CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR EUROPEAN LANGUAGES IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Curriculum K-12 Directorate

4 August 2008

TECHNOLOGY: WHY?

The learning of languages is enriched through access to a variety of multimedia resources…(Board of Studies K-10 Languages syllabuses)

In K-6, the syllabus mandates that students develop skills in: using text, sound and images to design presentations using word-processing skills to produce texts using software packages.

Additionally, in the 100 hours course, students develop skills in:

collecting and interpreting electronic information demonstrating knowledge of ethics in regard to the use of

technology to communicate technology.

TECHNOLOGY: WHY?

Helps to attract and retain students’ attention Allows for repetition and review Taps into students’ worlds (QT:

‘Connectedness’ – 89% of students use a computer at home; 82% use internet for education, 51% for playing games, ABS 2006)

In addition, IWBs:• provide large, attractive text and images• support collaborative learning• allow flexibility, e.g. moving from lower-order to

higher-order thinking.

RESEARCH SHOWS…

Australian students value the opportunity to use ICTs in their classrooms as they enjoy the collaboration with other students.

Students cited little opportunity is being provided for them to “really use” technologies to explore, think and learn.

Students highlighted a predominance of teacher-centred approaches involving knowledge transmission rather than student-centred inquiry tasks.

Teachers’ lack of knowledge is seen as a hindrance.

(Neal, 2005)

TECHNOLOGY: HOW?

Microsoft Office, e.g. Word, PowerPoint, etc. CD-ROMs, including:

those accompanying textbooks Super!/Chouette!/Ottimo! (available free to DET

teachers or to purchase from Curriculum Corporation for non-DET teachers)

Quirky Comics (also available on T@Le) The Language Marketetc.

TECHNOLOGY: HOW?

Language-specific websites, e.g. Languages Online (keep an eye on your language-specific bulletins)

Online activities, e.g. Hot Potatoes WebQuests/internet research Photo Story/Movie Maker IWBs

LANGUAGE WEBSITES: DO YOU KNOW ABOUT…?

Languages Online (Australia) Languages Online (UK) Photo Albums from The Learning Federation

(TLF) School life (1) School life (2) Daily life (1) Daily life (2) Celebrations (1) Celebrations (2)

FOR DET SCHOOLS: T@LE

Beginn mit Deutsch (Stage 4 course) Gift-giving (Stage 5) Recycling (Stage 5) Schon gehört? / À l’écoute! / Ascolta! Ascolta!

(Stage 6 Beginners) Ins Gespräch kommen / A toi la parole/ Facciamo

due chiacchiere!(Stage 6 Beginners) Quirky Comics Super!/Chouette!/Ottimo!

Resources on T@Le are only accessible to DET teachers. Many of these resources can be purchased on CD-ROM from Curriculum Corporation, email sales@curriculum.edu.au

GOOD TO KNOW… Do your own search for language-specific activities:

Type “interactive whiteboard activities” plus your language into Google and see what you can find!

To type foreign characters, use your key board, e.g. circumflex – Ctrl + 6/^ key TOGETHER, then release and type c cedilla – Ctrl + , TOGETHER, then release and type c acute - Ctrl + ‘ (next to ENTER) TOGETHER, then release and type

letter grave - Ctrl + ` (top left) TOGETHER, then release and type letter umlaut - Ctrl + Shift + colon (next to L) TOGETHER, then release

and type letter ß – Ctrl + Shift + 7/& key TOGETHER, then release and type letter

The above will not work in many applications, so an alternative is to use the ALT codes. View at: tlt.psu.edu/suggestions/international/bylanguage/index.html

ALT codes, examples for GERMAN: Ä – ALT + 0196 ä – ALT + 0228 Ö – ALT + 0214 ö – ALT + 0246 Ü – ALT + 0220 ü – ALT + 0252 ß – ALT + 0223 € – ALT + 0128

AIMS FOR TODAY:

Learning to use Photo Story. Learning to use Movie Maker. Developing an understanding about

ActivStudio.

For more information: elisabeth.robertson@det.nsw.edu.au