Red the Robot® Institute of Education report
In January 2008, three primary schools were enlisted by the Institute of Education to monitor and evaluate the introduction of Red the Robot® in schools. For this research, Red the Robot® was used from the Foundation Stage to Year Six.
The Key recommendations are:
- Maintain and extend the principle of learning using play in the pedagogy. Red the Robot® provides plenty of opportunities for children to experience fun when learning.
- Schools may need to ensure an appropriate balance on the use and possibilities of Red the Robot®. These need to vary from adult to children led, small to whole class teaching, with the actual resource as the main focal point and/or combining the use with other electronic and traditional resources available.
- The data from observations suggests that class teachers play a key role in how to make the resource most effective for learning literacy. Teachers need to be prepared to include more than one way to use the resources and this should be informed by the preferences indicated by the children. The data also shows when parents are partners in learning they can participate in research processes and reflections which can inform the planning of class activities.
- Teachers need to challenge their views on the value of traditional ways of teaching literacy and in particular story telling. They need to consider the use of innovative technology for learning in the classroom. This is not to recommend that other resources are not included, but the have an open attitude to try, assess and use the information to best select what works effectively.
- The ICT coordinator and the literacy coordinator may wish to consider an action plan to systematically plan, monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of RED the Robot®. It is recommended that Red the Robot® is included in the planning as a regular feature for literacy learning.
The full report can be viewed/downloaded here
Red the Robot® Data
After the Institute of Education completed the research on Red the Robot® we have asked schools and Local Authorities that are trialling or have bought Red the Robot® to submit their data to support the use of Red as a Letters and Sounds resource.
Overall schools have agreed that by using Red the Robot® as part of a Phonics teaching and learning programme in school, Red has increased numbers of children that are becoming secure in the Phase work they are working on.