How one teacher used GoConqr tools to harness and willingness to learn and share amongst his student.

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How One Teacherʹs Simple Experiment
Rekindled a Love of Learning
by Micheal • June 20, 2016 • 2 min read • original
For Sam Magar, a teacher at AIC in Perth, Australia, it began as an experiment. Just something new to try out
away from the classroom. But before long it changed everything inside the classroom too – and for the be漀er.
Einstein once said that insanity was repeating the same thing over and over again and expecting
different results. If the means don’t change, then the ends won’t change either.
But in a finely balanced environment such as the school classroom, change can be a scary thing – for
teachers as well as students.
This is certainly the case when it comes to bridging the tech divide in the classroom, where on one side
you have traditionalist teachers, on the other side the tech‑savvy students. Ge漀ing lost somewhere
between the two, was the simple love of learning learning.
Bridging the Digital Divide

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Sam Magar realised that the only way to deal with such a problem was by adapting and trying
something new. He decided to embrace technology to see how it might revitalise classroom learning.
“I began experimenting with GoConqr last year by making my own Flashcards to present to students. I
started the year by showing them the site and explaining how to create Mind Maps first, then
Flashcards, followed by Slides and Quizzes.”
He found that the experiment soon began to pay dividends.
“I constantly provide feedback to my students, and here is where the story gets really interesting. I
began to streamline the process by ge漀ing students to do 20 questions with answers on each chapter –
basically providing a summary of each chapter, which I would then review.”
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“Almost immediately the students’ marks started to improve, but the improvement was most dramatic
when I asked the students to include diagrams. This really helped reinforce concepts. I would then use
the students’ work as a summary to either begin or end each day’s lessons.”
Working Be漀er by Working Together
Before long, Mr Magar began to notice a shift in class dynamics as students began to experiment for
themselves with GoConqr’s range of features.
“I then found something quite strange starting to happen. Students would make friends with one
another and form online study groups within GoConqr. They would then a漀empt one anothers’
Flashcards, Mind Maps and Quizzes.”
“The class’s use of the site started to take on a life of its own and my own role was more that of a
moderator. I stopped making Flashcards altogether and just started directing the students and offering
encouragement.”
Once comfortable with the new platform, students began to adapt it to suit their personal preferences,
printing creations when they wanted to revise physical rather than digital copies, and using GoConqr in
their own time away from the classroom.
“The Great Equaliser”
Mr Magar noticed that this kind of 360‑degree customised learning had a positive effect on students of
all abilities.
“The class’s use of the site started to take on a life of its own and my own role was more that of a
moderator.”
“The biggest improvement came from students with lower levels of ability. They used the site to help
them manage their time more wisely, and their marks improved accordingly. GoConqr has really been
the great equaliser, helping both top students as well as those who struggle or have to work harder.”
Perhaps most tellingly, Mr Magar learned that the benefits of using GoConqr had become readily
apparent to the most important users of all – the learners.

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“When I ask students what is the biggest reason for their improved marks, they tell me it is because of
Goconqr, which they use for their other subjects as well.”
Be漀er Teaching Requires Be漀er Technology
However, in spite of the students’ enthusiasm in adopting the new platform, the quality of classroom
learning still relies on teachers and the approach they take regarding new teaching tools.
“The students like that I can interact with them on the site and keep them motivated by giving them
feedback about their work. I can also constantly use different students’ work in class so that they can
take inspiration by seeing what other students are doing. I can then encourage them to form groups and
interact with each other to share their work online.”
“Its a lot of work, but the results are worthwhile.”
The means have changed, but so have the ends.
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Original URL:
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