Secondary News for December

Scran2004 - CHRISTMAS LAUNCH!
 
The planned date for the launch of the new Scran service Scran2004 is the 24th of December.  Right now, you can familiarise yourself with the new site before we switch over. All your old favourites are there in a fresh new interface which has been described by testers as "clear", "fresh" and "light".  To access the new site, just click on "Try out new site" on the current homepage and login as normal.  Be sure to check out the Secondary School Page, which has specific pages for Art and Design, English and History as well as a section for other subjects.  These include links to Pathfinder Packs as well as ready made teaching resources.  We will keep adding subjects to this page as we create new ready made resources and Pathfinder Packs.  If you have any comments or suggestions about the Schools section of the new Scran service, don't hesitate to email our Schools Education Officer, Lesley Stokes, on lesley.stokes@scran.ac.uk
 

HAVE YOU LOOKED AT...?

TRAINING AND CPD ON SCRAN

On the new Scran site we have a section devoted to CPD and training for teachers and trainee teachers.

The "Free Scran Training" page outlines the types of training sessions we can offer to school clusters / authorities.  These include presentations and "hands-on" sessions to introduce teachers to Scran and how to make the best use of the resource in their teaching.  These sessions can be general or can focus on specific subjects.  We are included in the General Teaching Council of Scotland's National Register of approved CPD providers.  If you would like to discuss the possibility of setting up some training, go to the "Free Scran Training" page for details and do not hesitate to contact us.

The "CPD" page outlines some of the ways in which you can use Scran for Continuing Professional Development.  This page outlines a number of activities - with approximate timescales - which may be useful in a CPD portfolio.  If you have any other ideas of how Scran could be used for CPD, you can email our Schools Education Officer on lesley.stokes@scran.ac.uk

TOPIC TIP - ENGLISH

Scran has a multitude of resources that can be used to enhance and enliven your teaching of ENGLISH.
 * On the new Scran site you will find a specific English section on the Secondary Schools page.  This includes links to numerous Pathfinder Packs about famous poets, dramatists and novelists.  Also available are ready made packs for the teaching of writing: these include selections of images and accompanying worksheets.  Keep an eye on this section for new material which we will keep adding.
 * The new "Create" tool is invaluable for teachers creating their own worksheets using Scran images.  Simply click the "Create" button under your chosen image, choose the template you want then follow the simple instructions.  You can download the PDF you create or save it into your "Stuff".  Remember you can print as many copies as you want as all of our images are copyright cleared for educational use.  You could create a creative writing worksheet by choosing an interesting image of a person or place and adding questions to stimulate your students' ideas.  Students could use the "Create" tool themselves to create posters, notices or front covers.
 * Try your own searches for particular authors by typing their name into the Search Scran box.
 

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Lesley Stokes
Schools Education Officer