Maths & Science Trip to Orlando

The inaugural Maths & Science Trip to Orlando blasted off during the October holiday week.

Our itinerary was action packed. We visited the Kennedy Space Center and pupils took part in NASA’s Astronaut Training Programme which involved being thrown upside down and feeling G-Force, building a rocket, and taking part in a mission simulation.

We then spent two days at Universal – enjoying some of the world’s best rollercoaster and 4D rides. Hogwarts School looked impressive and the Harry Potter ride was quite incredible, however The Hulk ride still seems to be the champ!

Our first Disney workshop was on Animation and together we learned how to draw the genie from Aladdin! The day was rounded off by a special appearance by Mickey Mouse and a show based on Fantasia. Somewhere in the region of 10,000 people filled the stadium. Our very own Declan McGill was selected to speak to the crowd!

We then went to Sea World, where we all got soaked thanks to Shamu and friends. The pupils enjoyed playing with dolphins, stingrays and mantas as well as the Kraken ride.

Our last full day involved learning about Isaac Newton’s laws of motion and seeing them in action in the Magic Kingdom’s rollercoasters. We also had an opportunity for some retail therapy as the girls went and bought straighteners, the boys bought Beats headphones en masse.

Many times people commented on how polite and well behaved our pupils were. This included hotel guests, Disney staff, and the people at the Astronaut Training.

The trip was hugely enjoyable, educational and yes, it was fun. A big thank you to Mrs Cassidy. Ms Graham and Mr Currie who gave up their own October week to make this trip a reality. It was well over 2 years in the making, but I think it was well worth it. A trip of a lifetime indeed. Though I think it was so successful we will have to go again to satisfy demand!

Mr M McGowan with additional reporting by Greg Vickers, Lisa Stewart & Fiona Niven

On a slightly different tact I'm gonna bring to your attention two articles that interest me form the world of Science:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/nov/18/neutrinos-still-faster-than-light

Which reports on the incredible discovery by Italian scientists that they found neutrinos travelling faster than the speed of light, which Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity 'proved' was impossible. In this report it seems the experiment was replicated with the same results.

If this is eventually proven to be correct it will literally rip up the textbook of Physics and start all over again.

and

http://news.sky.com/home/technology/article/16111954

Which appeals to the dreamer in me. It reports of finding a hidden sea on the icy moon of Jupiter called Europa. NASA and other leading scientists hope this may yet be the best chance to discover alien life, which a bit like the faster than light neutrinos would really have a monumental impact on life on Earth if we found we are not alone. Naturally any lifeform may be microscopic or bacteria, but it still would have implications for us all.

Carl Sagan and Cosmos

I am often asked by the pupils and students in class about events or people that inspired me. Sometimes I struggle to think on my feet as I do not wish to give a glib answer! For example, in the world of sport, I have always been fascinated by the effect football managers have. Brian Clough, Jock Stein and Alex Ferguson and the 3 men I would say stand out from the crowd. In Business, Donald Trump has always been someone I thought is incredible because he knows the importance of good PR. In many ways he is like a politician. And being an avid movie fan, I have always been inspired by the likes of George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and James Cameron (I can't wait to see Avatar!).

However, one remarkable person from my childhood is not from the world of sport, movies, or business. That man is Carl Sagan.

Carl Sagan was a scientist who, when I was very young, made an epic TV show called Cosmos. Now that may not seem to amazing, but back in the early 1980s special effects and the power of imagination was limited to programmes like Star Trek, Doctor Who, Twilight Zone, and the underrated The Outer Limits.

Cosmos was a serious attempt at mainstream science. Now we have David Attenborough and his fantastic natural world programmes, but apart from The Sky at Night (which I still watch!!!), and Open University programmes science was absent from TV.

Carl Sagan took us on a voyage of discovery. He showed us the insides of great stars, speculated about life on other planets, enlightened us about the plight of scientists from history, educated me and others on what a Googol was and it's big, BIG brother, the Googolplex!

We saw comets, asteroids, planetary rings, supernovas, Red Giants and White Dwarfs, pulsars, quasars, black holes, galaxies, and even speculation on multi-universies... basically the meaning of life, the universe and everything, as Douglas Adams would say. (42, by the way.)

The one episode I recall stronger than the rest was the Italian kid on his scooter who sets off for a journey around town and the countryside while his brother waits on a park bench. But the scooter kid travels at the speed of light. He wizzes around the beautiful scenery, while his brother waits. When his trip was over he goes to the bench to meet his brother... who is an old man! Time stood still for the speed of light traveller, but not for the brother waiting.

Mind blowing stuff when you are 7 or 8 years old. In fact it is still mind blowing.

I bought the book some years ago but only this summer, when I returned from Ghana, did I find that Cosmos was available on DVD at long, long last. I made the purchase and spent a lot of my free time in the holidays recapturing my youth and expanding my mind once again.

Truly inspiring stuff. So Carl Sagan is one of the real heroes of my life. He was also an early pioneer of conservationism, and an ardent critic of the wastefulness of the Cold War. Billions of dollars and roubles were spent on creating death and destruction instead of building tools for peace.

I would like to think that in the next Great Library at Alexandria there will be a copy of Cosmos (book or DVD?) safely stored forever for future generations to travel in the 'starship of the imagination' and be blown across space and time in that dandelion.

HGS Digital - Pilot Video

As part of the HGS Digital scheme in the school, I have started filming and uploading teacher lessons. Hopefully in time pupils will be recording and uploading these vids for the school.

I did a short demo (the one on Donald Trump) but it was rather embarrassing!!! I have added more screencasts also to Teacher Tube for you guys to use in class. It is really a great learning resource for Administration at all levels.

To branch out a bit I have approached some enthusiastic teachers who have some great ideas to show the world.

First up was Miss McAree in Science. Her video explained about Chemical Reactions and had some cracking examples in it. My favourite bit is with the magnesium and the Bunsen burner. The flame was very, VERY bright!

Next up will be Mr Bowen (History) who will tell us a bit about the Iron Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck.

Future tutorials/vids will include (fingers crossed) Mr Anderson (PE) and Mr Cunningham (French). With more to follow.

I want the student's feedback on this, and you can tell me what lessons/demonstrations do you think would be most valuable.

At the end of the day we are doing this to help you study at home and improve your grades. But we also hope it will be fun. And most importantly we want you to get in on the act by writing scripts, filming and editing.