Making Use of Project Learning and IT for English Language
zoo (Interpersonal Strand);
participate with others in making choices and decisions by sharing ideas, making suggestions and solving problems in the process of the project work (Interpersonal Strand); and
give expression to imaginative ideas through designing an e-poster (Experience Strand).
Learning and Teaching Process
Project Learning In the Learning and Teaching Process, Students:
Using IT
Impact on Learning Impact on Learning
Students’ motivation is raised when they suggest and discuss which 10 animals to keep in the school’s cyber zoo.
plan and set up their
school’s cyber zoo in which 10 animals not usually found in local zoos are kept;
Students use multimedia
resources to support learning with the help of teachers.
Students
develop collaboration and information skills, and become
independent and responsible for their own learning when they find out more information about the
animals chosen for the cyber zoo through various means; and
are supported by their parents who may take them to the public
libraries to look for references and / or discuss the animals they have selected.
work in groups and extract relevant information concerning the main
features of the animals from 2 given websites;
find out more information about the animals in the cyber zoo through various means such as visiting the school / public libraries or surfing the Internet as homework;
Students access information on the Internet.
Students develop their creativity, critical thinking and
problem solving skills when they plan and set up their school’s cyber zoo.
report orally on what is extracted from given websites concerning the main features of the animals they work on;
Students
develop interest and positive attitudes; and
work
co-operatively with their peers when they process information on the Internet.
study, exchange, discuss and compare the
information gathered from different websites;
Students develop their communication and collaboration skills when they report on the main features of the animals in the zoo.
compile and present orally in groups short descriptions of the main features of the animals in the cyber zoo, e.g. their physical
characteristics, diets, living environments;
Students process information using IT tools.
Students develop their language skills and language development strategies in an
integrated way and become responsible for their own learning when they review and edit their own work.
use the word processor to draft, review, edit and rewrite their written work;
use multimedia skills to enhance the quality of presentation;
Students
make use of software packages; and
are engaged in self-assessment in the process of writing.
Students
use a number of software tools to present
information; and
develop their creativity when they design the layout of their work.
Students
are responsible for their own learning when they review their work based on self-evaluation and feedback from their peers;
are engaged in peer evaluation;
and
develop respect for different points of view.
review and improve their work based on feedback from peers;
Students develop interest and
techniques in using software packages in process writing.
Students find meaning and pleasure in the use of English to communicate with others and develop a positive attitude towards learning English.
send and receive e-mails concerning their favourite animals in the cyber zoo to and from their schoolmates, teachers or headmaster;
Students
demonstrate their interest in
communicating with others using IT tools; and
develop their communication skills when they send and receive emails.
Students work collaboratively in designing an e-poster.
design and send an e-poster to a neighbouring primary school, inviting the students to visit their school’s cyber zoo;
Students
develop their creativity when they design their e-poster; and
use IT tools and strategies for presenting information.
Students find meaning and pleasure in the project they develop and become motivated in learning.
send the project via e-mail to relevant websites to share their work with other children in the world;
Students
use IT tools and strategies for presenting information; and
demonstrate their interest in
communicating, using IT tools.
Students develop critical thinking skills when they vote for their favourite animals in the cyber zoo.
visit the class homepage to vote for and find out the most popular animal in the cyber zoo; and
Students
are engaged in self-directed learning when they take the initiative to visit the class
homepage to vote for and find out the most popular animal in the cyber zoo; and
access and provide
information on the Internet Students
are engaged in self-evaluation;
see the need for improving their own work; and
develop a sense of commitment in learning and using English.
review and improve their project based on feedback from people who have visited their cyber zoo.
Students
use IT tools for interactive learning; and
are involved in life-wide learning.
Some of the activities have been tried out in Buddhist Wong Cho Sum School. We thank the school for sharing their experience.