REVIEWS: Hooks, Lines and Thinkers Tour a hit with Lancashire students

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 Aimhigher Lancashire has sponsored a series of curriculum-specific workshops for students on the C/D borderline. Called Hooks, Lines and Thinkers, these workshops help students to revise more creatively for English and Science.

Alan David Pritchard, the creator of the courses, has been touring Lancashire this month, delivering the workshops at schools in Preston, Burnley, Accrington and Blackburn. The feedback he has received for his efforts has been extremely positive and encouraging.

The workshops introduce students to a variety of innovative and creative approaches to learning, applying specific memory-improvement techniques to make students realise that revision can be enjoyable and rewarding.

What characterises most of the feedback he has received is the sense of fun and delight that the students experience when they realise just how capable they really are.

Here is a selection of the 4 and 5 star reviews Alan has received for the Hooks, Lines and Thinkers courses:

 HOOKS, LINES AND THINKERS SCIENCE

 Accrington Academy:

Students who rated the course 4 STARS, justified their ratings as follows:

• “Fun, lively entertaining.”

Students who rated the course 5 STARS, justified their ratings as follows:

• “I found it entertaining but also educational. I have learnt a lot.” (Robert B)
• “It’s fun and as well as learning, you don’t write, but you will remember what you have done.” (John K)
• “It is enjoyable and you learn things.”
• “It was a very fun course and could help a lot with revising. It was worth it.” (Lianne F)
• “It was fun and it worked.” (Pasha)
• “I thought the course was good because it was useful and is helpful for when you are attempting to learn new things.” (Liam)
• “You wouldn’t expect to learn 80 new facts / things, without writing them down. Also, it is fun and interesting as a learning style.” (Ishrat)
• “I have learnt lots of different ways to remember many things in 2 hours which is really helpful and I have really enjoyed it.” (Vicky)
• “It was really fun and enjoyable. It taught me different ways to remember stuff and revise better.” (Danielle)
• “It was fun and entertaining – it was made interactive and we learned different techniques of remembering things. I would recommend this to all schools.” (Amy L)
• “It was a fun and interactive way to remember 80 things, all different techniques on how to remember them. I found this really helpful and I am going to carry on using it. Would really recommend this to others.” (Shannon)
• “Amazing personality, crazy, wild, educational, laid back, friendly, lovely guy.” (Jemma)

 

Moor Park Business and Enterprise College

Students who rated the course 4 STARS, justified their ratings as follows:

·         The activities were good. Learnt Scientific vocab and definition in different revising styles. It was fun.

·         Activities were very good and I learnt a lot of facts. Also there were funny video clips in between every activity. - Ayyub

 Pupils who rated the course 5 STARS, justified their ratings as follows:

·         Alan did a good job by making the workshop extremely enjoyable and Alan taught me some vital things that I will remember for the rest of my life. – Keith

·         We have learnt many new things in a fun, exciting way and Alan did a bang tidy job. – Luke G

·         It was different. No-one has taught us learning this way. It is interesting and the next time I might use this technique before an exam.

·         The man’s funny and it’s a fun way to learn. – James D

·         It was funny.

·         It is a good way of learning and different techniques to use. It was very god and enjoyable. Aysha E

·         It was really good and entertaining. You learn so much and you have fun at the same time. Excellent. – Haida M

·         It is fun, interesting, makes you think and creative. – Nadia

·         It helped discover other learning styles which we never knew about. – Uwais

·         It is fun as well as interesting.

·         It’s fun and interesting.

·         It’s fun, interesting and very helpful.

·         It gives you active and enjoyable ways of learning. It also sticks in your head. – Faisal

·         It makes you remember stuff in a fun way. – Huzi

·         It was awesome. Good host, good new techniques. – Imran

·         Fun, energetic, found it easier to learn. Got us all involved and a chance to take part in new activities. – Sarah

·         Definitely found new techniques in learning how to revise without writing a word down! Definitely recommend this to other students. – Faheema K

 

Alder Grange School 

Students who rated the course 4 STARS, justified their ratings as follows:

·         “We got to learn different ways to remember.” (Glyn S)

·         “It works, using pictures it is easier that looking at words. In lessons, we are not allowed to use these techniques.” (Daniel M)

·         “It helps you to learn different techniques to remember important things.” (Josh C)

·         “It’s funner than lessons. Also, useful and enjoyable.”

