Education Scotland has awarded the University of Edinburgh £26,400 to help support learning and teaching in data science, computing science and cyber security beyond the classroom.

The University of Edinburgh’s EDINA – a world class centre for data and digital expertise - has been awarded the money to ensure that learners and practitioners across all of Scotland can access their cloud-based computational notebook platform Noteable, on GLOW. 

Students will be able to access Noteable from anywhere with an internet connection and web browser, to carry out coding activities, enabling them to learn Python and other programming languages, which are highly relevant in data science. Noteable will also help teachers to facilitate the Data Science national progression award. 

This online approach  supports equity of learning with all learners accessing the same version of a cloud-based platform, wherever they are.  Using Noteable means teaching and learning can continue, even when access to school premises is not possible. 

To support pupils and teachers quickly engage with the service, EDINA will also develop and deliver professional learning for computing science practitioners demonstrating Noteable’s features and functions. 

In a second phase of work, EDINA will deliver a web development environment within Noteable to support the learning and teaching of web development skills including HTML, CSS, Javascript and Linux.  This web development environment will broaden the relevance of Noteable to other parts of the curriculum including the cyber security national progression award.

EDINA are running webinars and undertaking training to support teachers use Noteable which is now available within GLOW.

Gavin Ian McLachlan, Vice-Principal and Chief Information Officer, and Librarian to the University of Edinburgh said:

'We are delighted to be working with Education Scotland on these exciting developments. Supporting all Scottish pupils to gain data and digital skills, that are already critical for their future, is an important commitment for the University of Edinburgh, and contributes to our established work with schools in Edinburgh and South East Scotland through the City Region Deal.'

Gareth Rae, Computing Science Teacher, Girvan Academy, South Ayrshire Council added 'With the ability to interact with the explanatory text and code, Noteable provides an interactive text-book style format for Computing Science teaching and learning.'

 Gayle Gorman, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Chief Executive of Education Scotland said:

'We are delighted to award funding to the University of Edinburgh for projects which aim to help learners to build their digital skills beyond the classroom.  Cloud access to the platforms developed by the University will be made available through Glow, the national online learning environment which is freely available to all learners and teachers in Scotland.

'We welcome the opportunity to highlight the importance of digital and particularly Computing Science for young people all year round. Education Scotland’s digital officers provide a range of professional development opportunities to help practitioners explore how they can support young people from the early level to develop a range of digital skills and to navigate their online life, the risks they may face, and how to overcome these and develop resilience. We will continue to work to ensure that we are providing the support practitioners need to complement the work they are already doing locally.'