Definition
Finding and firming learning foundations is what we call the process of pre assess and the first time of teaching of each topic using timely practice.
When the teacher returns to teach the topic a second time we call this teaching on firm learning foundations.
Rationale
It takes time to build up an accurate picture of each learners depth of learning on each "bite" (layer) of each topic, so while the teacher is building up information, the teacher should also aim to teach the learners more on each topic. This is what the finding and forming learning foundations process does.
Initially we find that
- learners may have layers which they "know" already - these will be "fast tracked" by the app so the learner answers very few questions on these layers. What the learners already "know" is helpful to the teacher when planning what to teach to the class on a topic
- learners may have a few layers within each topic that they know "a bit" - they have some knowledge, they remember some vocabulary, but they would not be able to "answer an exam question and get full marks". The pre assess of the topic, the subsequent timely practice assignments and the first teaching of the topic all aim to
- either increase the learners independence and accuracy to mastery - for layers which they know "a bit" (i.e. ensure the learner would get full marks in an exam)
- or delete for now, some layers which the learner would be "best learned later" (i.e. it is better use of teacher and learner lesson time to teach this work later - since with a more tightly spiralled curriculum, this is likely to be only a term later)
- for some topics we may find that the learner doesn't have any layers they know "a bit" (the learner has either layers they already "know" and/or layers they don't know) - the task is simpler, teach the next layer within the topic (providing the learner has the appropriate pre-requisite skills) As the learner does their timely practice, they will come to master that layer.
Within a week or two (very low attaining learners) and a term (higher attaining learners) all the topics that the learner can learn at the moment, will have been pre assessed and taught. The finding and firming learning foundations process is then finished. The next time the teacher teaches the topics
...
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The auto pre assess function, takes the scheme of learning (SOL) entered by the teacher and works behind the scenes pre assessing each topic.
We use a trial and improvement process, to quickly find learners' learning strengths and gaps in each topic.
Round 1 We ask one question on a few key layers from each topic - if the learner doesn't get the first question correct on the layer, they are not asked a second one from the layer, as we are looking for firm learning foundations.
Round 2 We then decide which other layers to ask a question from - based on which key layers the learner could answer correctly - we call these interesting layers, again we'll ask a second question only if the first question was answered correctly.
We do all we can to ensure the data we collect is accurate
each learner is randomly assigned their first pre assess question - so the chance the learner can copy one of their peers is dramatically reduced;
answering a question on an assignment is much less stressful than answering a question in a class, where some learners will feel they will be “shown up” so teachers are less likely to see a false negative,
We ask at least 2 questions from a layer before we decide the learner has probably mastered the questions in that layer - so the chance of a lucky question distorting our assessment is reduced.
The app takes a time to collect sufficient data and presents it to the teacher in the topic dashboard grid - so that planning is easy for the teacher and hence every learner is likely to be able to learn what they are taught each lesson.
See https://timelypractice.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/CKB/pages/3110699127/Using+timely+practice#(4)-when-can-the-teacher-begin-to-use-Plan-Teaching-within-the-app%3F for more information - and how the teacher can track the pre assess process.