·         “It really helps for revision and is easy to do at home and show others.” (Lauren S.E)

·         “It helped me learn how to revise.” (Jenna Swain)

·         “It works and you learn new things.” (Luke A)

·         “It’s a better and easier way of learning and remembering.” (Gabriella M)

·         “It’s a better way of learning and much more fun. PS you get out of class.”

·         “It was interesting and a good way to learn.”

·         “It was fun and enjoyable but got bored of sitting down for 2 hours.” (Alex F)

 

Students who rated the course 5 STARS, justified their ratings as follows:

·         “We got to miss lessons and it is an easier way to learn things than just copying out of a book.”

·         “It was fun and it was easier to learn things. I would do it again.”

·         “It was actually interesting and fun and I would recommend it to others if they are prepared for easy fun Science.” (Elliot O)

·         “It’s a better way to learn things. Also, you have fun.” (Elizabeth W)

·         “It is more fun than writing and better and easier to learn things.”

·         “It taught me a lot about Science. Thank you.” (Nathaniel E)

·         “We got to miss lessons and learned an easier way of revising without reading and writing loads.”

 

HOOKS, LINES AND THINKERS ENGLISH

 Moor Park Business and Enterprise College

Students who rated the course as 4 and 4 ½ stars justified their ratings as follows: 

• It was easy to understand and it was funny, as well as interesting information.
• It was interesting and informative and I feel I learnt a lot in the 2 hours.
• Very helpful for your English skills. Fun and enjoyable. – Zain
• Very interesting and easy to learn. Very easy to understand, fun and enjoyable too.
• Good way of remembering things in a fun manner.

 Students who rated the course as 5 stars justified their ratings as follows: 

• It’s funny. You get to play games, positive, makes you remember things and tells you you can do it. – Jack D
• Alan is funny. Gives you games which makes you remember things. Really really positive person. Can-do-it spirit.
• I learnt a lot. It was really fun. It was also helpful.- Ayub
• He was funny and exciting with lots of laughs all around. – Ashraf M
• It has useful facts and gave me new learning techniques and it was funny.
• It was very fun, easy, funny way to learn.
• It helps you understand and a more enjoyable way of learning. – Shannon
• Helps understand about lessons and it really fun to watch what they do. – Ann Marie
• It was just basic and key step-by-step information. It was really helped me when I need to revise next time. – Sara
• It’s fun, you learn a lot, entertaining, good ways of revision, good tips. – Ikraam
• It helps you how to learn an easy way for exam. Helps you with your revision. – Suyayl
• The lesson was excellent. We didn’t do much writing, and the things Mr Pritchard showed us were funny and interesting. He taught us to remember 100 facts. What more could you want? Saleem
• Fun and funny and helps you a lot with your English. Give it a go! – Saif
• It was really fun and I really enjoyed it and I also learnt a lot. – Wasim
• It was really enjoyable and interesting. The learning was made fun and great. The teacher connected with the audience and was hilarious.
• The course was very fun and interesting. The teacher was friendly and easy to communicate with.
• Your learning technique gets people to interact and because of the funny humour, it really engaged everybody. – Fudhail

 

Alder Grange School

Students who rated the course as 4 and 4 ½ stars justified their ratings as follows:

•  “Quite funny. Helps. Better than lessons.”
• “It has helped me with my memory and it was fun to learn with the video and pictures.” (Dena)
• “The techniques are very good for me to learn new spelling words and sentence structure.” (Hanna M)
• “Very entertaining and funny. Also you learn new things on how to revise.”
• “This type of course is fun.”
• “It is fun, helps give you ideas, got my mind working. Thanks.” (Maisie)
• “It ran through breaktime but it was entertaining and helped my spelling and vocab. Thanks.” (Niomi)
• “Very confusing, but good ways to learn things.” (Melissa)
• “It’s fun to do.”

