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To investigate time spent in talking and listening, in a classroom based group activity

Aim

To investigate time spent in talking and listening, in a classroom based group activity.

Evidence and reflection

Audio record (or better still video record) part of a teaching session (e.g.  15 minutes). Remember that unless a relatively quiet room is used, it may be difficult to hear what is said against background noise. In a whole class situation the teacher's voice often dominates.  In a small group situation all the participants can usually be heard on the average audio recorder.

Focal points for consideration:

1. How much talking is there and who is doing it?

  • Calculate total amount of time spent on teacher talk.  
  • Calculate time spent by students talking to teacher, and to each other. Are there any differences between boys/girls, high/low attainers... etc.?

2. Where is the talk directed?

  • Calculate the number of times the teacher is spoken to, by whom, why.
  • Calculate the number of times different students are spoken to, by whom, why.

3. What is the talk about?

  • Calculate the amount of time spent on social/personal discussion.
  • Calculate the amount of talk spent setting the task up, and supervising the work.
  • Calculate the amount of time spent on discussing the main points, or substantive content, of the task.

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