Travel with a Time Lord: Using Media to Enhance Literacy

Y

9

Teachers

Popular Culture; Foreign Countries; Science Fiction; Focus Groups; Literacy; Program Descriptions; Questionnaires; Student Journals; Elementary School Students; Standards; Educational Media; Multimedia Materials; Instructional Effectiveness; Television; Professional Development; Elementary School Teachers; Educational Technology

10.1111/j.1741-4369.2009.00510.x

1741-4350

This article reports on a UKLA-funded project in which a group of 10 teachers in South Wales were involved. The televised science fiction drama "Doctor Who" was chosen as the theme as it was based on popular culture as well as being of local and national interest. The main character in this television drama is an alien who can fly through time and space in a machine called the Tardis. The aim of the project was to improve standards in literacy, with writing as a particular focus and make teachers more aware of the effective use of media resources. Teachers were provided with an information pack containing sample lessons but were actively encouraged to implement the project in whichever way they chose. Questionnaires given to teachers before and after the project reflected a more positive attitude towards using media resources at the end. Pupils, aged between 8 and 11 years old, were given writing journals as part of the project and focus groups interviewed. It proved difficult to ascertain if standards had improved although pupil enthusiasm was a recognisable feature. The value of learning across the curriculum was another element that emerged during the course of the project. Results indicated that more training is required to enable teachers to use media resources and cross-curricular approaches more confidently in their teaching.

As Provided

33

2009

EJ860210