Below, you’ll find answers to the questions we get asked the most. If you have a question that is not answered below, please call our office team on 0845 003 0896 or email hello@chatta.co.uk.
Chatta is a teaching method used in schools by teachers and teaching assistants. It’s also used by parents. Chatta involves teaching using audio-visual technology and has been designed to support progress in language, communication and literacy. Chatta links experiences and subject content with images and modelled language. The Chatta training and support helps teachers and parents use the approach to achieve the best outcomes for pupils aged 3 to 18.
How can Chatta help my school?
The way Chatta is used in teaching has been designed to combine a number of proven techniques. Chatta uses images and words to mirror the way people think. The visual nature of Chatta strengthens long term memory for factual content, sequence and language. Teachers build audio-visual storyboards as they are teaching. During the teaching process language is modelled and rehearsed. All resources are shareable and accessible outside lessons at home and school and used for pre and post teaching reinforcement.
Every Chatta lesson follows the same format. The only thing that changes is the subject and level.
Chatta is a teaching approach which uses the Chatta app (IOS and Android) The approach also includes training and support, resources for teachers, teaching assistants and parents/carers.
What are the Chatta resource modules?
Chatta can make an impact in many areas of a school. The resource modules provide training, activities, software and ongoing support to ‘Chatta Champions’ who lead the use of Chatta in their school. Each Chatta module is often led by a different person.
How do teachers use Chatta?
Chatta can be used with whole classes, groups and individuals. Teachers use the approach to teach based on the subjects they are covering and they create audio-visual resources with their classes. Teachers model language throughout and provide opportunities for oral rehearsal for the pupils. Chatta provides simple activity plans which can be used or easily adapted. Teachers share content created through Chatta with parents and carers. In the same way as a school often has examples of writing for each year group, Chatta is often used to created examples demonstrating the use of spoken language.
How do parents use Chatta?
There are several ways parents and carers use Chatta. They are encouraged to use content created in the classroom to help their children rehearse and improve their spoken presentations. Parents and Carers also use the Chatta App to make stories with their children based on the activities taking place at home. Chatta Matters is a weekly activity ideas resource which is sent to parents and carers.
Training is online or face-to-face. Online and webinar training leads to an action plan and step by step implementation of Chatta in the classroom. Face to face training includes demonstration activities with classes and groups of pupils.
Once training is complete, every Chatta Champion has a simple action plan and takes part in an online or telephone impact review every 2 months leading to a new action plan.
Is Chatta available in my country?
Chatta is used by schools in countries all over the world. It is available in all countries. If face to face training is required transport and accommodation costs must be covered.
Due to the work undertaken by both the Chatta Champion and Chatta Team before the approach is used in the classroom any free trial requires full payment in advance and is measured against jointly agreed success criteria. If you would like to discuss a trial of Chatta please contact our team to discuss the best way to proceed.
We will find out how Chatta can provide a solution to the challenges you are addressing and work out costings and propose next steps. All proposals are flexible and can be reviewed. Once a decision is made to move forward the Chatta Champion begins the training based on an initial action plan.
How much does Chatta cost?
Costs can vary greatly from school to school. Costs are available on request and depend on the number of Chatta modules selected and the type and amount of training required.
Is an online demonstration available?
What research and evidence supports Chatta?
Chatta’s approach combines a number of proven methods in a way which means they are all taking place at once. Some of Chatta’s most powerful aspects combine the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning, Dual Coding and Cognitive Load Theory.
Chatta involves an ongoing process of impact review which gives schools real-time evidence of impact.
We would welcome any evaluation of the impact of Chatta on any scale.
Chatta was developed by Chris Williams and David Andrews based on their work on a long-term project in a large number of schools and nurseries.
Chris is a former Special School Teacher and Primary Special Needs Coordinator. He has spoken about his work at conferences around the world including South East Asia, the USA and Finland. Chris has advanced qualifications in special education and teaching children with autism.
David is an award-winning teacher currently working as Director of Curriculum at a large trust of schools in Yorkshire, UK. His work as ‘Mr Andrews Online’ has attracted a global audience and numerous awards and he is widely regarded as a classroom pioneer for his high impact use of technology.
Chris and David recently taught an online live lesson to 40,000 students around the world, raising over twenty thousand pounds for children’s charities.