Quality Learning and Teaching

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Matrices to empower student learning and assessment

May12

Using a capacity matrix with an accompanying resource matrix is a great way to involve students in their own learning and to promote independence of learning.

What is a capacity matrix you might ask? Well, it is a visual learning and charting technique created by David Langford and Dr Myron Tribus. Basically, it is a table that breaks down the required aims and outcomes into meaningful capacities.

For instance, the Victorian Curriculum outlines that:

By the end of Level 8, students understand how the selection of text structures is influenced by the selection of language mode and how this varies for different purposes and audiences. They explain how language features, images and vocabulary are used to represent different ideas and issues in texts. They interpret texts, questioning the reliability of sources of ideas and information. They select evidence from the text to show how events, situations and people can be represented from different viewpoints.

 So, if we look at the key learning element of “they explain how language features, images and vocabulary are used…” the learning outcome can be broken down much further. For instance students will need to develop their knowledge and understanding of features such as:

  • Alliteration
  • Assonance,
  • Emotive language
  • Colloquial language
  • Rhetorical questions
  • Similes
  • Metaphors
  • Idioms
  • Personification
  • Symbolism
  • Sarcasm and irony

The same can be seen when looking at Text structures, for instance this can be broken down to things such as:

  • Description
  • Sequence
  • Problem and Solution
  • Compare and Contrast
  • Cause and effect

This helps to make it clearer to students what it is they are actually learning and what they must provide evidence of having learnt. The beauty of capacity matrices is that there are a number of levels of learning that students can achieve and encourages depth of learning by encouraging students to reach the “wisdom” level.

Information: I have heard of this.

Knowledge: I understand and can explain this.

Know-how: I can do this on my own.

Wisdom: I can apply this to other situations and teach others.

 

Accompanied with a resource matrix students are not forced to wait until their teacher is ready to move forward. This does require the teacher or teachers to plan and assess differently. It places much more responsibility in the hands of the students, at the same time, empowering them to take ownership of their learning.

The attachments show how the matrices might look.

Capacity Matrix

resource matrix

To find out more about Capacity Matrices visit the following websites:

www.qla.com.au

www.langfordlearning.co

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