Tuesday, 13 October 2015

National Curriculum and New Directions

I have been reading through The National Curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework. I focused mostly on upper key stage 2 years 5 and 6. Due to the way the curriculum is now structured, the statuary learning outcomes for students are more along the lines of good working practice etc. Bellow is a section from the upper key stage 2 Science.

During years 5 and 6, pupils should be taught to use the following practical scientific methods, processes and skills through the teaching of the programme of study content:
  • planning different types of scientific enquiries to answer questions, including recognising and controlling variables where necessary
  • taking measurements, using a range of scientific equipment, with increasing accuracy and precision, taking repeat readings when appropriate
  • recording data and results of increasing complexity using scientific diagrams and labels, classification keys, tables, scatter graphs, bar and line graphs
  • using test results to make predictions to set up further comparative and fair tests
  • reporting and presenting findings from enquiries, including conclusions, causal relationships and explanations of and degree of trust in results, in oral and written forms such as displays and other presentations
  • identifying scientific evidence that has been used to support or refute ideas or arguments.
After negotiating with my tutor I propose taking individual existing learning outcomes such as the ones above and gamifying them. I will use different learning and teaching techniques with each outcome. They will be a mixture of digital and non digital mini games and exercises designed to motivate students. 

I am currently approaching several schools to help me play test each mini game so I can post mortem them and ascertain the best way to teach a gamified subject and maintain maximum motivation towards learning.


The National Curriculum in England: Key Stages 1 and 2 framework document (2013). London: Department for Education: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. 

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