Conceptual teaching with literature by Sophie Honeybourne Sophie Honeybourne Conceptual Teaching with Literature
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Sophie Honeybourne
Conceptual Teaching with
Literature
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Workshop Outline• The new English syllabus and its implications for
teaching and learning.• What is conceptual teaching?
– Theory of conceptual understanding– Developing a concept-based curriculum
• Why use literature to explore concepts?• How can literature be used to explore concepts?
– Selecting and applying pedagogies to explore concepts through literature
– Examples of literature linked to concepts– Resources to support conceptual teaching with
literature
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Organisation of NSW English Syllabuscommunicate through
speaking, listening, reading, writing, viewing
and representing*LEARNING TO…
SKILLS at word, sentence and text levels
Focus on text production
A
B
CD
Euse language to shape and make meaning according to purpose, audience and
contextLEARNING ABOUT…
KNOWLEDGE at word, sentence and text levelsFocus on text analysis at
word and sentence levels, and text layout
think in ways that are imaginative, creative,
interpretive and critical
Creativity and LITERATURE…
express themselves and their
relationships with others and their
worldTEXT LEVEL analysis…
including purpose, point of view and
context
learn and reflect on their learning through their study of English
METACOGNITION
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
What are the implications for our practice from the new syllabus?
• Literature is now a core focus• The ‘new’ literacies: multimodality, multi-
literacies and digital literacies • Move away from ‘text types’ to text purpose• Increasing focus on language at sentence
level• Greater emphasis on text analysis, including
viewpoints contained in the text and the overall context of the text
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
What is conceptual teaching?
• 21st century learning and the theory of conceptual understanding
• Developing a concept-based curriculum
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie HoneybourneFramework for 21st century learning: http://www.p21.org
New educational context: 21st century skills
Australian Curriculum: General Capabilities
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
21st century learning in the curriculum
“Trying to teach in the 21st century without conceptual schema for knowledge is like trying to build a house without a blueprint”
» H Lynn Erickson, Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction, 2009
• ‘Knowledge’ is now readily available. The understanding that underpins it is something that students need to develop.
• Conceptual understandings help to build trans-disciplinary connection of knowledge.
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Conceptual teaching: a 3D model of curriculum design
From: Concept based curriculum and instruction, H Lynn Erickson, 2012www.slideshare.net
Factual / Content
Proc
esse
s /
Skill
s
Two dimensional curriculum design
Concepts,
Princip
les &
Generalisations
Proc
esse
s /
Skill
s
Factual / Content
Three dimensional curriculum design
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Why conceptual teaching?• Conceptual teaching integrates thinking in order
to see “the patterns and connections of knowledge at a conceptual and transferrable level of understanding”– SO…
• Greater retention of information• Deeper levels of understanding• Increased motivation
• KNOW = factual knowledge which is locked in time, place or situation
• UNDERSTAND = conceptual understanding which transfers through time, across cultures and across situations”. From: Concept based curriculum and instruction, H Lynn Erickson, 2012
www.slideshare.net
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
What is a concept and what is conceptual teaching?
• A concept is “an organising idea; a mental construct. It is:– Timeless– Universal– Abstract (to varying degrees) e.g. an abstract noun– Represented by one or two words”
• Conceptual teaching:– Uses concepts and schema to organise new knowledge
within conceptual units of work– Teaches knowledge and skills in context, related to
concepts– Provides opportunities for students to connect their prior
knowledge and understanding across curriculum areas
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Conceptual teaching and the syllabus
• Programming using concepts as the drivers enables teachers to: – cover the content of the syllabus or syllabi using a
framework that connects outcomes and content– create integrated cross curricular units of work
and/or assessment tasks – plan for the continuum of learning creating a scope
and sequence across a stage or stages that builds the learning and reflects the specific learning needs of the students being targeted
From: Transformations in Quality Programming, Karen Yager, 2008
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Organisation of Knowledge
Think of a TOPIC you have taught, e.g.
Australian Animals
Which concept(s) could you map it
onto?
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
• ARTS• ENGLISH• HEALTH & PHYSICAL
EDUCATION• CIVICS & CITIZENSHIP
(3-6)• ECONMICS &
BUSINESS (5-6)• HISTORY• LANGUAGES• MATHEMATICS• SCIENCE• TECHNOLOGIES
RELEVANT K-6 SUBJECTS IN NEW CURRICULA:
The image on this page has had to be removed due to copyright restrictions.
