First Ideas for our Blog

These are some ideas for our project.
The most relevant aspects are:
- discussion
- interaction
- use of different media

1) Video > discussion of a piece of literature (Literarisches Quartett)
              > individual presentation of a novel/poem

Webtools > Skype, Edublogs,

2) Interview > What do you think of literature? (pupils)

What is the title of the last book you have read at school/ at home?
Do you read in your freetime? Do you enjoy reading?
How do you deal with literature in your English classes?
Do you prefer novels? Poems? Comics? Magazines?

Webtools: Language Garden, Edublogs, Edmondo

3) Literature Quiz
Do you know ... ?

Webtools: Socrative

4) Information about Events
Hamburg Players, Poetry Slam, Book Presentation, Publishings

Webtools: our blog

5) Discover Poetry
Language Garden > poems for children > use language plant to discover the poem


6) Possible products > flyer, article in a magazine, virtual platform

Webtools: Prezi, Edublogs

Terminology Task

Results part 1

Which of the tools listed in the first column do you think you could use for the purposes given?

Tool	virtual meetings and conferences	teaching and tutoring	collaborative writing and research	writing and publishing	public presentation
Skype	X	X
Youtube		X	X	X	X
Camtasio	X	X			X
Moodle	X	X	X	X	X
Blackboard		X
Second life	X				X
Socrative.com		X
Google	X	X	X	X	X
Adobe Connect	X	X			X
WebEx	X	X			X
Lync (Live Meeting)	X
English360		X
Wikispaces.com	X	X	X		X
Pbworks.com	X				X
Protopage.com	X				X
Edmondo		X			X
Language Garden		X
Digo		X	X		X
Monkey moodle		X
Doodle	X (organization)
Jing	X				X
Edublogs		X		X	X
Mendeley		X	X		X
Facebook	X			X	X
Myspace	X			X	X
Blogger.com		X		X	X
Wordpress.com		X		X	X
Google Reader
Twitter	X			X	X
Prezi		X			X
Wordle	X

Infed Article - Action Research

1)      Outline the two distinct views of action research the author describes. 

•  British tradition: linked to education; research oriented toward the enhancement of direct practice.

• USA: approached within the social welfare; systematic collection of information --> to bring social change.

2)      Briefly list the steps in the spiral proposed by Lewin.

• identifying a general or initial idea
• reconnaisance or fact finding
• planning
• take first action step
• evaluate
• amended plan
• take second action step...

3)      What are some of the criticisms action research had to face?

• associated with radical political activism
• correct knowledge does not of itself lead to change
• it does not pay attention to the matrix of cultural and psychic forces

4)      Why did it decline in favour in the 1960s?

• because of the criticism (see  question 3)

5)      According to Stringer, what are the characteristics of community-based action research?

• democratic, equitable, liberating, life enhancing 

6)      What are its three basic phases?

• Look: building picture, gathering information > problem, participants
• Think: interpreting and explaining > situation, success, deficiencies
• Act: resolving issues and problems > judgment of worth, effectiveness and appropriateness, formulation of solutions

7)      How does Corey see the relationship between collaborative and individual action?

• group = collaborative > AR
• individual = critically examined action

8)      Mactaggert states that AR is not a “method” or “procedure” for research. What is it, then, in his view?

• AR = a series of commitment to observe and problematize through practice a series of principles for conducting social enquiry 

9)      Scan through the works listed in Further Reading. Which of these titles appeal to you? Why?

• Atweh, B., Kemmis, S. and Weeks, P.: Action Research in Practice: Partnership for Social Justice in Education. 
• Carr, W. and Kemmis, S: Becoming Critical. Education, Knowledge and Action Research. 
• McNiff, J.: Teaching as Learning.: An Action Research Approach. 
• Elliot, J.: Action Research for Educational Change. 
• Macintyre, C.: The Art of Action Research in the Classroom.   
• > connection to our project and subjects at university

Schools and Literature

This is an interesting newspaper article from The Guardian.
It deals with the serious problem that there is already a whole generation that does not read. 
Even more shocking: young teachers (who often have studied literature at university) have difficulties to find access to literature!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/oct/26/frank-cottrell-boyce-children-reading?INTCMP=SRCH

Inspiration

The following video shows the ZDF programme "Das Literarische Quartett" from 2001.

Such a programme could offer pupils the opportunity to discuss novels they have read.
It may be that students could role play something like this. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL9Z2oC20cA