Online learning BB (before broadband!)

0

Posted by upbeat | Posted in International Education | Posted on April 2, 2020

ITVC Project (Final Report) April07 ITVC Project – Executive Summary May07

In 2004, I submitted 3 ideas to the Education Directorate in Dumfries & Galloway Council in relation to potential bids to the Innovation Unit at the Scottish Executive (as it was called then, now Scottish Government!). Can’t remember what 2 of these ideas were, but one that got off the ground was the introduction of video conference instrumental music lessons. Long story short, met up with a government official in a service station bedroom that was booked for our meeting (by the Scottish Executive, strange ahem, but true….) Received an award of £83,500 to deliver a two year pilot reporting on milestones every 3 months. We shortlisted 4 candidates from 7 applicants to be the UK’s first ever virtual teacher employed by a council. Appointed an excellent candidate to teach brass instruments remotely from Dumfries to 4 primary schools in Drummore, Port William, Whithorn and Glentrool. The attached evaluation reports of this work may be of interest to teachers engaging now in online learning. Almost unbelievably, this report on our work dates back to 2007. In those days, we had no broadband only ISDN telephone lines. We used ISDN6 to give good acceptable working bandwidth. Broadband arrived for us in 2009. Our work in video conference teaching expanded over the years to the point where we had 60 Polycom VC ‘endpoints’ which became used for so many different learning purposes. We had amazing links with London Symphony Orchestra, The Glasgow Science Centre (Heather the Weather) and Manhattan School of Music. Enough for now, hoping you’ll be interested to read the attached evaluation documents (from the archives!).

Music Education Expo, Barbican Centre, London

1

Posted by upbeat | Posted in International Education, Leadership for Learning | Posted on April 4, 2013



Over 3000 delegates signed up for the UK’s largest ever music education conference. Sponsored by Rhinegold publishing, and with the endorsement of Boris Johnson (Mayor of London) the event took place in the Barbican Centre, London on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st March. I was pleased to be invited by the editor of Music Teacher magazine, Chris Walters to present at the Music Technology session on our video conference teaching programmes. Polycom UK gave great support to my presentation, enabling me with ease to have a live link with John Wallace (Principal at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire) in Glasgow; with Grant Golding (brass tutor) demonstrating a live lesson to a pupil in a Dumfries & Galloway school; and with Christianne Orto (Dean of Distance Learning) in the Manhattan School of Music, New York. Many thanks to all participants who assisted in demonstrating the amazing potential of video conferencing for learning and teaching.

Drummore Primary’s virtual lessons with Heather@Glasgow Science Centre

0

Posted by upbeat | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on February 20, 2013

This week, young people in Drummore Primary took part in water-based science experiments led by Heather Reid from the Glasgow Science Centre. Drummore School is one of ten Dumfries & Galloway schools involved in video conference science lessons delivered by Heather live from the Science Centre in Glasgow. Feedback from teachers and pupils has been really positive, with all participants totally engaged in the practical nature of learning in science. Drummore is Scotland’s most south-westerly school, located only a few miles from the beautiful Mull of Galloway.

Young people in Drummore are used to lessons via video-link. Since 2005, pupils in Drummore have received instrumental music lessons via video conference. In 2007, many pupils enjoyed live video sessions from London with Rod Franks (Principal Trumpet with the London Symphony Orchestra). In 2009, Professor Stephen Heppell paid them a visit to see how video conference lessons were progressing. Tomorrow, Professor Heppell is visiting Dumfries & Galloway again and we look forward to hearing his views on how learning & teaching using technology can be further developed.

Heather Reid’s live video conference lessons from the Glasgow Science Centre

2

Posted by upbeat | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on February 5, 2013


We’re now into Heather Reid’s 4th day of science lessons to Dumfries & Galloway schools live via interactive video conference from the Glasgow Science Centre. Young people from 10 primary schools across the 100 mile+ wide region have enjoyed a fantastic opportunity to learn about climate change, renewable energies and weather related issues with Heather presenting direct into classrooms live from the Glasgow Science Centre. Today it was the turn of young people from Lincluden in Dumfries. With the support of their teacher Miss Agnew, the P5 class engaged in discussion with Heather and each other in groups as they considered the causes and consequences of carbon emissions.



Science Experiments in Dalry School via Video Conference

0

Posted by upbeat | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on February 4, 2013

Today, Heather Reid (in the Glasgow Science Centre) led 3 one hour video conference sessions to 3 schools in Dumfries & Galloway. The pupils in Dalry School enjoyed their second virtual lesson today, this time taking on the challenge of a practical experiment in class. The pupils made red cabbage indicator and used it to test a variety of liquids which they had earlier predicted to be either acid, alkaline or neutral. One of the purposes in today’s practical video conference session was for pupils to better understand the effects humans are having on the Earth by considering how acidic our oceans have become.


