Focus/Context
Students are required to study a certain number of
novels independently and provide “closure” reports on these.
In addition to this evaluation technique, students will employ their
discussion skills, which they have learned from the previous lessons on
literature circles, using an internet discussion forum designed specifically for
that purpose. Students will spend
one period per week in the computer room entering their material into the forum
and reading/responding to the entries of others.
Students will be required to make at least one entry during each of these
periods but they will be strongly encouraged to participate in these forum
discussions as much as possible, whether at home or in school.
Specific
Curriculum Outcomes
1.
Students will be expected to communicate information and ideas
effectively and clearly, and to respond personally and critically.
2.
Students will be expected to interact
with sensitivity and respect, considering the situation, audience, and purpose.
Activities
·
Students will register online in Virtual Literature Circles
located at the following url: http://205.251.224.28:1099
·
Students will be given general instructions about the use of the
Discussion Forum. (i.e. how to
post, edit posts, insert codes to change the colour, size, etc. of the font, how
to insert pictures, and respond to others’ postings).
·
Using their independent novels as a topic for discussion, students
will begin posting using the skills and techniques that they have learned from
the previous four lessons on literature circles.
Note: students have been encouraged to select a novel that at least one
other person in the class is reading.
·
Students will be given one class per week to post on the forum;
they will be encouraged to discuss their material freely, both posting and
responding to what others post. Students
will be required to post at least four times.
Assessment
·
This is a formative exercise.
No marks will be awarded for participation – the focus here ought to be
on discussion, not marks.
Resources
· Virtual Literature Circles on-line Discussion Forum (http://205.251.224.28:1099)
Back to Virtual Literature Circles
