RSA Ken Robinson- Changing Education Paradigms

This RSA Animate was adapted from a talk given at the RSA by Sir Ken Robinson, world-renowned education and creativity expert and recipient of the RSA's Benjamin Franklin award.

Takeaway Homework

Can we make homework fun and independent?

Setting homework is a professional requirement and can be challenging to plan for. Successful homework is meaningful and contributes towards learning and progress.

Takeaway homework allows us to provide our students with creative opportunities, choices and helps to develop skills. This particular style of homework will allow us to develop our students as independent thinkers and empower them with ownership.

The idea is simple; you set homework that students can select from like a menu. The instructions have to be simple, snappy and easy for the student to understand. The phrase ‘takeaway’ is exactly as it sounds. Students read, takeaway and there should be little guidance needed from you.

Below are some guidelines:-

·         Write a list of homework ideas for a key stage, project or year group.

·         Now divide homework into sections. For example; Research; Development; Evaluation.

·         Add in a few seasonal pieces to complete at Easter, Christmas and over the summer holidays.

·         Decide if you want to place the homework in a sequential order using a subject-specific, assessment criteria. Adding success-criteria make remove the exciting aspect of a Takeaway, or add incentives to improve…

·         Add a simple statement describing each homework and what is needed. No more than a sentence.

·         Make sure each-homework can literally be read there and then, and is a ‘Takeaway’. This means, it requires no further guidance.

·         Decide on what method you will use to display this resource. A huge banner? A tombola? Using the interactive whiteboard and a lottery-number selector? Simply laminated and stuck to the wall? As the back of all students’ exercise books?

·         Consider setting one random Takeaway homework once a half-term (as well as regular homework)

Takeaway Homework comes from ZAL. More details can be found in the T&L Bulletin.

Spaced Learning

With year 10 and 11 mocks taking place and KS3 end of year exams looming how can we make revision effective and interesting? How can we plan a revision lesson that will be fun and help our students to prepare.

Spaced learning is a method of revision. Content is condensed and repeated 3 times with tasks for pupils to complete. The revision lesson has 2 x 5 minute breaks. The breaks are key to spaced learning being a success. During the breaks you ask the students to do something in silence that uses a different set of skills. Scientific evidence proves that when the content is revisited after a break, long term memories are created.

For example you hear a song on the radio and you like it. The next time you hear it, you pick up the chorus, they third time you hear it you can practically sing along!

I have used spaced learning successfully and it has had an impact. A physics exemplar is attached. The rules of the break are crucial - No talking! I usually give the students a block of plasticine and ask them to make me ‘Nemo’ or ‘Buzz Light year’ and provide them their time limit.

From ZAL and was recently published in the T&L bulletin.