Assessment for Learning in PE
Working with a PE department today in the north of the county who are very keen to adopt performance analysis software as a means to enhance learning in their classrooms. We looked at using cSwing as a way to allow pupils to assess their own performance on-the-fly, to make an instant appraisal and make improvements. The use of this software addresses a number of points in raising achievement through assessment for learning, notably in learners measuring their own improvement against stated goals.
cSwing is software originally intended for golfers to be able to film and analyse their swing, rapidly producing improvement. We thought that it could be put to good use anywhere in a scenario that needed learners to raise their attainment through comparison with their own prior performance or even by comparing with exemplar material. They could watch a replay of themselves and mark their performance against a standard checklist, and discuss with their peers what constitutes good performance and whether or not they meet agreed criteria. The advantage of cSwing is that it is so simple to use, yet contains relevant analysis tools, that pupils can use it themselves with little coaching.
Then the power of it begins…they see themselves completing a performance or technique on replayed live video, and instantly make an appraisal of their own performance for themselves either through a prompt sheet or in consultation with their peers or other experts, and then “raise their game” a little (or a lot!). The performance can be recorded and saved for later analysis, and the process is so quick and simple that this analysis can be done in situ and the learners can assess their performance against known exemplars whilst still in the gym! Imagine the conversation; “Why has the ball gone straight when Beckham kicked it, and what made your shot so different?” - and the learner gets to analyse their own technique side-by-side against a professional sports player.
Assessment for Learning
When they know what they are trying to achieve, learners make better progress and can aim towards a particlar improvement in skill or technique. This software enables rapid skill development through guided review and improvement, and they can easily measure their own improvement by recording “before and after” clips. Working in a group they can analyse the performance of others and make progress themselves as a result. It makes for better progression when learners know their objectives for improving a skill or technique, and they can be shown what they should be aiming at.
The role of the teacher is still paramount though. Although learners using this software are able to become more independent in their learning through critical appraisal of their performance, it is the successful teacher that makes the difference by guiding the learning through stated objectives, using planned and focussed questioning and giving focussed and critical feedback.
Independent Learners
Allowing learners to work with this software gives them the opportunity to take ownership of their own development. There is huge potential for them to develop as independent learners since they appraise their own performance and that of others, seeing a number of mistakes and correcting them rapidly. You can explain a technique to somebody all day and they still get it wrong - yet show them how to do it and they stand a better chance of getting it right. Giving them the opportunity to compare and criticise their own performance against a successful practitioner means that they can improve independently, thereby developing a transferable skill for performance in all areas of learning.
Coursework
cSwing has the added advantage that it allows users to save files in a variety of ways. Video files can be saved for inclusion in a lesson resource or in a coursework task within powerpoint or suchlike. Frames from the video can be “bookmarked” and saved individually for later inclusion elsewhere. The software even includes buttons for emailing pictures or for creating a webpage from a series of bookmarks - able pupils could add to the code for the generated webpage and present their analysis online. The opportunities are huge for analysing the output from cSwing, and for subsequent presentation.
For me though, the most important feature of the software is that learners can improve their own performance through their own analysis; approaching that independence of learning and being able to transfer it elsewhere is the goal.