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Linking LOTE and Design, Creativity and Technology

Dimensions:

Investigating and designing; Producing; Analysing and evaluating.

Designing, creating and evaluating processes and products using a range of materials as a way of developing creativity and innovation.

The designing, making and evaluating of products can be a very worthwhile activity in the language learning classroom. Students can demonstrate their linguistic and cultural understanding via the process of making their own cultural artefacts or information products.

Even when LOTE teachers choose not to formally assess knowledge and skills from DCT, the 'making' process can be an authentic and motivating context for using language:

The Making Process	Language
research; data collection; generating ideas	gather, interpret and organise information ask questions communicate ideas hypothesise and discuss possibilities describe
write and respond to a design brief	make suggestions give reasons for opinions and actions write lists and labels write outlines and instructions
apply tools, techniques and process to make a product	understand instructions apply information make suggestions write and refine drafts explain steps and processes give reasons for actions ask for help and feedback
test and use the product	present explain describe encourage
evaluate the effectiveness of the product	ask and answer questions make suggestions express opinions articulate a change in viewpoint explain what has been learned

LOTE teachers should consider Principle 3 of the Principles of Learning and Teaching: that students' needs, backgrounds, perspectives and interests be reflected in the learning program.Design and technology are often a source of real interest and talent for students. Designing, making and using products taps into the learner's bodily-kinesthetic and visual-spatial intelligence. Those who can bring their prior knowledge of tools, techniques and processes into the LOTE classroom will also bring enthusiasm to the associated language tasks.

LOTE teachers with good ideas for making culturally significant products could collaborate with the Technology teacher to create a cross-domain unit of work.