A Glow Meet with the Chief Super!

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Please note that this cookbook refers to Glow Meet using Marratech.  Glow Meet is now delivered over Adobe Connect which offers enhanced functionality.  To find out more about Glow Meet using Adobe Connect then click here.  The principles around the benefits of Glow Meet are the same regardless of the technology used for Glow Meet.

Chief Superintendent Mark Williams is the Commander of E Division of Lothian & Borders Police which covers East and Midlothian. Mark recently participated in a Glow Meet with pupils from eleven primary schools across Midlothian.

Context

The Education and Communities Division in Midlothian is committed to developing strong links between its schools and nurseries and services such as the Police and the Fire services. David Lines Senior Officer (Curriculum), working in Midlothian’s ICT Development Team explains how the ICT Development Team contribute to that commitment:

Back in July 2009 we recorded a message from then Chief Superintendent Terry Powell as part of a Keeping Myself safe campaign. The recording helped P5 to S2 pupils in Midlothian and East Lothian keep safe over the school holidays.  The broadcast offered advice on drugs, alcohol and water safety and was made available through our own MGfL portal.   As a result of this we ran a very successful Glow Meet with Detective Chief Inspector Jacqueline Conway and over 500 pupils from schools across Midlothian and East Lothian. Since then we have broadcast messages throughout the year just before a holiday period and in the week running up to November 5^th.  Last November we did our first Glow Meet with representatives from both Lothian and Borders Police and Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service.

Chief Superintendent Mark Williams was appointed as Divisional Commander in February 2010. The ICT Development Team quickly saw a Glow Meet opportunity to introduce Mark to young people in Midlothian and Mark readily agreed to sit in the Glow Meet ‘hot seat’. Over a two and half hour spell Mark answered questions and listened to suggestions from pupils from eleven primary schools across Midlothian.

Ingredients

To set up a Glow Meet, you will need:

1. A Glow Group
2. Glow Meet web part
3. Suitable web cameras and microphones

In the first video below, David describes how the Glow Meet with Mark Williams came about. As the clip continues we hear Tommy Lawson, Education Officer(ICT) for Midlothian, relay some questions coming in by text from some pupils to Mark. The other two videos outline how to set up and record a Glow Meet:

Impact

In this cookbook, Midlothian demonstrates to great effect the positive impact Glow can have on developing the four capacities of Curriculum for Excellence and help strengthen community links with services such as the Police.

The Glow Meet was a great success. The children had been set a homework task to come up with at least two questions that they would like to ask. Parents were involved with their children, discussing local issues of concern. In class we narrowed down the selection to come up with a short list which, in fact, was very long! Time was an issue – I know that we were late due to a technical hitch, so not all questions could be answered. This was also partly due to the extensive answers given by CS Mark Williams – I think the fact he took time to reply showed the children that he was interested in what they had to say.

In terms of impact – coming up with the questions raised many issues in the class re the local community and our responsibilities as citizens. We already have close links with the local police, the community police officer has visited P7 already to discuss drugs and a further visit is planned re vandalism/alcohol.

I would take part in future events if and when they arise.

Jill Robinson

Teacher Newtongrange Primary School

Taking part in the Glow meeting was a great experience that I would happily do again. I really enjoyed the chance to speak with so many kids across Midlothian and I think it’s a fabulous example of how organisations like the Police can use technology to communicate with young people. The questions the children asked were challenging and very relevant. It was clear to me that they put a great deal of time and effort into their preparation and I found it very rewarding and worthwhile…….hopefully the children felt the same!

Chief Superintendent Mark Williams

A Glow Meet with the Chief Super!5.051