One of the biggest challenges pupils face when studying History is answering the Enquiry Skills questions of the exam. These important questions are at the very foundation of the subject as they test not only the facts but also the vital skills of working with various forms of evidence, such an important aspect of the discipline that is History. This section is worth 2/3 of the overall grade at Standard Grade level.

Recently I have been issuing my fourth year classes with a homework task which doesn’t just test their ability to answer an Enquiry Skills question but also their ability to teach the skills required. The theory is that to be able teach something the pupils must fully understand it.

I have been very impressed with the results as the pupils seem to have taken on board my advice on how to answer the questions and their instuctions have been very good. It has also identified the specific questions that pose problems for individuals and they have been able to see where they are going wrong. I think that this will significantly improve results in the ES section and over the coming months the skills will be tested with many practice exam questions.

Today the Assessment is for Learning development group led a whole staff training session. Assessment is For Learning is a key area with in the curriculum. The afternoon started with a video of Assessment is For learning in action and staff were then split into three groups to complete some activities.

Kate Bulloch, Fiona Henry and myself had the task of showing the staff how Memory Mapping could be used within the classroom. Our session started with Fiona introducing a memory game where there is a picture with a number of objects laid out and staff were given 10 seconds to study the picture. The next picture showed that two objects had been taken away and the staff were asked to identify which objects were missing.

I then explained that Memory Mapping is an activity that can be used during a revision lesson or when pupils have to memorise a diagram. It uses peer assessment as pupils are working in groups and assessing what each member has remembered and written down, and what still needs to be written. It also helps the teacher because gaps in understanding can then be filled and we can ensure that pupils have been given important concepts before a test. Moreover, it fits in with a Curriculum for Excellence because pupils are working collaboratively in groups. In addition, all pupils are actively involved in the task and for pupils who are very shy in class it is a low risk activity as there is no need for them to answer in front of the class.

Kate then gave the instructions for the task. We had set the room into groups of four and staff had to number themselves one to four. Each member of the group was then given two minutes to look at a mind map on the wall outside and then return to the group and replicate the mind map as much as possible. They could onlylook at the mind map once during those two minutes. This was repeated until all members of th group had been to look at the mind map.

I would like to thank staff for participating in the activities and hope that we have introduced them to an activity that they can use within their own classroom.

I would also like to thank Fiona for stepping in to help at two days notice!

This year I am a member of the Assessment is for Learning devlopment group within Knox Academy. HMIe have put great emphasis of AiFL as this is viewed as an integral part of  boosting Learning and Teaching. The group are planning to host a presentation to staff during a CAT afternoon in January. The aim of this afternoon will be to offer staff practical strategies that they can use in their everyday teaching and to build on the already excellent practice within the school.

Yesterday we the group met to discuss plans for this session. Our idea is to make it as practical as possible to allow staff to become involved in some of the tasks that they may wish to use. I am really looking forward to this inservice and I am sure other members of staff will bring in their own ideas of activities that work well.