Communications 12

Communicate Ideas and Information
(Improving Communications)

It is expected that students will:

evaluate their own and others’ work to ensure appropriate content and language and to enhance quality
organize information and ideas to clarify thinking and achieve desired effect
demonstrate effective oral and representational skills to create or enhance communications

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Communicate Ideas and Information (Improving Communications) in grade 11 click below.

Ask students to select three of their favourite pieces of writing and post them around the room or on desks. Then have them do a Gallery Walk, in which each student selects a favourite piece and suggests how it could be improved in content, language use, and visual presentation. Ask students to make revisions that consider the suggestions (not all suggestions will be appropriate). As a class project, compile the selected pieces in a journal of student writing that also includes artwork. Print a copy for each student.
As part of an assignment in which students write compositions or reports, ask them to prepare a draft for an editing workshop. Have students in groups of three take turns reading their drafts aloud to the other two group members. The student who is reading starts by stating the topic and purpose of the piece and mentioning any parts of the work that he or she would like comments on. The students who are listening note any places where they have problems understanding or following. Students then rewrite the piece in response to their editors’ suggestions.

To check on students’ ability to evaluate their own and others’ work, work with them to develop a set of evaluation criteria for an assignment. Create an evaluation sheet with columns for self-, peer, and teacher ratings. Include space for students to add comments. Have each student staple the sheet to the assignment, exchange with another student for the peer assessment, and then do a self-assessment. Finally, have students submit the assignments and assessment sheets for teacher assessment, which may be done "blind" (by folding the sheets so that the self- and peer assessments are not visible).
When students prepare a representational assignment such as a verbal/visual report, use criteria such as the following to assess their work:

design and images help clarify meaning
design and images are suited to purpose and audience
colour is used effectively to emphasize, show connections, and help the reader locate information
overall effect is visually pleasing

Print Material

Revised: March 5, 1999