Castlefield Primary’s African adventure

Asking an 11-year-old pupil in East Kilbride what life is like for their peers in Malawi is a question that might seem comparable to asking what life is like on the moon. Even in our globalised society, understanding cultures other than our own is a tricky task for most children.

For Caroline Gibson, Glow Mentor and P7 teacher at Castlefield Primary School in East Kilbride, Glow has provided a powerful tool for engaging pupils in global citizenship.

From starting off feeling ‘a little anxious’ about her ability to harness Glow’s full potential for learning and teaching, Caroline has now experienced first-hand the kind of rich learning experience Glow can offer.

Caroline’s first project as a Glow Mentor was to establish an African rich-task Glow Group, on which she uploaded information documents, web links to sites on Malawi, videos on global warming and an African photo gallery to encourage discussion.

‘The great thing about Glow is that it offers teachers more autonomy and choice,’ said Caroline. ‘You can use topics in ways you might never have considered before. For my pupils, it has provided a wider learning experience and enhanced their understanding of global citizenship.’