Tooled Up Education

Dyslexia Q&A with Dr Rebecca Gordon

Dr Rebecca Gordon answers all of your questions about dyslexia in this 20 minute video. Learn about early signs, how dyslexia is diagnosed, the challenges faced by children with dyslexia and common myths.

Ten Top Facts about Autumn

Meteorologist and Latinist, David Bowker gives us a fascinating insight into the season of autumn. When does it begin? What folklore surrounds it? Why are conkers so popular? Read our article to find out!

Researcher of the Month: Professor David Putwain – Is Warning Students of the Consequences of Exam Failure an Effective Strategy?

Researcher of the month, Professor David Putwain, discusses his recent paper which focuses on whether warning GCSE students of the consequences of failure (otherwise known as a ‘fear appeal’) is a motivating strategy in terms of their levels of engagement and achievement. He outlines the reasons why teachers use fear appeals, how this kind of approach can have very different outcomes depending on the way that individual students evaluate the message, and what this means for classroom practice. He also provides us with some great tips and tools that teachers can use to take a temperature check of their students’ levels of test anxiety.

Multidimensional Test Anxiety Scale (MTAS)

This short questionnaire, devised by Professor David Putwain and colleagues, was developed to measure test or examination anxiety in populations of secondary school students, aged 11 to 19 years. It is intended for use by school practitioners (such as teachers, school pastoral and support staff, educational and school psychologists, and school counsellors) and others who wish to identify highly test anxious students who may benefit from support or intervention, or to evaluate changes in test anxiety before and after intervention.

Multidimensional Test Anxiety Scale (MTAS) User’s Manual

This user’s manual was produced by Professor David Putwain and colleagues to accompany the MTAS questionnaire, which measures test or examination anxiety in populations of secondary school students, aged 11 to 19 years. It is intended for use by school practitioners (such as teachers, school pastoral and support staff, educational and school psychologists, and school counsellors) and others who wish to identify highly test anxious students who may benefit from support or intervention, or to evaluate changes in test anxiety before and after intervention.

Teachers’ Use of Fear Appeals Questionnaire (TUFAQ)

This short questionnaire, devised by Professor David Putwain and colleagues, was developed to measure the perceived frequency that teachers use fear appeals (warning students of the consequences of failure) prior to a high-stakes examination and their appraisal by students as either a challenge or a threat. When used to survey student opinions, it can give teachers a sense of the impact of their messages and reveal how specific individuals are responding.

Dr Weston Talks with Professor Deirdre Butler and Dr Paula Lehane: Using Minecraft in Schools

In this podcast interview, Dr Weston talks with Professor Deirdre Butler and Dr Paula Lehane about how Minecraft: Education Edition is being used in classrooms. They discuss the great potential of so called ‘sandbox’ games in children’s learning, outline current gaps in the research evidence and provide useful tips for any teachers wanting to make the most of game-based learning.

The Latin and Greek of Our Supermarket Shelves

Greek teacher, David Bowker, gives us the lowdown on how the names of much of the food and produce that we buy today have roots in Latin and Ancient Greek. He also gives us lots of fun facts about the diets of Romans. Perfect for both adults and children to read, this article, which includes suggestions for follow up resources, will help make those boring trips to the supermarket that little bit more interesting.

Leadership for Great Teaching

In this webinar for school staff, David Weston, CEO of the Teacher Development Trust, outlines the key principles of effective teacher professional development and learning. Find out more about the evidence base behind school improvement and learn more about the kind of culture that senior leadership teams should aim to foster.