Make learning purposeful, memorable and powerful: part 1

Teachers in the UK are facing difficult challenges when it comes to assessing students’ understanding. In April 2002 a Parliamentary report revealed that the average grades achieved by A-level candidates have been rising steadily for the past 25 years.[2] The government and teaching institutions uphold that the enhanced grades symbolize higher levels of achievement due to improved and more experienced teaching methods, but many academics and particularly mass media claim that the change is due to grade inflation and tests and exams are getting easier.[3] Others argue that as schools are put under pressure to achieve good results, students are being trained to pass specific examinations, at the expense of a general understanding of their subjects.[4] Teachers need to find a balance between teaching to enhance students’ skills and learning, as well as raising attainment. We believe that if students are to gain more than just a grade after 11-13 years of study we must think carefully about our planning, assessing and delivery of the curriculum. The exam is one thing. What about our country’s future? How profound, the cynic amongst us would argue, but let’s consider Dylan William:

“…there is no doubt that the higher the education level you have, the more you earn during your life, the longer you live and the better quality of life. For society, there are lower criminal justice costs, by increasing the level of education, you reduce the amount of money spent on incarcerating people. It reduces the cost of healthcare because people take care of themselves better…there is no alternative but to keep on raising levels of educational achievement.”[5]

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