 

Students who rated the course as 5 stars justified their ratings as follows:

 

• “Very informative, I liked it a lot. I felt independent. It helped with revision, memory skills and got you to miss English.”
• “It’s all positive and fun. I felt so comfortable and I know I’ll remember a lot of the tips and advice the man gave to me. Very cleverly used mind tricks to help you learn. Also the ‘Sprouts’ game was a good idea as an activity and a break – it got your mind working and you got to work with friends. Highly recommended.” (Marina H)
• “It helps you to know how to revise, learn and remember things and shows you different learning techniques.” (Hayden)
• “It was interesting and fun and you don’t realise you’re learning. Helps with basic knowledge in exams.” (Kate B)
• “You learn so much and realise how clever you are as a person, without realising, you are learning. So you are having fun but taking in so much knowledge and walk out feeling so happy and better about yourself.” (Lizze F.W)
• “It is really fun and it is very funny – and you learn a lot.” (Rory M)
• “It helped me with revising and I will get better marks after this.” (Paddy C)
• “It has given me the techniques to use in my exams in the future.”
• “It helped me understand what I was doing wrong in English. It was fun and amusing all at the same time.” (Jessica G)
• “It’s fun to do and helpful.”
• “It helps you remember things and feel a lot better about revising.” (Bradley S)
• “It is interesting and at the start you think it will be boring, but it isn’t. I enjoyed it and you learned a lot.” (Daniel H)
• “Really well rehearsed. Well done. Fun as well.” (Nathaniel E)

 

 Accrington Academy

• “It’s fun and entertaining. It also does help you with reminding techniques” (Kayleigh C)
• “Enjoyed watching the videos – showed another way of teaching/ revising.”
• “I learned I was very clever. I learnt a lot from this lesson.” (Jordan J)
• “I liked it a lot. Also, it has helped me to remember things I most probably would have forgotten.”
• “It was interesting and useful.” (John)
• “It was very interesting.”
• “Helps you to remember and revise in an interesting way.”

 

Pupils who rated the course as 5 stars justified their ratings as follows:

•  “Helps you to revise.”
• “The man was very nice and funny. Easy to get along with. Also very interesting and learnt a lot.” (Emma M)
• “It’s very useful and an easy way of learning.” (Lauren D)
• “It is very helpful if you want to pass your GCSE’s.” (Bobby-Jo)
• “I thoroughly enjoyed it and I Learnt some vital tips to improve my English results.” (Jonathan Rigby)
• “Broke up well, useful tips, interactivity and test to recap all info learnt.” (Ben H)
• “It was fun. It was really interactive and useful.”
• “It is helpful because you can remember things easier. This is good for exams as it helps you to revise.”
• “It really helps you to learn how to learn better and he proved that you have learnt it and it’s also fun and interesting.” (Anthony)

 

Christ the King Maths and Computing College

Students who rated the course as 4 and 4 ½ stars justified their ratings as follows:

•  It was good, fun and active and helped me with my revision. – Ryan
• It was cold and we sat for too long. Also we talked about the same thing for quite a while. – Ashleigh
• We learnt a lot of things from it and it is very very very good.
• It was fun and I learned a lot of useful tips. – Matthew C
• Helped me remember English terminology. Could have been better with more movement instead of sat down. Was helpful. – Joe
• It was captivating and informative in a fun way. Needs more practical to go with the lessons to practice.
• It was well planned, good humour, recommend to other schools and keep it going. – Nadeen
• It was very helpful and it is good to experience a new technique of revision.
• It was useful in learning how to concentrate in exams.
• Very useful. Helps with exam techniques. Could be a little more appealing to  15/16 year olds.
• Useful and helps you remember things. Gives some good techniques for your exam. – Jack
• It’s a funny way of revising.

