Using social networks and ICT to enhance Literature Circles: a practical approach

29th September, 2010

Andrea Walker - Renaissance College, Hong Kong - awalker@renaissance.edu.hk

Diversity Challenge Resilience: School Libraries in Action - The 12th Biennial School Library Association of Queensland, the 39th International Association of School Librarianship

Annual Conference, incorporating the 14th International Forum on Research in School Librarianship,

Brisbane, QLD Australia, 27 September – 1 October 2010.

Purpose

� To describe and demonstrate how social networks can support and enhance Literature Circles

� To support and promote reading for all regardless of reading ability

� To encourage and extend language learning beyond the classroom

� Children's motivation to learn language and use it effectively at school is social (Vygotsky, 1962/1986; Harste, Woodward & Burke, 1984).

Introduction

� Part 1 - Context� Part 1 - Context

� Part 2 - Rationale and implementation

� Part 3 - Impact of social networks and ICT

� Part 4 - What have we learnt

Context

� Renaissance College, located in Hong Kong is a Year 1-13 IBO world school

� Grown from 900 - 1850 in under 5 years� Grown from 900 - 1850 in under 5 years

� Majority of the students are EAL

� We offer 3 programs - PYP, MYP, DP

� Entire campus supported by wireless internet access

� Working towards 1-1 laptop implementation in secondary

Rationale

� Traditional Lit Circle model well established

� To stay ahead and further meet needs, adopted a new model

Need to improve the language awareness and capacity of EAL students� Need to improve the language awareness and capacity of EAL students

� Provide a forum for students to discuss book titles in their own space and time

� Harness the students’ addiction to social networking and all things technological

� To support the overall school purpose and raise the instructional visibility of the library

Strategies

� Appeal - of titles and covers� Appeal - of titles and covers

� Accessibility - cater for differing reading levels

� Format - audio

� Hitting the web - extending the discussion via Goodreads

Implementation

� Students introduced to the concept

� Students introduced to titles

� Bookmarks/post-it-notes

Preparation� Year 7 Literature Circle Choices

Diary of a wimpy kid by Jeff Kinney Bend it like Beckham by N Dhami

Toonhead by Fiona Dunbar Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Into the wild by Erin Hunter SilverFin by Charlie Higson

Dragonkeeper by Carole Wilkinson Matilda by Roald Dahl

Jimmy Coates : killer by Joe Craig The Falcon’s Malteser by Anthony Horowitz

Doubting Thomas by Morris Gleitzman The windsinger by William Nicholson

Lionboy by Zizou Corder Mister Monday by Garth Nix

The bad beginning by Lemony Snickett Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

PreparationYear 8 Genre Choices

� 1. Historical fiction

� 2. Family & relationships

� 3. Mystery & suspense

� 4. Adventure

� 5. Humour

� 6. Fantasy

� 7. Science fiction

� 8. ClassicsSee NSW Premiers Reading Challenge

Literature Circle

ChoicesChoices

About this title: After the sudden death of their

parents, the three Baudelaire children must

depend on each other and their wits when it turns

out that the distant relative who is appointed their

guardian is determined to use any means

necessary to get their fortune.

Back to

choices

About this title:Jess just wants to play

football but her wedding-obsessed parents have

other ideas so she hides it from them. But when

Jess and her friend Jules join a ladies team and

get spotted by a talent scout, it all kicks off...

Back to

Choices

About this title: Sidesplittinglyfunny, nail-bitingly spooky, and thrillingly original, this breakneck tale of magic and adventure marks the debut of a pair of heroes unlike any other before--a 12-year-old girl and an animated skeleton--who must save the world from an ancient evil.

Back to

Choices

About this title: Rusty, a young house cat, yearns

for adventure. When he's offered the chance to join

the ThunderClan, one of the gangs of feral cats in the

area, he doesn't hesitate. Renamed Firepaw, he

becomes an apprentice and begins to train as a

warrior. After rescuing Yellowfang, ex-medicine cat for

the ShadowClan who has fled for her life, Firepaw

and the other ThunderClan members find themselves

in the middle of a turf war against the rival gang, led

Back to

Choices

in the middle of a turf war against the rival gang, led

by the nefarious Brokenstar. There's a traitor in their

midst, though, and Firepaw must learn more than just

hunting and fighting to survive.

About this title:In this thrilling prequel to the adventure of James Bond, 007, readers meet a young boy whose inquisitive mind and determination set him on a path that will someday take him across the globe, in pursuit of the most dangerous criminals of all time. When we first meet young James, he's just started boarding school at Eton in the 1930’s, and from there, the action moves to the Highlands of Scotland, where Alfie Kelly, a local boy, has gone missing. This is the

Back to

Choices

Alfie Kelly, a local boy, has gone missing. This is the first title in the YOUNG BOND series. SilverFin is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will mesmerize readers of all ages.

Impact of iPods and laptops

� able to access text via audio� able to access text via audio

� kids love their laptops and opportunity to use them in a social way

� use laptops as their own personal OPAC

� can access reviews and author websites

Discussion/Brainstorm

� Handling Audio content - what are the challenges?

� Purchasing� Purchasing

� Formats

� Lending rules

� Storage - iTunes, network??

� What are the advantages?

Impact of Social Media

smdpoaNaoLinear. (n.d.). YouTube - Social Media Revolution .

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. . Retrieved September 27, 2010, from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8

� Impact of Goodreads - kids love adding books and friends

� can set up groups to discuss books

� great activity outside the classroom

� Goodreads

What about Facebook

� What about Facebook - playing with this at present

� Fan page/Individual page

� use of book trailers

� RCHK.LIRC

Sharing your experience

� Social networks

� For communication - Internet forums, blogs, podcasts, twitter, facebook, skype

� For collaboration - wikis, social bookmarking

� Multimedia - flickr, youtube, slideshare

Findings and recommendations

� Stay flexible - understand your users

� Many advantages/no disadvantages

� Take it further

� Work together