What innovative strategies did the reviewers find for enhancing motivational effort?
The studies showed that strategies making use of ICT (including interactive whiteboards, videoconferencing, software packages and calculators) could have a powerful effect on how hard students worked. Two kinds of motivating effects were apparent: • using ICT to make lessons enjoyable; and • using ICT in a way that enhanced deeper understanding of mathematics. The reviewers pointed out that whilst both were important, the second was crucial. Other innovative methods contributed to raising effort levels too. These included: • cognitive acceleration in mathematics education (CAME) or CAME-type lessons; • teaching based on extending features of the NNS in primary schools into secondary schools (such as the mental/oral starters and whole class interactive teaching); and • assessment for learning practices. But teachers needed to have a good understanding of how an innovation could be effective and needed to develop the necessary skills and techniques to put it into practice effectively. De
