Workshops: STEAM and Creative Writing in Distance Education
Our Students Write Novels: NaNoWriMo in the Tasmanian eSchool
Workshop Presentation Teresa Meader, Carol Boyd
For several years, Year 9 and 10 students have had the opportunity to participate in state, national and international youth writing competitions – narrative, persuasive and expository. Learning Intentions include fostering student agency through providing choice in determining the focus of their investigations and writing; building a sense of connection and identity as members of a global community of learner/writers; and increasing engagement through exploring themes and topics of high relevance to themselves. It is our experience that many of the secondary students in our school are enthusiastic readers and writers themselves, but can feel disconnected from their peer group. Being involved in world-wide forums like the writing competitions can work to normalise our students’ experience of education outside the mainstream, providing them with a ‘tribe’ and a sense of belonging. We observe a high level of excitement and engagement in students who have previously engaged reluctantly in their classwork through the international NaNoWriMo project, Whitlam Institute’s What Matters Tasmania, ABC’s Heywire multimodal storytelling competition, University of New South Wales Bragg Student Prize for Science Writing. Students develop self-confidence in their ability to complete a challenging, real-life task. In this workshop, we will showcase examples of student work, as well as case studies highlighting the journey of specific students.
STEAM Far and Wide: Technologies Curriculum in a Distance Education Setting
Workshop Presentation Kelly Mc Meeken, Emma Kirk, Zara Coghill, Daena Scheuber
With the rapid evolution of Technology into the Modern World, it is vital that we prepare our students for the technological future. Distance Education students are currently effective "drivers" of digital systems, but do your students have the skills, knowledge and understanding to be "mechanics" of these digital systems? In this session you will learn how to effectively implement Australian Curriculum subject content and general capabilities relating to STEM disciplines. You will leave the session with: An understanding of how to implement a STEAM Curriculum Plan into a Distance Education Setting; A model Curriculum Plan; A practical guide of how to implement a Code Club and STEM Studio into a Distance Education Setting; Supporting resources to extend your knowledge and understanding at your own pace; A list of useful apps to use with your students; Useful hands on activities you can immediately apply with your students.
