15.03.21

New project: Mapping NCCE computing material to the Scottish curriculum

The aim of this Skills Development Scotland funded project is to process the Key Stage 1- 4  curriculum materials developed by the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE) from the Teach Computing website and the accompanying NCCE video lessons to tag them with the relevant Scottish curriculum outcomes where appropriate. This project will be led by University of Edinburgh, in collaboration…

11.03.21

Young People’s Advisory Group

Changes to Computing education are being discussed and we want young people to be in the conversation! We are working with the British Computer Society (BCS) Scottish Computing Education Committee to set up a Young People’s Advisory Group to learn about what you want to learn in Computing Science and…

14.02.21

Digital and Data Literacy

Digital and data literacy: Comparing children’s understanding of data and online privacy with experts’ and advocates’ data literacy practices. If you missed Dr Gianfranco Polizzi, Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham, speaking on the 20th January, you can now catch up with the seminar recording….

12.02.21

Tune into Music Data

Music is a creative, imaginative subject so it’s difficult to see how data can support that creativity.  We’ll look at the many ways data can help musicians and those in the music industry.   Charts Data A database of top 10 charts over the years is probably the first thing…

30.11.20

Support for Industry volunteers

Craig, Judy and Kate from the Data Education in Schools team have produced videos to support industry volunteers or STEM Ambassadors working with school learners. The short videos cover topics like what to expect from your first visit, basics of child protection, an overview of the Scottish computing curriculum, answering…

20.11.20

Discovering the NPA in Data Science and new guides

Educators from all over Scotland and beyond gathered together last week to find out about the National Progression Award in Data Science and the new Educator and Learner Guides. Presenting the webinar, we had the authors of the guides, Kate Farrell (University of Edinburgh) and Jo Watts (Effini) talking about…

12.11.20

Data Skills Live: where computer science meets theatre

On 4th Nov we ran our first Data Skills Live Lesson where 350 learners came together from 15 Scottish local authorities to defend the rhino and learn some new data skills in the process. If you’re new to the idea of a live lesson on YouTube, don’t worry we will…

10.11.20

History of graphs

Humans have been drawing information visually since the times of the cavemen and we have been recording data in tables since the 2nd century.  However, the person seen as the father of statistical graphics was a Scot, William Playfair (1759-1823). William Playfair is not to be confused with his nephew,…

09.11.20

Choosing an optional unit for the NPA Data Science

There are two core units in the National Progression Award (NPA) in Data Science, and at Level 5 and 6 there is also an optional unit.  There’s a great choice of options, so hopefully centres and educators will find one that suits their situation and their learners interests. Data Security…

05.11.20

Core skills in the NPA Data Science

The NPA in Data Science has been designed to support the development of a range of core skills in learners.  Find out how the qualification supports learners to gain and expend their core skills in different areas. ICT Throughout the course, in all of the core and optional units, learners…

05.11.20

Delivery models for the NPA Data Science

The NPA in Data Science has been designed to fit in flexibly to a wide variety of delivery models within schools and colleges to address the realities of staff time, expertise and enthusiasms as well as learner demand and local industry requirements.  The course can be delivered in a range…

05.11.20

Topics in the NPA Data Science

Educators new to Data Science often wonder what is actually covered in the National Progression Award (NPA) in Data Science.  We will explain the main topics covered in the core units of the qualification. There are two core units, in Data Science and Data Citizenship.  At Level 5 and 6…