How to use this the Learning and assessment resource to improve practice

The following questions may provide a stimulus for discussion:

• How well do our questioning strategies enhance the learners’ experience and enable higher-order thinking skills?
• How well do we enable all children and young people to engage in self- and peer-assessment to improve their learning? How do we know this benefits learning?
• How effectively are we supporting learners to initiate questions about their own learning and progress?

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PDF file: Raising Attainment – Improving Life Chances (2.14 MB)

​Explore the resource

This exemplar, from West Lothian Psychology Service, is a series of information sheets utilised across West Lothian Council aimed at improving life chances through:

• Effective Questioning
  How questions are fielded by teachers sets the learning climate and enables learners’ thinking to be revised, affirmed and extended in a cost effective way which also supports positive relationships between teachers and learners.

• Improvement Feedback
  Evidence about the learner’s current level of skill is critical to providing improvement feedback.
• Peer Tutoring
  ‘Peer Learning builds on individuals’ strengths and mobilises them as active participants in the learning process…they also learn transferable skills in helping, cooperation, listening and communication.’ Topping (2005)
• Peer Evaluation
  Peer evaluation is an excellent skill which can be developed within the classroom to encourage children and young people to further develop their critical thinking skills.
• Metacognition
  Learners’ beliefs about learning and their capacity to learn are essential to motivation.
• Self-regulated Learning
  Supporting learners to review learning.