Bibi Groot and Susannah Hume, Behavioural Insights Team
Small changes can have big effects. For example, short and personalised text messages sent to learners can help improve pass rates by 12 per cent. Or, an online writing assignment helped increase attendance rates by nearly 10 per cent. We discuss these and more results of our latest trials in more detail in our two-part webinar series.
The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) has run projects with college learners, employees, and British Army soldiers taking functional skills courses to determine effective ways of improving maths and English skills. Our interventions are rigorously tested with Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) and harness the small changes that can create big effects.
Take, for example, our Social Support programme implemented in nine FE colleges. A large body of research shows that having the support of parents and peers is beneficial to a student’s well-being and educational success. But how do we encourage a student’s social network to get involved in their learning? We tested how to leverage students’ close friends and family to support students by sending them actionable, personalised, and supportive weekly text messages. Students nominated two ‘Study Supporters’ and were subsequently randomised into two groups: in one group the Study Supporters received weekly text messages; in the other they did not receive any. The content of the messages was co-authored by college staff, ensuring the content was relevant and interesting. As we discuss in more detail during the first webinar, this programme of supportive text messages improved attendance of students whose Study Supporters received messages by 11 per cent, compared to those who did not receive any messages.
Another trial showed how grit, or the passion and perseverance for long-term goals, can be cultivated in FE college students. In collaboration with Professor Angela Duckworth at the University of Pennsylvania, ASK developed a series of four online modules to teach FE College learners about the importance of learning from mistakes, gathering feedback, growth mindset, and setting stretch goals. Interim attendance results show that the Grit online modules led to nearly 10 per cent higher attendance compared to those who did not do the module.
The second webinar focused on translating these findings to your settings. Firstly, what approaches might work best with your students? And how do you ensure these are implemented successfully? What resources will you need? We will share our learning on what works and what is challenging. Perhaps most importantly, we will give you practical tips to help you harness the power of small changes yourselves.
Footnote:
The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) started life as the world’s first government institution dedicated to the application of behavioural sciences. In 2014, BIT was commissioned by BIS to establish the Behavioural Insights Research Centre for Adult Skills and Knowledge (ASK). ASK has conducted RCTs around the country aiming to improve the numeracy and literacy levels of adults in the UK.