Listening to Learn: An evaluation of Classroom Audio Technology for Enriching Teaching and Learning
This report presents the findings from Phase 1 of a research project designed to help professional development providers promote teacher confidence and competence in developing teaching strategies in both traditional and collaborative learning contexts. The aim ultimately is to assist schools in improving their achievement record by taking a fresh look at their professional practice based on teachers’ action research observations.
22 schools, 12 primary and 10 secondary, from four West London boroughs Hertfordshire, Dudley, Northamptonshire, Manchester and Devon in England as well as 2 primary schools from Scotland were involved in this research. In the first stage from 2008-2014, REDCAT Classroom Audio Distribution (CAD) systems were installed in classrooms where traditional teaching techniques were being investigated.
The second stage of the research started in 2013 and was undertaken by teachers experimenting with collaborative learning techniques and the assessment of group working. This second stage is still on-going but the emerging trends are also reported.