Boys Writing Project Module 5 Visual Texts

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Boys Writing ProjectModule 5 Visual Texts
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Using Visual Texts

• Aims
• For you to understand what is meant by visual
  texts
• To introduce you to the DfES resource Improving
  Boys Writing Visual literacies
• To consider ways that you might use Visual Texts
  in the classroom within the teaching sequence for
  writing
• To take you through the PDM for this module so
  that you can deliver it in school.

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What are Texts?

• By describing text as a weaving of signs and
  symbols that communicate with others we are
  closer to knowing how children view texts The
  reader of the 21st century dictates and directs
  their own meaning from texts that contain
  multiple layers.
• Essex English Team, 2003
• Written texts
• Multi-modal texts
• Visual texts
• Audio texts

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Visual Texts can include

• Video/DVD
• Pictures, including illustrations
• Photographs
• Powerpoint presentations
• Web pages
• Dramatic representations

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Key Principles for using visual texts

• build on enjoyment and motivation
• make explicit links between visual texts and a
  written outcome
• teach understanding and vocabulary of media
  structures to support the writing process
• discuss images and pictures to generate wider
  vocabulary
• develop childrens visual skills through games,
  role play and drama.

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Key approaches to using video in the classroom

• Select and use a quality film of high interest to
  pupils and staff.
• Use focused clips from well chosen videos that
  support reading and writing objectives.
• Develop pupils technical language by identifying
  how colour, light, sound and camera angles are
  used to tell narrative.
• Compare and contrast clips from films to
  identify
• common approaches to tackling mood, character,
  setting and pace
• ways in which film makers manipulate common
  approaches/expectations to tell narrative.
• Analyse information from watching video clips to
  identify how the strategies apply to pupils own
  writing.

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How is Mike feeling?
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What do the eyes tell us?
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Children Creating Visual Texts

• Evil Pirate Adventure
• Earl Saves the World

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Visual Texts within the Teaching Sequence for
Writing
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Visual Texts to support writing

• Use role play and drama to explore the themes of
  visual texts and as oral rehearsal for writing
• Create mood boards to stimulate vocabulary
• Collect examples of effective vocabulary and
  dialogue
• Present and perform outcomes through visual
  media
• Create illustrations for texts
• Sequence pictures to provide a frame for writing
• Write a story in which the reader is offered
  choices on which direction to travel through the
  narrative.
• Create an interactive recount of a visit with
  hyperlinks to photographs
• Use video clips as starting points for writing
  alternative endings

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Digital Film Clips

• www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive
• video clips are available for many different
  subjects on the BBC site, history resources can
  be found here, included animated games, virtual
  tours etc.
• www.dvlibrary.org.uk
• Teachers and pupils welcome to copy, change, edit
  and manipulate the resources on this site. Lesson
  plans can be found in the how to use section.
• www.archive.org
• Archive site of text, audio, internet pages,
  software and moving images.
• www.britishpathe.com
• 1000s of hours of resources available for
  viewing and downloading. Also a link to the
  extensive ITN archive.
• www.itnarchive.org.uk
• Extensive ITN archive.
• www.youtube.com
• Worlds largest library of videos.
• www.filmstreet.co.uk
• Fantastic interactive site aimed at introducing
  primary aged children to the joys of film. Its
  packed with movies and movie-making ideas.
• www.bfi.org.uk/education
• Teaching resources available.
• www.filmeducation.org
• Film resources online
• www.mediasmart.org.uk