Redefining boundaries and buying in to new communities: Glow in a remote LA.

Glow is a national initiative and a solution to some of the problems that exist in schools in remote areas.

However many regions in Scotland have rural areas in them.

The solutions that rural and remote communities explore with Glow may contain messages for schools across Scotland in how to provide digital solutions to both current and traditional problems.

One example of a solution focused approach to the problems of engaging parents, pupils and teachers can be seen in the Western Isles where they have a strong culture of community and cooperation.

This seminar presents a local case study of how a rural local authority has planned and coordinated the rollout of Glow during 2008.

Listen to the reflections and experiences of an ICT coordinator who has worked towards establishing Glow and enhancing teaching and learning, in the Western Isles.

Martin Brown
Before joining LTS in 2007 I was teaching Geography in Angus.

Much of my time is now taken up in working with Local Authorities across Scotland not just to deliver Glow training but to develop solutions for teaching and learning, with Glow, in local contexts.

I am very interested in developing new approaches for embedding technology in learning.

I also manage to keep in touch with teachers across Scotland: through my work as a National Assessor and Advisor for the Chartered Teacher Program, which I have been involved with since 2004.

Hamish Budge
I have been seconded to work for the Western Isles council. Initially with a remit to promote Science and approaches suggested by such initiatives as the “Improving Science Education” program.

More recently my work has been to support ICT in education and I have been able to work in all Western Isles schools to demonstrate how ICT can be used to support and enhance learning and teaching.

Currently, my main focus is to help successfully implement GLOW in the classroom. Prior to assuming a development role, I worked as a science teacher in a number of rural and urban schools in the Western Isles.