SCOTTISH LEARNING FESTIVAL It’s showtime!

The Scottish Learning Festival 2010 takes place at Glasgow’s SECC on September 22 and 23 and offers an array of CPD and seminars, as well as an exhibition featuring the latest resources, products and ICT for schools. This four-page section gives an overview of the show

from across the world for two days of education seminars, speeches and discussions. over the past 10 years, the SLF has gained an

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international reputation and is now recognised as the largest annual national education conference and exhibition in Scotland. Last year’s event drew more than 7,000 education professionals to Glasgow. Set to be held on September 22 and 23, this

year’s event will welcome key staff from the Scottish government, Learning and teaching Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority, and hmIe, who will all be on hand to chat to attendees about any aspect of education and learning. Unsurprisingly, Curriculum for excellence will

feature strongly this year as it reaches full adoption. Practitioners may be coming to the show considering how

ext moNth will see the 11th annual Scottish Learning Festival (SLF) coming to Glasgow’s SeCC. organised by Learning and

teaching Scotland, the SLF brings together teachers and practitioners

Staying in touch: Delegates take in a keynote address at the 2009 Scottish Learning Festival (above), while practitioners enjoy themselves during a CPD seminar (below)

they can develop innovative and relevant experiences for learners through planned activities. Individual practitioners and educational

establishments may also need support to develop their skills, knowledge and creativity further, to identify their own priorities, to capitalise on the opportunities offered by Glow, the Scottish schools’ intranet, and to develop solutions relevant to their own circumstances. Reflecting this, the main theme of the SLF 2010 is

“Curriculum for excellence: enhancing experiences, Raising Standards”. the aim is to help teachers to find out about successful, innovative approaches to learning and teaching and showcase how practitioners and learners are taking advantage of Glow and other

technologies, bringing together examples of educational practice and leadership strategies from across Scotland and beyond. Assessment is a key aspect of the implementation

of Curriculum for excellence and the SLF will explore how assessment practices support the new curriculum, promoting improved learning and teaching together with greater autonomy and professional responsibility for teachers. Keynote speakers this year includemichael Russell

mSP, cabinet secretary for education, eric Booth, an award-winning actor, author, entrepreneur and arts education specialist, Richard Gerver, author of Creating Tomorrow’s Schools Today, and Professor

Not able to make it?

the Scottish Learning Festival (SLF) organisers have pledged to ensure that those who cannot attend in person can still benefit from the event and a number of online options have been set up so that those interested can access information. See below for an overview of the online activity surrounding the show. Also, the Glow Group SLF extra will once again be providing a virtual venue for users to discuss expectations and experiences around the show.

the main SLF website has information about this year’s event, including the downloadable programme, exhibitor information, news blog and details on how to register. Also, SLF Live, available via the main website, brings together all the online discussions about the SLF from a variety of channels, including an overview of what people are saying about the festival on education blogs. www.scottishlearningfestival.org.uk

Social media channels will be key to extending the reach of this year’s festival and delegates can follow all the news from the event on the @LtScotland twitter page and by searching for the hashtag #SLF10. Active “tweeters” at the festival will be asked to use this hashtag wherever possible when conversing about the event online. www.twitter.com/ltscotland

the SLF10 event page is now live on Facebook and offers up-to-date information on the event, as well as images and news from last year’s show. www.ltscotland.org.uk/facebook

Videos of all the presentations will be uploaded onto the Learning and teaching Scotland Youtube channel. Roving citizen photographers will also be encouraged to upload their own images of the festival onto Flickr, using hashtag #SLF10. www.youtube.com/user/ltscotland

Sugata mitra, Professor of educational technology at Newcastle University. there will also be a range of spotlight speakers,

from meteorologist and former BBC weather presenter heather Reid, who will discuss science and climate change within education, to Graham Donaldson, former chief inspector of education, talking about his wide ranging review of teacher training in Scotland. to keep up-to-date with the latest news about

the SLF and to register for your free place, log onto www.scottishlearningfestival.org.uk

Focusing on your CPD

One of the main attractions at the Scottish Learning Festival is the keynote addresses, seminars and CPD. Here is an overview of what’s on for 2010

Keynote addresses

this year’s Scottish Learning Festival (SLF) boasts four an array of keynote addresses, seminars and spotlight presentations catering for a variety of interests and specialisms. the four keynote addresses, all to be held in the Clyde Auditorium, will offer delegates the opportunity to hear from internationally respected experts.

Wednesday, September 22 At 11am on the first day of the SLF, michael Russell, cabinet secretary for education, will give the opening keynote address in this important year for education as Curriculum for excellence is fully adopted in schools across Scotland. mr Russell’s presentation will argue how Curriculum

for excellence can deliver on the aspirations we hold for all our children and young people in Scotland. Following this at 2.30pm, Richard Gerver, educator

and author of Creating Tomorrow’s Schools Today, will use his keynote address to draw on his philosophies of communication, empowerment and impact, sharing his expertise with education and corporate audiences alike. mr Gerver will explore the process of curriculum

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