Technology in education: 5 ways GCSEPod helps students improve grades

Why is technology good for education

Education technology can bring a tonne of benefits to schools. A previous blog about embracing edtech talks how digital platforms can relieve pressure, increase efficiency and even improve parental engagement. But the power behind these tools all lies in the intelligence they provide and how it can be utilised by teachers, parents and students alike.  

An education technology platform like GCSEPod not only serves content to its users, but also delivers the syllabus in a tailor-made way to each student depending on their level of attainment and adapts accordingly throughout the academic year. This bespoke approach has led all users of GCSEPod to achieve on average one grade higher in their GCSEs than non-users.  

How to build a technological education curriculum

A lot of schools had already begun building their technological education curriculum, but the pandemic really propelled this process along, with investment in edtech reaching new heights since 2020. But today’s education technology is always evolving to meet the ever-changing demands of those using it and it’s important that schools factor this into building their curriculum.

According to a 2022 study by Ofcom, 95% of children aged 3-17 have engaged with video sharing platforms and more than three-quarters of children aged 12-17 said that being online helped with their school/homework (77%), while half said it was useful for learning new skills. It’s important for schools and institutions to consider these new ways of learning as society evolves. Described as the ‘Netflix of Education’ GCSEPod’s easy to digest video courses taps into this modern way of learning and supports pupils with bite-sized, high-quality audio-visual content across 30+ courses.  

The same Ofcom study also talks about the prevalence of mobile phones and tablets amongst children, with seven in ten 3 to 17 year olds using either device to go online. Mobile on-demand educational platforms that are accessible anywhere and everywhere are akin to having a teacher in a student’s pocket 24/7.

There are also functionality considerations in building a technological education curriculum. Tools offering MIS integration and Single Sign On (SSO) with Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams reduce administration across teaching staff and make it easier for children to access the curriculum online.  

Five ways GCSEPod helps students improve their grades

Increases student confidence

With subjects delivered in 2-5 minute videos or pods, it just takes a short amount of time for students to prepare for their lessons or complete homework assignments. GCSEPod flips the classroom and help students arrive to class prepared for the lesson ahead encouraging active participation and advancing further down the curriculum.

Put learners in control

“Students with autonomy supported by teachers results in improved motivation, interest in the classroom, learning motivation and academic success” (Ryan and Deci, 2017). Using GCSEPod’s Check and Challenge assessments, students are responsible for their own knowledge as they work through the curriculum, fostering a sense of independence and achievement through the feedback system.

Encourages independent learning

GCSEPod effectively puts an on-demand digital teacher in student pockets. Learners can study anytime, anywhere on a computer, mobile or tablet device. It’s easier for students to find a quiet place to learn with technology that goes where they do. Plus with ready-made homework assignments there will never be anymore uncertainty around which tasks need completing.

Prepares pupils for assessments

With hundreds of original exam style assessment questions for students to access and complete, GCSEPod replicates each exam board style for consistency and ease of marking. Assignments can be completed digitally under exam-like conditions or can be printed for use in exam halls. Students get to experience the “real thing” before exam season rolls around.

Accessible for all

On-demand accessible content can help close the Covid attainment gap and bring on learners that struggled during the pandemic. Likewise, the pupil premium attainment gap can be closed using the funding towards an affordable solution such as GCSEPod which costs as little as £1 per student per month. There are also accessibility features to support students with dyslexia or those pupils where English isn’t their first language. Read about our customisable accessibility features in full detail

For all the ways GCSEPod can help students achieve better grades, take a look at the key features of our learning content and assessment platform.

 

How does GCSEPod benefit teachers

GCSEPod benefits teachers by providing everything required to teach, assess, monitor and progress students in one place. Time-poor and overburdened educators can make the most of their precious time using GCSEPod, from lesson preparation to self-marking homework. It’s a complete end-to-end teaching solution that works and alleviates the stresses of modern-day teaching which is sadly at an all time high.

1. Ready-made Assignments

Pre-created assessments to check knowledge and understanding. Created by subject specialists, they build confidence and identify gaps in knowledge. These assignments encourage students to ‘watch, quiz, practise and apply’ their learning. These assignments are pre-built and ready for you to assign in seconds, saving teacher time to focus on interventions that matter.

2. Exam-style Assignments

Our exam-style assignments give your students and teachers access to original assessment material, essential exam practice and evidence of attainment to use when awarding grades.

3. Homework Marking

With GCSEPod the marking is done for you and I you are automatically notified of any students who haven’t grasped the learning objective. This tells you how much knowledge each student has, and the areas where they need extra support in a much more meaningful way.

4. Automated Intervention

You won’t need to use data to find out where intervention is needed. Our Boost Playlists identify knowledge gaps, providing students with a detailed report on their strengths and weaknesses and an automatically generated playlist of content closely matched to their weakest areas. Boost Playlists give students control of their own learning, and give you the clarity to develop precisely focused intervention.

5. Track & Monitor

Track and monitor engagement with the GCSEPod dashboard. It’s visual and user-friendly, but packed with figures and easily exportable information. You can see at a glance what was set, the marks each pupil got, and the average mark for each question and student. You can also see usage data on an individual and group level, making it easy to identify students who may need additional intervention.

6. Teach Outside Specialism

Our content is set out clearly, making it easier for you to teach outside of your specialism. Choose the exam boards you teach for each subject, and only the relevant content will be visible. Plan your lessons in seconds, with the confidence that all the content you need is available at your fingertips.

Proven to impact GCSE results in less than 6 weeks

Make revision engaging for your students with our award-winning content and assessment covering 30+ subjects and all exam boards. 

Below we have included links to 6 short videos which show how you can use GCSEPod to make a positive impact on your student's results in just 6 weeks!

 

• Building exam-readiness with exam playlists 
  
  
  
• Forming expert revision skills with Study Smart Pods 
  
  
  
• Offering enhanced knowledge recall practice with Check & Challenge  
  
  
  
• Securing strong exam technique with Exam-style Assignments 
  
  
  
• Identifying and tackling misconceptions with monitoring tools
  
  
  
• The final hours - how GCSEPod relieves stress 

 

Our GCSE learning and revision helps users achieve one grade higher on average than non-users.

We bring together the key elements of content, assessment, and data all on one platform, offering subscribers award-winning, expert-led teaching resources combined with essential monitoring and reporting.

We have over 10 years’ of experience delivering results, helping even the most reluctant learner achieve more. Find out how we could help your school with a demo of GCSEPod.