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| Where hands-up in class is banned | Where hands-up in class is banned |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| By Megan Lane BBC News Magazine | By Megan Lane BBC News Magazine |
| No more raised hands to answer questions, and a short, sharp burst of PE first thing every day. It's school - with a difference. | No more raised hands to answer questions, and a short, sharp burst of PE first thing every day. It's school - with a difference. |
| The more usual scenario is repeated in classrooms everywhere. Teacher asks a question. A few hands shoot up - always the same hands. The hands that aren't raised instead prop up drooping heads, or twiddle pens. | The more usual scenario is repeated in classrooms everywhere. Teacher asks a question. A few hands shoot up - always the same hands. The hands that aren't raised instead prop up drooping heads, or twiddle pens. |
| Those who raise their hands listen in class, engage with the topic and so achieve more highly. The others, often, let their attention drift. "They're foregoing the opportunity to get smarter," says education expert Dylan Wiliam. | Those who raise their hands listen in class, engage with the topic and so achieve more highly. The others, often, let their attention drift. "They're foregoing the opportunity to get smarter," says education expert Dylan Wiliam. |
| And so he banned hands-up when he took over a Year 8 class of 12 and 13-year-olds at Hertswood School, a Hertfordshire comprehensive, for the summer term. The pupils were guinea pigs, testing methods for grabbing - and holding - the attention of the whole class, not just the usual suspects. | And so he banned hands-up when he took over a Year 8 class of 12 and 13-year-olds at Hertswood School, a Hertfordshire comprehensive, for the summer term. The pupils were guinea pigs, testing methods for grabbing - and holding - the attention of the whole class, not just the usual suspects. |
| Boys in particular can lag behind, so in another experiment for the BBC, choirmaster Gareth Malone turned teacher for a term at Pear Tree Mead Primary in Essex, to try to re-engage boys who don't like school. He taught the nine- to 11-year-olds outdoors, with running around and role-play in a clearing in the school grounds. | Boys in particular can lag behind, so in another experiment for the BBC, choirmaster Gareth Malone turned teacher for a term at Pear Tree Mead Primary in Essex, to try to re-engage boys who don't like school. He taught the nine- to 11-year-olds outdoors, with running around and role-play in a clearing in the school grounds. |
| So what did they do - and why? | So what did they do - and why? |
NO HANDS-UP - EXCEPT TO ASK A QUESTION | NO HANDS-UP - EXCEPT TO ASK A QUESTION |
| "When teachers ask questions, it's always the same few pupils who put up their hands. The others can slip below the teacher's radar, and therefore tune out," says Professor Wiliam. | "When teachers ask questions, it's always the same few pupils who put up their hands. The others can slip below the teacher's radar, and therefore tune out," says Professor Wiliam. |
| So instead of a show of hands, the teacher would ask pupils at random to answer any questions. There was resistance at first. | So instead of a show of hands, the teacher would ask pupils at random to answer any questions. There was resistance at first. |
| "Those who didn't usually raise their hands were shocked that they had to pay attention. Those used to volunteering an answer were nonplussed by their removal from the spotlight," he says. | "Those who didn't usually raise their hands were shocked that they had to pay attention. Those used to volunteering an answer were nonplussed by their removal from the spotlight," he says. |
| Teachers found they had to plan their lessons in more detail, formulating questions to draw out pupils who'd fallen out of the habit of responding in class. | Teachers found they had to plan their lessons in more detail, formulating questions to draw out pupils who'd fallen out of the habit of responding in class. |
| A compromise was for the teacher to randomly pick two pupils to answer, then ask if anyone had anything to add, giving habitual answerers a chance to pitch in. | A compromise was for the teacher to randomly pick two pupils to answer, then ask if anyone had anything to add, giving habitual answerers a chance to pitch in. |
| By far the most successful way to engage the whole class was to issue mini-whiteboards on which each pupil wrote their answer - an innovation being rolled out school-wide this term. | By far the most successful way to engage the whole class was to issue mini-whiteboards on which each pupil wrote their answer - an innovation being rolled out school-wide this term. |
| "Mini-whiteboards are standard issue in many schools, but are usually left in a cupboard. | "Mini-whiteboards are standard issue in many schools, but are usually left in a cupboard. |
