WW100

Students attending the exhibition

WW100 Art behind battle

Scotland’s First World War story is being explored through the perspective of 100 young artists from across the country as part of an enthralling exhibition that combines traditional printmaking with digital technology inspired by stories from all over Scotland, engaging the minds of students

Last year, the Learning Team at Armed Forces charity Poppyscotland was thrilled to become the custodian of the What Do We Learn from All Th1s? project. A visual interpretation of 100 stories – created into prints – of people and events of the First World War, the project is a major exhibition to celebrate and commemorate specific scenes of courage on the battlefield, within the Naval forces and beyond.

The matrices that were used to develop each of the artists’ 100 unique prints are displayed on wooden plinths arranged into a map of Scotland. In addition to this visual treat, augmented reality technology then enables visitors to read the stories behind the pictures in detail by holding an iPad over the print, blending history and modern life together.

It is an exhibition that is sure to bring history to life in a way unlike before for primary and, secondary pupils, and members of the public.

COMMEMORATE Inherited from the Scottish Government’s WW100 Commemoration Project and launched at the Scottish Parliament in 2019, the young artists were supported by the Scottish Print Networks in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. A totally unique learning experience for school pupils and the public to enjoy, Gordon Michie, head of fundraising and learning at Poppyscotland, enthuses: “From individual acts of valour on the battlefield, to Naval tragedies off Scotland’s coast, this exhibition brings century-old stories into the present day. “It’s a very personal and evocative exhibition that allows you to discover the stories behind the pictures through the artworks. For this reason, Poppyscotland Learning is so proud to be able to bring this fantastic learning tool to different communities within Scotland.

“I would encourage secondary school teachers to bring their pupils along so they can experience this exhibition for themselves.”

IMAGINATION The exhibition has intrigued and captured the imaginations of all ages and generations, too, while on its travels so far. “We have had lots of positive feedback from the public,” emphasises

Jena Thomson, a volunteer with the Culture and Education Department at South Ayrshire Council. “One of the things I’ve noticed is that everyone engages with it as soon as they walk in the door. We’ve had people of all ages visiting the exhibition in a single week. “We’ve had a mixture of current serving Service personnel and veterans through, too, and everyone has just had so much to say about it. It has really sparked their curiosity and given them a tool to go and explore something themselves and be very hands-on. I think young people enjoy that so much.”

What Do We Learn from All Th1s? is set to continue its travels across Scotland, being supported by Poppyscotland in 2020. The exhibition is an integral step in commemorating historical moments, in particular the impact the First World War had on the people of Scotland – a lesson all students should be accustomed to.

INTERACTIVE Similarly, the exhibition can be adapted to meet the needs of your class. Cultural planning project officer for South Ayrshire Council, Joan Elliot has used the context of the WW100 What Do We Learn from Th1s? exhibition, when it was hosted at The Grain Exchange, to create a larger exhibition incorporating some of Ayrshire’s First World War local history. Joan explains: “It has been fantastic because we’ve combined it with an overall interactive workshop, where members of the public and students have the opportunity to learn about the First World War, so they can experience what happened on a local level as well as a national level. Young people have loved the fact that they can show the older generation how to operate the augmented reality.

“You have the exhibition and the hand-held book that has been very popular – that tactile object you can walk around with,” continues Joan. “There’s the written word, there’s the story behind it and there’s also the artist’s interpretation of it.

“But the fact that you get a story and can create a visual in your own mind, and you can see the artist’s one, it’s like you’re seeing another viewpoint in a visual artistic form.”

The project takes in a wide range of stories and subjects that will resonate throughout Scotland. Other stories describe innovations in surgery and aviation, the enduring work of poets and artists in the trenches, the lives of munitions workers in factories and the personal account of the brave members of the Scottish Women’s Hospitals at the Western Front.

