Improving reading and writing in Years 5-9: Reading and Writing in the Digital Age

The Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education is partnering with the State Schools Division (Queensland Department of Education), in hosting a series of four panels leading to a Think Tank in November 2018 on school improvement related to the teaching and monitoring of Years 5-9 students’ reading and writing skills. The overarching question of the series is:

How do we know what we know about using data for reading and writing improvement in Years 5-9?

Facilitated by Professor Jim Nyland, Associate Vice-Chancellor (Brisbane), ACU

How is teaching and monitoring reading and writing different in the digital age and what are the implications for systems, school leaders and teachers for school improvement?

This panel presentation consists of three speakers who represent relevant aspects of research, policy and practice related to the topic.

Professor Beryl Exley

Griffith University & National President of the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association

Speaker

"Reading and Viewing Digital Multimodal Texts – A literature review of new and complex skills." (45 min)

The ever-changing textual landscape and the significantly new and complex skills required of primary and secondary students as they read and view digital online multimodal texts is the focus of this presentation. The skills required for reading paper based and linear digital texts do not correspond to the skills required for reading/viewing digital online multimodal texts. Indeed, reader/viewers must learn how to use traditional and digital literacy skills simultaneously through a complex mix of cognitive, socio-cultural and physical knowledge and skills. The presentation also identifies key themes about the qualities of effective pedagogies for teaching digital online multimodal reading and comprehension skills in the primary and secondary years. The knowledge bases of teachers to undertake this new work raises interesting points of discussion.

Anna Kinnane

Queensland College of Teachers

Speaker

"How digital literacy can be taught across the curriculum to support students to effectively engage with and read digital texts" (30 min)

It is no surprise to anyone that technology has influenced and transformed learning. The ubiquitous nature of digital technologies resulting from digitisation, and wireless networking means that students of all ages and abilities are interacting and engaging with digital texts. Schools are increasingly using technology such as online collaboration tools, multimedia tools, web conferencing software and Apps to enable students to work together to support learning across the curriculum. Through the Australian Curriculum, ICT Capability and the Digital Technologies Curriculum, students are given opportunities to develop and consolidate digital literacy skills. During this presentation Anna will explain how digital literacy can be taught across the curriculum, with a focus on some of the ways teachers can support students to effectively engage with and read digital texts.

Brett Gordon

Director, NAPLAN Online team (Department of Education)

Speaker

"The unique demands of the online NAPLAN environment and some suggested strategies." (15 min)

This short presentation on the NAPLAN online writing environment will focus on the most important challenges that students will face as they participate in NAPLAN online.