Outspoken children learn more, says study

Published on Thursday 3 September 2009 22:03

THE traditional classroom adage: "Sit quietly then teacher will begin," has been thrown out of the window by new research.

While in times past pupils faced the birch if they ignored instructions to be "seen but not heard", Edinburgh University academics have found the opposite is actually better for learning.

New findings suggest encouraging youngsters to speak out in class could be a more effective way for them to learn.

Education experts at the university's education faculty, Moray House, said allowing secondary children more opportunity to question what they hear, enables them to process knowledge with more effect.

Studies involving teachers of English in Edinburgh found secondary pupils who were encouraged to "listen actively", rather than passively were more likely to perform better.

Research investigating different approaches to listening found students benefited from being asked to interpret and respond critically to lessons.

The findings are timely given the new curriculum, due in schools next year, which aims to create "confident individuals" and "effective contributors".

Researchers at the university invited ten English teachers in both state and independent schools in Edinburgh to devise a series of four or five lessons designed to develop pupils' listening capacities.

Teachers and pupils were interviewed about students' performance before and after the lessons.

Previous research on listening has generally been conducted by psychologists focused on how individuals processed information. In contrast, the Edinburgh study concentrated on the listening that occurred during day-to-day teaching and learning in class.

Dr Pauline Sangster, of Moray House, said all the teachers reported a marked improvement in the listening performance of the majority of pupils.

She said: "Our findings suggest that by incorporating such approaches, teachers can improve the pupils' learning experience."

The study, called Investigating Norms of Listening in Classrooms, is published in the International Journal of Listening.

Scottish Secondary Teachers Association general secretary Ann Ballinger said: "It is something teachers have known about for years, so it doesn't come as any surprise.

"What surprises me is that teachers taking part in this study found the time to prepare such lesson plans.

"If some of the unemployed teachers who are struggling to find jobs were employed. then perhaps we all might find time to create such lesson plans and provide this learning for all children."

HOLIDAY CHOICE

MOST parents would take their children on holiday during term time despite facing potential prosecution, according to a new survey. Two-thirds said they would withdraw youngsters from school to get a cheaper holiday. Only 31 per cent they would not, according to the travel site Skyscanner.

David Parsons, a parent from Edinburgh, said: "With travel so much more expensive during school holidays, term time is the only time we can afford a trip. I don't think it has any detrimental effect, they can easily catch up on what they've missed."

Barry Smith, director and co-founder of Skyscanner, said the economic downturn was causing more parents to consider the move.