Introduction Page 3
The following lessons will teach students how to
- Critically evaluate websites for research purposes
- Read and understand electronic , multi-modal text
- Produce a travel blog, that contains not only text, but images and interactive content.
Appendix 1 (lesson overview)
- Criteria for evaluating websites, or, how to use the internet critically. Students provide blog task reflection.
- Introduction to webquest and deconstruction of task. Analysis of two websites and development of a specific metalanguage as applied to websites. (eg. Navigation, header, footer, sidebar, layout, media, interactive, hypertext, audience, purpose, accessibility) Students add to the wiki glossary of website terms and definitions. Students provide reflective response in blog.
- Reading and deconstructing multi-modal texts.
- Immersion (a variety of travel blogs) Critical analysis and deconstruction of travel blogs. ( textual purpose, textual structures and features, gaps and silences, power and interest, values, multiple meanings)
- Technical aspects to teach. How to use the Blackboard blog, how to add images, how to compress images for web, how to add multimedia elements to the blog.
- Creating your travel blog. (individualistic) Seeking feedback and comments from peers. (collaborative)
- Following rules and conventions for a successful online chat.(Stinton, Monika 2008)
Strategies
- Evaluating prior knowledge of how texts are constructed.
- Compare print and electronic text
- Explore websites for research and evaluate their worth according to set criteria
- Critically evaluate web resources focussing on features of multi-modal texts and webpages.
- Use decoding skills to navigate and make meaning of multi-modal texts.
- Collaborate with teacher and peers to reflect on, and develop deep understandings about how multi modal texts are constructed.
- Using visual and media literacy skills deconstruct multi-modal electronic text
- Immersion in the blog genre.
- Make connections between the features of websites and blog pages. How are they similar? How are they different?
- Analyse the textual features of a blog and how the author positions the reader
- Apply understanding to create a travel blog.
Assessment/Evaluation
Critical literacy skills will be formative and ongoing throughout the course duration. Assessment will be based on observation, written responses, oral responses and directed questioning. The ability to choose reputable websites for research purposes will be evidence that students are able to critically evaluate web resources. Monitoring of progressive learning will occur through student blog postings and feedback to peers through blog comments. Their reflections will indicate the level and depth of critical thought processes. The ability to extract relevant information from these websites will be evidence that students are able to effectively read and critically evaluate multi modal , electronic text. The creation of a travel blog using appropriate multi-modal content will be formally assessed using set critetia (Knowledge and understanding, decision making process, communication) Criteria Sheet is here