'Funded Fads' - Evidence and Impact

Pip was invited to make the Keynote presentation at the Sussex Maths Hub Primary Conference - Developing Mathematical Thinking.  Teaching for Mastery.  

The Keynote, 'a speech that sets out the central theme of a conference'.  

Pips aim was to ensure that if delegates are to get the most from the day they must be actively engaging with and critically analysing the information laid before them .  PD must have impact and there is a responsibility of teachers to reflect on the input and consider:- 

• Do I 'buy into' this?
• What's the evidence that this will have impact on learning?
• How could this benefit our students?
• How can I deliver this, or which parts am I able to deliver?
• How can I share this idea with my colleagues?
• Do we need to make this a whole school approach?
• Will this have an impact on budgets?
• Is this better than what is already happening?
• etc.

The keynote therefore was started with the active participation of all teachers in 'The Button' and 'The Ear'. (see image below)

Roughly speaking 'The Button' involves making a rotating movement with your thumb and first finger of one hand, under your clavicle (the only horizontal bone in your body) whilst your other hand is making the same rotating movement on your tummy button.

'The Ear' which involve using the thumb and index finger of both hands to gently pull and unroll the outer part of the ear, starting from the top and slowly moving to the lobe.  Repeat the movement 3 times or more, remember to start from the top.

Having explained the that The Button and The Ear were part of the Brain Gym activities to stimulate the brain, which was a funded approach adopted by schools throughout the UK in the early 2000's

Science however has proved that there is no evidence that the Brain Gym activities work.  

The key point being that whatever the information being given - teachers need to ask where is the evidence (research) that 'this' works.  Teachers need to scrutinise information that they are given and look for validity and appropriateness and then to follow up by analysing the impact on their learners for any adopted themes, messages and styles.

Todays conference is to to make sure that 'Mastery' is NOT the next Funded Fad through active engagement with both the research and the impact on learners.