#186 Tools and Tips for Teachers: Episode 10 (with Ollie Lovell)
Feb 22, 2024
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Education expert Ollie Lovell joins Craig Barton to discuss teaching strategies, including using worked examples, frequent assessments, and the controversy around exit tickets. They dive into topics like fitness challenges, Monster Phonics for reading, and treating failures as system failures for effective problem-solving.
Check failures as system failures first for effective problem-solving.
Implement two versions of 'start to finish' tasks to prevent copying and enhance individual assessment validity.
Tighten feedback cycles and utilize exit tickets for improved student understanding and teacher feedback.
Deep dives
The Three-phase Work Example Framework
In the proposed framework, the first phase consists of the 'I do' model where the teacher leads the example and checks for student listening. The second phase involves a step-by-step approach for students to independently work on specific aspects of the example. The third phase introduces a 'start to finish' task called the 'tick trick' where students complete the entire example on their own. A potential variation includes having two versions of the 'start to finish' task where pairs complete different versions and then exchange books for mutual evaluation.
Enhancing Individual Work and Assessment Validity
The introduction of two versions of the 'start to finish' task aims to reduce copying and increase the validity of individual student work during assessments. By having students in pairs complete different versions, it encourages independent thinking and eliminates the influence of peers, potentially enhancing the accuracy of assessing individual understanding.
Promoting Focus, Care, and Improved Understanding
This variation not only discourages copying but also promotes increased focus and care in how students set out their work. By knowing that their work will be examined by a peer, students may take more effort in presenting their solutions clearly, leading to improved understanding and evaluation of learning.
Driving Collaborative Learning and Critical Thinking
The two-version approach fosters collaborative learning as students swap books and evaluate each other's work. This not only encourages peer interaction but also enhances critical thinking as students analyze and assess alternative solutions, potentially deepening their comprehension and problem-solving skills.
Importance of Tightening Feedback Cycles
Consistently checking for understanding through tightening feedback cycles is crucial in various settings, such as classrooms and teacher development. Increasing the frequency of assessments, from weekly tests to in-lesson checks, helps in identifying gaps early on. By structuring feedback cycles effectively, educators can catch and address misconceptions promptly, leading to improved learning outcomes.
Effectiveness of Exit Tickets in Education
Exit tickets serve as valuable tools for student consolidation, metacognition, and teacher feedback. They aid in planning and assessing core lesson objectives, especially beneficial for early-career teachers. Designing exit tickets for quick analysis, focusing on misconceptions, and independent completion enhances their effectiveness. Varying formats, such as slips of paper, mini whiteboards, and technology, can cater to different educational settings and learning objectives.
In this conversation, Craig and Ollie discuss various topics including Brian Johnson's quest to beat the aging process, fitness goals, teaching reading using Monster Phonics, treating failures as system failures, effective teacher professional development, and the use of silent teacher and checking for listening in the classroom. In this part of the conversation, Craig Barton and Ollie Lovell discuss various teaching strategies and methods. They explore the use of worked examples and the importance of checking for understanding. They also discuss the idea of tightening feedback cycles and the benefits of more frequent assessments. Finally, they delve into the controversy surrounding exit tickets and their effectiveness as a teaching tool. You can access the show-notes here: mrbartonmaths.com/blog/tools-and-tips-for-teachers-10/
Time-stamps:
Consider failures first as system failures (09:15)
My latest lesson observation and coaching template (16:43)