Creating
interactive text
Session 3:
Literacy
Learning through ICT: Session 3
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Session Objectives:
• To learn to use hyperlinks (in PowerPoint) to
create simple interactive texts.
• To explore the creation of interactive text,
both at consultants’ own level, and as
potential classroom activity.
• To consider the learning opportunities
provided by writing/designing interactive text.
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Session 3: ‘route map’
3.1 Introduce the potential importance of writing/creating interactive text.
3.2 Demonstrate and practise using hyperlinks to create non-linear
text (for those who need this).
3.3 Create a simple interactive text and consider its classroom potential.
3.4 Explore the use of interactive ‘writing frames’ to extend
and develop the creation of non-fiction texts.
3.5 Consider the literacy (and general) learning opportunities provided
by writing/designing interactive text.
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3.1
• The creation of interactive text brings the
content and structure of writing into a new
and very dynamic relationship.
• Writing interactive text involves strong
elements of design as well as language and
style considerations.
• Writing interactive text requires particularly
careful consideration of the potential readers,
and how and why they will access the
content.
Why might these features be particularly salient in
a literacy (and general) learning context?
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3.2
Using hyperlinks to create a simple, non-linear text.
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3.3 Activity
Use PowerPoint and the pictures in the Fantasy
Images folder (itself inside the Session 3 folder on
your CD) to create a simple hyperlinked text of
about 4 pages, with several links on each.
Make hyperlinks using: images; selected text;action
buttons. (Tutorial available in the Session 3 folder)
Try to tell a simple story and use the hyperlinks to
add additional (and surprising?) information about
the characters and situation.
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3.4 Interactive ‘writing frames’ for non-fiction
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3.4 Activity 1
In your Session 3 folder is a PowerPoint for a
generic ‘interactive writing fame’ for nonchronological reports, but without the necessary
hyperlinks (called: Unlinked Report)
Task: Insert hyperlinks to make the text work
interactively
and/or
More challenging task: Re-design the frame to
cover more sub-topics and info pages - and make it
‘work’
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3.4 Activity 2
Create/design (in PowerPoint) a generic ‘interactive
writing frame’ for either an EXPLANATION TEXT
or a DISCUSSION TEXT.
You have Writing Flier 8: Explanation and Writing
Flier 10: Discussion in your pack should you wish
to remind yourself of the salient structural features.
Can you use hypertext to ‘add value’ to the writing
of this particular text-type? How would you support
a teacher in exploiting this in the classroom?
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3.5 Activity
Complete your response grid to unpack
some of the ways in which you think
writing/designing interactive texts might
contribute to each aspect of learning, both in
literacy and in a more general context.
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3.5 Plenary
Discussion of classroom
implications.
Sharing of some of the the
interactive texts and frames created
in this session.
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