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| KEY STAGE 4 BOY'S LEARNING CONFERENCE |
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Prior to his keynote presentation to the ‘network masses’ Bill Lucas ran a learning session with fifty year ten boys from across the network. The pupils from De la Salle, Sweyne Park and Woodlands were identified as boys who had interesting data profiles in terms of prior attainment and ongoing monitoring or were capable of raising their performance but lacked self confidence.
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The boys, in mixed school groups, were introduced to the notion of learning how to learn through a variety of approaches including sporting analogy, pupil surveys, snippets of the latest research and brain-bending puzzle style activities. Bill Lucas then introduced and illustrated the 5 R’s of learning and in groups of five the boys mind mapped what is was to be ready, resourceful, resilient, able to remember and reflect. Discussion then developed these concepts and examples were created to illustrate when these vital characteristics could be transferred in and out of the classroom. It was agreed that from their playstation to the science lab and football field to the exam hall key aspects of learning in all contexts should be transferable!
After this he modelled how to secure success using the Ready, Go, Steady approach. As he mentioned in his keynote address the Ready, Go, Steady involves the learner in a sequence of staged thinking and preparation for effective and successful learning. Being ready requires an emotional state of ‘readines’ with positive feelings and a sense of curiosity apparent; the go element revolves around an understanding of the learning cycle and the roles played by motivation, application and feedback. Finally the steady as you go element prompts a reflectiveness of how learning was achieved, what transferable skills might be drawn out and how the process could be improved next time.
Key Learning points to promote boys’ learning
- Consider the emotions tied up in learning – (settle, support and spark curiosity!)
- Look for connections within learning – (bring ‘informal/recreational’ learning skills into
play
- Aim to open learning up using images, sound and words –( utilise all the senses!)
- Give effective feedback – (consider how to do this and remember it needs to be quick!)
<ANDY SAMWAYS —SPS>
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