Literacy in the technology classroom

Aaron Wilson

In-service/Pre-service Technology Education Hui

Wednesday 25 May, 2011

Literacy Levers

New

Zealand

Curriculu

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Zealand

Curriculu

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Subject LiteracySubject Literacy

Literacy

ProgressionLiteracy

Progression NCEANCEA

SLPSLP

NZ Curriculum Each learning area has its own

language. As students discover how to use them, they find they are able to think in different ways, access new areas of knowledge, and see their world from new perspectives

(NZC, p.16)

Inquiry focus “Since any teaching strategy works

differently in different contexts for different students, effective pedagogy requires that teachers inquire into the impact of their teaching on their students.”

(NZC, p.35)

Shanahan & Shanahan (2008)

English language learners learn best when:

They are provided with meaningful, high challenge/high support tasks;

Language learning is amplified rather than simplified;

They are engaged in long term projects that help them connect their funds of knowledge with newly acquired concepts and language over time.

Based on Walqui 2003

Students in a particular class begin the year with lower reading

comprehension than their peers in another

class

In response, their teachers give them fewer

opportunities to read, and when they do, the texts are

simplified

Therefore, they get less exposure to rich and

authentic texts than their peers

So, the gaps in reading comprehension between the two groups get even

bigger

Scaffolding

Scaffolding is placed around the outside of a new building to allow builders access to the emerging structure as

it rises from the ground. Once the building is able to support itself, the

builder removes the scaffolding.

- Jennifer Hammond

Reading and writing float on a sea of talk

(Britton,1993)

Subject-specific literacy demands in technology include: Subject and context specialised vocabulary Reading unique text types e.g. technical

manuals Writing unique text types e.g. briefs Writing research questions Note-taking Analysing/annotating attributes of other

technological solutions

Literacy in technology is about knowing how

technology texts “work”

Literate technologists…. See texts as technological outcomes Understand the purposes of the

stakeholders (readers & writers of that text)

Analyse the attributes of existing texts (reading) to inform the design of your own (writing)

Understand the brief that the teacher-client gives the student-technologist to inform their reading or writing solution.

Iconic Te Rewa Rewa Bridge

Reading and writing texts in technology Audience & Purpose Ideas Background knowledge Vocabulary Organisation Sentence level features

Audience and purpose Why would a technology teacher want

his/her students to read this text?

Ideas What are the main ideas you want

students to take from this text?

Background knowledge What prior knowledge will be important to

activate? What prior knowledge might get in the

way of the reading purpose? What gaps in prior knowledge might

disrupt meaning-making?

Vocabulary Jumble

iconic pedestrian capacity utilityspan ‘bridge structures’ sacredsingle-span‘socio-cultural considerations’ ‘fitness for purpose’

‘design elements’ ‘material selection’ ‘performance specification’ ‘outline how’ evocative

prioritisation ‘strengthening functions’ extensionclient brief “go like a dream” truss “won the bid”

environmental MIPENZ ribs explain ‘culturally significant’ justify tangata whenua ‘cable stay’ harmonious yielding usurping ‘concrete abutments’ fabrication ‘reinforcing steel’

‘elastomeric bearing pads’

Three types of vocabulary Tier 2 vocabulary (high literate general

use) e.g. usurp, tangata whenua Specialised subject vocabulary e.g.

stakeholder, brief General academic vocabulary e.g.

explain, analyse

Traffic Light Activity

Green: all words you are very confident you know the meaning of

Orange: words you have seen before but are a little unsure about their meaning

Red: words that are completely new to you

A vocabulary learning sequence Inquiry to identify existing knowledge and

needs Explicit instruction Repeated opportunities to practice –

both receptive and productive Metacognition e.g.

– Memory strategies– Word-solving strategies

Inquiry into effectiveness of teaching sequence, and planning next steps.

Word-solving strategies Context clues Morphology (roots, prefixes, suffixes)

Text Organisation

1. Te Rewa Rewa structured overview

2. Topic sentences

3. Graphic organisers to support note-taking

Food for

energy

proteins lipids

carbohydrates

Needed for:

Needed for:

Needed for:

Examples

ExamplesExamples

Come from

Come from Come from

Types of Food for Energy

Food group Come from:

Needed for:

Examples of:

Carbohydrates

Proteins

Lipids

Summarising in your own words Jot down 20 important words from the

article Now choose the 6 MOST important

words Now use those six words to sum up the

article in a couple of sentences

Sentence-level features

Implied links Challenges WCE faced began with

timing the purchase of the steel during a time when international prices were soaring. WDC took a risk and bought the arch, toe and heel tubes before the

design detail was completed. What is the relationship between the first

& second sentence?

Ingenious engineering provided the

solution. To launch it across the river the bridge was winched up, supported on the cleaned carriages of two old excavators, then three cranes lifted it onto the abutments.

What is the relationship between the first & second sentence?

Nominalisation

1. The brief stipulated that there be no contamination or disturbance of the river

vs

2. The brief stipulated that the engineers could not disturb or contaminate the river

What makes Sentence 1 more difficult than Sentence 2?

Nominalisation1. Every element has a strengthening function, including

the handrails.

vs

2. Every element makes the bridge stronger. The hand rails are not just there to make the bridge safer and to look better –they have another function which is to strengthen the bridge.

What makes Sentence 1 more difficult than Sentence 2?

More nominalisations

Technical language

Everyday language

Fabrication

Design considerations

Asymmetrical structure

Low-lying terrain

Sentence completion After seeds have formed, they are

usually scattered, far from where they were produced. _______________ is called seed dispersal.

After seeds have formed, they are usually scattered, far from where they were produced. This process of scattering is called seed dispersal.

Sentence completion The handrails make the bridge stronger.

Every other element also has a similar ____________________ .

The bridge designers consulted many different people in the community. _________________ took many months to complete.

Summarising in your own words Jot down 20 important words from the

article Now choose the 6 MOST important

words Now use those six words to sum up the

article in a couple of sentences

Paraphrasing Have students translate technical

language into everyday language and vice versa.

Translate into scientific language The makers of the bridge had to ask lots

of people what kind of bridge they wanted in their town.

Heaps of different people worked together to plan and build a bridge.

Not only is the bridge really strong, it looks cool too.

Translate into everyday language The arches spring from two concrete

abutments and one end moves on elastomeric bearing pads.

Fitzroy Engineering was well placed to fabricate the superstructure.