Digital Mysteries – learning through collaboration

Based on an established paper-based learning tool, it is popular with teachers who value problem-solving and collaboration due to its open-ended nature and focus on group work.
From a library of mysteries on various subjects, students are given 20-30 slips of information. They usually have a strong narrative thread about people experiencing events. The process typically involves reading the information slips and grouping them. Students can then create a sequence which represents their answer.

The students' thinking is more visible on the digital version (right).

• younger learners

• hard-to-engage students

• higher achievers, or

• results focused learners

• Reading: Enhances reading skills by breaking down subject information into manageable pieces of text.

• Retention: Improves retention by interpreting the same information through different perspectives.

• Collaboration and communication: Builds important life skills through group work and useful discussion triggers.

• Engagement: Makes learning an enjoyable, interactive activity by working with friends on relevant, digital tasks.

• Reflection: Develops higher level thinking using specifically designed tools, open-ended problems and working in groups.

• Achievement: Improves achievement levels by developing basic and higher level skills and increasing engagement.

• Use existing technology: Helps your school become a place of 21st century learning using existing technologies.

• Library: A wide range of teacher-prepared, curriculum-based tasks with clear learning objectives.

• Differentiation: Engages disinterested pupils, yet challenges higher achievers to reach their full potential.

• Formative assessment: Supports formative assessment by making students’ thinking accessible via specifically designed tools.

• Lesson planning: Makes lesson planning easier as tangible outcomes are made clear for each task.

• Reporting progress: Assists with documenting students’ progress through generated reports and logs.

• There are a multitude of options to suit you that utilise your existing hardware:

• Touch: Digital Mysteries can be used in touch mode to support collaboration around tablets, touch screens or tabletops.

• PC/laptop: All you need is an extra mouse or two for each computer; this gives each student their own cursor allowing all to be involved. It also means participation levels can be recorded.

• Interactive whiteboards: Digital Mysteries can turn into a whole class experience by making use of your classroom's interactive whiteboard.

For other options please email info@reflectivethinking.com.