Module H: Using ICT to Enrich HSC Learning

This week's module focused on the variety of ways in which HSC learning and results can be enriched by the use of ICT.  The module outlined the use of encouraging students to access websites such as the Board of Studies website and the HSC Online site. Both of which provide students with access to past HSC papers, feedback from the Marking Centres and links to resources. Further to this students can be encouraged to use ICT in their study and for assignments. Examples can include asking students to create a power point presentation, podcasts or prezis. Furthermore teachers can organize community websites such as Edmodo and wiki to encourage students to communicate with one another, share their work and work co-operatively. This week I looked closely at wikis to examine how they can be used to enrich HSC learning. Wikis are a web site that can be developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content. The wiki I examined was based on the HSC Area of Study Belonging and can be accessed from, http://hscbelonging.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/belonging-to-a-place/. This wiki aims to present simple introductions to texts which might be appropriate for study as related material, the wiki also indicates which core text the related material presented would be most appropriately linked. This wiki is extremely useful in the secondary English classroom, as it can allow teachers to encourage their students to use the wiki to determine what would be an appropriate related material. I think this wiki is extremely useful for HSC students as it discusses a variety of texts and links to other use information. Wikis in general are also beneficial as they allow students to share work and ideas. 

 

Module G: Open-ended and Integrated Assessment

Assessment is usually a daunting task for students. A way to minimize the fear associated with assessments is to allow students to present their assessment in a variety of ways. Some ways or presenting assessment as outlined on the UNSW wiki include: A podcast, a digi-text, a digi-timeline, a slideshow, a short film, as a blog or a wiki. A website that can be used to create a digi-timeline for assessment purposes is www.dipity.com. Dipity allows students to create timelines that can include text, images, video links and web links. Dipity is easy to navigate and allows students to create a digi-timeline with ease. Digi-timelines are useful as they allow students to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of particular events, the sequence of actions that lead to a major event and the most important events in a person’s life. A timeline is also chronological making understanding the order of events easier to remember. Furthermore timelines and digi-timelines go over the most important information, which encourages students who are creating timelines to work on their summarizing skills. Research on a person, event or particular topic could be presented creatively in a digi-timeline. Dipity allows students to present their timeline in the traditional format, as a flipbook, as a list or on a map. Dipity also allows students to share their work with their teacher or peers and can also be used collaboratively by students for a pair/group assessment. An example of a digi-timeline about Steve Jobs created (by someone else) using dipity is below.

Module F: Poetry, Writing and ICT

Whilst studying this module I payed particular attention to the website Instant Poetry Forms, http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/newpoem.htm. This website is an effective way to introduce students to poetic forms and encourage creativity through the mode of poetry. Instant Poetry forms has a variety of templates that can allow students to fill in the blanks in a template to create a poem. There are various poetry form templates, some of which include: Emotional Animal, Love That Poem, All About Me Poem, "Big Day" Haiku, I Remember, If Emotion were a..., Lament, Limerick, Noun + Adjective + Phrase = Poem, Octopoem, Some of my Best Friends are Metaphors, What If..., Who am I?, Wishes and Fears and Yes, But Poem. This ICT tool is effective as it allows students to create a poem using basic steps, and allows students to develop an understanding of the techniques involved in creating a poem. Further to this Instant Poetry Form, is a fun and easy tool that allows students to become more interested in poetry and overcome any reservations in regards to studying and writing poetry. In the classroom this tool can be used to assist students to create their own poetry and to create their own poem in the same form of a set text to gain an understanding of techniques. Instant Poetry Forms is a great website that makes the studying and writing of poetry easier to understand as poems are broken up into a step-by-step process, further to this, examples and prompts ensure students find the website enjoyable and simple to use. Below I have included a template for a ‘Wishes and Fears’ poem, and a poem I created using this template.

I am afraid of being lonely
I am afraid of the sadness loneliness brings
I am afraid that you may leave me
I am afraid that you won't come back
I am even afraid that this loss will be permanent

I am afraid of never sleeping again
I am afraid of not being able to breathe
I am afraid that my heart may actually break
I am afraid that my soul will be forever tortured
I am even afraid misery will be everlasting

I want you
I want you forever
I want you to be all mine
I want you to always be mine
I even want you when I am asleep

I want you to be happy
I want for you to be happy with me
I want you to know that
I want you more than anything
And I want you to love me back
Most of all