Sharing Good Practice
Retrieval Practice Challenge
Grid
I recently created the Retrieval Practice
Challenge Grid to revisit previous
topics and lessons at the start of a
lesson, but this can also be used for
revision too. The Retrieval Practice
Challenge grid was based on a
resource I have used with my students
for many years – a challenge grid which
contains a range of questions covering
the topic studied and the questions
varied in their level of difficulty. This
activity involved recalling subject
knowledge but was often based on a
week or two weeks’ worth of subject
content not further back. There were
questions on the challenge grid that
all students should be able to access,
and other questions would be more
challenging and require a more
sophisticated or in-depth answer,
this was great with my mixed ability
classes. Students also created their
own challenge grids to swap with their
peers. In my previous school, I was a
teacher of History, Politics, Religious
Education, Welsh and PSHE, so this
was a very flexible and adaptable
resource across subjects. Although I
do use regular multiple choice quizzes,
the students don’t have a multiple
choice for this task as Professor John
Dunlosky states, that, “students will
benefit most from tests that require
recall from memory and not from tests
that merely ask them to recognise the
correct answer”. This is an idea that is
research informed and inspired, but
also shows what educational research
can look like in the classroom.
Revision Clocks
Revision flash cards help to break
down information to make a whole
subject or topic more manageable for
pupils. Other ideas to do this, include
revision stations. In your classroom the
class can be divided up into different
stations with each table having a
different focus. The students can
rotate around the different revision
stations, spending a certain amount of
time revising, answering questions or
reflecting on that key topic. Students
can swap and share ideas from
different stations or in groups, being
given a specific area to focus on, then
present to their peers.
A fantastic resource that I have used,
is the Revision Clock, I originally
discovered this gem on Twitter. This
resource was created by Geography
teacher, Becky Russell who teaches
in Manchester, UK and can be found
on Twitter @TeachGeogBlog where
you can download the template for
free. The aim of the revision clock
is to spend one hour summarising
a key topic, spending 5 minutes per
section. This is great at the end of a
unit or during revision. If it is part of the
revision process, then I recommend
asking students to complete the
revision clock from memory, focusing
on retrieval practice and then checking
against their notes or textbook, so
then they become aware of what they
know and are able to recall and what
they missed out.
video, podcast, past paper etc. QR
codes are great for when students
go on study leave as they access the
revision
materials
independently
through the support and suggestions
of the teacher.
Best of luck to you and all of your
students with their upcoming exams.
If you are interested in more of my
teaching and learning ideas, you can
follow me on Twitter @87history or visit
my website Lovetoteach87.com
QR codes for revision
I often compile a bibliography or
revision list for my students with
suggested
reading
materials,
resources and useful websites and
links. There are so many revision
resources and information available
on the internet, all of varying quality
and for different exam boards. It can
help if we guide our students in the
right direction, suggesting what we
think are most useful/reliable/relevant
websites, because there is so much
out there, that it can be overwhelming!
QR codes are a great way to do this
and very easy to create. I use QR codes
in a variety of ways including QR codes
bookmarks, revision displays and in
revision booklets. Students can then
use their own devices in their own time
to be directed to a specific website,
Kate Jones
I am Head of History and qualified Lead Practitioner at Brighton College Al Ain.
In August 2016, after six years teaching in the UK, I relocated to the UAE to teach
and live in the region. I am a blogger sharing teaching and learning ideas for
every classroom via my website Lovetoteach87.com and you can follow my Twitter
account @87History
Class Time
|
|
May - Jun 2018
| 17