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
The solution?… a CONCEPT based curriculum
Concepts ‘spiral’ and are revisited
Writing purpose linked to concepts
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Example concepts and the new curricula• 10 NEW Australian curricula
onto which concepts need to be mapped (not all written yet!)
• Cross curriculum priorities:– Sustainability (a concept in
itself!)– Asia and Australia’s
engagement with Asia– Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander histories and cultures• Belonging• Connections• Diversity• Difference• Communication• Migration
General capabilities
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Example concepts by subject:
Scan the QR code to access a list of concepts derived from both the new Australian curricula and the current and new NSW curricula.
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Why use literature to explore concepts?
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Literature as an 'integrating device'...
...where it acts “as the common thread which elicits deeper and more insightful engagements with
learning and knowledge across
discipline or subject areas”
(Seaton in PETA, 2002, p. 98)
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Literature as a ‘connecting device’
“The mind is a narrative device: we run on stories. Stories unite all worlds. It is the compelling nature of
stories and their telling that impacts on how we relate to each other, how we define who we are, and how and
what we learn. Stories are an entry point for meaning-making - a place where learning and life merge. Stories
contribute to our development as whole, coherent, human beings.”
Lowe, 2002, p.7
“Narrative re-imagines the world for young people, and, in so doing, suggests way of thinking about the
attitudes, values and beliefs of the culture presented in the text.”
McDonald, 2013, p.2
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
So…• Literature functions as:
– a lens through which syllabus content can be explored under a conceptual ‘umbrella’
– a ‘way in’ or perspective from which students can explore challenging ideas and concepts
– a safe space within which students can connect with concepts through the human experience
– an engaging and motivating way to explore concepts
• When you have 10 subject areas and their content to cover, it makes sense to start thinking and planning in an integrated way!
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
How can literature be used to explore concepts?
• Example conceptual program based on literature• Selecting and applying literature-based pedagogies • Examples of literature linked to concepts• Resources to support conceptual teaching with
literature
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
HOW can we explore concepts through texts?• Knowledge / content / coda
– Are there factual elements in the text (e.g. hybrid texts)?– What is the text’s viewpoint and message and what can we learn from it?– How can we connect this with our own understanding?
• Plot– How does the context of events in the text (i.e. historical, social and
cultural) help us to learn about relevant concepts?– Can we view the sequence of events through a conceptual lens and
connect to similar events and plots in other texts?
• Character– How can we connect the characters’ experiences with our own?– How do different characters present different viewpoints on concepts in
the text?– What can we learn from a character’s experiences?
• Setting– How can setting reveal underlying conceptual messages?
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
WHAT pedagogies can we use to explore concepts through texts?
Literacy pedagogies Drama pedagogies
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Here’s one I prepared earlier…• Year 1: ‘Relationships with the land’
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Conceptual programming pro-forma
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Examples of concepts linked to literature
• Belonging (!)• Sustainability• Community• Connections• Responsibility• Diversity• Interconnectedness• Heritage• Change
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Examples of concepts linked to literature
• Community• Difference• Responsibility• Power / Influence• Identity• Heritage• Belonging• Interconnectedness
CBCA Picture Book of the Year 2012
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Examples of concepts linked to literature
• Sustainability• Growth• Change• Adaptation• Survival• Interdependence• Interconnectedness• Heritage
CBCA Information Book of the Year 2012
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Resources to support conceptual teaching with literature
Global Words E4AC
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Now it’s your turn!• You will be given a text to look at between a
group of 4 people• Skim and scan and identify key concepts
you could teach with the text (you can refer to the handout for a list of concepts)
• Brainstorm concept links to your text, and any teaching ideas, on our shared online whiteboard space using ‘AWW’ (A Web Whiteboard). You will be given the URL in the session.
Conceptual teaching with literature
by Sophie Honeybourne
Bringing it all together…Can you answer these questions?• Why should I use conceptual teaching with
literature in my classroom?• How does it operate within the context of
the new curricula?• How will it improve student knowledge,
understanding and performance?• How will it make my life easier?!?!