English, Term 1
The previous page 'Using ICTs' gave you a general overview of ICT in the classroom, and also the use of the RAT framework. If you missed this page, please click here.
In our English unit this term, we are going to be exploring different types of literature and the features of different styles of texts, this is a very important part of the Australian Curriculum, not only for this year, but in future grades.
The Australian Curriculum element that I have designed this activity through states that students should:
In our English unit this term, we are going to be exploring different types of literature and the features of different styles of texts, this is a very important part of the Australian Curriculum, not only for this year, but in future grades.
The Australian Curriculum element that I have designed this activity through states that students should:
Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive print and multimodal texts, choosing text structures, language features, images and sound appropriate to purpose and audience (ACELY1704)
This activity relates to the curriculum as students are planning, drafting and publishing their multimodal stories which include all features of a text. Students act as authors of their own work. This is utilising ICT as amplification.
This is an example of the activity which I have created. This is what I am going to ask my students to complete.
This is an example of the activity which I have created. This is what I am going to ask my students to complete.
So, why am I asking my students to do this?
It is very important that students are receiving the best education that is ICT rich, engaging and worthwhile. This is my personal goal this year. I want my students to develop deeper thinking skills and this activity definitely helps achieve this. Teachers can formulate their lessons through using a model called Blooms Taxonomy. You don't have to know what this entails, but it states six stages of thinking: Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating and Creating. When students are creating their own work, Blooms Taxonomy states that they reach higher levels of thinking.
Many teachers have used this technology in their classrooms and the reviews are outstanding. These are only but a few attribution of teachers findings of StoryBird in the classroom.
"Creative Writing at its finest" - Rachel, Delfranco Elementary School, PA
"It allows for student creativity and can also enhance basic writing and story telling skills" - Scott, Spencer Country Public School
"Motivating student writing through professional artwork" - Susan, Trombly Elementary
Jean Piaget, a respected educational philosopher, has designed a theory of constructivism and I am using these principles in this activity. Piaget believed that a person 'constructs' their own knowledge through their past experiences and this is emphasised by children taking responsibility of their own learning (Churchill et al., 2013). As students are publishing their own stories, the subject they choose to write about is taken from their past experiences and they are responsible for drafting, writing, designing and publishing their own work.
I am looking forward to commencing this activity with my students this term. I believe they will love the experience and the learning opportunities from this activity are endless.
I am looking forward to commencing this activity with my students this term. I believe they will love the experience and the learning opportunities from this activity are endless.
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This work by Fred Selbert is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. |