An article in today’s Guardian newspaper reports that schools are being told to stop students taking time off school to revise for exams after research showed that keeping them in supervised lessons led to dramatically higher grades. It seems that computer gaming is seen as the culprit here…
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The move reflects fears that a ‘PlaySation generation’ of boys in particular is using the traditional few weeks of home leave before their GCSEs to play computer games and hang out with friends rather than study. A third of the boys picked up in government ‘truancy sweeps’ claim to be on study leave
What is being suggested is that schools retain their students for organised revision at the school. Within the body of the article it was heartening to see some innovative and alternative solutions being suggested, including:
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Students at specialist schools will also get ‘e-mentoring’ next year, with students given an email address for a teacher or sixth former available to answer questions about revision.
The move is seen as benefitting boys primarily, with boys now comprehensively outstripped at both GCSE and A-level by girls.
Would be interesting to know the extent of this problem in NZ?? If so – what are some other, innovative solutions
Also raises the question for me again about how well our current school and exam system is catering for these digital natives?
It might also indicate the importance some of these students place on the exams, and the exam process. I’m not sure if keeping them in school and forcing them to revise is answering the right question.
the digital opportunities initiative StudyIT (www.studyIT) has been gaining momentum with over 9,000 visitors this month.Students have been accessing advice and content with postings pretty much 24 hours a day. A number of students have become regular visitors not to seek help but to provide it! At least one has become a virtual hero to her peers.This approach while not unique clearly has potential to enable more and more of our learners to help themselves and each other.Lets hope next year a number of teachers look to integrate it’s use….not just leave it to the students.