Learn Sheffield–
Commissioning Opportunity
& Application Form

031 - The UnLocke Project: Main Trial

As part of an Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and Wellcome Trust funded research project, we are developing an innovative learning activity to address the learning of counter-intuitive concepts in maths and science. The activity applies evidence from educational neuroscience indicating that in order to learn new concepts children (and adults!) often have to inhibit their intuitive ideas.

We are looking for Year 3 and 5 classes from 100 state primary schools across the country to take part in this project. We are keen for all schools, regardless of their size and background to take part. UnLocke will run for 10 weeks during the second half of autumn term 2017, and the first half of the spring term 2018. Pupils will use UnLocke, which involves age appropriate maths and science material from the national curriculum, 3 times a week, for 15 minutes at the start of maths/science lessons. They will complete this either individually on school computers or through teacher-led interactive whiteboard sessions.

Further information is available on the project website ( where you can register your interest. Alternatively email . Deadline for expressions of interest is 15 June 2017

This project is run by researchers from Birkbeck, UCL-Institute of Education, within the Centre for Educational Neuroscience (CEN), in partnership with Learnus, an education think-tank.

Opportunity

Reference (to quote on all communication): / Response Deadline (Applications to by this date): / Start Date(desired start date for the commission):
031 – The UnLocke Project / 15 June 2017 / With immediate effect for school recruitment.
Main trial from October 2017
Phase or Sector:
(for example - ‘Primary within Lower KS2’) / Primary
Location:
(for example - ‘North Sheffield’ or ‘Locality G’) / City wide
Type of school improvement activity:
(for example ‘Teacher Coaching’) / Teaching and learning: counterintuitive concepts in maths and science
Scope:
(for example – ‘modelled teaching / support with planning, assessment & environment / in class coaching and feedback’) / Randomised controlled trial of computer-based intervention to improve children’s ability to inhibit misconceptions in maths and science.
This project is designed to test the effectiveness of an intervention, which is based on research findings from educational neuroscience relating to the inhibition of misconceptions. It is a large-scale trial funded by Education Endowment Fund and Wellcome Trust. If the effects are positive, the resources will be made available for schools to use more widely.
This project is one of a suite of projects funded by EEF and Wellcome Trust as part of their Insights from Neuroscience initiative, which aims to build the evidence base that informs teaching and learning through a robust experimental large-scale trial.
Duration:
(for example - ‘half a day per week for 6 weeks’) / 10 weeks
The main trial will commence in October 2017 and run to February 2018 for a total of 10 weeks.
Confirmation of school involvement to be completed by July 2017.
Preparation and teacher support will commence in September 2017.
Value:
(for example - ‘£1200 in total’ or ‘£200 per session including preparation’ / N/A
Additional Expectations:
(for example – ‘previous experience of coaching in lower KS2 and EAL context is essential’ / No specific expectations

Application

Reference (to quote on all communication): / 031 – The UnLocke Project
Organisation:
Contact Person:
(accountable for the commission delivery)
Individual(s) Proposed:
(to deliver the commission)
Contact Details:
(for all named individuals above)
Evidence –
outcomes you can point us to that are relevant to your application for this commission:
(please refer directly to the type, scope and additional expectations outlined in the advert)
Additional Information:
(please include any further comments on thecommission, including in relation to the value)
Proposed Timescale:
(please include any further comments on the timescales and duration of the commission)

Please email this application to

with the reference and the name of your organisation in the email subject title.