Creating engaging and motivating activities through ICT, authentic texts and images 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?

Its time to get active! Lets think!

Quelques mots le footle restauranthier jadorele soiril pleuvait le samediparce queont un copainmes parentsune pizza avecregarderen voiture maisil a manger et avoirfaire amusantêtrefantastique

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? Were going to read the text out loud as soon as it appears on the screen! Ready? Lets read!

Text idea 2 Le samedi jaime aller en ville avec mes copains et jadore manger chez McDo car cest délicieux! Le soir, je regarde la télé avec ma soeur parce que jaime les films de science-fiction. Elle adore les westerns! Le dimanche matin, je reste au lit et je me leve vers midi. Laprès-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 cétait 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! Dont give in if they dont understand! Just say no! Dont 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