| "It's the return of the slate. Two hundred years ago, the best teachers were getting every child to write their answers on slates," says Professor William. | "It's the return of the slate. Two hundred years ago, the best teachers were getting every child to write their answers on slates," says Professor William. |
PE TO START THE DAY | PE TO START THE DAY |
| Children can veer from lethargy to fizzing with energy in the blink of an eye. So how about a burst of activity first thing to wake everyone up? | Children can veer from lethargy to fizzing with energy in the blink of an eye. So how about a burst of activity first thing to wake everyone up? |
| Physical education is part of the national curriculum, but many schools struggle to make time for it. | Physical education is part of the national curriculum, but many schools struggle to make time for it. |
| "Pupils spend a lot of time writing, and very little time getting out of breath. But research shows increasing oxygen levels in the brain can boost alertness," says Professor Wiliam. | "Pupils spend a lot of time writing, and very little time getting out of breath. But research shows increasing oxygen levels in the brain can boost alertness," says Professor Wiliam. |
| To shoehorn in 10 minutes of PE first thing, his pupils had to start school earlier to allow time for changing in and out of sports gear. | To shoehorn in 10 minutes of PE first thing, his pupils had to start school earlier to allow time for changing in and out of sports gear. |
| This proved unpopular. | This proved unpopular. |
| "It was only 10 minutes earlier, which they thought was a big deal and an impingement on their personal freedom. But some felt it made them more alert in morning lessons." | "It was only 10 minutes earlier, which they thought was a big deal and an impingement on their personal freedom. But some felt it made them more alert in morning lessons." |
| Exercises before school or work were popular early last century, with exponents including the Bauhaus arts and design group. | Exercises before school or work were popular early last century, with exponents including the Bauhaus arts and design group. |
| At Hertswood School, the extra PE took the form of circuit training, with pupils rotating through activities such as sprinting, skipping and bench steps. Particularly successful were the sessions supervised by older pupils taking sport as an elective. | |
| "Often this would be quite an athletic boy. The boys would compete against his time, and the girls would try harder to impress him." | "Often this would be quite an athletic boy. The boys would compete against his time, and the girls would try harder to impress him." |
TAKE IT OUTSIDE | TAKE IT OUTSIDE |
| Gareth Malone also introduced more movement into the school day at Pear Tree Mead Primary, by setting up an outdoor classroom. | Gareth Malone also introduced more movement into the school day at Pear Tree Mead Primary, by setting up an outdoor classroom. |
| With the hesitant blessing of the head teacher, he and the boys cleared a space in an overgrown wooded corner of the school grounds. | With the hesitant blessing of the head teacher, he and the boys cleared a space in an overgrown wooded corner of the school grounds. |
| As well as lessons in this den, he encouraged rivalry and running around to see if their minds responded to being free-range. | As well as lessons in this den, he encouraged rivalry and running around to see if their minds responded to being free-range. |
| The boys bellowed The Highwayman in the open air before chasing down Malone, dressed in breeches and cape, to put him on trial for robbery. | The boys bellowed The Highwayman in the open air before chasing down Malone, dressed in breeches and cape, to put him on trial for robbery. |
| The aim was to improve their verbal skills - important for literacy - with the added incentive of a boys v girls debate. | The aim was to improve their verbal skills - important for literacy - with the added incentive of a boys v girls debate. |
| After years of non-competitive activities in which all must have prizes, is competition due a comeback in schools? Professor Wiliam says yes - if handled carefully. | After years of non-competitive activities in which all must have prizes, is competition due a comeback in schools? Professor Wiliam says yes - if handled carefully. |
| "You've got to pitch it at just above their level. | "You've got to pitch it at just above their level. |
| "That's why the rivalry between Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe was genuinely healthy - they were so close in ability, they pushed each other to do better. If it was me racing against one of them, I wouldn't compete, I'd give up." | |
| Competition works best when pupils are in groups, he says, to encourage collaboration within the team and competition against their rivals. | Competition works best when pupils are in groups, he says, to encourage collaboration within the team and competition against their rivals. |
