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Introduction
GLOW
is the name of the Scottish Schools Digital Intranet that connects all
Scottish local authorities, schools, staff and pupils in a safe and secure
environment, the largest of its kind in the world. GLOW is not an acronym.
GLOW is free to all schools and Scottish Local Authorities. It is paid for
by the Scottish Government.
The potential for communication, collaboration and sharing that GLOW
provides is anticipated to have a major impact on learning and teaching.
Glow will be an important tool for delivering Curriculum for
Excellence.
Details can be found on the Glow
Scotland website
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Background |
Information circulated to Schools 2007-2009 |
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Strategic Management
How will GLOW be delivered in SBC ?
SBC GLOW Mentors
School developments
Timescale
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The SBC GLOW Project Team have been dealing with the contractual
and strategic aspects of GLOW implementation, including the management of
the proposed technical, operational and staff development processes. South
of Scotland Broadband connectivity is now in place and SEEMIS has also
been rolled out to all schools. These were necessary pre-requisites for
Glow implementation in schools to commence.
GLOW is now ‘live’ in SBC, and the very first schools are being
provisioned on a pilot basis. Like most Scottish Authorities we are at the
beginning stages of this. 2009 will see the uptake and development in the
use of GLOW in SBC schools, continuing into session 2009-2010
To
deliver and support staff development at school level, SBC will be working
with 18 GLOW Mentors, one from each secondary school and one from each
primary cluster. Mentors were identified by schools and cluster areas in
2006, and have already been actively participating in developments and
training.
During 2008 all SBC Headteachers, primary & secondary, had the
opportunity of a GLOW ‘live’ demonstration. Further groups of Primary
DHT’s and Secondary Extended Management teams have also had this
opportunity. Several groups of secondary teachers had a Glow demonstration
on the November inservice day
All
Secondary School Management Teams have been invited to state by 16th
December, 2008, when they would like to commence their school GLOW
roll-out. The timeframe is from January 2009 – June 2010.
Primary Schools Glow Roll-out will also be planned within this timeframe. |
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What is a GLOW Mentor and what will they do in SBC ?
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A GLOW Mentor is someone who
will provide initial staff development training, support other staff and
teach pupils how to make use of GLOW. Beyond this, they will encourage the
sharing of good practice across their schools, the local authority and
into the wider national arena.
GLOW mentors will be expected to provide models of effective classroom
practice, evidence of good use of ICT in and across the curriculum, and
have the skills and qualities necessary to support and develop colleagues
in the authority.
Beyond their initial two days of training, the
Mentors will deliver training to a named group of ‘In-school
teacher-tutors’ (IST's) over three two-hour twilight sessions between
January 2009 and June 2010, or according to their school roll-out
plans. Following each of the three training units the ‘In-school
teacher-tutors’ will deliver similar training to other staff groups.
During 2009 Mentors will also receive specific training from LTS staff on
Glow Learn, the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). |
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SBC Secondary
Schools
(See
diagram)
SBC Primary Schools
(See
diagram)
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We are proposing that in the secondary sector, the trained Mentor,
in consultation with their SMT would then deliver GLOW training to
approximately 6-10 ‘key pro-active’ individuals in their schools.
These 6-10 people would become school ‘in-house’ tutors. Each of these
‘In School’ Tutors’ (IST’s) would then deliver GLOW training,
perhaps in a less formal setting, to other groups of staff in their school
possibly on a twilight or after school basis, or at the discretion of the
SMT. The mentor would continue to support staff and ‘In School’
Tutors’ (IST’s), and use the GLOW collaborative environment to
facilitate this.
We are proposing that in the primary sector the trained Mentor for each
cluster area, would be asked to deliver GLOW training to a group made up
of two ‘key pro-active’ individuals from each of the schools in their
cluster area. Subsequently, these two teachers would become the ‘In
School’ Tutors’ (IST’s) from their school and would then deliver
GLOW training, perhaps in a less formal setting, to other groups of staff
in their school. The mentor would continue to support staff and ‘In
School’ Tutors’ (IST’s) and use the GLOW collaborative environment
to facilitate this.
