Educational explorations
Every now and then I find myself on an educational exploration. In the midst of a furore over teachers weighty work load and a marking melee, we have been busy looking for robust and catalytic assessment solutions. In my search for time efficiencies in marking and assessment I stumbled upon QuickKey, which in turn perked a previous curiosity on the use of objective testing, specifically Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). MCQs turned out to be a much more significant assessment method that I had realised, which then lead to an assessment project combining MCQs, QuickKey and an exam feedback tools created by @Dataeducatior, led by our decisive Head of Science, Paul Kearley.
Alongside MCQs, we are looking at how question level analysis can be used to frame feedback for students and to enhance teaching processes. In the first instance we are engaging students with their feedback and in the feed forward process; identifying areas they need to address and constructing learning targets. Second, we are investigating the inter-class variations. Identifying areas for teacher collaboration and re-teaching of misunderstanding or learning gaps.
The custard campaign
This is my second year Championing the “Cover it in Custard” campaign. We delivered the session to all Year 11 pupils (yes, all of them) Friday Period 5 & 6. It was set up as a mix of team building, thinking tasks and CUSTARD slides, scored using the new Tripticoplus scoreboard. If I am honest, the session did not go as well as I had hoped. I made a few scoring mistakes and .... Read more and bookmark.
Helping parents, help students, helps you
In previous years we have held parents and carer workshops on “How to help your child revise.” This year, with Y11 parents evening our Principal asked if we could put some resources together to help them, help their child revise. With something old, something borrowed (@shaun_allison) and something new (a new forgetting curve), I have created a small pamphlet for the class of 2015s .... Read more and bookmark.
Good mistakes
Writing a blog is a public expression of one’s own opinion and I am therefore approaching this post cautiously and respectfully. I wrote this post on Sunday, left it draft to reflect upon. Every once in a while, I read how a pupil’s charity fund raising efforts have contravened their schools rules, typically hair cuts, dyes or designs contravene “extreme,” .... Read more and bookmark.
All those in favour of a College of Teaching
With the humility to accept that the #hashtag #worldclassteachers was and little too long, engulfing 18 characters of any potential discussion, the afternoons opening presentation began. Quality teaching is the single most important school based factor determining how well school pupils achieve. Few would argue with that statement, apart from the keynote speaker at a Teacher Leadership .... Read more and bookmark.