 

Students who rated the course as 5 stars justified their ratings as follows:

•  It was really helpful and made me understand things more properly for when I have to revise. – Hazra
• It was constructive and it gave me a lot to think about in terms of revising. It was a good presentation. Although there were lots of funny aspects to it, I still learned a lot. It was very interesting and the tips given were good. – Hanna
• It was a good and hilarious session. Thanks to it, I am sure I will make some progress. – Magda
• It was useful and it gives you ways of remembering things for your exams. – Hafsa
• It was fun and you didn’t feel you were revising in the usual boring way.
• It was really good. I enjoyed it a lot and learnt things which I could use in my exam which I would never think of using. I would definitely recommend it to other students to help them with exams. – Malissa
• Funny and includes really good tips you can use for the exam.
• It’s very memorable and enjoyable experience. Better than Science, anyway. And in the exam, just remember ‘I am a porpoise, me’ and you’ll be fine. – Robert M
• It was funny and educational.
• It has great skill of teaching exam techniques and a very nice sense of humour. Thank you for your help. Wish it were longer. – Fawael R
• It was the best presentation ever. It got me thinking about my education and what I can be and to get better spelling ideas. – Daniella B
• It was very funny, interesting and we spent a nice time learning some good ways to revise. – Amgie
• It was good and I learnt loads and I know over 100 facts. Thank you. – Adele
• It is cool.
• It’s a really good opportunity to learn and do new stuff – and really helps with your thinking skills. It’s really funny and is good fun. Hope to see you again soon. – James T
• He is an extraordinary man, strange, but in a good way and the course was fun but really interesting. – Kyle S
• It was great fun learning new things and it has helped me think about how to revise. It was the best education thing I have ever seen and had in this school. I loved it! – Bex

 

 Corpus Christi RC Sports College

 Pupils who rated the course as 4 stars justified their ratings as follows:

• “It teaches a lot and helps with English. Also, it is good because it is fun, gets you involved and helps a lot.” (Macauley M)
• “It helped me to remember more facts than I could possibly think of. Also it helps with my upcoming English exam.” (Jake K)
• “It helps me remember more facts that I would normally forget.”
• “It was good, lots of laughter. Got the message across. A bit long though.”
• “It was funny but learned a lot to remember for the exam. The techniques I learnt I will use in the exams.” (Emma H)
• “Funny and lots of humour, yet you still learn the things you need for exams and what techniques you need.” (Rebecca D)
• “It was funny and gave you good ways to remember techniques.” (Jenni C)
• “It has a lot to offer and helps you with techniques ready for your exam.”

 

 Pupils who rated the course as 5 stars justified their ratings as follows: 

