Interactive Amplify (IA) sits at the Interactive row and Amplify column of the PICRAT grid. Below: real Computing lessons for KS5 that classify as IA, plus anti-examples that look IA but are not.

Database normalisation tradeoff analysis

Year 12 · 60 min · 1 device per student

The teacher posts an unnormalised database schema in a shared class Doc. Each student annotates one normalisation step they would apply (1NF, 2NF, 3NF, BCNF) with reasoning about the tradeoff in performance and complexity. The class plenary draws out where students propose different sequences.

Tools: Google Docs

Algorithm complexity debate (A-Level)

Year 13 · 50 min · 1 device per student

The teacher posts three different algorithms that solve the same problem (e.g. find a value in a list: linear scan, binary search on sorted, hash lookup). Each student votes on Mentimeter for the most efficient at scale, defends in pairs, debates, re-votes.

Tools: Mentimeter

Code review workshop with peer critique

Year 13 · 70 min · 1 device per student

Each student posts a 50-line excerpt of their A-Level NEA project code to a class Replit gallery. Two named peers per excerpt write a code-review comment focusing on structure, naming, and edge cases. Students revise based on the two reviews.

Tools: Replit

Lessons that look IA but are not

Useful counter-examples when you are checking your own lesson placement on the PICRAT grid.

This page is one of a growing set of PICRAT examples by cell, subject and key stage. Page maintained by Andy Perryer.