With the next set of topic tests complete, I can now start to measure my theory that displaying students who beat(or match) their targets increases the numbers of students meeting their target! This being due to increased motivation and the in built fairness of the system.
What i mean by fair is not just celebrating the learning of students who get the highest scores, but seeing learning happen in all.
The first measure showed that one class had 8 students meeting the targets, and the second 4. As I said to these students "Every time I use this strategy the lists get longer and longer, more students meet their targets!"
So I am relieved to say that 10 (6 first timers) students in the first class and 7 (6first timers) in the other have met their targets.
This is not evidence (yet), but certainly encouraging.Anecdotally too the signs are good with more students asking the question "What do I need to do to improve?". As starting points go I'm happy with this.
“If the only justification for an activity is that it is supposed to encourage thinking, drop it and replace it with an activity that advances students’ understanding or that increases their mastery of a useful tool” Bereiter 2002
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