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Genes 'play key role in classroom performance' | Genes 'play key role in classroom performance' |
(about 17 hours later) | |
By Katherine Sellgren BBC News education reporter | By Katherine Sellgren BBC News education reporter |
Politicians may be keen to measure schools' effectiveness, but the quality of the school environment is only half of the story, researchers have found. | Politicians may be keen to measure schools' effectiveness, but the quality of the school environment is only half of the story, researchers have found. |
Academics at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry say the genetic factors children bring to the classroom are just as influential. | Academics at King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry say the genetic factors children bring to the classroom are just as influential. |
In a study of 4,000 sets of UK twins, nature and nurture was found to have an equal effect on their achievements. | In a study of 4,000 sets of UK twins, nature and nurture was found to have an equal effect on their achievements. |
Researchers say this strengthens the case for personalised learning. | Researchers say this strengthens the case for personalised learning. |
The researchers examined the test results of 12-year-old twins - identical and fraternal - in English, maths and science. | The researchers examined the test results of 12-year-old twins - identical and fraternal - in English, maths and science. |
They found the identical twins, who share their genetic make-up, did more similarly in the tests than the fraternal twins, who share half their genetic make-up. | They found the identical twins, who share their genetic make-up, did more similarly in the tests than the fraternal twins, who share half their genetic make-up. |
The href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0016006" title="Report from academics at King's College, London " >report said: "The results were striking, indicating that even when previous achievement and a child's general cognitive ability are both removed, the residual achievement measure is still significantly influenced by genetic factors." | |
'Drawing out' potential | 'Drawing out' potential |
The study says the findings point to a need to re-examine what schools, colleges and universities offer young people, particularly in the light of modern technology. | The study says the findings point to a need to re-examine what schools, colleges and universities offer young people, particularly in the light of modern technology. |
It says: "Instead of thinking about education as a way of countering genetic differences among children, the field of education might profit from accepting that children differ genetically in how much they learn. | It says: "Instead of thinking about education as a way of countering genetic differences among children, the field of education might profit from accepting that children differ genetically in how much they learn. |
"This way of thinking is compatible with the current trend towards personalising education by optimising children's learning, which is increasingly possible through the use of interactive information technology." | "This way of thinking is compatible with the current trend towards personalising education by optimising children's learning, which is increasingly possible through the use of interactive information technology." |
The report concludes: "More generally, instead of thinking about education as instruction (from the Latin instruo, which means 'to build in'), this genetic perspective on learning suggests a return to the original meaning of education (from the Latin educatio, which means 'to draw out'). | The report concludes: "More generally, instead of thinking about education as instruction (from the Latin instruo, which means 'to build in'), this genetic perspective on learning suggests a return to the original meaning of education (from the Latin educatio, which means 'to draw out'). |
"That is, instead of a model of instruction in which children are the passive recipients of knowledge, a genetically sensitive approach to education suggests an active view of learning in which children select, modify and create their own education in part on the basis of their genetic propensities." | "That is, instead of a model of instruction in which children are the passive recipients of knowledge, a genetically sensitive approach to education suggests an active view of learning in which children select, modify and create their own education in part on the basis of their genetic propensities." |
'Active participants' | 'Active participants' |
The lead researcher, geneticist Dr Claire Haworth, said taking a genetic perspective on education meant moving away from the notion of children being "passive recipients" of knowledge. | The lead researcher, geneticist Dr Claire Haworth, said taking a genetic perspective on education meant moving away from the notion of children being "passive recipients" of knowledge. |
Instead, children should be seen as active participants who "select, modify and create" their own education - in part on the basis of their genetic propensities. | Instead, children should be seen as active participants who "select, modify and create" their own education - in part on the basis of their genetic propensities. |
"These findings do not mean that educational quality is unimportant, in fact environmental factors were just as important as genetic factors," said Dr Haworth. | "These findings do not mean that educational quality is unimportant, in fact environmental factors were just as important as genetic factors," said Dr Haworth. |
"However, these results do suggest that children bring characteristics to the classroom that influence how well they will take advantage of the quality. | "However, these results do suggest that children bring characteristics to the classroom that influence how well they will take advantage of the quality. |
"Consider a classroom full of students being taught by the same teacher - some children will improve more than other children, even though their educational experience at school is the same." | "Consider a classroom full of students being taught by the same teacher - some children will improve more than other children, even though their educational experience at school is the same." |
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