Thinking Skills and the Learning of Primary History (pdf 65kb)

Thinking Historically through Stories (pdf 84kb)

Determining Historical Significance (pdf 64kb)

Thinking Chronologically (pdf 39kb)

Concluding paper (pdf 51kb)

The underlying theme of the project - sponsored by Astra Zeneca - is that an imaginative, creative and challenging approach to primary science will result in better achievement in SATs, particularly for the more able. It is anticipated that this approach will also result in raised standards for the whole class and will increase both the children’s enthusiasm for science and their engagement with the scientific process.

Conceptual Challenge In Primary Science for Year 6 Pupils 2002/2003 (pdf 48kb)

A computer application that supports an individual’s thinking can be described as a cognitive tool. This project investigates the uses that children make of ICT as a cognitive tool to enhance and develop their higher order thinking.

A Becta Research Bursary (awarded together with colleagues from Keele, Nottingham and Brighton universities) has enabled some preliminary work on a computer-based method of assessing metacognitive skills. This has been reported in:

Higgins, C. et al (2003) ‘The development and use of a computer-based model for assessing thinking skills’ in ICT Research Bursaries, ICT in Schools Research and Evaluation Series No 16 London: DfES/Becta

A further Becta Research Bursary, awarded with a teacher in a local school, is enabling collaboration to develop the ideas in a classroom context - “An investigation of how different ways of presenting information using ICT may affect children’s thinking”.