16th of April 2024:

27th of February 2024:

18th of September: 

How to make the best use of technology for retrieval practice - Tips for Teachers.

The link below is an 18 min video explaining how quiz programmes such as quiziwz and kahoot can be used to further support retrieval practice. I have then used chat gtp to give the specific timings and a summary of the main points of learning. 

- 00:00 Use technology for retrieval practice with three golden rules: workload friendly, user-friendly, and low stakes.

- 02:28 Quiz Iwz.com is an excellent tool for retrieval practice. It offers various question types, including cued recall, images, equations, and audio. It has a teleport feature to import quizzes created by other teachers and allows personalization by removing distractions like music, leaderboards, and question timers.

- 04:39 Repeat quizzes to reinforce learning. Even if students have seen the questions before, it enhances retrieval strength and tracks progress effectively.

- 06:50 Consider the context for using technology like clickers or digital quizzes. In some situations, simple methods like finger voting or cards might be more suitable to avoid recording every answer and reducing assessment pressure.

- 09:05 Technology can be used for no-stakes retrieval practice, making it anonymous and engaging. Tools like mentimeter.com and digital post-it notes (Padlet and Jamboard) offer anonymity, but there are pros and cons to consider.

- 11:19 Digital flashcards are great for self-quizzing, but students should choose between creating their own or using ready-made flashcards like Quizlet, Anki, or Quizzes. However, ensure that students actively engage in retrieval practice rather than just copying answers.

- 13:36 When using flashcards for revision, it's advisable to keep sessions subject and topic-based rather than mixing subjects excessively. Interleaving can be beneficial, but it's essential to maintain a coherent focus to effectively tie together ideas.

- 15:41 Seeking a balance between interleaving and subject-focused revision is key. While some mixing can be beneficial, maintaining a structured approach to flashcard use, as advised by cognitive scientist John Dunlosky, is essential for effective learning.

 The article provides tips for teachers on using technology for retrieval practice.

- Three golden rules for using technology for retrieval practice are mentioned: workload-friendly, user-friendly, and low stakes.

- Quiz Iwz.com is recommended as an effective tool for retrieval practice, offering various question types and personalization options.

- Repeating quizzes, even if students have seen the questions before, can reinforce learning and track progress.

- Consider the context when using technology for retrieval practice, as simpler methods like finger voting or cards may be more suitable in some situations.

- Technology can be used for no-stakes retrieval practice, offering anonymity and engagement through tools like mentimeter.com and digital post-it notes.

- Digital flashcards are suggested for self-quizzing, with options for creating custom cards or using ready-made ones like Quizlet, Anki, or Quizzes.

- When using flashcards for revision, it's advisable to keep sessions subject and topic-based rather than mixing subjects excessively.

- Balancing interleaving and subject-focused revision is important for effective learning, as advised by cognitive scientist John Dunlosky.

https://www.chatpdf.com/ ChatPDF in a Nutshell Your PDF AI - like ChatGPT but for PDFs. Summarise and answer questions for free.

For Students -Prepare for exams, get help with home learning and answer multiple choice questions.

For Researchers- Scientific papers, academic articles and books. Get the information you need for your research.

For Professionals - Legal contracts, financial reports, manuals and training material. Ask any question to any PDF and get insights fast.

Any Language- Works worldwide! ChatPDF accepts PDFs in any language and can chat in any language.

Cited Sources - Answers contain references to their source in the original PDF document. No more flipping pages.

12th of September: 

Dear all to continue the great start we had last week can I ask that by the end of the week when by then we should have seen all our classes that:

All exercise books have a plastic wallet on them.

They have the presentation procedures and PROUD presentation sticker stuck in and we are making sure this is adhered to, to support high quality presentation.

Learning Journeys are displayed on covers.

WWW posters are up in all classes and are referred to in each lesson.

Seating plans are completed ( on Edulink go to view seating plan and click the hide photo as names will be correct). 

To further support the work on AI I have included a few more resources.

https://beta.character.ai/ Character.AI lets you create Characters and talk to them. The AI algorithms engage in a conversation, using all the information available online, to simulate the tone and content that would come from that individual. You can share the character you created with your students and have a very fun and creative way to introduce new content to your class.  Below is a chat with Napoleon Bonaparte to talk about the French Revolution.