.
The project will produce online support material based on the new S1/S2 Storlann History book, Seallaidhean à Eachdraidh.
The online course will be finished for April 2006. This material will be available for schools to pilot from August 2006. There has already been an expression of interest from some schools in the Western Isles to pilot the course. Discussions are underway with the Scottish Schools Digital Network (SSDN) so that this course can run within the new SSDN Virtual Learning Environment. Any other teachers wishing to know more please contact me or Janet MacLeod

BBC Scotland Web sites

2005-08-18T11:11:00.000+01:00

There is currently on online discussion taking place about BBC Scotland web sites. You can participate in this discussion by visting the Gaelic Online web site.

Improving Achievement in Gaelic Education

2005-06-26T10:13:00.000+01:00

This HMIE report published 21/6/2005 is to provide an overview of
the development of provision for Gaelic education in
Scottish schools. You can read the report here.
Gaelic Version
English Version

Gaelic Masterclass. Important Update.

2005-06-08T12:38:00.000+01:00

Please note that the Masterclass scheduled for the 15th of June in Stirling has been cancelled. There will be two new Masterclass events around October. One will take place in the Western Isles and the other in Highland. When details are finalised schools will be circulated with information about these new events.

LearnPremium Evaluation

2005-05-30T10:05:00.000+01:00

The Maths resources within the LearnPremium web site are being evaluated by Murdo Beaton, Maths teacher at Portree High School.

Am Baile Education Resources Update

2005-05-24T09:34:00.000+01:00

Worksheets to support the following topics in S1 and S2 have now been created. They are currently being versioned into Gaelic and will be available shortly.

The topics are:

Celts, Picts and Norse
Crofting
Energy
Famous Highland Personalities
Farming
Fishing
Highland Crafts
Religion
The Clearances
Tourism
Travelling People

BBC update

2005-05-20T14:35:00.000+01:00

A second meeting took place on the 10th of May with the BBC in Inverness. Jo Macdonald from the BBC has been invited to speak to the ICT Gaelic committee on the 2nd of June in Aviemore.
For more information about the service provided by the BBC Gaelic Department click here.
Details of the BBC plans for its digital curriculum for Scotland can be found here.

Gaelic Masterclass Feedback

2005-05-18T17:50:00.000+01:00

The first session of the Masterclass ICT training for Gaelic secondary teachers was held yesterday in the Stirling Management Centre. The feedback from the participants has been positive.
One quote from the day was "I found the training day yesterday most useful and enjoyable. The potential of the internet was opened up to me after being made aware of the effectiveuse of the available search engines. Also, making use of the search results and being able to discern the quality and appropriateness of these results was given some consideration."

There are still places available for the remaining two days. The costs of the course will be met by the ICT Gaelic Committee.

If you want to go then contact Nick Morgan from LT Scotland on 08700 100 297 or email n.morgan@ltscotland.org.uk

Modern Studies Course

2005-05-04T18:41:00.000+01:00

This is now at the planning stage. It will be based on the Modern Studies course created in Dingwall Academy. This course will be updated and customised for delivery over the web. It will use the template that will be constructed by LTS for the History online pilot course. This is to ensure that pupils and teachers navigate a common web interface to access their online materials.
The current Dingwall Modern Studies course has been versioned into Gaelic and is available online in the resources section of Gaelic Online

Gaelic MasterClass

2005-05-04T18:29:00.000+01:00

Schools have now been circulated with the dates of this ICT course for Gaelic secondary teachers. It will take place in the Stirling Managment Centre. There are three dates available. These are the 17th of May, 24th of May and the 15th of June.
If you have not received details of these courses then please contact Nick Morgan in Learning Teaching Scotland.

History Online Pilot

2005-05-03T16:55:00.000+01:00

History Online Pilot
Meeting took place in LTS offices Glasgow on Friday 29th April.

There was agreement to produce a one year S1 course based on the new Storlann history book, Seallaidhean à Eachdraidh.
Other history teachers will be consulted as to the best units to be develped as an online course.
The project will be managed by LTS working with the three teachers from the participating schools. These schools are Greenfaulds High, The Nicolson Institute and Islay High.
In the course of developing these material, the pilot will also produce a template that can be used in future online course production.

