Nanette.Smibert@sa.gov.au

Research tell us
 Peter Freebody - Myth that 'literacy' is pretty well done by
Year 3 or Year 4. Comprehension gap widens for adolescents as texts become less commonsense, more abstract, more specialised
 Students' existing knowledge not in a form easily aligned to curriculum texts - thus difficulty reading to learn (Munro
2007)
 In addition, students needs explicit 'disciplinary' literacy instruction due to the differences in disciplinary literacy
(Pearson/Scheppelgrell)
Faculty of Edit this on the Slide Master
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The University of Adelaide

AC Literacy Capability
The Australian Curriculum definition of literacy is informed by a social view of language. This view recognises: becoming literate is not just about knowledge and skills but also behaviours and dispositions language use varies according to context and situation including learning areas all learning areas use language and visual elements in distinctive ways the differences between
'spoken-like' and 'writtenlike ' language and the increasing complexity of
'written-like' language as students progress through school the centrality of visual literacy and the impact of technologies on meaning making in different contexts

Faculty of Edit this on the Slide Master The University of Adelaide

The purpose of the following sequence is to exemplify how the literacy demands of assessment evidence, identified in the process of Learning Design, can be addressed through:
– Bringing the assessment task to the fore of the teaching and learning process
– Intentionally teaching demands at critical points along the way
– Recognising the 'inseparability' of literacy and content
5

Learning design
• What language and literacy skills do they bring?
• What language and literacy skills are required to provide evidence of their new learning?
• What opportunities are needed for students to engage with and develop their language and literacy skills for this context?

Year 10 Geography Example
What do we want them to learn?
Overview AC Geography: Handout 1
Geographical inquiry : What change has occurred on the banks of the local river and what are the management options for the local council to improve sustainability?
7
The University of Adelaide Faculty of Edit this on the Slide Master

What do we want them to learn?
Overview AC Geography: Handout 1
Geographical inquiry : What change has occurred on the banks of the local river and what are the management options for the local council to improve sustainability?
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How will we know if they've got it?
Assessment genre: Geographical Field Work
Report (FWR) with recommendations for the local council
What does it look like at this level?
What language and literacy skills are required?
9

Why choose this genre for assessment?

2 Field work trip
Year 10 Geography Field Work Report for TTG Council
How can the management of the River Torrens be improved?
1 •
Overview of Assessment Comprehend/Compose
Overview of unit and assessment
• Engagement activities
• Introduce model text
• Introduce 3 core texts (2 print/one video)
Joint construction of introduction
Language features
Text: Genre structure
Grammar/word:
Nouns/noun groups - topic specific language
3 Assessment 1: presentation of data from field trip group
Core text 1 activities
Independently write method using model provided
Grammar/word:
Sentences - using depersonalised language and/or passive voice
4
Core text 2 activities
Independently write analysis of data/incorporate visuals
Core text 3 activities
Text Cohesion:
Language of analysis (eg text connectives to show cause/effect)
Visual: Incorporating visuals
5 Assessment 2: draft field work report - peer assessment
6 Assessment 3: Field work report -teacher ass
Compose draft (minus recommendations) using language checklists/criteria
Final version with recommendations
Writing recommendations

Fieldwork Report
Structure provided in SACE STAGE 2 Geography
– a hypothesis or clearly stated purpose
– an outline and evaluation of methods used, including planning and management
– comment on geographical concepts, patterns, and processes relevant to the fieldwork
– the integration of evidence of field skills (e.g. maps, photographs, sketches, graphs, and statistical information)
– a summary and interpretation of findings and/or a justified conclusion that outlines possible implications
– suggests realistic possible future actions or makes realistic recommendations
– appropriate acknowledgment of sources.
12

Structure of the adapted Yr 10 Geography field work report
• Introduction
– introduce question/s
– identify the area of the fieldwork (include a map)
• Research methodology
– List the methods used to collect primary and secondary data (dot points/numbers may be used)
• S ummary and analysis of findings
– include visual evidence
• Strategies to manage the environmental change
• Recommendations for the Council
– what needs to be done to improve the management of the river based on your analysis
• Reference List

xt
…..etc
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Differentiated reading strategies for 3 Core texts:
• understanding how the text is structured
• establishing purposes for reading/viewing
• previewing and predicting
• activating prior knowledge (text to self/text to text/text
to world)
• monitoring, clarifying, and re-reading/re-reviewing
• visualizing and creating visual representations (e.g., story maps, Venn diagrams, flowcharts).
• drawing inferences
•
• summarising and retelling.

Year 10 Geography Field Work Report for TTG Council
How can the management of the River Torrens be improved?
1 •
Overview of Assessment Comprehend/Compose
Overview of unit and assessment
• Engagement activities
• Introduce model text
• Introduce 3 core texts (2 print/one video)
2 Field work trip 1 Joint construction of introduction
Core text 1 activities
Language features
Text: Genre structure
Grammar/word:
Nouns/noun groups - topic specific language
3 Assessment 1: group data from field trip 1
Independently write method using model provided
Grammar/word:
Sentences - using depersonalised language and/or passive voice
4
Core text 2 activities
Independently write analysis of data/incorporate visuals
Core text 3 activities
Text Cohesion:
Language of analysis (eg text connectives to show cause/effect)
Visual: Incorporating visuals
5 Assessment 2: draft field work report - peer assessment
6 Assessment 3: Field work report -teacher ass
Compose draft (minus recommendations) using language checklists/criteria
Final version with recommendations
Writing recommendations

