Problems!

[IanWilliamson]

Hi all

I am brand new to this online stuff. So i'm not sure if I'm in the right place to post this question but here goes.

I am a teacher in a C / D borderline school. We are finding it hard to encourage and motivate pupils to revise. The last GCSE results showed massive underachievment, especially from the boys. I am in charge of taking specialism across the curriculum and so I am looking for any suggestions that you may be able to give that may help.

I know there is software available but we have tried alot and nothing has really worked for us. So any suggestions?

[somabc]

Bribery?

[like this - http://ema.direct.gov.uk/]

Give them rewards for studying, meeting their goals. You don't have to use cash you can offer alternatives as well.

[elsiegee40]

I think a strong reward culture is always needed. Having the right tools for study always helps, along with enthusiastic staff who can motivate the children. However, a few 'carrots' dangling to encourage the boys in the right direction always helps

I am a parent governor at a boys school which is succeeding well. There are regular reward trips for boys who have put the effort into study. They don't just get to go on the trips because they've got As... effort is what counts, which means that less bright boys know they can get to go on these trips and the clever ones only go if they've actually shown some graft.

The boys do have to contribute to the cost of these trips (subject to normal hardship rules)

Recent examples are:
- a tour of Wembley Stadium for PE
- Dover Castle for behaviour
- France / Germany for MFL

In addition the House Point system is geared so that end of term trips are based on the number of HPs you've earned... the highest level is the trip up North (Old Trafford Tour and Alton Towers) Again it's not just the clever ones who benefit

The boys, including my son, know exactly what they have to do get on these trips... and it certainly motivates them. Obviously a few fail to engage with the system and I don't doubt that it took time for this system to start to have the desired affect.

[Midget]

Beatings! Beatings for all!

what?ok fine.

Have you tried successmaker? It was used in the last place I was in for the Special Educational Needs pupils of all ages and did actually help to an extent.

[Andie]

Hi all

I am brand new to this online stuff. So i'm not sure if I'm in the right place to post this question but here goes.

I am a teacher in a C / D borderline school. We are finding it hard to encourage and motivate pupils to revise. The last GCSE results showed massive underachievment, especially from the boys. I am in charge of taking specialism across the curriculum and so I am looking for any suggestions that you may be able to give that may help.

I know there is software available but we have tried alot and nothing has really worked for us. So any suggestions?

What have you tried??

[samclarke_bccsc]

Hi Ian
I work in a specialist sports and science college so I undertstand your dillema
My school has been using a package called I am learning for the past two years. Its a learning and revision site that uses games which the students love. The school have just renewed again for 3 years as it really made students want to learn both in school and more so at home. Its at I am learning : Games Based Revision
Hope that helps?
Sam

[Midget]

Sam: are you also a member of the Bearded Collie Club of Southern California?

[samclarke_bccsc]

ha! Southern California....sounds better than Balby Carr in Doncaster!!! Bearded...not if I tried! ha!

[IanWilliamson]

What have you tried??

Software wise we are using SAM learning and though it has some good content it isnt the greatest for our set of kids. Also we have tried to impliment the reward system before and it works very well. However it would be very hard to replicate it for 1000 kids.

Also i'm afraid we cant beat them but thanks for the suggestion. Any other ideas on the software available?

[EduTech]

Success Maker i think is a good one.. we also use that aswell as SAM Learning.

James.

[AngryITGuy]

We recently had a demo of InQuizitor which we were very impressed with see here for more info

Similar to I Am Learning its a Game Based revision tool and after looking at the costs involved its about half the price too.

Haven't seen both products in action so I can't say which is better in my opinion but I have just requested a demo of I Am Learning.

[IanWilliamson]

Thanks for that. I will take a look at both I Am Learning and Inquizitor are these both free to trial? would you suggest these games based programs are the way forward? does SAM offer games based stuff?

[AngryITGuy]

InQuizitor is free to download and trial. I believe you have to request an online demo for I Am learning.

In my opinion these game based learning/teaching programs are the way forward as they use a method of interaction that students these days are very use to.

It can change the way a subject can be taught and students are far more engaged as playing games is something most if not all of them are good at.

[IanWilliamson]

Looked into both these products. Inquizitor was very interesting to see and it was very easy to download however I found it difficult to understand who provided the content and was unsure if the content was curriculum approved. I am still in the dark about the whole concept of Inquizitor and I would not know how to intergrate it across the board, it would be great if anyone could clear this up.

I have only had a demo log in for I Am Learning for a couple of days and have not had an indepth look however my first impressions are good. I have found that it can be intergrated into our learning platform and it has its own curriculum approved content. Would be great for more information off you Sam regarding the impact it has had on your school.

[AngryITGuy]

Hope this is helpful...

When I had the demo for InQuizitor I was informed that all the content is curriculum approved.

Were were also told that all site licenses for InQuizitor included £500 worth of content, Prices for content are dependant on the number of questions supplied and range between 8 and £40.

The bonus of InQuizitor is that you are able to create your own content so there are no ongoing licensing costs, unless you purchase the home licence for students. Its also simple to use as the Editor for creating content is very intuitive, exactly what you need if teachers are going to be using it

Here we will have InQuizitor installed on all curriculum machiens with the all content on a server. The content will also be available to download via our VLE so students can download and access the content from home.