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Have a look through previous posts. Are they the sort of updates that are of interest to you? Have we missed things out? Do they even make sense to you? Is there anything you'd want or expect from us? We'll not publish feedback received, unless you want us to, but we'd be glad of feedback to see if this part of the site is a Hit or a Miss.

This is what ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland will be up to during the Scottish Learning Festival...

Our stand at the exhibition

Come along to say hello to us at our stand at the exhibition. It's a great chance for us to meet the audience and we're always interested in feedback. We'll be giving people an introduction to the department and will be showcasing our latest output such as...

Standard Grade & Higher Bitesize - a major relaunch of our popular revision website.

Learning Zone Scotland - a new site offering on-demand clips in the classroom from our extensive primary / secondary video archive.

Scotland's History - a new home for all ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland's history content, new and archive, launching alongside the flagship series 'A History of Scotland'.

China Stories - flexible, multi-disciplinary TV, radio and online resources - for primary and secondary.

The LAB - learn @ ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland - digital media literacy workshops available in a dedicated space at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland's headquarters.

Across the bridge

Take some time out and have a change of scene. Take a wander over the Bells Bridge, or indeed the Millennium Bridge, and pop into ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland's headquarters. You can get a coffee and visit The LAB. Staff will be on hand to tell you more about the free digital media workshops for schools and community groups and you can try your hand at some stop frame animation.

The sessions last for 1 hour and places are limited.
Wednesday 24 September 11am & 2pm
Thursday 25 September 11am & 2pm

So why not have your playtime at the ´óÏó´«Ã½? Book your place now or visit the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland Learning stand at the festival to sign up.

Find out more about what goes on in The LAB.

Join our seminar

´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland Learning: Preparing learners for 21st century work and life Code D1E Dochart 1 Wednesday 24 September 16:45-17:30

´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland Learning has a rich history of schools content across TV, radio and online. In line with Curriculum for Excellence and the skills agenda, the department is working to a wider remit, around how ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland can contribute towards improving the minds of the diverse Scottish population. Output will be aimed less at preparing pupils for exams, more at preparing the population for 21st century work and life.

Specific focus is being placed on:
Personalised learning - allowing learners to use our content in ways most engaging and relevant to individuals.
Cross-curricula skills and competencies - digital media literacy, creativity, learning to learn, collaboration, citizenship, personal confidence, wellbeing, 'brain training'.

Nick Simons, Head of Learning at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland, will talk through the current portfolio, including the Scottish iterations of Bitesize, Learning Zone and Blast, along with wholly-locally commissioned content.

He will also showcase ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland's 'The LAB - learn @ ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland' at our Pacific Quay headquarters, offering courses for all ages in how to create digital media.

Nick will be happy to take your questions and suggestions around how ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland can support learning in Scotland.

A 24-hour counselling service has been launched to provide Scottish teachers with practical and emotional support.

The new support line is open 365 days a year and is joined by an - both are free to use and intended for serving and retired teachers in Scotland.

The teacher stress helpline number is 0800 564 2270 and the website is .

The LAB - learn @ ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland - digital media literacy workshops available in a dedicated space at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland's headquarters in Glasgow.

What We Do

Show how to create digital media
It is easier than you think to create movies, animation and audio interviews. Within a single visit you will learn a process for making some media, enabling you to tell your story. Book your group for a session and our facilitators will guide you through the creative media process. We will assume you are new to the process unless to tell us differently and well explain a bit about moving image, camera technique, story-boarding, capturing the footage, editing and sharing your media.

Technology
We have installed the easiest to use technology including laptops, camcorders, musical instruments, still cameras, mp3 players and entry-level creative software. Our aim is to make the technology become as transparent as possible allowing you to start media creation very quickly.

Set
We have a very flexible set allowing you to make green screen (chroma-key) media. Have a chat show or create some animation with ease, learn how to write a news story or audio interview or weather report or even a piece of drama using this great resource. Limited only by your imagination, we can virtually set your media anywhere on the Planet or outer Space.

Podcasting Audio
Use podcasting software and radio technology to create Audio. Learn how to write a short interview outline, practice radio interview techniques and then create an interview podcast.

Stills
Use digital still cameras with computer software to create and present digital images in a variety of ways.

