Choose Me, Miss!

In schools where children are banned to put their hands up in class, the pupils learn twice as fast according to an experiment carried out last year where children were told not to put up their hands. In a class of 13 year olds, it improved their academic performance and they learned quicker when not made to answer teachers questions by raising their hand. Instead they were all told to write their answer on white boards on their desks and lift the boards at the same time to show the teacher their answers.

The study was carried out for a BBC documentary.  The new way of working helped not only the shy and less able pupils but it also helped the more confident child too.

The study was led by Professor Dylan William, deputy director of the London University Institute for Education. He admitted the children and teachers did not like the new system at the start. Bold students missed showing off that they knew the answers, uninterested children had to actually contribute and work, and teachers too had to chance their way of working.

The study also found that making the students exercise at the start of each day also helped with their performance. Children worked together more and the dynamic of the class changed for the better.