Am Baile project

2005-05-02T20:11:00.000+01:00

Am Baile project

This project is now in progress. George Strachan a retired PT Geography teacher has been commissioned to work with the Am Baile team to produce online resources for S1 and S2 within the Am Baile web site. The intention is to create a school section within the Am Baile web site.

BBC Developments

2005-05-02T20:09:00.000+01:00

BBC Developments
A meeting took place on the 8th March with Margaret Mary Murray, Head of Gaelic Department, and Jo Macdonald to explore how the current initiatives within the BBC could support the Gaelic ICT Secondary Committee.
The BBC is keen to work closely and develop a partnership with the Gaelic ICT Secondary Committee. Discussions on this are ongoing. One possible project that the BBC are interested in is to work in collaboration with the Gaelic ICT Secondary Committee in versioning current BBC Scotland education online resources. The BBC Bitesize web sites for Standard Grade would be a valuable resource for Gaelic medium pupils and teachers. These web sites are popular revision sites with pupils and teachers at home and within schools.
A further meeting is scheduled with the BBC.

LearnPremium

2005-05-02T18:13:00.000+01:00

LearnPremium

The Guardian online subscription service to schools LearnPremium is being launched as a Scottish version as LearnScotland in September. This provides high quality resources for pupils and teachers.
Some sections of the current LearnPremium site have been versioned into Welsh and are available to schools electronically. I am following this up with Joanne O'Brien the Business Development Manager for Learn Premium

SSDN and Video Conferencing

2005-04-30T16:22:00.000+01:00

The SSDN team are also interested in using this video conferencing technology within SSDN over a broadband internet connection. This will be a core part of SSDN provision to schools. This technology based on Marratech software is also to be piloted by Highland Council to allow online collaboration between Small Isles primary schools. It is also being adopted by the National Priorities web site to allow online collaboration for CPD. This is a technology that the committee will look to utilise at some future date.

The Welsh Project

2005-04-30T15:55:00.000+01:00

Six bilingual and Welsh medium schools across Wales are about use video-conferencing network to share lessons and increase learning opportunities for 'A' and 'AS' level students.
The schools have been added to the £5.5 million Welsh Video Network (WVN), which was first established to allow universities and colleges across Wales to share lectures and tutorials with each other and with counterparts around the world.
The video-conferencing network, which operates via the Internet, was created through investment by the training and lifelong learning body ELWa and the universities funding body HEFCW.

Working closely with Cymdeithas Ysgolion Dros Addysg Gymraeg (CYDAG - the Association of Schools for Welsh Medium Education), the WVN has installed the latest equipment, including two 42-inch plasma screens, in studios at each of the six schools in a £500,000 pilot project.

The project co-ordinator on behalf of CYDAG is Dr David Charles, headteacher of Caereinion High School.
The schools involved in the project are Caereinion High School in Llanfair Caereinion, Ysgol Tryfan in Bangor, Ysgol Maes Garmon in Mold, Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham, Ysgol Aberteifi in Cardigan and Ysgol Glantaf in Cardiff.

The schools involved have been equipped with the most advanced video conferencing equipment in Europe. The idea is to share resources more efficiently and to broaden the curriculum for sixth form students.

The six schools are working in partnership to receive and deliver lessons. Caereinion High School are linking with Ysgol Morgan Llwyd to teach one history module each and they are also exploring ways of sharing expertise with Ysgol Glantaf to deliver occupational 'A' levels in leisure, recreation and business studies.

Ysgol Tryfan is exploring learning opportunities with the other schools in the network and has also established a videoconferencing link with Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle near Caernarfon to deliver A level sociology.
Teachers from the six schools will also use the technology to participate in CPD events without having to travel to one venue.

The WVN is one of the most advanced videoconferencing networks in the world. It was set up to distribute and support videoconferencing studios and other video facilities to all Further Education and Higher Education Institutions throughout Wales.
The project is managed by the United Kingdom Education and Research Networking Association (UKERNA) on behalf of ELWa and HEFCW. The project was part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund via the Objective 1 programme.

I have been in contact with the project coordinator Dr David Charles, head teacher of Caereinion High School in mid Wales.
He is willing to share their experiences of delivering distance learning courses via video conferencing. They are currently using ISDN 6 for a connection but will be moving to video over IP in September.
At a future date Dr David Charles has agreed to video conference with the group to outline the progress they are making.