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OER4Schools/activities/Traffic lights: Difference between revisions

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(rewrote in parallel using {{tag|robots}}/{{tag|traffic lights}} - hope that's OK)
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{{tag|Robots}}, also known as {{tag|traffic lights}} is a useful resource, consisting of three different coloured cards, for everyday use in classrooms in order to assess. You may have heard of a piece of equipment designed to control traffic flow. It is called a robot and can also be known as traffic lights. A robot has three lights - red, orange and green.  These lights signal to drivers what action they should take on the road with each coloured light having a different meaning associated with it:  Red means Stop; Orange means Get Ready and Green means Go. Their meanings for classroom application in the context of AfL are:
{{Traffic lights}}, also known as {{robots}} in southern Africa (or traffic signals, traffic lamps, signal lights, or semaphores), are a useful resource, consisting of three different coloured cards, for everyday use in classrooms in order to assess.  
 
[[Image:LED_Traffic_Light.jpg|thumb]] The name "{{traffic lights}} comes from the fact that {{traffic lights}} or {{robots}} are a piece of equipment designed to control traffic flow. Traffic lights  have three lights - red, orange and green.  These lights signal to drivers what action they should take on the road with each coloured light having a different meaning associated with it:  Red means Stop; Orange means Get Ready and Green means Go. Their meanings for classroom application in the context of AfL are:
* a RED card means “I’m stuck. I need some extra help. I don’t feel I have progressed.”
* a RED card means “I’m stuck. I need some extra help. I don’t feel I have progressed.”
* an ORANGE card means “I’m not quite sure. I need a little help. I feel I have made some progress.”
* an ORANGE card means “I’m not quite sure. I need a little help. I feel I have made some progress.”
* a GREEN card means “I understand fully. I’m okay without help. I feel I have progressed a lot.”
* a GREEN card means “I understand fully. I’m okay without help. I feel I have progressed a lot.”


'''Use of {{tag|robots}}/{{tag|traffic lights}} in the classroom:'''
'''Use of {{robots}} / {{traffic lights}} in the classroom:'''
* While the teachers are teaching, they can ask students to hold up a coloured card to assess if they should proceed to the next topic or not.
* While the teachers are teaching, they can ask students to hold up a coloured card to assess if they should proceed to the next topic or not.
* Students can voluntarily show a coloured card indicating their current level of understanding. They can change the coloured card several times during a single lesson. In this way, the student can bring their understanding to the teacher's notice without disturbing other classmates or the flow of the lesson. Teachers can address the student at an appropriate time.
* Students can voluntarily show a coloured card indicating their current level of understanding. They can change the coloured card several times during a single lesson. In this way, the student can bring their understanding to the teacher's notice without disturbing other classmates or the flow of the lesson. Teachers can address the student at an appropriate time.
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Displaying cards also reduce students' physical stress of standing in queues or raising their hands while waiting for the teacher's attention.  
Displaying cards also reduce students' physical stress of standing in queues or raising their hands while waiting for the teacher's attention.  


'''What to call {{tag|robots}}/{{tag|traffic lights}} in the classroom.'''  
'''What to call {{robots}} / {{traffic lights}} in the classroom.'''  
Bear in mind that students at deep rural schools may have never seen a robot, and may not be familiar with the concept. Also, the name might vary: In Europe, robots are known as traffic lights whilst in Southern Africa they are commonly referred to as robots. Use the name that will be most familiar to the students in your classroom and explain the concept of the coloured lights and their meaning if necessary.
Bear in mind that students at deep rural schools may have never seen a robot, and may not be familiar with the concept. Also, the name might vary: In Europe, robots are known as traffic lights whilst in Southern Africa they are commonly referred to as robots. Use the name that will be most familiar to the students in your classroom and explain the concept of the coloured lights and their meaning if necessary.


'''Use of {{tag|robots}}/{{tag|traffic lights}} in groupwork:'''
'''Use of {{robots}}/{{traffic lights}} in groupwork:'''
While the teacher needs to know who has understood, it doesn't have to always be the teacher who ''responds'' to red or orange cards. Students working in a group can also help each other. In Unit 3 we emphasise that groupwork is most successful when groups themselves are given responsibility for making sure that all members understand. {{Tag|Robot}}/{{tag|traffic lights}} cards can alert students to the need to assist their peers.
While the teacher needs to know who has understood, it doesn't have to always be the teacher who ''responds'' to red or orange cards. Students working in a group can also help each other. In Unit 3 we emphasise that groupwork is most successful when groups themselves are given responsibility for making sure that all members understand. {{Robot}}/{{traffic lights}} cards can alert students to the need to assist their peers.


One Zambian teacher's reflection on trying out the technique:
One Zambian teacher's reflection on trying out the technique:
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'''Suggested follow-up activity:'''
'''Suggested follow-up activity:'''


Do the activity of making {{tag|robot}}/{{tag|traffic lights}} cards with your students.You can be creative about the use of materials depending on availability.
Do the activity of making {{robot}}/{{traffic lights}} cards with your students.You can be creative about the use of materials depending on availability.
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