How we use the PIT to
motivate students
Valentines High School
Sarah Morey (Head of English)
Angus Harrison (Head of Science)
The effect of the PIT - Results
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
75
84
83
80
89
88
86
90
5+ A*-C inc
En/Ma
/%
50
51
65
60
73
73
76
82
A/A*
/%
15
19
18
16
25
31
29
36
5+ A*-C
/%
Menu
•
•
•
•
Theory
Concrete examples
Implementation (micro)
Implementation (macro)
Science Department
• 2011/12 – 8% Outstanding Observations
• 2013/14 – 40% Outstanding Observations
My own story?
• Teaching had stopped (paused briefly, as
it turned out) to excite me.
• My students knew it, and despite my best
efforts at engaging stories and context
that was fun, student interest tapered off
as the lesson progressed.
• I, and they, needed a new perspective
My own story?
• This changed my outlook, and it
transformed the energy in my classroom
Challenge
Where did it begin?
http://ww
w.youtub
e.com/wa
tch?v=0M
EWPr_A8
TM
Stress
Coasting
Flow
Boredom
Skill
Mihály Csíkszentmihályi
•High challenge
An Example
English: Lesson using PIT and flow
Starter: Word search of success criteria
Diamond ranking of most important quotes and
what they show.
• How does Shakespeare present and develop
the flaws that lead to the downfall of
Macbeth in act 1?
1. Look at all the quotes you have in front of you.
2. Diamond rank them – Highest= fatal flaw is
fully developed / least – not as developed.
3. Share & discuss
An Example
• Look at your copy of Macbeth – is it his
ambition or Lady Macbeth who develops it?
• A: Ambition
• B: Lady Macbeth
.
How does Shakespeare present
Macbeth’s fatal flaws as developing in
this scene?
In this scene, we can clearly see how Macbeth’s
ambition is developed leading him to the decision
to kill Duncan.
In this scene, we can clearly see how Lady
Macbeth manipulates Macbeth’s self-esteem,
leading him to the decision to kill Duncan.
The PIT:
getting students into “flow”
• Bigger, longer task
• Planned for re-engagement (feedback
loop)
• Resources available to increase/decrease
challenge as necessary
• Identify motivation
How to give immediate
feedback?
• Re-engagement feedback loop
• Utilise the PIT for the full cycle or half the
cycle
• Give students a difficult task
• You can then explain / use a video,
question, add resources, …
• Allow time to “explore” (joint construction
How to motivate?
•
•
•
•
•
Dan Pink – “DRIVE” – M A P
Mastery
Autonomy
Purpose
You choose which, don’t need to dwell, but
worth considering
• Allow kids to find out information themselves if
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPn
at all possible
uFjJc&safe=active 5:00 - 8:45
How to give immediate
feedback?
•
•
•
•
•
Question to show what “right” answer are
Show worked answers
Give helpsheets
Show a video
Key point: reassure the students they are
on the ‘right’ track
How to motivate?
•
•
•
•
•
Dan Pink – “DRIVE” – M A P
Mastery
Autonomy
Purpose
Allow learners to find out information
themselves if possible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPn
uFjJc&safe=active 5:00 - 8:45
Menu
•
•
•
•
Theory
Concrete examples
Implementation (micro)
Implementation (macro)
Implementation (Micro)
• Students will be scared and panic at first
• Students will misunderstand why you are
not just telling them the information
• Dependent on your class and your
relationship with them, you can explain it
to them as “seeing what they can do” or
“showing them how far they have come”
•
•
•
•
•
•
Implementation (Macro)
Whole staff CPD session
Regular revisiting
Identify how to support staff
Refer to constantly (lesson plan sheet)
Provide new staff with opportunity to still see it
Case studies to persuade resistant staff
Implementation (Macro)
Thanks
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Further reading: James Nottingham “the
Learning Pit”, Guskey’s “Professional
Development Steps”, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
“Flow”, Lilac training “Teaching and Learning
Cycle” A systematic and explicit approach to
literacy teaching. Source: Government of South
Australia 2011
An example…
• Using your resources, try to discover what
exactly gamma-ray bombs are…
http://www.classtools.net/education-gamesphp/timer
http://www.classtools.net/main_area/template_
loader.php/?fruit_machine
4 minutes in, video that would be used to re-engage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPlrtgilg
K8&safe=active