What's On Offer

Make a Movie
This four hour workshop teaches you the process of creating a movie using the kind of easy to use technology which may be available at home, school or workplace. We take you through a brief introduction to the moving image, basic camera techniques, writing a story board, using a camcorder to capture footage, editing the movie on a computer then showcase your movie by projection onto the studio wall. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland would like you to learn more about digital media creation so you can tell your own stories.

Animation
Very easy to use "Stop-Frame" animation software allows you create an animated movie with model characters and/or modelling clay. The green screen set allows you set the backdrop for your animated story in a wide variety of locations. We show you how to build a set, write a story board, set the camera, operate the software, add the animations to other movies and showcase the animated movie on the studio wall.

We're building a dedicated website for The LAB. Meanwhile if you need more information about the digital media workshops we run for adult community groups and schools you can contact us by phoning 0141 422 7896 or email thelab@bbc.co.uk.

Here's a video showing how members and staff of got on in their visit to The LAB..

Attention teachers!

Visiting the Scottish Learning Festival and feel in need of playtime and a cup of coffee? Well just pop over to The LAB at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland's headquarters at Pacific Quay. Hear about our free digital media workshops for schools and community groups and grab a cuppa. Did we mention trying out some stop frame animation?

Sign up at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland Learning stand at the festival or phone 0141 422 7896 or email thelab@bbc.co.uk.

Wednesday 24 September 11am & 2pm
Thursday 25 September 11am & 2pm

The sessions last for 1 hour and places are limited.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3 invites amateur pianists from all over Scotland to play at Pianothon at the Mitchell Library, Glasgow on Saturday 11 October.

This is an opportunity for pianists of all ages and abilities to perform live in an informal public concert environment. So pick up the piano again, get practising, maybe try uploading your efforts to , and get ready for showtime!

Participants may have their performances broadcast on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3 as part of Play to the Nation, which celebrates amateur music-making in the UK during October.

Read from 1938 to 1942, with each entry added daily, exactly 70 years after Orwell wrote them.

From basic domestic entries, more political views abound as Europe approached the Second World War. that Orwell's son Richard Blair read for the programme. And find out more about the man and his work.

You can also get daily entries from the 17th Century in .

Are you the next great British designer? Internationally renowned designer Philippe Starck is going to be heading up a specially created School of Design in Paris. And he needs students to populate it.

Part of a brand new series, ´óÏó´«Ã½ TWO is looking for people with the talent, drive and vision to create the next 'must have' products of the 21st Century.

To apply, submit a drawing of a product that you have designed which you believe can feasibly be made, and another where you've let your imagination run riot. Be aware though, it's for over 18s only and the deadline is coming up fast - Friday 22nd August.

This page has been updated. Get the latest listings.

Andrew Marr takes to the skies exploring Britain from Above.

In a landmark series of documentaries filmed in High Definition, this bird's eye view of the nation, its workings, cities, landscapes and peoples will change the way you see Britain forever.

The website allows you to watch all the films from the programmes, including exclusive material and more amazing aerial images. There is a book to accompany the series and a DVD will be released in September.

Ever wished you could get your brain to work a bit better? Without any hard graft? If so, keep reading...

indreader Drew McAdam has practiced 'mind power' for over thirty years in his stage show. He insists nothing he does is 'psychic' - it's all about technique and practice. And now he's sharing his secrets with the next generation.

In this week's edition of School for Genius, Drew shows the pupils of Cairns Primary in Cambuslang how to harness the power of the mind to achieve the impossible. With experiments ranging from levitation to arithmetic! He demonstrates to the kids that with positive thinking, self belief and some hard work they can achieve more than they think possible.

Listen to School for Genius here

Drew shows school pupils what they can achieve with a little concentration:

Want a visual demonstration of the power of 'non-verbal communication'?

Watch Drew demonstrate a real life case of 'mind over matter'.

Learn a simple technique for improving your memory in just two minutes.

The 2008 Olympic Games open today, running till Sunday 24th August.

Have a look at the beta Topics page on China, bringing together content from across the ´óÏó´«Ã½ and also from selected external websites.

Our department has been working on China Stories programmes and webpages. See how the production team are getting on.

Follow the ´óÏó´«Ã½ coverage of the Olympic Games - watch live or as highlights, check the event schedule by sport, get the latest medal standings and find out more on the interactive map.

The seeks to expand the creative culture of games and interactive entertainment, including gaming in education.

