An alternative way to evidence learning objectives!

Just before we started back in January, there was a big discussion on social media about whether Learning Objectives/Challenges, WALTs and WILFs should be copied down by children. This extract from Debra Kidd's latest book seemed to spark the debate -


The argument, as I understood it, wasn't whether we should use Learning Objectives but more whether there is any direct impact on children's learning by asking them to copy it out for every lesson? After asking fellow teachers what happens in their school, it seems the majority make children copy the learning objective out for no other reason than for evidence.


Post by ICT with Mr P.

I was amazed that the only alternative if children didn't copy the LO was that teachers either copy the LO out or will print them onto 30+ stickers and stick them in every child's book! Where teachers find the time for this I don't know and how much of the school budget is used on stickers, printing and photocopying. However it got me thinking about finding a way in which technology can be used to make this easier. Finding a way teachers can evidence all the learning objectives without wasting time asking children to copy it out or create more work for themselves.

One possible method would be using a combination of Google Documents and QR Codes. This would how it would work -

  • Teachers will need to create a Google Drive account. 
  • From here, they can make a Google Document, the google doc is an online word document that can be accessed/edited from any device. 
  • The teacher could write the date, learning challenge, links to National Curriculum, lesson outcomes, differentiated objectives/tasks or any other information they would need to include, but would only have to write it once. 



  • By pressing the Share button in the top right corner, the web link for the doc can be copied and pasted into the website - QRStuff.com to produce and create a QR Code link - 

  • This QR code can be printed 30+ times on one sheet of paper and glued into the children's book at the start of each week, half term or topic. 
Children then only have to write the date in their books. Teachers will still share and discuss the learning objective in each lesson so pupils know exactly what they are learning in each lesson. As the Google Doc is a working document, the teacher just adds the LO to it everyday. If there was a last minute change to the lesson or it didn't happen for whatever reason, this can be noted on the Document. All the learning objectives are evidenced in the document and can be viewed by the powers that be by scanning the QR code using any QR Scanner app such as Scan. And matching the date in the children's books to the date in the Google Doc.

This method would mean children wouldn't need to waste time writing the learning objective out. It would save on so much printing, photocopying and time for teachers. They would only need to print the QR code once a week, half term or topic. 

It is just an idea and I would welcome any other ideas for evidencing Learning Objectives that would save learning time for children but also preparation time for teachers. If you find this method useful and end up using it, please let me know whether you find it works for you. 





Comments

  1. Unknown7 January 2015 at 18:56

    I absolutely love it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gorilla Witch7 January 2015 at 20:26

    Although I heartily disagree with the pointless writing out of LOs. What or who is reading the QR code? Don't children have to be above 14 y.o. to access Google Docs? Or in this model is it just the teacher that is accessing it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mr P ICT7 January 2015 at 20:40

      I have never heard of having to be 14 to access, possibly have their own account but in this example the teacher would create and edit the document for SLT to scan to see evidence or the children could scan to see the learning objectives.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous8 January 2015 at 10:58

    Although I agree that the LO takes way too much time, it is very handy at parents evening when discussing key objectives if its there on the page, also we colour code the LO when we mark, instead of writing comments as a way of reducing the marking load, so it's not too bad keeping them practising their handwriting!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous31 August 2015 at 12:19

    I often start teaching a lesson and part way through ask the children to create and write their own LO. What do they want to know by the end? How will they go about achieving it? They can then assess their own learning.
    Also, we too colour code the LO when it is generic to reduce marking.

    ReplyDelete

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