Questions/instructions:

This activity uses the computer.
Click the Drummer Dylan button.
We’re going to watch a video from the news about an 11 year old boy who plays the drums. Listen carefully, and I’ll ask you some questions when the video finishes.

Click the Play button.

Video script: Reporter: Dylan Elise has been beating his way to the top since he was a little boy. Dylan: My Dad had a drum kit and, he just let me have a go on them. Well actually I hopped onto the drums and then I just started playing away. Reporter: How old were you? Dylan: I was 6 at that point. Mum: He was hopeless when he was 6, it was awful listening to him, it was really painful. Reporter: Yet, within a year Dylan was on stage, heard but not seen. But now Dylan is older, wiser, he’s eleven. Dylan: It took years of like training and practice. Reporter: Today the kid from Tawa is trained by University tutors. Tutor: He’ll be putting me out of a job. Reporter: As good as graduates 2, 3 times his age. Tutor: It’s one of those things that’s a mystery, you can’t explain it, you know. But, yeah he’s definitely got it. Reporter: Eleven years old and he’s snaring guest spots with the Youth and New Zealand Symphony Orchestras. Dylan: It was a great honour just being in the same room as members of the Symphony Orchestra, but playing with them was, an even bigger thrill.   It’s important to keep fit, because you have to use the quads, calves for like hitting the base drums and high hat and then like the shoulders, biceps, triceps.   I practise 3 hours a day, and that’s normally every day. Reporter: But no playing after 5pm, an imposed neighbourhood curfew. Dylan: Neighbours shouting from over the fence. Reporter: Shouting what? Dylan: Oh, shut those drums up. Reporter: And, Dylan is drumming up a storm elsewhere. He’s the 11 year old North Island champion for the 100 and 200 metres, National champion for the 400. Yet he’s still a normal kiwi kid. Dylan: I hope I can get into the All Blacks, that’s what one of my dreams are. Reporter: Of course it is. Until then, the world is at his finger tips.

Commentary:
Year 8 students performed substantially better than year 4 students, especially on the more subtle or inferential components of the task.