Differentiation/ Learner Needs by mara https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc PGCE learners studied different ways of meet individual student needs by using different practices, technologies and applied learning theories. en-us 2016-06-28 20:37:02 UTC 2016-07-04 13:14:55 UTC hello@padlet.com Divergent Thinking mara_simmons1 https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115618693 How can I develop creativity in further education photography learners?

This project looks at divergent thinking and the impact of visual stimulus on the ability to perform divergent thinking tasks. Twenty learners completed a rated self-
assessment to gain an understanding of their perception of their own creativity
followed by an initial Alternative Thinking task, which became the basis for measuring their creative performance. The second phase looked at a drawing task,
in which no visual stimulus was offered to the learners, during the third phase learners completed a similar task, but visual stimulus and guidance of creative problem solving was offered. In the final phase another Alternative Thinking task was performed. All four tasks were measured based on fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration and the results analysed for trends and progression.

]]> 2016-06-28 20:44:45 UTC https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115618693 When project based learning is applied to an exam focused course, what are the strengths and weaknesses that occur for student outcomes? mara_simmons1 https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115620087 This action research project looked at whether project based learning could be successfully applied to an exam focused course. The research focused around two groups of students, day time business and accountancy students aged between 16 – 19, and evening Association of Accountancy
Technicians (AAT) students, aged 19 plus. Both groups study the same subject, however the daytime students currently take part in project based learning, whereas the evening students partake in more conventional learning practices.]]> 2016-06-28 21:05:54 UTC https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115620087 Should Literacy be Embedded in Practical Subjects mara_simmons1 https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115620306 “One in six people in the UK struggle with literacy. This means their literacy is below the level expected of an 11 year old”. (Didau, 2014. p11).

“16-23 year olds in England are ranked at no 22 out of 24 western countries in terms of literature”. (OECD cited in www.telegraph.co.uk/education).

“Only 1% of people in England are completely literature”. (www.literacytrust.org.uk).

“More than half of British motorists cannot interpret road signs properly”. (Didau, 2014. p11).

The literacy levels statistics for the UK continue to be damning and distressing. There are frequent surveys representing the dissatisfaction of employers at the “low standards of basic literacy demonstrated by school
and college leavers. Literacy is a huge issue for the nation, society and economy not just for schools.” (www.gov.uk).

The problems are well documented. Strategies and suggestions are debated and discussed and yet the problem continues. As a teacher of a practical subject I was interested in how I might improve the literacy
content of my lessons and this is where my research began.]]> 2016-06-28 21:10:48 UTC https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115620306 Student Voice mara_simmons1 https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115620895 This paper investigates the use of student voice and choice to improve engagement in
lessons with particular focus on practical sport lessons. There is also a focus on the male –female split in the group to identify how that can affect the group dynamic including how various sports are received by the group. This study observes a mixed class to see how they react to being given opportunity to voice their opinions of sports and choose, as a group,
which they play during lessons. Participants were observed over the course of 6 weeks to note how they reacted to this freedom and how they interacted with each other. The study showed that participants created their own limitations to positive effect, increasing engagement throughout the study. Results showed that some limitations could be positive for students particularly when trying to engage a mixed class with a variety of sporting preferences, rather than total freedom.]]> 2016-06-28 21:14:14 UTC https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115620895 Use of Authentic Audio for ESOL Students mara_simmons1 https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115620950 This project started with the question of how to improve ESOL learners’ listening skills. Initially a group of fifteen learners took part in a discussion and some completed an initial questionnaire to gain information about their listening habits. Thereafter, authentic listening resources were used to assess learners’ listening comprehension. Some learners were selected to do extra listening outside the classroom using web-based resources. The results displayed an increase in listening comprehension. Learners’ original ideas about listening did not shift
significantly. As a result of the project, the following recommendations were made: to use authentic texts in the classroom; use the texts as an opportunity for learners to listen, not be assessed; overtly teach listening strategies and encourage learners to use them; encourage
learners to increase their listening of English texts outside of the classroom.]]> 2016-06-28 21:15:41 UTC https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115620950 PBL in an Exam Based B-TEC course mara_simmons1 https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115621166 Project Based Learning (PBL) is not a new way of facilitating learning, the idea has been
around for a period of time, the NEA (2016) state that “As far back as 1900, John Dewey supported the “learning by doing” approach to education, which is the essential element of Project Based Learning.” Here at Activate Learning, we have actively engaged in this way of educating our students. The BTEC in its current format allows the design of the curriculum to be done within each establishment and as such they allow individual Units
to be combined in such a way that helps learners to achieve multiple criteria and specifications through the production of one piece of work. Thus saving them effort and
time, and helps them from having to repeat explanations where cross-over of information is asked for in these units.]]> 2016-06-28 21:22:35 UTC https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115621166 What support is needed to engage and motivate recent refugees in education? mara_simmons1 https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115622145 Emotional support - The support from his teachers was invaluable in making him feel settled and engaged in the lessons, discussing past experiences
made him feel valued and that starting a British education was a daunting experience.

• Consistency - It became apparent that the role of the teacher is to become a reliable and consistent adult figure in their lives. Having the same teacher and the same timetable and rooms ensured that he felt secure and settled in a stable routine.

• Differentiation – The interviewee revealed that when he finds lessons too hard and overwhelming, it has a physical impact in the form of headaches. In order to ensure that lessons are accessible and are having a positive impact on the students, differentiation is a crucial strategy and one that should be planned carefully, thinking about the needs of individual students.]]> 2016-06-28 21:40:24 UTC https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115622145 Teaching Skills to a Blind Student mara_simmons1 https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115900983 In the interest of inclusive practice, research was carried out that led to a six week action cycle being implemented. The intended outcome was to enable a blind learner to be able to add and subtract using denominations of fives in order to meet money skills objectives. Previous attempts had been stressful for the student, therefore being mindful of the affective domain was an essential part of the project. The introduction of a simple 10 x 10 abacus was adequate action for the outcome of this research project. For the second part of the action cycle a more complex units, tens and hundreds abacus was used, which the student quickly mastered and was able to make calculations with larger sums of money. Most notably, there was a marked increase in in the student confidence, self-belief and motivation.]]> 2016-07-04 13:13:31 UTC https://padlet.com/mara_simmons1/5lhy1jw92udc/wish/115900983