Learning studies in Öjersjö

How to do it.What we have done.Studies in progress.Visions for the future

The Learning Study Cycle

•Students take a post-test •Analyze of test-results and of lesson.

•Students take a post-test •Analyze of test-results and of lesson.

•Define the learning object

•Define the learning object

•Analyze the results of the pre-test •Find the critical aspects.

•Analyze the results of the pre-test •Find the critical aspects.

•Make a lesson plan based on the theory of variation.

•Make a lesson plan based on the theory of variation.

•Give the lesson •Video record it•Analyze the lesson afterwards

•Give the lesson •Video record it•Analyze the lesson afterwards

•Evaluate•Evaluate

•Students take a pre-test

•Students take a pre-test

Repeat this procedure two or three times

What we have done 2003: 3 studies, grade 0-1, 4-5, 6 2003: 3 studies, grade 0-1, 4-5, 7 2004: 3 studies, grade 0-2, 4-5, 7-8 2003-2004: a project together with the university

2006: 2 studies, grade 6-7, 8 From now on, our own project without the support from

the university

All in mathematics with learning objects such as;Fraction, angles, algebra, the infinity of numbers, negative numbers, proportion, area, subtraction, the equal sign, dimension analysis, division

How we are working now

2007: 3 studies, grade 0-1, 6, 7-8

Mathematics, English and Spanish We are currently 17 teachers involved

in Learning Studies

The Learning study – ”What is an angle?”

Three teachers planned the lessons together

The lessons were held in three different classes consisting of 10 - 11-year-old students

Pre- and post tests were made The structure of the lessons was the

same The content in the lessons varied

The Object of Learning

To differentiate an angle from a non-angle

To see that the length of the legs is insignificant for the angles size

Lesson 11. Definition of an

angle:

2. A contrast between the definition and the drawings

Lesson 2 and 3

1. A contrast between an angle and a non-angle

2. Definition of an angle: a point from where two straight legs

beam out

3. A comparison between a small angle with long legs and a big angle with short legs

The most critical aspect…

The size of the angleincreases and decreasesby rotation

Pre and post tests of angles

  Lesson 1

N= 18 Pre test Post test Delayed post test

A mathematical angle definition 17 % 100 % 83 %

The legs of an angle are unimportant for the size

6 % 33 % 44 %

  Lesson 2

N= 20 Pre test Post test Delayed post test

A mathematical angle definition 35 % 90 % 90 %

The legs of an angle are unimportant for the size

40 % 95 % 95 %

  Lesson 3

N= 25 Pre test Post test Delayed post test

A mathematical angle definition 24 % 84 % 72 %

The legs of an angle are unimportant for the size

26 % 80 % 84 %

Task

To add a negative number with a positive one

5 + (-2) =

To add two negative numbers

-5 + (-2) =

To subtract a negative number from a positive

one

5 – (-2) =

To subtract two negative numbers

-5 – (-2) =

To find one negative number and one positive number with the

sum 1 __ + __ = 1

To find two negative numbers

with the difference 1

__ - __= 1

Pretest Posttest Pretest Posttest Pretest Posttest Pretest Posttest Pretest Posttest Pretest Posttest

Lesson 1

n: 17

-

- 24% (4)

65% (11)

23% (4)

53% (9)

35% (6)

29% (5)

- 88% (15)

- 24% (4)

Lesson 2

n:18

70% (14)

- 50% (9)

67% (12)

39% (7)

72% (13)

44% (8)

67% (12)

- 61% (11)

- 44% (8)

Lesson 3

n: 20

65% (13)

35% (7)

45% (9)

65% (13)

5% (1)

10% (2)

15% (3)

25% (5)

- 80% (16)

- 15% (3)

Lesson 4

n: 21

43% (9)

86% (18)

29% (6)

86% (18)

24% (5)

48% (10)

29% (6)

81% (17)

- 67% (14)

- 62% (13)

Pre and post tests of negative numbers

Pre and post tests of the infinity of numbers

How many decimalnumbers are there between 0,97 and 0,98?

Class A Class B Class C

Pre-test Many numbers/infinite One number Ten numbers No number Other answers

5% (1)

21% (4) 0% (0)

42% (8) 32% (6)

24% (4)

29% (5) 0% (0)

18% (3) 29% (5)

12% (2)

29% (5) 6% (1)

35% (6) 18% (3)

Post-test Many numbers/infinite

……One number …… Ten numbers ………………….No numbers

Other answers

21% (4)

0% (0)

47% (9) 21% (4) 11% (2)

94% (16)

0% (0) 6% (1) 0% (0) 0% (0)

88% (15)

0% (0) 6% (1) 0% (0) 6% (1)

n 19 17 17

Teaching difficulties that we overcame

Examples of Learning objects;

To understand:

(-3) – (-2) = ?

50 = 1, but why?

How many numbers are there between 0.97 and 0.98?

The teachers’ comments

”The best training I ever practiced””Oh my God, this is really fun to discuss””I now realize, this is what my job is all about””It is wonderful to spend time doing this””It is scaring to see, that so little can make such big difference””It’s nice to feel that you’re in control of your teaching””You learn a lot while interacting with your colleagues, both knowledgewise and socially.””I have really learnt a lot from my colleagues””It is so great to be a teacher”

Visions for the future

• At least one Learning Study in progress every semester.

• An even larger focus than today on the importance of teaching for students learning.

• To achieve even better results among the students. That every student gets grades in every subject.

• That Learning Study becomes a natural part of our school development and that a growing amount of the teachers will be tutors in Learning Study groups.

Thank you for listening!

Johanna, Maria, Henrik, Ingalill, Tuula, Christina, Tobias and Joakim