• environmental management strategies
• field research
• rate of erosion
• the destruction of riparian vegetation
• impact of human activity
• waste landfill
• natural flows
• river catchment area
• key land uses
• significant threat to water quality
• native vegetation
• loss of aquatic habitat
• primary and secondary sources of information
• observation and recording
• data collection
• analysis of data
• impermeable surfaces
• storm water run off
• species of grasses
• pollution reduction
• riprap revetment
• creation of an understorey
• education programs for river care

Year 10 Geography Field Work Report for TTG Council
How can the management of the River Torrens be improved?
1 •
Overview of Assessment Comprehend/Compose
Overview of unit and assessment
• Engagement activities
• Introduce model text
• Introduce 3 core texts (2 print/one video)
2 Field work trip 1 Joint construction of introduction
Core text 1 activities
Language features
Text: Genre structure
Grammar/word:
Nouns/noun groups - topic specific language
3 Assessment 1: group data from field trip 1
Independently write method using model provided
Grammar/word:
Sentences - using depersonalised language and/or passive voice
4
Core text 2 activities
Independently write analysis of data/incorporate visuals
Core text 3 activities
Text Cohesion:
Language of analysis (eg text connectives to show cause/effect)
Visual: Incorporating visuals
5 Assessment 2: draft field work report - peer assessment
6 Assessment 3: Field work report -teacher ass
Compose draft (minus recommendations) using language checklists/criteria
Final version with recommendations
Writing recommendations

Spoken language Written language
We went to the river to get field data. We observed the site and took photos.
We interviewed environment workers from the council

Spoken language Written language
We went to the river to get field data. We observed the site and took photos.
Field data collection included site observation and photography
We interviewed environment workers from the council

Year 10 Geography Field Work Report for TTG Council
How can the management of the River Torrens be improved?
1 •
Overview of Assessment Comprehend/Compose
Overview of unit and assessment
• Engagement activities
• Introduce model text
• Introduce 3 core texts (2 print/one video)
2 Field work trip 1 Joint construction of introduction
Core text 1 activities
Language features
Text: Genre structure
Grammar/word:
Nouns/noun groups - topic specific language
3 Assessment 1: group data from field trip 1
Independently write method using model provided
Grammar/word:
Sentences - using depersonalised language and/or passive voice
4
Core text 2 activities
Independently write analysis of data/incorporate visuals
Core text 3 activities
Text Cohesion:
Language of analysis (eg text connectives to show cause/effect)
Visual: Incorporating visuals
5 Assessment 2: draft field work report - peer assessment
6 Assessment 3: Field work report - teacher assessment
Compose draft (minus recommendations) using language checklists/criteria
Final version with recommendations
Writing recommendations

A further problem with this site is that it was formerly a waste landfill site and the increased rate of erosion is exposing rubbish and pollutants to be released into the water.
Therefore, human land use has not only caused increased erosion but has also worsened the environmental effects of erosion.

A further problem with this site is that it was a former waste landfill site and the increased rate of erosion is causing rubbish and pollutants to be released into the water. Therefore , human land use has not only caused the problem of increased erosion but has also worsened the environmental effects of erosion.

Year 10 Geography Field Work Report for TTG Council
How can the management of the River Torrens be improved?
1 •
Overview of Assessment Comprehend/Compose
Overview of unit and assessment
• Engagement activities
• Introduce model text
• Introduce 3 core texts (2 print/one video)
2 Field work trip 1 Joint construction of introduction
Core text 1 activities
Language features
Text: Genre structure
Grammar/word:
Nouns/noun groups - topic specific language
3 Assessment 1: group data from field trip 1
Independently write method using model provided
Grammar/word:
Sentences - using depersonalised language and/or passive voice
4 Field work trip 2
Core text 2 activities
Independently write analysis of data/incorporate visuals
Core text 3 activities
Text Cohesion:
Language of analysis (eg text connectives to show cause/effect)
Visual: Incorporating visuals
5 Assessment 2: draft field work report - peer assessment
6 Assessment 3: Field work report - teacher assessment
Compose draft (minus recommendations) using language checklists/criteria
Final version with recommendations
Writing recommendations

The issue that has been considered throughout the investigation is soil erosion at this site and the pollutants that are being released into the river from the former waste landfill as a result (see image1).
Image 1: photograph showing erosion and the release of rubbish at the study site

Year 10 Geography Field Work Report for TTG Council
How can the management of the River Torrens be improved?
1 •
Overview of Assessment Comprehend/Compose
Overview of unit and assessment
• Engagement activities
• Introduce model text
• Introduce 3 core texts (2 print/one video)
2 Field work trip 1 Joint construction of introduction
Core text 1 activities
Language features
Text: Genre structure
Grammar/word:
Nouns/noun groups - topic specific language
3 Assessment 1: group data from field trip 1
Independently write method using model provided
Grammar/word:
Sentences - using depersonalised language and/or passive voice
4
Core text 2 activities
Independently write analysis of data/incorporate visuals
Core text 3 activities
Text Cohesion:
Language of analysis (eg text connectives to show cause/effect)
Visual: Incorporating visuals
5 Assessment 2: draft field work report - peer assessment
6 Assessment 3: Field work report -teacher ass
Compose draft (minus recommendations) using language checklists/criteria
Final version with recommendations
Writing recommendations

• The overall purpose of this teaching and learning plan is not to teach literacy
• It is primarily about geographical inquiry and learning to
act/think/sound like a geographer
• Being a geographer in this particular context (field work/report ) has particular language/literacy demands
• In context, the literacy demands (the enablers)are explicitly taught in context at critical points so students have the language and literacy to achieve