So, what are you waiting for? During January and February the What Do We Learn from All Th1s? exhibition visited the Low Parks Museum in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, and is set to travel to North Ayrshire, Aberdeenshire, North Lanarkshire and the Western Isles – get involved and ignite the imaginations of your students today.

Discover more about the tour by visiting the Poppyscotland Learning website, www.poppyscotland.org.uk/learning

Prints currently on display

What Do We Learn from All Th1s? is an interactive process for students

See for yourself how a nuclear power station works

Visit Hunterston B Power Station on the West Coast of Scotland. All plant tours require at least 3 weeks’ notice for booking. It is free of charge to visit us. The Hunterston B Visitor Centre has an interactive exhibition to help visitors understand more about nuclear power generation and allow people to ask questions to our trained guides. There is no advanced booking required to visit our exhibition. Advanced booking is however required to take part in a site tour of the power station.

Hunterston B is located on the North Ayrshire coast, approximately one hour west of Glasgow. It generates enough low carbon electricity to power approximately 1.5 million homes. Email –hunterstonbtours@edf-energy.com Telephone – 01294 826008 Monday to Friday 09:00 - 16:00 hours.

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A’ tighinn a dh’aithgheàrr Coming soon!

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Gàidhlig nan Òg website will provide parents/carers and early years practitioners with an abundance of themed resources to help use Gaelic in the home and early years settings in a functional yet fun way.

Bidh làrach-lìn Gàidhlig nan Òg a’ toirt pailteas ghoireasan air diofar chuspairean do phàrantan/luchdcùraim agus luchd-obrach sna tràth-bhliadhnachan. Cuidichidh na goireasan iad Gàidhlig a chleachdadh san dachaigh agus ann an suidheachaidhean tràthbhliadhnachan ann an dòigh a tha feumail ach spòrsail.

As a teacher, you’re commi ed to ensuring your students have the best opportunities, which can sometimes eat into your personal life. Maintaining a healthy work life balance is imperative for everyone BALANCE In the

It’s not uncommon to hear that people working in education feel high levels of stress. In fact, research has revealed that three-fi fths (60 per cent) of 12,000 respondents felt their workload left them stressed.

Stress in the workplace is not uncommon – and can be benefi cial in some instances – but when it encroaches into your personal life it is clear change is necessary.

“Teaching can take over a person’s life,” says Seamus Searson, general secretary for Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA). “But, teachers do need to take time out and away from work because you can’t maintain that pace of work. We want teachers to stay in teaching – we are committed to maintaining this work life balance.”

MAINTAIN Upholding a healthy work life balance is important in all careers, but as teaching quickly becomes a 24/7 profession the lines between personal and professional life are blurred. From taking marking home, students having constant access to email queries relating to homework outside school hours, to planning future lessons – all before physical teaching time – there is more to teaching than may fi rst meet the eye.

And, it is not uncommon for you to work beyond contractual hours, however this shouldn’t become the norm. Seamus emphasises: “Within a teacher contract it is for 35-hours per week, we spend a lot of time telling teachers that this is all that can be expected of you.

“There is a limited amount of time and we need to get the system to recognise that teachers can’t do everything.”

In this instance, maintaining a good balance is essential. It is advised that tasks that are not immediately pressing, or not a productive use of time, should be dismissed or assessed at a later date. This, in turn, will allow you more scope to focus on the main aspects of teaching and not going over contracted hours – ultimately benefi ting your personal life.

FLEXIBLE Awareness of the additional work that you put in is also recommended, with calls for more fl exible working. “It’s not impossible for sta in secondary schools to work part-time or even job share to keep people in the service longer,” adds Seamus.

“We would always encourage teachers to have a life outside of work and teaching,” advises Seamus.

Teaching is incredibly rewarding, but it can become overwheming. Appreciating the work you put in and the level of urgency will help to ensure you are supported to maintain a healthy work life balance.

Advice on managing your workload outside of school hours is available from SSTA, ssta.org.uk