NO GRADES GIVEN | NO GRADES GIVEN |
| A. B+. B-. C. F. What did you get? | A. B+. B-. C. F. What did you get? |
| "The first thing pupils do is look at their score. Do you know what the second thing is? Look at what the others got. Any feedback from the teacher is ignored," says Professor Wiliam. "As soon as you grade them, learning stops." | "The first thing pupils do is look at their score. Do you know what the second thing is? Look at what the others got. Any feedback from the teacher is ignored," says Professor Wiliam. "As soon as you grade them, learning stops." |
| So in his experimental classroom, projects were returned with no grades, just feedback. In an art lesson, for instance, pupils made gecko sculptures and were given written feedback on how to improve on their creation. Only once it had been reworked did their gecko get graded. | So in his experimental classroom, projects were returned with no grades, just feedback. In an art lesson, for instance, pupils made gecko sculptures and were given written feedback on how to improve on their creation. Only once it had been reworked did their gecko get graded. |
| "They didn't like it. Pupils are like drug addicts, they're addicted to grades and we've got them hooked. They expect grades. Parents expect grades." | "They didn't like it. Pupils are like drug addicts, they're addicted to grades and we've got them hooked. They expect grades. Parents expect grades." |
| So did the pupils eventually respond to this, and other methods tried by Professor Wiliam? | So did the pupils eventually respond to this, and other methods tried by Professor Wiliam? |
| "I was genuinely surprised that we managed to have a noticeably impact on their achievement - and at how much more confident they were." | |
| Gareth Malone will also be interviewed on BBC Two's Newsnight on Thursday 9 September at 2230 BST | Gareth Malone will also be interviewed on BBC Two's Newsnight on Thursday 9 September at 2230 BST |
| Send us your comments using the form below. | Send us your comments using the form below. |
| I was both excited and frustrated by this. Excited because I know from experience that these strategies work: engaging everyone in the "teaching" aspect of the lesson is crucial. As a teaching head my class knew that questions would be focussed on individuals rather than a hands up approach. The teacher prepares questions appropriate to different abilities, and involves as many pupils as possible in different parts of a lesson. I also strongly agree that children need exercise and our school had many strategies to give physical opportunities e.g. prior to a lesson, at lunch with trained leaders, midway through a lesson. My frustration comes from the knowledge that there are many successful schools who address these issues and I wonder if your program will demonstrate this. Also I am frustrated to see the choirmaster making lessons exciting for boys. GIRLS have the same needs to move about and be inspired. After years of monitoring year 6 SATS results at our school there were no sexual differences in attainment because the curriculum was made accessible for all. Please do not return to the 1960s where boys were taken out for cricket and girls sat by reading silently. My experience! | |
| Ann Gibson, Much Wenlock, Shropshire | |
| The no hands rule - that's been around for ages in primary. Simple rule - give them 30 seconds thinking time. Pick a child at random. Ask someone else what they think. PE in the morning - I would say most primary schools do a version of this. Wake Up, Shake Up or exercises to music. Taking it outside - again go to any primary school. You will see drama outside, role play outside - all related to the learning. Primary schools have a lot of expertise in how children learn. | |
| Robyn Duckworth, York, Yorkshire | |
| Our head already has the idea of the outdoor classroom and the kids love it. I think it definitely improves concentration and also aids learning as so much can be done visually which aids alot of children. In Oz & New Zealand they do so much more outside the class and kids tend to learn more as they are not just stuck in a room being talked at. | |
| Sarah, Witham, Essex | |
| I used to teach ICT, I would tell the class I didn't want hands up and I would choose who to answer at random. In the course of the lesson, everyone was picked, so all students were required to listen and answer. We had a very good piece of languages software that was multiple choice after the pupil had listened to the questions through headphones. It added points for correct answers and deducted for wrong ones. At the end of a lesson we could print out the results. The boys' competitive edge took over and they would consistently try to outdo each other and against the girls. Regrettably the Head of Languages was very "PC" and didn't believe in competitiveness, and dropped using the software. A great shame when there is a need for languages and where boys traditionally fail to achieve. | |