• “This really helped me and was also a lot of fun. I will still be able to understand everything for a long time! Too bad Alan got beaten at the game of Sprouts.” (Jason T)
• “It has shown me a totally different way to learn new things and remember them without writing hardly anything. All the activities were fun and enjoyable. If only all teachers would teach like this, I’d love school Thank you.” (Lauren)
• “It has shown me useful ways to help remember things, and a totally different and fun way to learn important things – without even writing anything. Positively MAD was very enjoyable and I would recommend it.” (Lewis G)
• “This course helps you increase your memory skills which helps with revision. It’s also fun and enjoyable.” (Zara R)
• “This course is very helpful. It helps with tips for revision. Incredibly and definitely helpful for the future.” (Daniela)
• “It was fun and we learned loads.” (Denver)
• “He showed us useful remembering tips and wasn’t afraid of looking silly as long as it helped us to remember. Made it fun.” (Dale T)
• “I learnt stuff that I did not know. Also it was an enjoyable experience.” (Tufac K)
• “It was a really enjoyable experience and I have learnt a lot from the lessons. He has a good way to learn us.” (Ryan A)
• “It is interesting and enjoyable and you learn without it being boring, like normal lessons.” (Keaton)
• “It is very interesting how Alan does his presentation. I would highly recommend this to other students as it is really helpful.” (Shelbie C)
• “Really good, interesting, funny and a really nice man, Alan. Very informative and I actually learnt something from it.” (Becky M)
• “It’s funny and helpful and useful and I am going to use this to help me with GCSE.” (Jessica H)
• “It is enjoyable as well as rewarding and teaches you different skills for your exams. At the start of the lesson, I couldn’t remember 3 facts and by the end I remembered nearly 100. Thank you Alan.” (Adam F)
• “I am normally very forgetful and it is amazing how this way of learning can help me of all people remember 100 things! I would recommend it to anybody. It’s a really fun way of learning. Thank you so much!” (Emily M)
• “The techniques used were very good. I will be able to use the same techniques, but to remember different things. Very helpful.Thanks.” (Shannon K)
• “I learnt new techniques how to spell words that are confusing and in the 2 hours lesson I remembered over 100 different things.” (Rachel J)
• “I have learnt mistakes I have made plenty of times, costing me marks. I have learnt new ways to learn things which I will never forget. Thank you!” (Natalie C)
• “I have learnt common mistakes that could have cost me a lot of marks in exams. I have really enjoyed this. Thank you!” “It is fun and educational. It is an enjoyable way to learn and remember techniques.” (Courtney K)
• “It was fun but I learnt a lot from it. He was very helpful.” (Charlotte F)
• “It was fun and a good way to remember the things we learnt.” (Caroline J)
• “It’s fun and helps you learn!!” (Courtney W)
• “It’s fun and helps you remember things better. It helps you learn and helps us revise. The man was a cool guy!”
• “Was very funny and informative. Gave helpful techniques I will use to help with exams.” (H. Edwards)
• “It has really helped me with how to revise in a fun way.” (James R)
• “It helps a lot with revision tips but is also very entertaining and helpful.”
• “It is very helpful and interesting. It is a very fun way of learning and understanding. I enjoyed it very much. Thank you!”
• “It helps students remember the techniques they have to use in the English exam and made it actually fun to listen for once.”
• “It is a very good quick way to revise and help you achieve the grades you want. It’s also an enjoyable way.” (Chelsey G)
• “It’s funny, witty and leaves you with a lot to go home with. A definite must have. It is as super amazing as hyperbole.” (Luke)
• “I learnt a lot of stuff in the course. It helped me to understand how to revise effectively and also taught me techniques that I can apply to later life.” (Ashleigh B)
• “It was better than any English lesson I’ve had and I learned a lot more too.” (Daniel H)
• “It was really fun and amusing. The techniques really stick in your head when you can have fun with them and play around with words.” (Josh C)
• “I think the course was very well thought out. It was funny and entertaining yet still gets the point across and has really helped me to prepare for exams.” (Mikey C)
• “I thought it was amazing. It taught me new ways to learn and showed me that revision does not have to be boring.” (Dominic B)
• “The sessions was very rewarding. Many new techniques were taught and it was fun as well.” (Scott W)
• “It was fun, energetic and entertaining, and I learned a lot of new things.” (Gianluea C)
• “I really enjoyed the session and learnt loads. I am sure this will help me in my exams.” (Sam Stowe)

 

 Mount Carmel High

 Pupils who rated the course as 4 and 4 ½ stars justified their ratings as follows:

•  “It is fun and very helpful. Gets us out of lessons.”
• “It makes learning more enjoyable and not as boring. It makes things go into your head without even realising.” (Klaudia)
• “You will learn different types of ways to learn some words. It is a good way to know these things and the lesson is interesting.” (Amreed L)
• “It’s more interesting and you learn in a different way. It’s also a fun way of learning.” (Danielle B)

 

Pupils who rated the course as 5 stars justified their ratings as follows:

