PSTT Fellow Robin James has explored using child-initiated video freeze-framing (CIVFF) to improve peer feedback in scientific enquiry.  CIVFF is where groups watch videos of their own investigations to observe how they and other groups had approached the task. Children are invited to call, “Stop!” when they had a comment to share, stimulating dialogue between the children. The process enables direct and effective peer assessment where the children are offering feedback on the basis of evidence that is available and visible to all involved.

For example, after spraying and pouring water onto different fabrics hanging over a tent frame under which Teddy was lying inside a paper sleeping bag, Year 2 pupils were able to say which they thought was the best material, linking this to evidence about how wet Teddy’s sleeping bag was. When they watched the video back, they began to evaluate their method, for example, spotting that structures may have collapsed rather than allowed the water through.

Exeter Road Primary, Exmouth