Improving speaking and listening through collaborative learning

@helenlochead

The problem…

AS and A2 students lacking confidence when speaking about Chemistry

• Volume of technical and scientific vocabulary• First language other than English• Significant intervention at KS4/GCSE• Social groups

Find someone who

Can be used as a revision activity

Can be used as a teaching activity (if students are all given one piece of information to teach to each other)

You must have:1. The answer 2. The person you spoke to 3. The follow up question you asked for

polymers

Peptide link between alanine and glycine

Kevlar monomer 2 Kevlar

Terylene Nylon-6,6 monomer 1 Lactic acid

Nylon-6,6 Polylactic acid Kevlar monomer 1

Terylene monomer 1 Nylon-6,6 monomer 2 Terylene monomer 2

WWW: EBI: LR done?

Follow up questions...

1. That’s interesting, what makes you say that?

2. That’s true but why do you think that?

3. Can you explain how you worked that out?

4. How does that answer compare to this one? (Compare to another polymer)

5. That’s right but could you say it using more scientific language?

Quiz Quiz Trade6 x questions (with answers) on separate slips of paper

Each student has one slip

Students move around the room and pair up

Student 1 asks their Q and will either receive an answer or give the answer if student 2 is stuck (QUIZ)

Student 2 asks their Q and will either receive an answer or give the answer if student 1 is stuck (QUIZ)

Students TRADE their question slips

Rainbow grouping

Students are put in a colour group to learn new information together and become experts

Student are then put in a number group to share new information with other

Silent debateWriting = Speaking Reading = Listening

http://www.pedagoo.org/2013/02/silent-debating/

Viewers and Listeners

bulmershetoolkit.blogspot.co.uk

“I’ve heard someone say…”

Outcome

• High quality chemistry conversations• Improved confidence when discussing

scientific ideas• Collaborative classroom environment