Creating engaging and motivating activities through
ICT, authentic texts and [email protected]
Dave Wicks
Curriculum Co-ordinator for MFL 2, SLN Lead Teacher for North Wiltshire, RSA for the South
West
A change in ideology? A “new” active classroom for a new NC
• An active classroom is all about moving from:
• Teacher-centred to learner centred• Teacher as transmitter of knowledge ->
teacher as organiser of knowledge• Teacher as the “do-er” for children ->
teacher as “enabler” / facilitator• Subject specific focus -> Holistic
learning focus• Teacher as magician! NOT!
How do our students change and benefit from an active
approach?• Passive recipients of knowledge -> active
and participatory learners• Focus on answering questions -> asking
questions• Spoon fed -> responsible for own learning –
reflection• Competing with each other -> collaborating• Having own say -> listening to others
opinions• Individual subject learning -> joined up
learning “episodes”
Thinking about texts
• How do we use texts? • Do we always find good “authentic
material” to use?• Do we get enough mileage out of texts?• How can we explore texts in a fresher,
new way? • How can we link the new NC to what we
do do with texts?
It’s time to get active! Let’s think!
Quelques motsle foot le restaurant hier
j’adore le soir il pleuvaitle samedi parce que ont
un copain mes parents une pizzaavec regarder en voiture
mais il a mangeret avoir faire
amusant être fantastique
Text idea 1• The “silent” starter aka “The Cold
Shoulder!” – a list of words, in any order or layout on a page.
• Results – what is the impact / result of this? New NC links?
• Potential Pitfalls - ways around the problems.
• Feedback from the students on the activity
Ready, steady, read!• “Are you ready to read aloud
class?” • “We’re going to read the text
out loud as soon as it appears on the screen!”• “Ready?”• “Let’s read!”
Text idea 2Le samedi j’aime aller en ville avec mes
copains et j’adore manger chez McDo car c’est délicieux! Le soir, je regarde la télé avec ma soeur parce que j’aime les films de science-fiction. Elle adore les westerns!
Le dimanche matin, je reste au lit et je me leve vers midi. L’après-midi je vais au parc et je joue au foot avec mes camarades de classe. La semene dernière je suis allé chez mes grands-parents mais c’était nul!
Text idea 2 – how to make it work!
• Colours – yellow is bad! Choose nice word colours or a black background.
• Make the font big enough to read!• Make sure they are reading aloud to start with!• Don’t give in if they don’t understand! Just say
no! Don’t give away any hints! Launch it, “unscaffolded” Be BRAVE!
• Once you have a template – SHARE IT!• Recycle the idea, but change the
words/concepts they need to find so they are not wise to it!
Text, images and ICT- incorporating all 3 into one
fabulous activity
Using images to inspire photo stories
• Images are a powerful tool for the MFL teacher. • One single topic image – a thousand ideas.• Student involvement – image creation.• Motivation levels.• Creativity levels.• PLTS – many can be achieved here.• Fantastic final products.• Useful for many topics, even the obscure ones!
However some non-entities are being taken out! PO etc.
How to set-up the task
• Get cameras – beg, steal or borrow!• Check your picture policy• Get them into groups – you decide, they
decide – your choice/their choice?• Plan it out first – when do you want to start
and finish – lesson allocation• Give them the topic – planning in groups• Photo shoot + ICT room booked
Family Fortunes• Groups love to work together• Not just the family are playing – group
planning can be used in class• Easy to set up once you have the template• Easy to move the activity forward into AT4
work• Easy to use as a springboard into drop down
menus in Word activities – creative texts