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U sing the EVS homework function in learning and teaching English Grammar

U sing the EVS homework function in learning and teaching English Grammar. Marjolein Groefsema English Language & Communication School of Humanities M.Groefsema@herts.ac.uk. Background. English Language & Communication is part of Humanities.

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U sing the EVS homework function in learning and teaching English Grammar

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  1. Using the EVS homework function in learning and teaching English Grammar Marjolein Groefsema English Language & Communication School of Humanities M.Groefsema@herts.ac.uk

  2. Background English Language & Communication is part of Humanities. Grammar is an essential part of studying EL&C: it provides part of the toolkit for studying language. It is a core module, with around 100 students. Across the sector finding an effective way of teaching grammar is problematic.

  3. Aims of the English Grammar module To enable students to … * develop their understanding of the grammar of English; * develop skills of grammatical analysis; * display an appropriate range of linguistic terminology.

  4. A bit of history • This module has run in various guises for as long as the programme has been offered. • It has mostly been taught in lecture – seminar format.

  5. Results when taught in standard lecture-seminar format Assessment: one or two take-home assignment(s), one exam • Around 30% fail rate in the exam.

  6. Feedback from students • Many students only started revising the material when the assignment was due and just before the exam. • Students wanted more and earlier feedback.

  7. ‘Team based learning’ (Larry Michaelsen et al, 2002) Students do preparatory work before coming to class (including homework for a mark) Students work in set groups in class throughout the module. They do the same homework task again in class as a team (also for a mark).

  8. Organisation • Students completed a grammar audit in the first class, and were divided into mixed attainment teams of five/six students on the basis of the results. • They worked in this team in class each week. • They chose a name for their team in the first week.

  9. How can you have weekly homework without ending up with an enormous marking load? By using the EVS homework function! Would you like to try it? • Yes • No Do you think it will improve learning? • Yes • No

  10. Weekly structure Before class: Students work through a weekly worksheet, and do a quiz on StudyNet. EVS homework questions (for a mark) are embedded in the worksheet. The worst two marks (or non-submissions) aren’t counted.

  11. In class Students upload their homework at the beginning of class to TurningKey.  Improved attendance! The last 30 minutes of the seminar they do a more extensive version of the homework questions again as a team. The results of the teams are published in a league table on StudyNet.

  12. Assessment • Weekly homework (10%) • Weekly group task in the seminar (10%) • One in-class test (15%) • One take-home assignment (15%) • One two-hour exam (50%)

  13. Results 2011-12: 51% A-B 2007-08: 21.5% A-B 35 1st class marks, including 18 over 80%

  14. How students have approached this • "I just read through the EVS sheet quickly just glance over everything and read the questions so I’ve got them in my head and then I go back and read like what will be relevant to the questions so if it’s not relevant I won’t look at it" 

  15. "I literally just read through the word document thing which Marjolein puts up and I make notes which I think are going to be important [...] and then I keep it up and I go through the sort of like the practice question type things [...] and then check the answers straight away so I know that I’m sort of  getting the right end of the stick and then I just go through the EVS questions."

  16. Positives • Continuous engagement • Improved attendance • Using homework function in in-class test: greater flexibility for students • Results!

  17. Issues • Problems with the technology • Requires large time investment by tutor

  18. Any Questions?

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