Introduction to Learning Score
Learning Score is a simple multimedia-based lesson planning and delivery tool that uses a music score metaphor to show the range of planned activities for a lesson as a graphical timeline. It also allows you to embed the resources that you plan to use (as PDF documents, video, audio, web sites) in the visual plan itself. Whole lessons can be saved, together with their resources and annotations: very useful for sharing and review. As a multimedia alternative, or complement, to conventional paper-based plans, it is ideal for:
- planning, negotiating, delivering, sharing and reviewing lessons through multimedia
- engaging students themselves in the lesson planning and delivery process
- extending and adding value to existing lesson plans
- building personalised programmes for individual students
- planning other learning ‘events’, such as seminars and meetings
- leaving structured lessons for supply teachers.
How Learning Score can be used
‘I was planning a lesson for my GCSE economics class. Looking for inspiration, I started the Learning Score. Just seeing the set of tools at the bottom of the screen got me thinking more broadly. I saw “Roleplay” and suddenly a lesson idea crystallised. Why not start with a role-play – acting out in small groups the differences between a monopoly and a cooperative (based on reading they’d done for homework)? So I pulled the “Roleplay” icon onto the activity track, under the “Small group” heading. Next, I added a video clip to show the students, together with some questions, for individual work leading to small group discussion. Finally I chose an assessment method to review understanding at the end of the lesson – I went for simple traffic lights – hold up red if you haven’t got it, amber for not too sure and green for good to go. And there I had it – the core of my lesson plan.’
