Strong Voice for Youth
Parafield Gardens High School: Kindergarten to Retirement, Japan and Australia
Straight from the handout:
This is a public school project that has been ongoing for four years. It started as a Literacy project in 1999 and developed into a curriculum project. They have a high Vietnamse population, I think he said 1/3 or more. Students write the articles and produce video and QuickTime movies to go with their writings. These students collaborate with primary children and aged care residents.
Their Technique:
Introductory discussion about what makes a good story and strategies to capture an audience.
* What‚s in a headline? Focus on Joy or Fear or Anger or Sorrow
* Whats‚s in the lead? Answers to who? What? When? Where? How? Why?
Students work in small groups choosing a topical issue for the school newspaper. They plan key questions, conduct intervies, take photos and video, write the article, edit the movie and publish on the Intenet. (use Claris HomePage)
The Teaching
They teach students that they are writing for a real audience. Their articles can be read by people around the world, not just in the local community.
They encourage writing which is about events, celebrations and people.
Here are some resources they mentioned:
How to write for the Internet
http://www.pghs.sa.edu.au/dn1paper.htm
How to make a movie:
http://www.pghs.sa.edu/au/dn2manga.htm
I didn‚t have time to check this out but looks good.
The students had also created some incredible Photoshop collages that they put in magazines.
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