S3 parents evening

S3 Parent Information Evening December 2013

S3 Parent Information Evening 9th December 2013 • Welcome (Mr Williamson, Headteacher) • iPad in Education Pilot @ Lasswade (HT & Mr Tennet, PT Computing) • Lasswade HS S3 & S4 Curriculum (Mr Mitchell, Depute Headteacher

LASSWADE HS CURRICULUM & SCIENCE ELECTIVES • Mr Mitchell, Depute Headteacher

Science Broad General Education

Science

As part of Curriculum for Excellence, students at Lasswade High School have been continuing with their Broad General Education in Science.

Science - S1 and S2 Pupils completed six Physics topics, six Chemistry topics and six Biology topics.

– This has given our students a good introduction and grounding in each of the disciplines.

– Level 3 experiences and outcomes have been covered.

– It has allowed the progression of scientific skills such as enquiry, research and writing scientific reports.

S3 Science – August to December • At the beginning of S3 students continued to study all three sciences as part of their BGE. • Students were set into ability groups based on overall performance in S2.

• Students were taught by a subject specialist teacher with some students progressing to Level 4 Experiences and Outcomes.

S3 Science – January to June • Students are now being given the opportunity to specialise in two of the three disciplines.

• At the end of S3 students can choose either to take one Science forward into S4 or continue to study both.

• Although the option to study three sciences into S4 is no longer available, students will still get the chance to pick up a third Science in S5.

What will they study? • In each discipline students will continue to cover Level 4 Experiences and Outcomes. • However by covering these they will also be covering National 5 outcomes in preparation for continued study in S4.

Biology By choosing to study Biology, pupils will be provided with the opportunity to build on their existing scientific understanding and to find out about specialised cells including the use of stem cells in society, the way that the brain and nervous system respond to changes and how characteristics are inherited. This will demonstrate the importance and the impact that Biology has on their lives, on the lives of others, on the environment and on society.

Chemistry Between Christmas and June pupils will work in small groups for “Lasswade Chemical Consultancy” and carry out lots of experiments to test the area around a “chemical leak”.

They will then present their results to the owners of the chemical plant. Following this, pupils will carry out experiments to investigate the speed of chemical reactions.

Physics Students will discover what happens inside an atom, and how this leads to radioactivity, then describe what is happening in a distant star, on the other side of the galaxy. We will learn how we can access the Internet at home through optical fibres but why we cannot always receive a TV signal in a hilly region

How will they choose • Each student will be given a prospectus outlining what they will study if they choose to continue with that Science.

• Students will take that home to discuss their options. It is also available on the school website.

• Each student will have an individual conversation with their science teacher to help them decide • Each student will also have an interview with Guidance staff as well.

Science Department.

Science Course Choice Sheet

Name :_____________________________________________ Class : _____________________________________________ Science Teacher :_____________________________________

Please indicate first, second and third choice below.

First Choice Second Choice Third Choice

Subject

What to do now

• Complete course choice sheet and return by Thursday 12th December to Science teacher. • New classes will begin after the Christmas holidays.

iPads @ Lasswade HS

“When will I ever use what you’re teaching me today?”

We are preparing young people for jobs that don’t yet exist… requiring technologies that haven’t yet been invented… to solve problems of which we are not yet aware.

Why iPads in Lasswade High School and Why S3?

• WHY iPads? Improved Teaching & Learning.

Research: Improved Pupil Motivation, Improved Pupil Engagement, Improved Parental Involvement.

• WHY S3? End of CfE’s ‘Broad General Education’ • Q. End of the ‘pilot’?

• Options: More iPads or ‘Bring Your Own Device’ using School wi-fi.

• Key = Skills for Life, Work & Learning @ Lasswade.

How will iPads be used in classrooms and in student learning?

• 20 S3 Students already using iPads in Lasswade.

There will be over 500 iPads in the school including ‘Classroom in a Box’ on top of our PC ICT equipment.

• All Teachers have iPads & & Interactive Whiteboards.

• Roll-out to S3 in December 2013 - January 2014.

• e.g. Crown Estates Interdisciplinary Learning Programme

• Research, presentation skills, collaboration, organisation, homework and parental involvement.

Positive Destinations from Lasswade High School?

Skills for Life, Work and Learning at Lasswade HS

Internet Safety and Legal Implications of iPads in Lasswade High School • IMPORTANT: Guidelines to Promote the Safe and Responsible Use of Mobile Technology in Schools, Scottish Government, Nov 2013 • Acceptable Users Policy (AUP) • Existing Agreements for Internet Safety e.g. Computing & PSE • Smoothwall for INTERNET SAFETY • ‘an ethos of digital citizenship that leads to safe and responsible use of mobile technology’ • School Policies & Guidelines • ‘Wellbeing of Young People & Staff essential’ • Potential use of ‘Campus Cop’

Digital Safety – School Policy • Digital Etiquette (standards of conduct when using mobile devices e.g. cameras & video, use of images etc)

• Digital Rights & Responsibilities (what staff & pupils can do if they feel uncomfortable with digital communication, how to report misuse and consequences)

• Digital Security (precautions that can be taken to ensure digital safety and guidelines from Midlothian Council)

Insurance and/or Damage • Midlothian Council do have Insurance but other Scottish Schools have demonstrated that Students DO look after their iPads.

• Acceptable User Policy is IMPORTANT. • Please report all damage or faults to Register Tutor AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Parental Involvement • Wi-fi at Home is not essential … but would be beneficial.

• Homework – INCREASED EXPECTATIONS. • Sharing the Learning – ask your son / daughter to show you their work using their iPad. Watch & listen to presentations etc.

• Keep an eye on their Photos & Videos.

• No cost option – no additional Apps are required for School Learning.

• ‘You’ are part of the pilot – let us know if it is working…..or not!

• Encourage ‘DUTY OF CARE’.

• School Bag. • Remember to CHARGE iPad at night!!

Talking / Listening

Parental Involvement

Technical Questions • • • • •

Summary Information Sheet will come with Student iPad iTunes ID Installing Apps School Technician Sharing the Learning – The Students will develop knowledge around the use of iPad • ‘The dog ate my iPad’………..

‘Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.’ T S Elliot

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AMBITION & EXCELLENCE

iPads @ Lasswade HS

• Developing The Vision http://www.apple.com/uk/education/profiles/essa /