The structured approach and regular assessments against targets have helped children to develop their confidence. All the children are much more able to be self-sufficient.

DigiSmart Lead Tutor

Confidence gains

Children become motivated by the DigiSmart activities and by their success.

They develop skills and assurance beyond any previous expectations and progress through the programme to a point where they are able to stand up and present their work to an audience — not only to the DigiSmart group but at school assemblies too, often in front of their parents.

Confidence is also reinforced by the DigiSmart children acting as mentors or buddies to classmates and / or younger members of the school.

We have started to measure these more qualitative gains and are continuing to develop tools for doing this.

At the end of their participation in the project, a set of children were asked how they felt about specific aspects of the DigiSmart activities. Using a scale of 1 – 6 (with 6 representing the highest confidence rating), the following results were recorded:

How much more confident do you feel about presenting to an audience?

74% gave a score of 5 or more.

presenting

 

How much more confident do you feel about helping others?

86% gave a score of 5 or more.

helping

The above data is based on a trial sample of 60 children.