•  “It’s more interesting and it’s a better way of learning!” (Beth S)
• “We get taught what we need to know for exams but we have fun as well and it’s interesting.” (Sarah-Jane)
• “It was really funny and interesting and I do think it will help me with my exams. It was also a different but fun way of learning.” (Shannon R)
• “It gives a fun and different way of learning. It is very interesting.” (Georgia)
• “It was funny. Also, learnt a lot.” (Dec C)
• “I have learnt a lot of basic ways to help me with my English.” (Sam B)
• “It explains things in ways you don’t expect so it sinks in without you knowing.” (Ben M)
• “It is a different way of learning in a fun way. I feel like I have learnt a lot and it will help me in my exams.” (Lucy D)
• “I feel I have learnt a lot in the 2 hours and that it will come in useful in the exams and lessons. Thank you.” (Lauren H)
• “It gave me a clear view of how to get better marks in my exam. Also, the lesson was fun and not boring.” (Ryan M)
• “Learnt a lot. I found new ways to spell words. This will help me a lot in my exam.”
• “It has taught me a better way to learn and to revise – such as learning to spell words differently and how to get more marks.”
• “It is really informative and makes you learn new things in mad ways.”
• “I think this helps a lot. Also, it is fun and entertaining.”
• “Very helpful. Learnt a lot.”
• “It’s more interesting and it is a different way of learning.”

 

All Saints High School

Pupils who rated the course as 4 and 4 ½ stars justified their ratings as follows:

•  “I learnt a lot from it.” (Jack M)
• Helped improve my spelling with some interesting ideas to remember. It was also a fun way of learning.” (Lucy F)
• “Useful techniques about how to learn and remember things that I think will help me in future life.” (Lucy H)
• “It helps learn you techniques and show you how to actually remember them.” (Lucy Horsfall)
• “It really amazed me! I didn’t know I could remember the amount of things I did in the amount of time.” (Tom S)
• “It was a good learning process.” (Ryan K)
• “It helps you learn a lot. It explains different techniques of learning.” (Sean M)
• “It was entertaining and I learnt a lot.”
• “It was helpful and gave me helpful tips on how to revise.” (Oliver L)
• “It helped me remember techniques that will help me not to lose marks in the exam.” (Beth)

 

Pupils who rated the course as 5 stars justified their ratings as follows: 

• “It has helped me today with my spelling and I will no longer spell ‘a lot’ wrong.” (Kieran M)
• “It was an interesting way to learn. I enjoyed this workshop a lot.” (Lucy Hiddleston)
• “It was exciting and was entertaining. It was very beneficial.” (Tom K)
• “It was very exciting and helped me to remember stuff.” (Joseph G)
• “It has helped me to understand how to remember things for my exam which I will benefit from.”
• “Teaches you good ways to remember things for when you are revising.” (Jordan A)
• “He was funny, interesting and really enjoyable. I don’t really like English but I enjoyed this.” (Megan W)
• “At first I didn’t think I would learn anything, but I actually did. It is normally boring but he made it fun.” (Megan F)
• “It is fun.”
• “It was very helpful and it was entertaining to be a part of it. It was definitely worth it.” (Deanna T)
• “It’s great and helps you remember and learn things.” (Will M)
• “It was great! I learnt a lot.” (Nathan H)
• “It was very helpful and made it a lot easier to learn through memory games.” (Callum J)
• “I remembered so much through memory games and now know how to properly set out paragraphs and sentences that will guarantee a higher grade in exams.” (Curtis T)
• “It was a funny and different and interactive way to learn and it will help you in exams.” (Simon H)
• “It has really helped me with structuring my sentences in essays and exams and the way we were taught was really fun and exciting.” (Thomas F)
• “It is funny but you learn things which is very helpful.” (Daniel B)
• Active. I didn’t get bored. It was funny at times. Very interesting.” (Jake W)
• “It was very interesting and fun in between so it captured my attention which made me listen more.” (Tomas G)
• “Very interesting. Other people should like and enjoy it.” (Danny H)
• “It combines excitement with education which can improve your memory and see the world in a different way.” (Curtis D)
• “It motivates you to believe that you can gain a C or above. And the techniques used are good points to take in exams to remember points you normally forget.” (Conor S)
• “The lesson was interactive and rather funny. Also, the lesson never dwelled on one topic for too long.” (Valentine)