The sixth annual EIF is taking place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre from Sunday 10th until Tuesday 12th August, playing host to some of the games industry's biggest publishers, such as Sony, Nintendo and Codemasters. Download the official festival guide and register for free.

On the day of the exam results, Newsnight Scotland took a look at how the SNP is handling the education portfolio.

Gordon Brewer was joined by Judith Gillespie of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, Professor Brian Boyd of the Univeristy of Strathclyde and Labour MSP Ken Macintosh.

Watch the episode on the iPlayer. Featuring a report by Ken Macdonald, looking at class sizes, higher education, the Curriculum for Excellence and exam reform.

News online has a look as , including graphs of the percentage of grades for each subject at each level, and a from Education Correspondent, Seonag Mackinnon.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland news website also asked a number of candidates from across the country to .

The exam results are here. Texts and emails via are in 8-9am (if you ). Certificates whenever your postie gets to your door.

have their open from 8am till 8pm (likewise tomorrow, then open 10am-6pm until 22nd August). Professional advisers will be on standby to reassure callers and provide impartial support, no matter what their grades are. Get in touch on 0808 100 8000.

Also worth a click is the SQA website, including details on appeals and .

Stick on Radio Scotland in the morning for more coverage of the results coming in, 92-95 FM, 810 MW.

Good luck to everyone receiving their results today.

News online has a look as , including graphs of the percentage of grades for each subject at each level, and a from Education Correspondent, Seonag Mackinnon.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland news website also asked a number of candidates from across the country to .

Ever wished you could get your brain to work a bit better? Without any hard graft? If so, keep reading...

Mindreader Drew McAdam has practiced 'mind power' for over thirty years in his stage show. He insists nothing he does is 'psychic' - it's all about technique and practice. And now he's sharing his secrets with the next generation.

In this week's edition of School for Genius, Drew explores the world of communication and secret persuasion.

Having baffled a class of P7s with experiments in mindreading he reveals that it's his understanding of communication that lets him not only get inside someone's head but even tell them what to think! And it's not so much what you say as how you say it, as trainee solicitor Claire Jackson learns when Drew coaches her in how to handle new clients.

Listen to School for Genius here

Want a visual demonstration of the power of 'non-verbal communication'? Watch this:

Watch Drew demonstrate a real life case of 'mind over matter' in part 2.

Learn a simple technique for improving your memory in just two minutes in part 1.

The next edition of School for Genius is about thinking big. Come back to view the video from August 11th.

At 70, Johnny Ball has lost none of his passion and enthusiasm for maths and science. And for presenting. The popular personality from 1980's tv recently visited ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland's Pacific Quay to share stories and demonstrations with local children from Govan High School, Hill's Trust Primary, Holyrood Secondary and Milngavie Primary.

Of course school pupils of today may only know his face as an old guy competing with his daughter in an , but the star of Playschool, Playaway, Think of a Number, and Johnny Ball Reveals All needed no introduction to the teachers and on looking staff. How many times must he hear the "I remember you off the telly when I was a kid". At his age, he says, everyone is a kid.

With news stories declaring young people are , and the oft heard "but I'd never use it in real life", Johnny demonstrated in an hour, with a fair share of audience participation and interaction, how maths has been used over the ages from the to London's iconic ''. The cast included , , and , the greatest British scientist of all time according to Johnny.

Props, puns, bad jokes, good jokes, dodgy accents and a charming disregard for health and safety were all used in getting his message across - mathematics is the most important thing you learn in all your life. "Without maths there are no games. With maths there is no career not open to you."

In a separate session for ´óÏó´«Ã½ staff, he shared secrets of successful writing and creative ways to engage young people. Or any audience. In fact, he's never written for a specific age group. Another clear message is 'don't think childlike for children'. "Don't tell me that children have any different ideas from adults. Their thoughts are only tempered by the knowledge they have."

Ask him, in fact try to stop him from telling you about what he thinks of programmes today and politicians using environmental technology issues for their own end. He is enthralled by science. He gets angry about bad science and bad reasoning. Not to mention anything that comes across as dumbed-down.

"Don't underestimate the kids. They know more than I ever knew at that age. Kids are more worldly than they've ever been; They know more about the world than we give them credit for. And if anyone says the attention span of a child is eight minutes then you're not doing it right."