Help at Home call from Education Minister
On the BBC Breakfast programme 15th March 2007, Alan Johnson, Education Secretary, spoke of the vital role that parents can play in actively supporting their children’s education. This is backed by compelling evidence showing the performance improvement of children reinforcing lessons at home.
Initially, parents of toddlers taught them to walk, talk and ride a bike. The process involved encouragement, perseverance and critically - continuing practice at the pace of the individual child. Studies in the USA by the National Training Laboratories show the learning retention rate associated with the “practice in doing” activity is a significant 75%, comparing favourably with the 5 - 50% retained from other classroom procedures.
The 1:1 relationship between parent and child during the early learning process is subsequently replaced with a 1: 30 ratio at school. The initial patience and perseverance of the parent being replaced by the inevitable world of averages. Whilst the teacher is constantly adapting to changes in the curriculum, teaching practices and government initiatives the opportunity to focus in class on the practice function of the lesson is understandably limited.
The primary role of the teacher is to effect and manage the educational journey of a child, but changes in the technology used in teaching aids over the past five years involving DVD’s and interactive CD ROM’s for example, has changed the face of the classroom process. Incorporating the subject matter in an enjoyable game format which stimulates interest and learning presents the opportunity for parents to once again take a more active role in helping their children by practicing the lesson content at home.
Keen2learn is a new award - winning online web site providing parental access to the teaching aids used in schools. Over 1000 products, covering all subjects from foundation through the 4 Keys Stages supporting the National curriculum are available. Just 8 months from launch Intel recognised the significance of the site with a national award.
A child spends just 15% of their time at school. The opportunity for teachers to mobilise parents towards utilising some of the remaining 85% in a fun way would do wonders to the educational output of the UK, and not involve a single change in government policy or teaching capacity.
