10 | Key Stage 3 National Strategy|Pedagogy and practice
Unit 17: Developing effective learners
© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0440-2004
Task 4
Classroom assignment: teaching learning skills 90 minutes
Choose a learning skill to develop
Using the checklist you prepared in task 2, decide what learning skill or skills you
will focus on with your chosen class. At the beginning of this section (page 6) it
was suggested that the basic learning skills to develop in pupils are:
- organising and sequencing their work;
- appreciating when they need to seek help or ask questions.
Alternatively you might decide to focus on a learning skill you saw successfully
taught by the teacher you observed in task 3, for example:
- working effectively in small groups: pupils are given a clear brief, strict time
limits and specific feedback points to prepare;
- working on a skill not previously given much attention in your subject (e.g.
drafting and re-drafting, much practised in English lessons, could be used in
science to help pupils to develop written explanations).
Whatever you choose, keep it specific and fairly simple. That way you are more
likely to see a clear positive response from the class.
Plan and teach the lesson
Plan your lesson, giving specific attention to how you will:
- model the task and the learning skills for the class;
- monitor and give feedback, involving pupils as much as possible.
Teach the lesson, then do an evaluation. Consider whether the class, or at least
some of the pupils:
- began to show more independence in the area you were trying to develop;
- showed fewer signs of disorganisation or over-reliance on others.
Continue to develop the same learning skills with your chosen class, modelling a
variety of tasks in subsequent lessons. It will take time for the new skill to be
embedded into everyday learning.
