Documents

1

Project Overview
Learning Areas
Language, Creative Arts, Drama, Numeracy, ICT
Levels
P7 S1 (ages 12-13). Older children assist as
helpers / peer coaches.
To improve the process of transition for pupils
moving from primary to secondary school, and
develop relationships among cluster staff,
parents and pupils
Objectives
Description
The project utilised game based learning as a
context for learning within 6 cluster primary
schools, concluding in an innovative transition
event involving activities using Guitar Hero. On
transfer to secondary school the pupils continued
their use of the game as a context for learning
and social interaction.
Guitar Hero, Spreadsheet, Graphic Software,
Audio/Video Recording
Software
Games Based Learning, Transitions, Battle of
Bands, Guitar Hero
Keywords
Authors
Ollie Bray, Musselburgh Grammar School, East
Lothian, Scotland
Documents
2
Teacher Planning and Management
Documents
Click the documents below to help you understand
the context of this exemplary learning
project Background Planning The project was
planned in 5 stages Stage One Training the
Staff Stage Two Using Guitar Hero in primary
curriculum (P7) Stage Three Transition event for
primaries at Musselburgh Grammar School Stage
Four Initial work in the secondary to use Guitar
Hero to communicate back to primary
schools Stage Five Evaluation and scaling the
project up to be education authority-wide
Classroom Images In addition to the two
images in the document below, an external link is
provided to a larger set of images.
Project Blog
3
Teaching Resources
Click the documents below to view some of the
teaching resources used in the teaching of this
learning project Student Project Overview The
curriculum planning documents below illustrate
the range of activities with which the primary
pupils engaged in the period Easter June. The
picture links show some of the outcomes of pupil
work and helps to understand the activities in
which pupils engaged through the medium of the
Guitar Hero game. Pupils also were provided with
resources to support them in their use of other
hardware (computers, audio and video recorders,
digital cameras) and software (graphic design,
audio video editing, spreadsheet, email).
Curriculum Plans
Management Documents
Images
4
Assessment and Standards
Click the documents below to see the assessment
rubrics and standards cover in this learning
project Assessment Rubrics Examples of
assessment rubrics provided to students showing
how the project was assessed are shown in the
Standards documents below. An external link is
also provided to video of one of the participants
talking about their experience of
assessment. Mapping the Standards The projects
learning objectives are mapped against the
Scottish curriculum standards as set out in
Curriculum for Excellence.
Documents
5
Personal Learning Outcomes

• This was a project about developing
  relationships between the teaching staff within
  the Musselburgh cluster of seven schools. The
  project has single handedly changed the dynamic
  of staff working in the cluster and has led to
  improved collaboration and joint working.
• This project truly put children at the centre of
  their own learning. They were given real
  ownership and felt empowered by the work they
  were undertaking. Teachers are not experts in
  computer games but children are they thrived
  on the experience to be the real innovators in
  the classroom and to lead from the front.
• This project was an opportunity to lead
  transformational change and to demonstrate that
  ICT and computer games can create a powerful
  learning and socially dynamic environment. It
  also proves that learning and schools can be fun.
• During the project we proved that it was cost
  effective and most importantly can be scaled up.
  The project engaged 262 children. To repeat the
  project you do not need expertise - just
  enthusiasm, a willingness to take risks and the
  professionalism to embrace 21st century connected
  learning. (see the project evaluation slide to
  see the impact we have made).

Importantly we taught a lot of people what this
project was not about 1) Its not about
playing' computer games its about using
computer games 2) Its not about learning to
play the guitar its about learning 3) Its
not about an investment in computer games
its about an investment in children.
6
Project Evaluation and Extension

An evaluation of the project was carried out by
the team. This included a survey of the pupils
who had taken part, and some video interviews.
The video interviews made use of a mobile video
booth developed by the Microsoft Partners in
Learning Project. The survey outcomes are
reported in the document below, and links to a
sample interview are also given. The project has
now been extended to all secondary/primary
clusters in the East Lothian Authority. A
presentation from a recent training event can be
found on slideshare. The project team are also
working with 4 other Local Authorities in
Scotland, with schools in London and in Dorset,
and with schools in Australia and Hong Kong.
Documents
7
Teacher and School Information
For further information about the project please
contact Ollie Bray Depute Head
Teacher Musselburgh Grammar School www.olliebray.
com obray_at_musselburghgrammar.elcschool.org.uk

• Musselburgh Cluster Schools involved in the
  project
• Musselburgh Grammar School Ollie Bray (Project
  leader)
• Campie Primary School Steven Wood, Tessa
  Collins and Alicia MacFarlane
• Wallyford Primatry School Stacey Betteridge
• Whitecraig Primary School Jenny MacNair
• Stoneyhill PS Jill Craig and Julie Naismith
• Musselburgh Burgh Sarah Robson
• Pinkie St. Peters Richard Wilson

For 2009 the project has been scaled up to
include all East Lothian Schools. Thats 35
primary schools, 6 secondary schools and over 70
xboxs!