This document provides information about the EDUC 8P20 course at Brock University taught by Ruth McQuirter Scott. It outlines the course assignments and their weighting, including a professional learning conversations assignment, literature circles, a writer's notebook and writing folio, an infographic, and a collaborative inquiry unit. It describes the weekly class structure, which involves professional learning conversations, literature circles over two weeks, and writing prompts over four weeks. Various course topics are introduced, such as critical literacy, literacy definitions, and 21st century learning.

1. Welcome to JI Language
EDUC 8P20
RUTH MCQUIRTER SCOTT
rmcquirter@brocku.ca

2. Assignments
 Professional Learning Conversations 20%
 Literature Circles 5%
 Writer’s Notebook and Writing Folio 10%
 Infographic 25%
 Collaborative Inquiry Unit 40%

3. Weekly Class Structure
 Professional Learning Conversations
 Literature Circles – 2 weeks
 Writing Prompts – 4 weeks
 Topic focus – input from instructor
 Ruth’s Treasure Chest of Goodies

4. Professional Learning
Conversations
 Addendum to readings
 Explanation of facilitator role
 Sign up for Facilitation schedule
 Photo of each table group

5. Literature Circles
Novel Selection
Forest of Reading
Other options

7. Writing Folio
 Distribution of writing folios and writers’ notebooks
 4 Categories of writing
 Expressive
 Expository
 Narrative
 Persuasive
 Memoir writing: “The Metaphor”

8. Expressive – Description
Memorable Teacher
• teacher
• parent or grandparent
• relative
• Friend
• other
Someone who influenced you (for better or worse) as a
reader or writer
8

9. Critical Literacy
 All texts are constructions
 All texts contain belief and value messages
 Each person interprets messages differently
 Texts serve different interests
 Each medium develops its own “language” in order to
position readers/viewers in certain ways

10. Malala Yousafzai

11. Literacy is about more than reading and
writing – it is about how we communicate
in society. It is about social practices and
relationships, about knowledge, language
and culture. Literacy ... finds its place in
our lives alongside other ways of
communicating. Indeed, literacy itself takes
many forms: on paper, on the computer
screen, on TV, on posters and signs.
Those who use literacy take it for granted –
but those who cannot use it are excluded
from much communication in today’s world.
Indeed, it is the excluded who can best
appreciate the notion of “literacy as
freedom”.
(UNESCO, Statement for the United
Nations Literacy Decade, 2003–2012;
italics added)

12. Literacy is defined in this report as the
ability to use language and images in rich
and varied forms to read, write, listen,
speak, view, represent, and think critically
about ideas. It enables us to share
information, to interact with others, and to
make meaning. Literacy is a complex
process that involves building on prior
knowledge, culture, and experiences in
order to develop new knowledge and
deeper understanding. It connects
individuals and communities, and is an
essential tool for personal growth and active
participation in a democratic society.
Literacy for Learning: The Report of the
Expert Panel on Literacy in Grades 4 to 6 in
Ontario, 2004

13. Aspects of Literacy
 Reading
 Writing
 Listening
 Viewing
 Representing
 Thinking critically about ideas

14. Tellagami

16. 21st Century Learning
 YouTube clip – Video Games in Education
 http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/games-in-
education