Web-based initiatives [using MAPS] are revolutionising GCSE assessment, and dramatically improving students' motivation and marks in the process......

article from Times Educational Supplement (156.76 Kb)

Dorothy Walker, TES Teacher

The introduction of MAPS into the school has really helped in the teaching and assessment of ICT. One of the most noticeable areas of improvement is in the KS4 GCSE course. It has enabled short, achievable deadlines to be set with students having ready access to information that helps them with the completion. In previous years the ICT department has achieved good GCSE results but the advent of MAPS could well see 95% of the students taking the GCSE course achieving A-C grades in their coursework with over 50 % of these being A grades. This is partly due to the way it lets teachers readily check student's work and if it has been handed in on time. It also helps to prevent loss of coursework since once it has been handed in a backup copy of the work exists. Students are also appearing more confident as they are able to hand in work any time and see positive confirmation of the hand in process as well as evidence of their achievements once it has been assessed. MAPS has also helped in many other aspects of ICT teaching, such as allowing students to continue with a project easily even if the regular teacher is not available.

Adam King, Newland School, Windsor & Maidenhead

Our OCR ICT GCSE short course results for last year are much better than before (92.5% A* to B). Much of this can be attributed to improved collection of work through the Internet. We have year 9 groups who get one double period (70 minutes in total) every two weeks and the abiltiy to maintain the on-line portfolio has made a big difference. It reduced the issues students had handing in work to staff and improved and significantly speeded up any feedback to students. MAPS played a big part in this achievement.

George Rouse, King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys, Birmingham

A good system for assessment [MAPS] now enables pupils' progress to be tracked effectively so that teachers can assist pupils to improve. This is a major reason for the above average standards reached by the pupils.

The OFSTED report on Ridgeway Middle School - Worcs.

MAPS seems an easy-to-use; attractive product that gives pupils a lot of control over the way they choose and collect their work - and it looks sure to make the teacher's job easier; which is always welcome.

"Who provides the Acid Test?" Gerald Haigh

The development of the MAP System has begun to have a significant impact on issues of transfer and transition in KS3 ICT. It provides ICT co-ordinators with a management tool that enables them to track the consistency of assessment across their department. Many are using it to inform CPD in their school as they can see work from all classes and engage their staff in discussions over quality of teaching and learning. The initial emphasis on KS3, as a result of the focus provided through the KS3 ICT Strategy has now broadened to encompass KS2, with the KS2 MAP System for ICT being established in 25 primary and middle schools in September '03. The flexibility of the System has already begun to infiltrate cross-curricular use of ICT in some schools with Maths, Geography and English departments using it to track statutory requirements for ICT in these subjects, as well.

Jane Finch - Teacher Advisor ICT

Thanks for all your support this year. We have raised our Key Stage 3 [ICT] result by 3% and we think that MAPS has helped us meet the government target 1 year early.

Colin Whitehead - ICT Coordinato - Christopher Whitehead School - Worc

It is good to see a solution which looks at the whole portfolio; not just the final pieces of work. All we have to do now is convince pupils not to print it all out and we could almost offset MAPS costs against ink and paper costs!

Penny Patterson - General Inspector ICT - London Borough of Havering

It tells you what task you are on and what you have to do. If you get stuck; particularly at home you can send a message to get help. It's more fun doing the work on the computer.

Danielle - aged 10

The home page is easy to change and the labels are clear to read. You know what to click on. You can send private messages to the teacher. It's private because of the password. You hand work in without having to print it which is good cause the printer is always going wrong!

Lee - aged 12