Research has shown that Cognitive Acceleration can accelerate students' thinking. Find out how its 'structured challenges' approach works with an example from a KS3 science class. Rooted in the thinking of Piaget and the constructivists, Cognitive Acceleration was developed initially in the context of science teaching, although it is now used in a range of other subjects as well. Initial studies in the 1980s showed that CASE, Cognitive Acceleration in Science Education, had a robust impact on attainment. The Grey Coat Hospital, a girls school in London, have run the CASE programme for KS3 pupils for 15 years, with great success. We show how Tom Xavier teaches his Year 7 science group the fourth of five CASE lessons looking at the control and exclusion of variables towards understanding fair testing, and hear from Professor Philip Adey, who has led research into Cognitive Acceleration, along with Grey Coat deputy headteacher, Martina Lecky, a leading CASE trainer.

Video Series: Learning Skills
Release Date 2009