Author: Aimee Horsley

I am an A Level Philosophy, Ethics and Religious Studies teacher. I have taught between 80 - 150 R.S students for the past eight years. I also manage a small team of Coaches dedicated to enhancing Teaching, Learning and Assessment. Two years ago I completed a MEd (Masters in Education) focusing on Dialogic Learning. After huge success on SlideShare, with my power points being viewed over a quarter of million times, I started to think that I have so much more to share that may be of interest to other students and teachers outside my college. So this Blog will document my on-going findings, reflections and tips for both teachers and students.

Transforming Teaching with iPads

On By Aimee HorsleyIn Teaching, Learning and Assessment, TechnologyLeave a comment

This year, students at my college have been loaned an iPad for the duration of their time with us. The intention is that they use them for note taking, organization, access to resources (that no longer need to be printed) and engaging learning approaches. In order to fully take advantage of this classroom resource, in my new role as an ‘iPad Champion’ I have spent the year trying out different websites and apps. Now I am no expert in iPads, or technology in general, but I love teaching and learning and believe me when I say there are so many amazing teaching resources out there to reduce your teaching workload, create interactive and engaging lessons (without students needing to access technology) and learning aids that can be used in the classroom (computers, iPads, phone) or at home. Here are a few of the best ones I have come across this year:

  1. Diffit (https://web.diffit.me/): Will create new teaching resources including reading, quizzes, PowerPoint slides on a given topic/ keyword.
  2. Suno (https://suno.com/): Enter a theme and it will write you a song.
  3. Hello History (https://www.hellohistory.ai/): Life like conversation with historical figures (Text message style).
  4. Summarize.tech (https://www.summarize.tech/): Summaries long YouTube videos into timed chunks – game changer!!
  5. Autodraw (https://www.autodraw.com/): You do a quick sketch or drawing and AI will improve through giving options to match what you tried to draw.
  6. Craiyon (https://www.craiyon.com/): AI Image Generator. Quick search ideas to be generated into art, drawings or photos.
  7. Classroom Screen (https://classroomscreen.com/): Add a timer, poll, randomiser, noise controller onto the classroom board.
  8. Bouncy Ball (https://bouncyballs.org/): Fun way to monitor noise (this could be used to detect both high noise level or if you want students to speak up or discuss ideas it can visually show low noise level)
  9. Future Tools (https://www.futuretools.io/): Organises all available AI apps into searchable themes e.g drawing, feedback, equations.
  10. Literal App (https://www.literalapp.com/edu): range of books – class commentary, set assignments, asks Q. presented like a text conversation. Can highlight words for dictionary.

See previous blog Old Dog New T&L Tricks for more website and app ideas including best quizzes.

Please get in touch (via ‘contact me‘) if you would like a copy of the full document, if you have any other app/website recommendations or if you would like teaching ideas to accompany the different methods above.

Last Minute Exam Support DCT (2024)

On By Aimee HorsleyIn Developments in Christian Thought, Exam Preparation

Check out this live stream that goes over last minute questions and final tips for the 2024 exam. For access to all Mark With Me’s, Revision Podcasts, Tips from a Tired Teacher and Essay Writing and Exam Support videos join today under Membership (access to over 50 exclusive videos)!

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Last Minute Exam Support Ethics (2024)

On By Aimee HorsleyIn Ethics New Spec, Exam Preparation

Check out this live stream that goes over last minute questions and final tips for the 2024 exam. For access to all Mark With Me’s, Revision Podcasts, Tips from a Tired Teacher and Essay Writing and Exam Support videos join today under Membership (access to over 50 exclusive videos)!

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Last Minute Exam Support Philosophy (2024)

On By Aimee HorsleyIn Exam Preparation, Philosophy New Spec

Check out this live stream that goes over last minute questions and final tips for the 2024 exam. For access to all Mark With Me’s, Revision Podcasts, Tips from a Tired Teacher and Essay Writing and Exam Support videos join today under Membership (access to over 50 exclusive videos)!

This content is for Unlimited Access and Unlimited Access – One Year Subcription members only.
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DCT 2024 Exam Predictions

On By Aimee HorsleyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

For many of you this will be your final exam and I am sure at this point your brains feel like they have run a marathon (weeks of mental endurance). But we cannot limp to the finish line, we must end on a high! This means one last push for DCT exam.

My final round of predictions:

  1. Death and Afterlife: Most likely be heaven, hell and/ or election e.g. Assess the view that heaven is an actual place after death where a person will experience physical and emotional happiness. Or “Hell is an actual place where a person experiences eternal punishment.” Discuss My reasoning behind a death and afterlife question is because only one question has been asked in the second year (purgatory) and it was back in 2019. High likability and it might be a repeat question from the first year (check the ppt with past questions on YouTube).
  2. Person of Jesus: “Jesus’ relationship with God was truly unique.” Discuss No question has been asked on this area in the second year (human vs divine), so seems a large gap in the syllabus not to have been asked.
  3. Pluralism and Society: ‘Critically assess how Christian communities have responded to the challenge of encounters with other faiths, referencing the Redemptoris Missio (55–57)’. Or “Due to the development of contemporary multi-faith societies, Christians should have a mission to those of no faith.” Discuss. The last question from this area was back in 2020 and the only areas to have been asked are interfaith dialogue and SRM so some big gaps that are likely to come up this year.
  4. Secularisation: General Q e.g. ‘To what extent is secularisation an opportunity for Christianity to develop new ways of thinking and acting.’ Or specific to Dawkins e.g. “Society would be happier without Christianity, as it is infantile, repressive and causes conflicts.” Discuss The last question from this area was back in 2020 and the only areas to have been asked are Freud and a general Q (see ppt on YouTube for past questions) so some specific areas from the syllabus that are likely to come up this year.

Other possibilities:

  • Moral Action: “The cost of discipleship is too unrealistic.” Discuss. Only two questions have been asked on Bonhoeffer in the second year and no question have ever been asked specifically on discipleship or grace.
  • Gender and Theology: “Christianity should be changed not abandoned.” Discuss Just because we are missing it! Only two questions have been asked, one on Daly (2018) the other on Reuther (2022) and no appearance last year. I think a general question that links to both these femisitist is possible.

This is your final opportunity to shine! Good luck with your ongoing revision and don’t forget to join the last live stream on Wednesday 19th June at 6.00 for any last minute exam support.