Resources by Royal Society of Edinburgh

An Introduction to Web-based Information Systems

This resource has been developed by the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) and the BCS Academy of Computing. It will seek to consolidate learners’ understanding of modern information systems concepts, through study of web technologies, including HTML.

Whilst this resource has been designed to be used as a...

I love my smartphone

Mobile app development is an engaging way for students to learn programming and interface design as many do, indeed, "love their smartphone".

This complete learning package teachers the origins and development of the smartphone, helping them to appreciate the amount of technology packed into their pocket. It...

Itching for more

Designed for students who have advanced through Scratch and are ready for additional challenge, this resource explores Build Your Own Blocks (BYOB) as a tool for learning modular programming using procedures. 

After examining, briefly, the history of the computer and the Turing Test as a measure of their...

Lesson 1 - Bearings

In this resource students are asked to calculate the bearings and distances a ship will need to travel in order to complete a voyage from Cairns to Brisbane via a number of sample sites.

To complete the task, students need to measure bearings, distances on a map and use the scale provided to convert to...

Lesson 2 - Plotting coordinates (Maths)

In this resource students are asked to read and plot coordinate points on behalf of a scientific research voyage from Cairns to Brisbane via a number of sample sites.

The additional extension material ask students to plot points using latitude and longitude.

The materials contain a detailed...

Lesson 3 - Plotting coordinates (Geography)

In this resource students are asked to explore longitude and latitude on behalf of a scientific research vessel.

In addition to introducing students to the idea of lines of latitude and longitude on the globe, the materials ask students to find the latitude and longitude of given points, and to plot the...

Lesson 4 - Estimation

This resource contains footage of a large dolphin pod, and asks students to use and justify their own assumptions in order to estimate how many dolphins are in the pod. 

The presentation also includes details of the wildlife seen in the video, a brief quiz and prompts for a discussion about rounding length...

Lesson 5 - Underwater volcano hunting activity

In this resource students are asked to perform numerical calculations in order to reveal parts of an image of an underwater volcano chain.

Students must correctly answer the question contained on each square to reveal part of the map hidden behind the squares, in order to find the location of the underwater...

Lesson 6 - Hotspot Migration activity

In this resource students are asked to measure the distances between the seamounts and reefs on a map, convert their readings into kilometres, and plot the data on a graph to calculate the speed of the Australian plate.

The materials contain a detailed presentation, student worksheets and solutions.

Lesson 7 - Negative numbers under the sea

In this resource students are asked to help a team of scientists to investigate Lexington Seamount, a newly named underwater volcano located in the Coral Sea, off of Australia's east coast.

Using multibeam mapping technology, scientists have been able to produce maps of extinct underwater volcanoes that have...