Secondary | Centre for the Use of Research & Evidence in Education (CUREE)

Conclusions from user feedback on use of learning platform

Aim: A great deal of effort and expense is currently being expended in schools and Local Authorities on Learning Platforms (LPs). This study set out to explore how schools and students are using LPs. The report is intended to help inform readers about how teachers are using LPs and to describe students' experience of one mature installation.

Effective questioning: stepping-stones to meta-cognition?'

Aim: There were two main, linked, aims of this project. The primary aim was to investigate the role of effective questioning by the teacher in a History class. The second aim explored the usefulness of this meta-cognitive strategy in enhancing higher-order thinking skills in the classroom. These are the skills that characterise higher achievement at Key Stages 3 and 4 (11-16 years of age).

The use of ICT in Music Composing

Aim: To raise awareness of the potential of ICT in music composition by investigating strategies teachers can use to raise pupil performance.

Teaching Shakespeare

Aim: With specific reference to Shakespeare, to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the methods used in teaching pre-20th century literature.

Homework and Study Support in Year 7

Aim: To identify ways in which teachers can enhance student learning through homework, by examining homework, perceptions of it in Year 7, and support systems both in school and at home.

The impact of writing and questioning frames on the teaching and learning process

Aim: How do writing and questioning frames within a School Improvement Project impact on classroom practice and more effective teaching and learning?

Sustaining teacher researchers: what support really makes a difference?

Aim: The main aim of the project was to explore how to establish practitioner research as an effective and sustainable form of continuing professional development both for participating researchers and, through their research work, for colleagues within the schools and network.

A case study of effective teaching with and through the Internet

Aim: To investigate teacher and pupil attitudes towards the use of the Internet in teaching and learning.

The active engagement of teaching assistants in teaching and learning

Aim: The aim of this research was to cast light on the nature of the relationship between teachers and teaching assistants. We wanted to find out: How schools were deploying teaching assistants; What responsibilities teachers were giving to teaching assistants and what expectations they had of them; What contributions teaching assistants were making to enable teachers to carry out their tasks more effectively.

The Da Vinci project - Can we change pupils' perceptions of creativity in Science and Mathematics?

Aim: To explore pupils perceptions of creativity across the curriculum, to show that being a scientist and an artist aren't mutually exclusive and to measure the impact of the project on pupils perceptions of creativity in Science and Mathematics.