GAD Student Voice 2010

Teaching and Learning

Khaleda Akhtar

Proposed Self-Directed Learning Case Study

GAD Student Voice 2010
Purpose: The GAD student voice is dedicated to teaching and learning within the academy. It is
our role to study the methods and styles of teaching that are applied within the academy and to then
analyse its effectiveness and impact on students. Currently we are working on a project to
implement 'self-directed learning' within the academy. This new and exciting approach has shown
promising results from secondary sources and we are keen to adopt this pedagogy ourselves and to
integrate it into the day to day lives of our students here at Grace. The following pilot case study
will be our first step in introducing this pedagogy to our pupils and staff and the outcomes of the
trial will determine whether we fully adopt this approach and whether it will be the new face of
teaching and learning for our pupils and staff here at GAD. Details of the study are listed below as
follows:

Sample Size: 30 students

Year Group: Year 8
Ability Group: Set 1
Duration of study: 6 weeks

Method
1) A sample of students will be selected, these students will be a class of set 1 year 8 students
who are studying science. Informed consent from parents is required in order for individuals
to partake in the study.
2) Data pertaining to their prior attainment within the Academy in Year 7 as well as future
predicted grades will be collated.
3) The sample students will answer a simple closed question survey which will provide data on
various non academic fields ( confidence, behaviour etc.)
4) The guidelines of the study will be made clear to the teacher/supervisor.
5) The trial will run over a six week period, within this period, teachers and students must
conform to the principles of 'self-directed learning'; focusing on student led and peer group
learning.
6) During the process of the study, video evidence will be collated to document process and
findings
7) After the six week period, students will answer the same closed question survey that they
filled out prior to the study.
8) All of the participants will sit an exam based on the subjects that they studied in the process
of the trial.
9) The exam results and data from the questionnaires will be collated and analysed.
10) Results of the exams will be compared to predicted grades. Answers to the questionnaire
prior to the study will be compared against answers that were given after the study.
11) The process will either be deemed as successful or unsuccessful depending on whether
student's attainment matches, outperforms or falls below predicted grades/ grades from
previous year 8 class from the previous year.
GAD Student Voice 2010
Teaching and Learning
Khaleda Akhtar

Areas That will Be Studied

• Attainment of students after the trial period compared to expected/projected grades.
• Behaviour
• Attitude to learning
• Confidence
• Interaction with peers
• Speaking and listening
• Satisfaction/happiness
• Independence
• Engagement
How Will Progress Be Measured?
There will be three main forms of evaluation; Internal assessment after the trial period,covert
observation by teachers/supervisors and responses to student surveys.
Areas That Will Be Assessed By Covert Observation
• Behaviour
• Confidence
• Interaction with peers
• Speaking and Listening
Areas That Will Be Assessed By Student Surveys
• Attitude to learning
• Confidence
• Speaking and Listening
• Independence
• Satisfaction/happiness
• Engagement
Ethical Issues
• Informed consent required from parents
• Must be carried out after all official external exams have been taken ( 'free' time at the end
of the year)
• Must get backing from heads of Faculty and teachers
• Supervisors must be present in the classroom for safety issues.
• Disclosure of student's attainment to other students