| Chris, Honiton, Devon | |
| There is a tried and tested method used by teachers for years called 'pose-pause-pounce-bounce'. The question is asked - no hands up - the teacher 'pounces' on a random pupils for their response - and then 'bounces' round four or more other pupils for their answers - before the class decides which answer was the more correct. To encourage less confident pupils the teacher may be very careful in selecting who makes the first response. | |
| D Corner, Cumbernauld, Scotland | |
| It is a great idea to start the day with exercises. I cycle to work and feel much more alive than when I drive. All schools should start the day with some physical exercises for 10-15 minutes, especially as children tend to get driven to school, either by family car or public transport. | |
| Rob E, Totton, Hampshire | |
| "Exercises before school or work were popular early last century" - and hung on into the second half in some places. At my boarding prep school in the 70s we all ran round the playing fields before breakfast - yes, all. | |
| Mark, Bristol, UK | |
| My daughter attended a small, rural primary school in Devon that did 'wake & shake' - 10 minutes of excercise every morning at the start of the school day. The benefits are at least twofold as physical activity stimulates mental activity and the children exercise each day helping to keep them fit and healthy. She now attends a high school in Worcestershire where physical exercise is sadly lacking with one period of PE one week and two the next. This is clearly insufficient as is demonstrated by the large number of overweight pupils and lower academic success. More exercise please! | |
| Kate Welsh, Bewdley, Worcestershire | |
| I used the "no hands up" approach throughout my teaching career but this would never stop students from putting up their hands every time I asked a question. As for no grades, with which I agree, I would point you to the book about Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance, where the author does just this. It's a fascinating experiment, but he is berated by other members of staff. I fear that this would be the case in our Ofsted world of grades, attainment, targets etc. | |
| Robert O'Hara, Ulverston | |
| On the physical activity, it does not need to include a change of clothing - yes if you're going to be working up a real sweat, but no, if you're aiming at some light exercise to get you going. Kids don't change into gym kit if they have to run for a bus or when playing old-fashioned chasing games in the yard... or do they not do that any more? | |
| Stefan, Hexham, UK | |
| What really strikes me is how many of these ideas were in widespread use in Victorian times. It is very frustrating when people in education constantly use the Victorian era as a Terrible Time We Don't Want To Go Back To. The Victorians had some superb ideas about education (not least the idea that everyone should have some) and it is very refreshing to see some of them being revived, refreshed and being allowed to work. | |
| Sean Lang, Cambridge | |
| I couldn't agree more re grades. I am a university lecturer and find this problem persists beyond school. Students want grades, but a significant minority do not engage with feedback. Their grades often remain static, while those who do engage improve. At the same time, the National Student Survey often shows that students feel they do not receive enough feedback. We need ways of managing their expectations and understanding of what feedback is for and how to use it. | |
| Dr Sue McPherson, Manchester, UK | |
| Years ago when I was at school, I'd happily let someone else put their hand up. By having a small whiteboard (or slate!) immediately involves everyone - seems obvious really. Also PE, this has got to be extremely important, especially nowadays when our youngsters are so sedentary at home and a good percentage are fat. It's imperative to our future probably more so than high achieving in maths or English. | |
| Lynn MacDonald, Southfleet, Kent | |
| When I was doing my CSE and O levels in the mid-80s it was girls who lagged behind. This all changed when GCSE and modules were introduced to help girls catch up. No doubt this had an effect - now girls are outperforming boys, and I find it shocking the focus on education is still female-centric. There are more female students at universities than men, yet still the initiatives are to help women only in education. Surely it should redress the balance and help boys again. | |
| Simon, Liverpool | |
| Fantastic idea to ban hands-up - should re rolled out nationwide at all levels of compulsory schooling and in A level courses. I am serving with the Royal Engineers and we are always taught in a similar fashion. It encourages the people being taught to listen to the whole of the lesson and also it shows them that you cant just hide in the background. | |
| Owain Evans, Nottingham |