TLC Sixth Form Teaching

The issues:Students disliked independent learning as it allowed room for mistakes to creep through unchecked. This led to a lack of independent learning in lessons. The objective: To provide students with a structured way to complete independent learning.

The idea: Solo Taxonomy

SOLO taxonomy stands for:Structure of

ObservedLearning

OutcomesIt was developed by Biggs and Collis (1982).

It describes level of increasing complexity in a student's understanding of a subject, through five stages, and it is

claimed to be applicable to any subject area. Not all students get through all five stages which show

differentiation.

Solo Taxonomy

1 Pre-structural: here students are simply acquiring bits of unconnected information, which have no organisation and make no sense.

2 Unistructural: simple and obvious connections are made, but their significance is not grasped.

3 Multistructural: a number of connections may be made, but the meta-connections between them are missed, as is their significance for the whole.

4 Relational level: the student is now able to appreciate the significance of the parts in relation to the whole.

5 At the extended abstract level, the student is making connections not only within the given subject area, but also beyond it, able to generalise and transfer the principles and ideas underlying the specific instance.

Create two lists of philosophers, one list with Philosophers who support miracles and one list with Philosophers who are against miracles. Stretch yourself: Include synoptic links.

For each philosopher on your list write a brief description about their key ideas. Remember to include any quotes and examples.

Create an essay plan for these two potential questions:‘A God who performs miracles is not worthy of worship.’ Discuss ‘It is difficult to accept that miracles can happen.’ Discuss.

Improve your essay on miracles in green pen using my feedback and your notes on miracles. Include the philosophers from your list and plan.

Complete an essay on miracles from the following essay questions:‘All criticisms of miracles have proved to be invalid.’ Discuss‘A belief in miracles leads to the concept of a God who favours some but not all of his creation'. Discuss

Impact: Student Voice‘I don’t find the tasks very useful as it doesn’t fit in with my style of revision and the notes I was doing at home’ - Peter‘I like the worksheet as it is helpful making better notes on for and against arguments as this is what we need in the exam’ - Sammi‘This worksheet is a good way to break down my revision making it easier to revise on my own which was needed’ - Chloe

Impact: The progress

7 Students improved by one grade compared to their last essay on the same topic.

4 students received the same grade compared to their last essay on the same topic.