Welcome to the Visual Texts workshop

Today's workshop will be focused on teaching strategies and assessment ideas for two Level One standards:

1.11 Show understanding of significant aspects of visual and/or oral text(s) through close viewing and/or listening, with supporting evidence

1.7 Create a Visual Text

Part A: Close Reading of a Visual Text

Whether you are assessing this against the 1.11 AS or not, it is important that students are taight to closely read visual texts before creating them.

 The following text types (either as complete texts or as extracts) may be included:

a.   film /television production/music video

b.   drama production

c.   multi-media text

d.   graphic novel

e.   drama production, (aural)

f.    radio production

g.   oratory

h.   song performance

i.    documentary/interview (aural)

Teaching and Learning Strategy: Using Digistore Learning Paths to develop close reading skills

Using a learning path to support the teaching and learning for close reading of a visual text

A learning path is a series of digital resources used together along with task instructions to guide students through a learning activity. Digistore is a NZ based library of digital resources designed to be used by educators. You will need a school password to create a learning path. The learning path example below is designed to be used to prepare students for the new Level One NCEA English Achievement Standard 1.11 Show understanding of visual and/or oral text(s) through close viewing and/or listening, using supporting evidence. This learning path was created by using the NCEA Achievement Standard (for the newly aligned standards) "B" task that is now available on TKI. For each new Achievement Standard and "A" task and a "B" has been created. The "A" task has been designed to be used as is, where as the "B" task is designed to be adapted to suit a teacher's own task. Check out the tasks available here and then look at the learning path here

Check out Digistore here and learn how to make a Learning Path here

Part B: Create a Visual Text

Possible assessment contexts include the production of:

• Image(s) such as a poster, advertisement, newspaper front page or storyboard combining visual and written modes
• a digital essay combining visual and written modes
• image(s) such as a filmed sequence/scene,
• a display combining visual and oral modes
• graphic story or illustrated text, combining visual and written modes
• a dramatic presentation such as a role play, performance of a poem or scene from a play that combines visual and oral modes
• pod-cast or online text combining visual, written and oral modes

Before you do the practice task consider the shift from the old task criteria to the new - this assessment should not simply be a "static image without the explanation bit".

To explore some potential ways you could get your students to complete this assessment, you will have a go! Choose a text you enjoy teaching and have a go at planning one of the following tasks:

Task A: In this activity you will develop a web design of your own to promote a text. Before you begin your design you will look at sample web pages.  You will examine the components of web pages and the techniques designers have used to make them appealing.  Your own web design should use the design principles you have observed in these samples.  On completion of your design, you will write an explanation or talk to your teacher, explaining the techniques you have used and the effect you set out to achieve in your design.

or

Task B: In this activity you are to imagine that a literary publisher is producing a calendar designed to celebrate a collection of twelve texts. Your task is to choose a text that you have studied this year for inclusion in the collection and to design a static image to portray its ideas.  Your static image will be one of the twelve illustrations included in the promotional calendar.

• Your static image must reflect the main idea(s) or message(s) you have identified in your chosen text.
• You must include a short relevant quotation or words linked to the text which reinforce the idea(s) in your image.

using one of the following products/software (choose one software you haven't used before and view the supporting resources)

Possible softwares to explore and consider are:

• Make a website using Google Sites
• Create an online textbook using  Wikieducator
• Create a short film using Windows Movie Maker
• Make a visual and written presentation using Prezi
• Create a graphic story using Comic Life
  

1) Google Sites or Wix

Handy handout - one page 'how to' guide for teachers or students

One hour webinar - everything you could need to know!

2) Wikieducator

Resources to help you get started on Wikieducator

3) Prezi

How to use it.

 4) Make a movie with Windows Movie Maker

5) Comic Life

Comic Life on Software for Learning