1. Risky, Edgy Teaching
Flexible PGCE Conference 2011
Paul Smalley
Senior Lecturer in Education
Edge Hill University
smalleyp@edgehill.ac.uk 07952884795

2. Aims
a session of 9 practical lesson ideas,
each with some sort of edge
things that have a risk of going wrong,
but when they go right are brilliant
some solid lesson ideas that you can try
out in the next week or two

3. Why not play it safe?
In schools where behaviour was poor, this was frequently
linked to dull and uninspired teaching.
Ofsted Annual Report 09-10 (2010)
teachers lacked confidence and were reluctant to risk new
approaches
Ofsted Transforming Religious Education (2010)
In the lessons seen in the secondary schools during the
survey, the most frequent strengths included….using a
variety of imaginative approaches
Ofsted The National Strategies: a review of impact (2010)
Safe = boring = unchallenging

4. Why not play it safe?
People learn best when they are interested, involved and appropriately challenged by
their work – when they are engaged with their learning.
Engagement is about promoting those approaches to teaching and learning that help
pupils understand subject knowledge and its application and that demand their active
participation.
Where pupils are actively engaged in their learning, they:
• have a longer concentration span;
• complete work on time;
• stay on-task and have few behaviour problems;
• maintain a good attendance record.
Consequently, they:
• develop higher self-esteem;
• make faster progress;
• develop a belief in their ability to improve and learn;
• encourage and work well with other pupils.
Pedagogy and Practice: Teaching and Learning in Secondary Schools: Unit 11: Active Engagement Techniques (DfES, 2004)
Safe = boring = unchallenging

5. Menu
1. Effective PowerPoint Stimulus - RE/Geography
2. Maps from memory - Physics
3. Demonstration - RE /Maths
4. Mystery game - PSHE
5. Using video clips – RE / Business Studies
6. Active reading – History /Science
7. Guided Fantasy - French
8. Large scale role-play - Citizenship
9. Paper dart plenary

6. 1. Effective Stimulus
Wonderful World.ppt

7. 1. Effective Stimulus
What are the risks?
When could you use this?
How could you use this technique in
your subject area?

8. 2. Maps from memory
Prepare a picture
Get pupils into groups of 4 (can vary)
Call out 1s – they have 30 seconds (can vary) to look
at the picture.
After 30 seconds number 2s have 30 seconds to look
at the picture, while number1s draw.
Repeat for 3s and 4s and allow extra time at the end.
Each group should have a perfect facsimile of the
original picture

9. 2. Maps from memory
What are the risks?
When could you use this?
Why does this work?

10. 3. Demonstration
A picture (perhaps from an ICT source), a concrete object or a
demonstration can add to the power of an explanation as it
captures attention and focuses pupils‟ minds. Again it is useful
for visual learners. For example, a balloon is a useful resource
in geography for explaining air pressure differences. Giving
pupils objects they can hold and examine also helps. For
example, providing each pupil with a sedimentary rock will help
when explaining characteristic features of the rocks.
Pedagogy and Practice: Teaching and Learning in Secondary Schools: Unit 8: Explaining (DfES, 2004)
So let me demonstrate reincarnation.

11. Demonstrating reincarnation
with candles!
What are the risks?
How could you demonstrate fractions in
Maths?
Can you think of any other
demonstrations of abstract ideas in your
subject?

12. 4. Mystery game
One ways to use mysteries is In two
fairly big groups.
Divide into two groups, both have the
same evidence on either yellow or blue
cards.
The winners are the team which has
the best answer, making greatest use of
the evidence in a given time.

13. 4. Mystery game
What are the risks?
How else can you use mystery games?
Why do it this way?

14. 5. Video and Media Clips
At its best media from the „world‟ of the
pupils is used to help pupils understand
concepts from the syllabus.
A Business Studies Example “What is a
Market?” – Use Harry & Paul in the
Dragon’s Den http://youtu.be/gIgZ66DlkKI
An RE example: in a lesson on “Is Bar
Mitzvah a good initiation ceremony?” – use
Finding Nemo.

15. 5. Video and Media Clips
Show the clip of Nemo‟s initiation
Analyse why it is a good ceremony – drawing out
from the pupils that:
 this ceremony marked Nemo becoming one of the gang -
initiation.
 it was a relatively simple task that was built up into a big
thing.
 the task was relevant - Nemo had a weak fin but needed to be
a good swimmer in order to escape
Repeat the process with a video of a Bar Mitzvah

16. 5. Video and Media Clips
Risk?
Engaging?
Think of an example from your subject area.
RE Examples –
http://www.damaris.org/relessonsonline/index2.php
http://www.farmington.ac.uk/documents/new_reports/ME17.pdf

17. 6. Active reading
Directed Activities Related to Text (DARTs)
This term encompasses a range of structured and
scaffolded activities that guide readers to develop
understanding, familiarity, and successful learning
experiences by reading and writing.
For me the purpose of DARTs is to enhance and
increase student engagement with textual materials
Pioneered by researchers at Nottingham University
(Lunzer and Gardner, 1979, 1984).
Scientists see Davies and Greene's Reading for
Learning in the Sciences (1984)

18. 6. Active reading
Directed Activities Related to Text (DARTs)
Highlight the KS3 History text for
 Names
 Jobs
 Places
 Three Key Verbs
Give each paragraph a sub-heading.
Draw a map or flowchart of the story.

19. 6. Active reading
Too safe – make it louder and more active!
To teach the seven life processes in Science, start
by rhythmically chanting some poetry.
Do the same with the key text.
Give each pair a verse, they read it out emphasising
key words.
They create an action for each key word.
Perform it as a whole class.

20. 7. Guided Fantasy
Guided imagery originated in France, where it
was called "forced fantasy." It is a technique
by which a person is started on a daydream
and then allowed to finish on his own. The
"guide" will start to tell a story (called a
"script“). This is done in a group and then
discussed afterward by the participants.
My experience is that children love to do this
sort of exercise, if only as an opportunity to
„chill out‟.

21. 7. Guided Fantasy
Has links with Neuro-Linguistic Programming,
meditation and psychology.
Often used in well-being
Can promote spirituality – key grade in new
Ofsted framework.
Begins with „stilling‟

22. 7. Guided Fantasy
Practical Risks?
Theoretical Risks?
Could this be used in your subject?

23. 8. Large Scale Role Play
Basically I had this mad idea to combine
Citizenship (Crown Court) and putting
Jesus on trial for fraud (the resurrection).

24. 9. Paper Dart Plenary
Fold paper into paper plane.
Write on one thing you have learnt this
lesson.
When I say throw the plane.
Add something you have learnt to the
plane you catch- repeat twice.
At the end give throw them all to me.

25. Diamond 9
As a four agree put the cards on the
sheet in order of risk.
Which will have the best results?
Which are you most likely to try?

26. Aims
a session of 9 practical lesson ideas,
each with some sort of edge
things that have a risk of going wrong,
but when they go right are brilliant
some solid lesson ideas that you can try
out in the next week or two