Final Reflection - Zarifah

Literature Final Reflection

Describe and discuss an innovative or creative practice in your school

The school I am in uses ICT on a large scale. Since I have been in this school for the past six weeks I have had the opportunity to see how ICT has been effectively and efficiently used in English Literature. Currently, the students are doing short stories, concentrating specifically on characterisation and themes. After the usual frontal teaching on themes, the students are given the opportunity to express their understanding of the three themes learned in the form of a comic. Students were required to create a scene that reflects the short story, “Monster” or “A Devoted Son” to illustrate the themes they have chosen. Using ComicLife, students are to use a minimum of six frames to illustrate this. I found this to be extremely creative and useful because through this assignment, students are likely to realise that devices learnt such as themes and characterisation are not limited to the class room and chosen texts. It can be found in other mediums as well, such as in a comic. Students tend to learn better when they realise what they have learn in school is applicable. Moreover, the use of a graphic novel to represent their ideas would also benefit students who are more of a visual learner. In addition to being a great visual representation of students’ understanding to what have been taught in class, the work done on ComicLife can be easily printed or posted on websites so that it can be shared. Often, students are very enthusiastic when it comes to such story boarding activity, and the work done on ComicLife can be easily emailed to their parents. Students’ confidence is reinforced as they receive positive reinforcement from their parents. ComicLife is often used for lower secondary because it is relatively easy and a good platform to inspire creativity in students.

In upper secondary, other mediums, such as Glogster is used instead. Students were given a poem and through the use of Glogster they were required to represent what they thought that that poem was about. Students are able to use images, videos and sounds to represent what they think the particular poem is about. I like how the video, sound and images can be placed on the same page with the poem. This prevents the students from going overboard and making it too cumbersome. Limiting the students to one page need not necessarily limit their creativity, rather it forces and encourages them to interpret the poem and present their interpretation creatively.

Good luck everyone for the rest of your practicum! =)