Using Glow to support the revision of Standard Grade Biology

Click to enlarge image

Karen Maitland is a teacher of Biology at Queensferry High School in Edinburgh. Karen is an advocate of the use of technology aimed at enhancing the learning and teaching process.

In this cookbook Karen will talk us through how she uses Glow to support the learning and teaching of Standard Grade Biology.

Context

Through the appropriate use of technology in class, Karen has aimed to enhance the experience of her pupils during their time in the Biology Department. Through various websites and podcasts, Karen looks to provide her pupils with the opportunity to access advice, information and resources out with the barriers of the traditional school day.

With the introduction of Glow to Queensferry HS, Karen was keen to investigate how best to use the tools and functionality to further enrich the learning experiences of her pupils. In this cookbook, we will hear Karen outline how she has created a Glow Group to act as a one-stop-shop revision source for her Standard Grade Biology class.

Ingredients

What Karen has used to set up the group: 

1. A Learning Space Glow Group
2. News web part to post learning intentions
3. XML web parts to display a Voki
4. Web links web part
5. Text Editor web parts to play mp3 audio clips
6. Discussion web part
7. Page Viewer web parts to give students access to relevant web sites from within the Glow Group

Recipe

In the first video below, Karen talks us through the revision Glow Group. The other video clips will take you through how to replicate some of the activities that Karen demonstrates in the group:

For video support on using Glow Learn, follow the link below:

Glow Learn cookbook videos

For downloadable versions of Glow Learn helpsheets and training guide, follow the link below (Glow login required):

Glow Learn guide and helpsheets

Impact

Karen is very positive about how the tools and functionality of Glow can support her teaching. Karen makes use of a number of Glow tools to add impact to the revision group:

• The News web part allows Karen to direct the pupils to new material published in the group or to give instructions on upcoming work
• Text Editor web parts which are used to embed mp3 audio files that have been downloaded from the BBC Bitesize web site. The audio clips provide the pupils with further reinforcement and opportunities to study the material at a greater depth
• Web Links web part provides a quick jump point to other revision web sites
• Page Viewer web parts which give the pupils full access to external web sites for revision without having to leave the Glow Group
• The Learning Space web part which provides a route into Glow Learn where Karen has organised her resources in a structure to match the teaching progression of the course
• Going forward, Karen is keen to make use of the Monitoring and Tracking capability within Glow Learn to issue homeworks and assessments, have Glow Learn mark these automatically and quickly establish where her pupils are having difficulties with their learning

In making use of a variety of Glow tools, Karen has developed a Glow Group that is engaging and relevant for her pupils. The group provides an easy access point for a variety of information sources and stimulus to deeper learning.