The predominant and measurable purpose of GoLearn’s technology is to enhance the literacy levels and attainment of school children; improved attainment is intrinsically linked to every individual pupil’s socio-economic prospects and their chance of success post-education.
Attainment is a crucial and measurable metric for personal achievement — something, as educators, we want every pupil to experience.
In this article, we are going to explore the relationship between literacy and wellbeing to highlight its importance in furthering student attainment and how this link and supporting research has subsequently guided GoLearn’s technology and its intended outcomes for pupils.
The Intrinsic Link
Wellbeing; “the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy” and literacy; “the ability to read and write” are — and will continue to be — an essential educational catalyst for each student achieving their attainment goals during their time in school and beyond.
“Academic success has a strong positive impact on children’s subjective sense of how good they feel their lives are (life satisfaction) and is linked to higher levels of wellbeing in adulthood”. – Public Health England
These three elements of a student’s progress create a full circle of influence; each component is complementing the other.
This news will not shock many of you as you are very aware of this in your classroom. It’s widely reported as the most critical area of education that needs urgent focus and intervention. Yet, there is an abundance of research and evidence that proves that the element of positive wellbeing is lacking prominence in our schools and affecting literacy levels and attainment as a result.
What the research shows
The relationship between children’s mental wellbeing and their reading and writing enjoyment, attitudes and behaviours need to be prioritised as a foundational formula from which to improve attainment.
“As children transition from primary to secondary school, their levels of literacy engagement and mental wellbeing both begin and continue to decline.” – National Literacy Trust
Most pupils will spend up to a quarter of their life in education; a quarter of their life that will influence their personal and relative success after schooling. If a pupil is not happy and engaged during their time in education, they are less likely to reach and achieve their potential after it.
A UK study published by the Department for Education (DfE) found that pupil wellbeing predicted their later academic progression and engagement in school.
For example, “pupils with better emotional wellbeing at age seven had a value-added key stage 2 score 2.46 points higher (equivalent to more than one term’s progress) than pupils with poorer emotional wellbeing.”
“The health and wellbeing of children and young people contribute to their ability to benefit from good quality teaching and to achieve their full academic potential”.
The research is detailed and conclusive. But how can we improve this and more specifically, how can e-learning technology help lift student wellbeing?
Technology and student wellebing
Microsoft worked with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) to survey more than 760 educators in 15 countries. Leading experts were interviewed, and more than 90 pieces of research were reviewed.
According to the survey, “80% of educators believe that wellbeing is critical for academic success”, for developing foundational literacies and for cultivating strong communication skills, and “70% of educators say wellbeing has grown in importance for K-12 students during their careers”.
The report suggests technology can provide a critical scale to take any approach to improve students wellbeing beyond a single classroom. Yet, “64% of educators said they lack the resources or time to support students’ wellbeing”.
This research highlights an opportunity for schools; the potential to improve students’ wellbeing, literacy levels and overall attainment through an e-learning resource that also offers actionable data insights for learning interventions while saving time for teachers.
How GoLearn’s helps improve wellbeing through literacy
Our platform is a resource developed to empower teachers to help improve literacy levels, adapt to an ever-changing educational landscape and increase student attainment, engagement and wellbeing.
GoLearn’s Key features and benefits:
- Accurate assessments for stress-free measurement embedded in every lesson.
- Artificial Intelligence used to differentiate lesson content for all abilities, allowing for greater inclusivity for pupil well-being and scaffolding to increase outcomes.
- A unique evidenced pedagogical model, low-cost/high impact, to support the accuracy of data directly linked to the DfE and overall national curriculum outcomes.
- Engaging lesson content (video, audio, drag&drop, fill in the blanks, multiple-choice and more) to encourage pupil engagement and different learning styles.
- Instant feedback to aid deep learning and personal involvement for the student whilst reducing the workload for the teacher.
- PEER marking to foster collaborative learning.
- Built-in Accessibility Tool for Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND).
Through these features, we aim to not only promote student wellbeing but to measure and monitor wellbeing as well as academic achievement.
If you wish to learn more about how GoLearn can help improve the literacy levels, attainment and wellbeing of your students you can request a demonstration with a member of our team by clicking the button below.