Science lessons via Video Conference

0

Posted by upbeat | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on January 29, 2013

After a few months of preparation, planning and CPD for staff, we’ve finally got our science lessons via video conference underway! Heather Reid, meteorologist and former BBC weather presenter, delivered 3 one hour sessions yesterday and then again today to 6 different primary schools across Dumfries & Galloway direct from the Glasgow Science Centre. The teachers and kids loved the interactive engagement with Heather over the video-link and are already looking forward to their next lesson. Dumfries & Galloway Education Services are delighted to be working in partnership with the Glasgow Science Centre in this innovative programme delivering Curriculum for Excellence at Level 2 Science through looking at topics of weather, climate change and renewable energies. 10 schools are involved in this across an area of over 100 miles from Drummore to Moffat. Pictured below are pupils in Dalry School yesterday in their lesson with Heather.

Heather Reid delivering CPD for primary teachers

1

Posted by upbeat | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on January 7, 2013

Staff from 10 of our Dumfries & Galloway primary schools returned from their Christmas and New Year break to attend an excellent CPD event presented by former BBC weather presenter, Heather Reid. Heather (The Weather) led staff in stimulating, practical morning and afternoon sessions looking at weather related CfE Level 2 experiences and outcomes in science, numeracy, social subjects and a host of other possibilities for learning and teaching.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The morning session looked at the impact of weather on our world, and considered, for example, the difference between weather and climate. Heather’s presentation included many dramatic images of weather related events. Staff were highly engaged in water based experiments prepared by Heather and were amazed to see the results of their alchemy! Today’s CPD event was planned in preparation of each school receiving 2 video conference presentations from Heather in the coming weeks live direct and interactive from the Glasgow Science Centre.


Flute lessons via video-link

0

Posted by upbeat | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on November 26, 2012

Since November 2005, instrumental music lessons have been delivered to young people across Dumfries & Galloway via live video conferencing. Brian Renwick (woodwind tutor) is seen hear giving a flute lesson to a pupil. In addition to visiting certain schools, Brian also delivers lessons live from Lochside Education Centre in Dumfries to pupils in schools across the region.

Gordon Brown – UN Special Envoy for Global Education

0

Posted by upbeat | Posted in Health & Well Being, International Education, Leadership for Learning | Posted on November 25, 2012

Last Thursday, at the ADES (Association of Directors of Education) conference at the Westerwood Hotel, Cumbernauld I was very honoured to be in the company of Gordon Brown to hear him speaking on global education issues. The UK’s former prime minister has taken on the role of Special Envoy for Global Education for the United Nations.

He was very challenging (in a non-political way) to everyone in the room as to how each of us might support his mission of bringing education to all children in the world. He spoke very passionately of the value of education to children across the world and of his hopes and plans to improve matters in a radical way. His challenge to us was for us to support and encourage  Scottish schools to lead the way in linking and partnering schools in Africa and India in the next few years, particularly as internet connectivity continues to improve in these places.

I’m hoping our schools in Dumfries & Galloway can continue to build links with schools in areas of need in the world, possibly through our growing video conference infrastructure in all secondary and many primary schools.

Heather the Weather – Video Conference delivery of Climate Change lessons

0

Posted by upbeat | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on November 13, 2012

I met Heather (the Weather) Reid at the Glasgow Science Centre today to discuss plans for delivery of climate change lessons for upper primary kids (age 8-11) in Dumfries & Galloway schools. We’re planning for Heather to lead sessions from the Science Centre directly into certain primary school classrooms via a bespoke Video Conferencing programme of delivery. It’s proposed that Heather will lead a CPD session (in Dumfries) for teachers involved in the programme early in January. The lessons for kids will be led by Heather via video-link directly into classrooms. Two interactive presentations (an hour each) will be delivered to each school involved between January and March 2013. Lessons will address Curriculum for Excellence Science Experiences & Outcomes at Level 2. Climate change issues, renewable energy sources and our oceans will be addressed in the class presentations.

Our plans with this are certainly new and innovative. However, I’m very hopeful and expectant that teachers will appreciate and value the support Heather can give to further developing learning in science in our schools.

Heather fronted BBC Scotland’s weather reporting from 1994 – 2009. She was chairman of the Institute of Physics in Scotland from 1999 until 2001, is a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society and has an honorary lectureship in the Physics and Astronomy Department at the University of Glasgow.

Skip to toolbar