Staff development for GLOW is not planned as a ‘one-off’ event. It is
anticipated that the pattern of Mentors > IST’s > Teachers
training ‘cascade’ will be repeated for different aspects of GLOW well
into 2009/2010 and beyond. |
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When will this
take place ?
(See
diagram)
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SBC Mentors received their
training in October 2008. They will have the opportunity to use GLOW with
one of their classes from January 2009 onwards and subsequent cascading of
training to their In School Tutors would be planned with schools for
session 2009-2010. It is envisaged that the ‘in-school’ training could
be divided into three units.
GLOW developments will likely feature in Schools Improvement Plans for
session 2009-2010 and beyond.
Discussion with Head teachers and schools will look at the
feasibility of using two hours twilight time in, February 2009 and
May 2009, October 2009 and into 2010, for the Mentor to deliver training
to ‘In-school tutors’, and use 2 x 1.25 hour twilights for the
In-school tutors to deliver sessions for staff. For technical reasons it
will be more effective to deliver all the training to staff during
twilight or CAT, or CPD times.
It is anticipated that schools will organise their own in-house training
in a way that suits their staff, school CPD arrangements and in-service
priorities. |
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What is the expected role of the GLOW Mentor for each Secondary school
or each Primary Cluster area
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Mentors
have had GLOW access from October 2008 to re-acquaint them with the
environment and to try out activities. Other staff and pupils in
schools will get access according to individual school roll-out
plans.
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Mentors
will then deliver the training to the ‘In-school’ tutors, during
2009-2010, as well as provide local support to them and involve them
in the GLOW collaborative environment.
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They
may also be asked to review, develop and implement in-service
programmes, provide local support, or find and share teaching
resources, and be proactive in their use of the GLOW collaborative
environment.
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They
will be asked to keep a record of their activities.
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What is expected role of the ‘in-school’ tutors?
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The
In School Tutors will be offered an introductory awareness raising
session between January and June 2009 (or according to the roll-out
timescale)
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The
In School Tutors will receive training from their local area Mentor
(according to the roll-out timescale)
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They
will ‘cascade’ this training to other groups of staff in their
school either as twilight CPD, or departmental meetings, or during
in-service closure days
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They
will use the GLOW collaborative environment, provide support in
their own school, find and share teaching resources.
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They
will be asked to keep a record of their activities.
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Who can become a Mentor ?
In School Tutors
Primary Sector Mentors
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Essentially,
the school SMT identify their Mentor. GLOW is about Learning & Teaching and is seen as a main vehicle for delivering
the aspects of Curriculum for Excellence. Ideally, Mentors should have a
teaching role within a school, but be key contributors to discussions with
SMT re the schools own GLOW roll-out.
Staff development opportunities for other keen members of staff to be
involved in the GLOW training could be afforded by involving them as
‘key pro-active In School Tutors and again, the school SMT will be asked
to identify the staff best suited to this role.
We would suggest that Head teachers share the remit of Mentor with all
staff and invite interested individuals to respond to their Head teacher
by a particular date.
Staff development opportunities for other keen members of staff to be
involved in the GLOW training could be afforded by involving them as
‘key pro-active In School Tutors, and every Primary school will be asked
to nominate two members of staff whom they would like to be their In
School Tutors (Some adjustment may be made for schools with fewer than
three classes.) |
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Mentor Remit
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Appendix
A (Word Doct) The National GLOW Team have outlined typical
Mentor qualities and a general descriptor of what would be expected of
them. This could be useful information for staff. A brief guide is given
here, plus some additional information. |
Documents
for School
Senior Management Teams
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HT
Information update Jan/Feb 2008 MS
Word
HT CLuster Information update Jan/Feb 2008 Ms Word
SMT Information update May 2008 pdf
Glow FAQ's August 2008 pdf
SMT Secondary Consultation Meeting Sep 2008 .pdf
DHT Primary Information update Oct 2008 pdf
Roll-out Diagram Oct 2008 pdf
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