Poster-making to bridge the gap of

First Nations language learning

Maynard McRae

ETEC 550 Final Presentation

June 18, 2015

Context Statement

First Nations school

First Nations language class, specifically the Nsyilxcen (Okanagan) language

Limited access to ready-made, aesthetic curricular materials such as classroom posters or bulletin board materials that are in the nsyilxcen language and are used to supplement or enhance language learning is very limited or non-existent. In other words, these resources can not simply be purchased from a teacher store

Strong need to engage students in learning the First Nations language

Problem Statement:

Identified Problem: The unavailability of easily accessible, aesthetically-

pleasing, nsyilxcen classroom posters.

Ideal State: Language teachers are able to develop aesthetic,

student-friendly nsyilxcen classroom posters with a high level of independence, confidence, and creativity.

Needs Assessment

Current Condition Language Teachers:

Have very limited access to nsyilxcen language classroom resources

Are often isolated to develop their own nsyilxcen curriculum and its corresponding resources

Some do not demonstrate the confidence in their individual computer navigation skills

Some do not have access to recent versions of required computer programming specific to this instructional guide

Have limited access to professional development specific to improving instruction of the nsyilxcen language.

Instructional Intervention

a) Organizational Strategies Procedural. Step-by-step directions.

Beginning with installation of nsyilxcen font onto computer (can do as a branch, if learner has or does not have nsyilxcen font on computer prior to lesson).

Moving onto the application of the steps, where learners will be making decisions of formatting (poster/page size/orientations, font size, font style, font colour, background texture, picture, colour, etc).

Instructional Intervention

b) Delivery Strategies Through a PowerPoint presentation and a reference handout,

learners will follow a step-by-step through the process of creating an nsyilxcen poster.

Learners can be grouped multiple ways: Ability grouping (low-medium-high level of computer knowledge); Mixed ability grouping; font installed vs. not installed, Mac vs. PC)

Prior knowledge of the learner computer knowledge and ability would determine the pace, complexity, as well as vocabulary of the instruction.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Nsyilxcen Classroom Posters

Agenda

Technology Survey

Installing the nsyilxcen font

Installing nsyilxcin font cont’d

Helpful hints

Creating a Poster – Using Microsoft PUBLISHER

Adding Text with text box

Adding Text with text box cont’d

To turn on/off nsyilxcen text

Adding Text with WordArt

Adding Pictures

Selecting transparent colour

Adding Backgrounds

Printing your poster

Lessons Learned

The importance of specifying procedure in the form of instructional guides for certain versions of Microsoft Publisher (i.e 2010, 2013, …) to meet the needs of a variety of learners and the programming that they have access to.

Printing procedures/set-ups may vary amongst learners

Be open-minded to other computer programs that offer similar features to that of Microsoft Publisher 2013

Be flexible and solution-oriented when developing an instructional manual

Do not assume that learners have the pre-requisite skills/knowledge needed to be successful with the instructional manual