Demonstrating Learning and Progress

Students need the opportunity to demonstrate their learning and the progress they are making. They need time to complete a task that shows their individual progress. You may have modelled an exemplar skill or process, but the important aspect of the lesson is not your demonstration, but the students’. Remember, that in the same way there are many teaching styles to choose from, so are there many methods which can demonstrate learning (please refer to the T&L Toolkit and departmental resources for further ideas and techniques).

Write it Say it Tell a partner

Draw it Sing it Phone a friend

Rap it Build it Draw a story board

Perform it Show it Teach someone else

Mime it Act it Video conference

Dance it Translate it De Bono’s hats

Sign it Blog it

You will develop a broad repertoire of teaching and learning skills. Find out what works for your classes and build on their skills.

Demonstrating learning and progress

The environment needed to make good progress:

teachers explain well, are helpful, listen to and respect the students. The teachers involve their students in the process of learning.
learning objectives are used to help students know what they have to accomplish in their lessons
a variety of lesson activities are used regularly, including practical and collaborative activities and tasks are structured carefully so that students understand what they have to do.
the role of talk in learning is acknowledged and students are encouraged to engage in dialogue about learning both between teacher and student and between student and student
work is provided that challenges all students
effective feedback is given on all students’ work helping them to improve and move forward
peer and self assessment are beginning to be developed in a way that empowers students
the students’ emotional resources are developed so that they are able to deal with mistakes and know that they will succeed through their own efforts.
teachers ask questions that challenge the students’ thinking

teacher enables students to share ideas and listen to others views
teacher clarifies the work and makes it more understandable
teachers make it clear that mistakes are part of the learning process and that they can learn from them
teachers help students understand that it is difficult work that enables them to learn.

teachers that are well prepared, lessons are structured well and are worth listening to
use of exciting and fun activities, such as ICT and out of school activities, as part of the lesson mix
teachers promote the idea that the students will succeed through their own hard work.