Outstanding...
Your Newsletter on Teaching, Learning and Assessment!!!
Quote: “If a student can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.”
What OFSTED said about Newham College...
- OFSTED graded Teaching, Learning & Assessment as "Good"
- "Overall the large majority of learners achieve well and make good progress."
- "The vast majority of learners, including those with high needs, enjoy a good learning experience. Where learning is particularly effective, teachers plan interactive and differentiated activities so that learners of varying abilities are able to achieve beyond their expectations."
- "Teachers and assessors are highly skilled and experienced; learners value their extensive subject knowledge and their welcoming and supportive manner."
- "Learners develop a very good understanding of their subjects, and teachers help them to have confidence in their ability and in how they might progress their learning to a higher level."
OFSTED's Common Inspection Framework (CIF) is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/552501/Further_education_and_skills_inspection_handbook_for_use_from_September_2016.pdf
What makes an 'Outstanding' lesson?
- Learners are curious, interested and keen to learn. They seek out and use new information to develop, consolidate and deepen their knowledge, understanding and skills.
- Learners capitalise on opportunities to use feedback to improve. Staff check learners’ understanding systematically and effectively, offering clearly directed and timely support that has an impact on improving learning.
- Staff are determined that learners achieve well. They have excellent subject knowledge and motivate and engage learners, who enjoy the work they complete. Staff have consistently high expectations of all learners’ attitudes to learning and learners are set challenging targets to achieve.
- Staff plan learning sessions and assessments very effectively so that all learners undertake demanding work that helps them to realise their potential. Staff identify and support any learner who is falling behind and enable almost all to catch up.
- Staff gather a useful range of accurate assessment information and use this to give learners incisive feedback about what they can do to improve their knowledge, understanding and skills. Learners are committed to taking these next steps and their work shows that almost all are making substantial and sustained progress.
- Staff set work that consolidates learning, deepens understanding and develops skills, and prepares learners very well for their next steps.
- Staff are quick to challenge stereotypes and the use of derogatory language. Resources and teaching strategies reflect and value the diversity of learners’ experiences and provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of people and communities beyond their immediate experience.
- Staff promote, where appropriate, English, mathematics, ICT and employability skills exceptionally well and ensure that learners are well-equipped with the necessary skills to progress to their next steps.
'QUIZ-QUIZ-TRADE' Activity
You need to create a series of question cards (with a question AND answer). Each student gets one card:
- QUIZ : Student 1 'quizzes' student 2 using their card. Student 2 answers (if incorrect, student 1 coaches the student 2 to get the right answer).
- QUIZ : Then student 2 'quizzes' student 1. Again coaches if they get the incorrect answer.
- TRADE: The students 'swap' cards and find someone else in the room.
To see the activity in action please follow the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4n60DpwYOg ...why not have a go?
Online Activity...Kahoot Q&A
Q. What is Kahoot?
A. 'Kahoot' is an online quiz website which learners can access and play within the classroom
Q. How do you access Kahoot?
A. Go to www.getkahoot.com (you will need to sign up). Click on 'Quiz' and then enter a 'title', 'description' and 'audience'
Q. How do I add questions?
A. Click 'add question' button and then enter your question followed by 4 multiple choice answers - make sure you select which is the correct answer before clicking 'next'
Q. How do the students access the kahoot?
A. Firstly you need to log in and click 'my kahoots' (top left). This will show a 'game pin'. Then get the students to access www.kahoot.it, enter the 'game pin'.
Q. How do they play?
A. Each multiple answer will be a colour (red, blue, green or yellow). They need to select the correct one. After each question it will show you how many students selected each answer. You can then re-cap if needed.
Q. How do they win?
A. Students get points for selecting the correct answer and the speed at which they select it. Zero points for incorrect answers.
This is an excellent activity and students get really engaged......don't forget there are a number of iPads available from EHC219 so please book them with Sangeeta.Sirari@newham.ac.uk
Step 1: Log onto www.getkahoot.com
Step 2: Generate Questions
Step 3: Play, Play, Play
Experimental Teaching Research
A number of Newham lecturers are working collaboratively with colleagues from different institutions to find new and engaging activities for learners. They have used a number of experiments which they try out and discuss the results. Below is an experiment which has had great success....why not try it out!!!
Experiment: Use Self Organised Learning Environment (SOLE)
Method: The teacher puts a series of tasks on the board which the learners carry out themselves. Eg. Create a presentation on…
The teacher spends the first 15 minutes of the lesson in silence.
Benefit: student centred, learners take ownership of what they are learning and encourages team work.
Please feel free to send an email below on your findings. This could be benefits and drawbacks found, how well the learners responded, engagement level etc...remember be honest!!
Useful Links...
www.tes.com - teaching resources & jobs
www.gov.uk - current government policy & strategies
www.classtools.net - teaching resources (name generators, timers etc)
www.teachit.co.uk - teaching resources
www.theguardian.com - articles & current issues
Have you any great activities, interesting information or feedback on the newsletter. Please feel free to email any comments and suggestions at the bottom of the page...