THE PROBLEM WITH PROGRESS

Using Peer Expertise to Improve Progress in GCSE Computer Science

ISSUES WE FACE

Technical skill requires purposeful practiceSome students will practice, others will notProgramming is a skill that some students will take to more naturally than others

Students struggle with the concept of “purposeful practice”

TACKLING THE ISSUES

Students can be trained/coached to understand “purposeful practice”

Programming homework can be set more regularly

Detentions and extra support sessions can be used to improve progress

PROGRAMMING WIZARDS

Students who are ahead of their peers can be identified from the quality of their programs

During practical lessons, those students may be used as a resource for the rest of the group

3B4MeTrialled with Yr10 last yearYr10 this year are a little reluctant

STUDENT FEEDBACK - POSITIVES

It helped having more people around to ask for help

A simple explanation

Sometimes faster than waiting for Miss

Wizard can learn new skills by looking at others problems

[Wizard] solved my problem!

[Wizard] was good

STUDENT FEEDBACK - IMPROVEMENTS

Give them real hats

Actual wizard hats are needed/ wands!

Make sure Wizard doesn’t over complicate their answer

A buzzer you can press when you need help

Beard/cloak/staff/Gandalf impersonations

Having experts in specific parts of programming

PEER EXPERTISE

Identify individuals, and/or get volunteersAllow “experts” to move about classroom OR have students go to the expert

Coaching experts in how to respond to questions is useful

Consider adding intrinsic reward (merits work well for Yr11 particularly)

IMPACT IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

Increased confidence from weaker students

Completed programs are higher quality

Missing comments – imply lack of understanding