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The 1-10 Scale

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1.The 1-10 Scale

EFFORT

"The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself."

Mary Schmich (Author and Journalist)

 

On a scale of 1 to 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

  • Reflect on your work this term.

  • Think about your effort levels.

  • Use the table below to give yourself an effort score from 1 to 10.

Optimal levels of effort

Some Effort - you work quite hard

10

5

1

3

7

Above Average Effort

Below Average Effort

Little or no effort at all

CLASS POLL

We have asked the same question to thousands of students.

The  following graph shows their scores...

CLASS POLL

How does this compare to your class results?

Did the majority of you score somewhere in the middle?

If you are anything like the majority of students, you are likely to have scored your effort as "average"

...however, what exactly is "average" effort?

...If everyone is making "average" effort, why does everyone in your class do different amounts of work?

Is it possible that you are not making as much effort as you could be?

Is your idea of ​​effort the same as other students?

The problem with effort scaling...

  • The meaning of the numbers in the scale varies from person to person.

  • People tend to relate to people who do the same or less work than them.

  • People 'normalise' the amount of work they do, so assume they are just "average"

  • You might percieve your effort to be "good" just because the people around you are doing less.

  • There is no clear idea of ​​what the hardest workers do.

  • Its hard to know what students in other schools and colleges are doing.

Creating an OBJECTIVE view of EFFORT

 

On a scale of 1 to 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

  • Now try scoring yourself again, however this time we will introduce some concrete statements.

  • Our new poll will be based on the actual number of hours of independent study you do, on average, EACH WEEK

  • Remember: Independent Study is NOT just Homework!  It is study you do in ADDITION to homework.

10+ hrs Independent Study

4-6 hrs Independent Study

10

5

1

3

7

6-8hrs Independent Study

2-4hrs Independent Study

0-1 hour Independent study

CLASS POLL

Again we have asked the same question to thousands of students.

The  following graph shows their scores...

Your choice of number this time will be  a more accurate reflection of your effort level relative to other students.

How does this compare to your class results?

Did your effort score change when you measured it objectively?

Notice how the national effort scores shift down significantly, when measured objectively

OBJECTIVE EFFORT

Big Idea

  • The VESPA project has interviewed hundreds of post-16 students and found that:

  • 20 hours - The average number of hours of independent study that A level students who gain 3A* achieve each week.

  • The 20 hours are divided between 3-4 subjects, which equates to 5-6 hours per week in each subject outside lessons.  

  • Remember...this is additional work, on top of work set by teachers.

So, how can you improve your levels of effort?

So what are the steps to improve?

First, try to improve your current "objective" effort  score by following the steps below...

  1. Put a timetable in place so that you do 10 hours of independent study.

  2. Use the tables in this presentation, or your own.

  3. Start by coloring the sessions where you are in lessons or busy working - eg part-time work.

  4. Stick to the plan for at least 3 weeks.

  5. With help from your teachers, increase the time every 3 weeks, eg. 12 hours, then 14 hours etc.

Research shows that it takes about 30 days to establish a 'habit'.

Why don't you aim to get a new "effort habit" established by next term.

An example timetable showing 10 hours of independent study

The red squares represent lesson time.

The blue squares represent part-time work.

An example timetable showing 10 hours of independent study.
The green squares represent time for independent study. In this example it is easy to meet 10 hours:
- 2 hours during free lessons.
- 2 hours three times a week.
- 2 hours on Sundays.

The gray squares represent lunchtime, travel and socialising.

Yellow squares represent time for fitness/sports.

How could you adapt to 20 hours of independent study?

It's your turn now...

  • Produce an independent study schedule that includes more independent study time than what you are currently achieving.

  • Make a promise to stick to it for 3 weeks.

  • Try to do this exercise with a friend, check how you are doing regularly and use each other for motivation.

  • Produce an independent study schedule that includes more independent study time than what you are currently achieving.

  • Make a promise to stick to it for 3 weeks.

  • Try to do this exercise with a friend, check how you are doing regularly and use each other for motivation.

1.The 1-10 Scale

EFFORT

On a scale of 1 to 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

  • Reflect on your work this term.

  • Think about your effort levels.

  • Use the table below to give yourself an effort score from 1 to 10.

Optimal levels of effort

Some Effort - you work quite hard

10

5

1

3

7

Above Average Effort

Below Average Effort

Little or no effort at all

CLASS POLL

We have asked the same question to thousands of students.

The  following graph shows their scores...

CLASS POLL

How does this compare to your class results?

Did the majority of you score somewhere in the middle?

If you are anything like the majority of students, you are likely to have scored your effort as "average"

...however, what exactly is "average" effort?

...If everyone is making "average" effort, why does everyone in your class do different amounts of work?

Creating an OBJECTIVE view of EFFORT

 

On a scale of 1 to 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

  • Now try scoring yourself again, however this time we will introduce some concrete statements.

  • Our new poll will be based on the actual number of hours of independent study you do, on average, EACH WEEK

  • Remember: Independent Study is NOT just Homework!  It is study you do in ADDITION to homework.

10+ hrs Independent Study

4-6 hrs Independent Study

10

5

1

3

7

6-8hrs Independent Study

2-4hrs Independent Study

0-1 hour Independent study

CLASS POLL

Again we have asked the same question to thousands of students.

The  following graph shows their scores...

Your choice of number this time will be  a more accurate reflection of your effort level relative to other students.

How does this compare to your class results?

Did your effort score change when you measured it objectively?

Notice how the national effort scores shift down significantly, when measured objectively

OBJECTIVE EFFORT

So what are the steps to improve?

First, try to improve your current "objective" effort  score by following the steps below...

  1. Put a timetable in place so that you do 10 hours of independent study.

  2. Use the tables in this presentation, or your own.

  3. Start by coloring the sessions where you are in lessons or busy working - eg part-time work.

  4. Stick to the plan for at least 3 weeks.

  5. With help from your teachers, increase the time every 3 weeks, eg. 12 hours, then 14 hours etc.

It's your turn now...

  • Produce an independent study schedule that includes more independent study time than what you are currently achieving.

  • Make a promise to stick to it for 3 weeks.

  • Try to do this exercise with a friend, check how you are doing regularly and use each other for motivation.