1. #RAG123 marking
Who: Kev Lister
What: Assistant Head
Where: Stratford upon Avon School
Twitter: @ListerKev
Blog: http://bit.ly/ListerKev
Originally shared November 2013
Updated presentation for TM Oxford 18th December 2014
2. Others may well have been doing something similar for years.
The only part of this I know I invented from scratch is the
#RAG123 hashtag.
Details of the ideas that inspired RAG123 are given in my blog.
Disclaimer
#RAG123
3. Feedback & marking related:
Keeping up to date with marking
Getting students involved in the marking process & building
dialogue
Providing feedback that is timely and relevant.
Planning & progress related:
Understanding what students can/can’t do so that the next
lesson has maximum impact.
Giving attention to those students who “fly below the radar”
Perpetual challenges as a teacher…
#RAG123
And it seems to be getting worse in many schools…
“Marking Frenzy”
4. • A way to mark books after EVERY lesson (ideally)
• Simply rate based on a quick judgement:
• Red, Amber, Green for effort
• 1, 2, 3 for understanding
• Coded as G1, A3, R2, etc
• Full class takes between 5 and 15 mins
• Ideally students self/peer assess and you simply review/comment
• Then use the results to inform planning & intervention for
the next lesson(s)
So what is #RAG123?
#RAG123
5. Isn’t it just logical?
Doesn’t it just make sense that lots of smaller corrections have more chance
of being successful than fewer larger ones?
#RAG123
6. “Marking every book after every lesson must take ages”
Actually easier to find 5-15 minutes to RAG123 regularly.
non-contact time becomes more productive!
“Just lazy marking” or “Not detailed enough for proper feedback”
Lack of written detail is overcome because the content of the NEXT
LESSON(s) can be shaped to include intervention as needed.
“We are required to do dialogue marking so this doesn’t fit”
Students see the books being marked regularly so they respond more
fully.
They know their comments will be seen.
Typical objections (before trying it)
#RAG123
7. “Students won’t know what it means”
Once you tell them they pick it up very quickly
“Won’t work for my subject” or “We mark differently to maths”
It’s not a maths only thing – it can and is used effectively across
whole schools and primary/secondary
“Ofsted wouldn’t like it”
Actually feedback from schools inspected shows generally positive
comments.
One school leader has cited RAG123 as instrumental in helping his
school out of special measures
Typical objections (before trying it)
#RAG123
8. Get a copy here:
http://bit.ly/RAG123guide
Students need to know what it means
#RAG123
9. Initially it could be a quick
look, review and teacher
assessment
What does it look like in books?
#RAG123
10. As students become
more familiar they
should participate in
the process by self
evaluating.
Useful for them to
put a reason WHY
they have given that
rating
Teacher then reviews
and agrees/disagrees
What does it look like in books?
#RAG123
11. Because you see the books
after every lesson a genuine
dialogue can be established
Students write more
because they know you see
it and respond…
Student self assessment
Teacher 1st responses
Student response
Teacher 2nd response
(all within 24 hours!)
Rapid dialogue
#RAG123
12. Errors can be spotted and
addressed next lesson…
Initial comment and
RAG123 marking
Conversation in next
lesson resulted in
correction (student chose
to cross out incorrect
working)
Rapid corrections
#RAG123
13. No – Formal feedback slips, homework and formative use of
tests/assessments also form part of the feedback process, but
it’s all helped by RAG123
Is that all the feedback they get?
More details on these on my blog
#RAG123
14. Typical benefits seen
Quote taken from a blog by @Benneypenyrheol, a
Deputy Head & Science teacher in Swansea
http://mrbenney.wordpress.com/
#RAG123
• “The positives absolutely smash any negatives out of the
park:
• The RAG123 is simple to understand.
• You may spend more time marking but it just doesn’t seem like it. You
can snatch ten minutes here and there. In a week I had spent more time
marking (added up) than I would normally have. However it is so
efficient that it doesn’t seem that way at all.
• If you stay on after school for 5-10 minutes for each class you will never
have to take marking home. No Sunday evenings ruined with hours of
marking to do.
• I know my class so much better than before. I know who I need to push
and who may need a little bit more assistance.
• Pupils value it. They really do.
• You can build dialogue with the pupils. And it takes seconds”
17. Impact on progress
RAG123
started here
#RAG123
Difficult to find a robust control group, but where
comparisons can be made the effect size has been
estimated at between +0.6 to +0.7
18. None! Seriously!
The only people who suggest negatives are
those that haven’t tried it!
EVERYONE I know of who has tried it has said it
has a beneficial impact in the classroom!
NOBODY who has tried it has reported an
increase in overall workload!
I’ve not taken a single book home since Nov 2013!
Negatives
#RAG123
19. “Can we use RAG for understanding and 123 for effort?”
Of course! But the students focus on most on the colour. The
thing they can control most is effort, therefore I like to have
colour for effort.
“How do I decide what qualifies as R/A/G effort?”
Main consideration is the message you want the individual
student to receive.
Don’t over–think it, quick judgement and move on…if it prompts
a challenge/question from the student… great – that’s dialogue!
“What about pupils taking books home for homework?”
Personally I set homework on separate sheets and keep the
books. Alternatively just miss RAG123 for that lesson.
Worth considering what’s going to have more impact on their
progress – your feedback or them having their book at home?
Frequently asked questions
#RAG123
20. “Does it have to be done on the same day as the lesson?”
No, but ideally it’s before you plan the next lesson in detail so
there is opportunity to adjust based on RAG123
“Does it have to be EVERY lesson?”
No, but it’s better if it is.
However even every other lesson or even once a week would still
have benefits.
Frequently asked questions
#RAG123
21. Still sceptical?
Take up my challenge…
Choose a group
Try #RAG123 for 3 lessons (yes – JUST 3!)
If you don’t see any of the benefits then go back to your
normal approach to marking and feedback
Please let me know if it doesn’t work for you - (you could
be the first!)
Let me know how it goes… @ListerKev
Give it a try…
#RAG123