• Select your choices for each of the Concurrent sessions. See Abstracts here.
• Mark your preferences on the Registration form and post completed form to the address provided.
• You will be advised of your allocated sessions on arrival at the Conference.

Visual Literacy through Picture Books: Len Unsworth

Critical, Media and Cultural Literacies: Professor Tara Brabazon

Challenging older readers with picture books: Kylie Powell

The digital future of books in schools; opportunities and challenges for the new millennium: Stephen Cole

Design elements in books and the importance of design in assisting literacy: Maryann Ballantyne

Abstracts - Concurrent Session 1 : 8.45 - 10.00 am, Saturday 17th June, 2006

Visual Literacy through Picture Books
Len Unsworth. Professor in English Literacies Education, School of Education, University of New England

This session is intended to cater for the interests of participants working in both primary and secondary school contexts. There are two parts to the session. In the first part we will look at picture books that could be used with students in the early years of primary school. The titles for close examination will be Hyram and B (Caswell & Ottley, 2003), Corduroy (Freeman, 1975), and Wollstencroft the Bear (Lewis & Moore, 2003). However, we will also indicate how these books might be used with secondary school students. The presentation will show how knowledge about language and knowledge about the meaning-making resources of images, together with an understanding of the affordances of computer-based texts can increase students enjoyment of the texts through an engagement with both 'what' the story is about and 'how' the story is told in the different media.
In the second part of the session we will deal with the online Vasalisa Project (Rock, nd). This is an innovative e-narrative suitable for use throughout the secondary school, but it is based on one of the multiple Russian versions of the tale of Cinderella, and this site also provides a link to other "Cinder Tales", hence the discussion could also be adapted for use with younger students. Again we will be concerned with the analysis of the role of images, text and hypertext in the construction of new literary narratives and how these understandings can be used in engaging learning experiences with students.

The fundamental task of setting a question and knowing how to unpack it for students is one that requires great deliberation and careful planning, but is often overlooked in terms of its importance by teachers and curriculum leaders. To teacher librarians, the question is of paramount importance as it dictates the task, process and levels of thinking required. So, what are the variables we need to consider to write or de construct powerful questions that lead to higher level thinking?
This presentation will focus on a two level approach to questioning; formulating and unlocking questions and will discuss:

1) What are the crucial variables for setting rich questions based on theories of leading educators.
2) What are the component parts to be considered when writing a powerful question? Is it task, product or process driven? Or is the level of thinking most important?
3) If the question has already been set, how can you go about `unpacking' it, so that it is suitable for students who learn at different rates and in different ways.

The presentation will include samples of work by teacher librarians and class teachers to show how questions can be constructed and unlocked.

Come and join this interactive session as we examine 4 of the critical elements essential for 'true' learning, knowledge, attitudes, technology/training and skills. Find out just how valuable your role can be in assisting the learning process and gain some practical ideas that can be used with any learner in any situation!

This session will provide the opportunity to meet the man and learn about his work.

The theme for Michael's books has always been sport; the focus for both `The Legends' and his `Toby Jones' series. He will explore just how books work especially well with boys and reluctant readers, looking at the subject matter, style and all informational text included. The session will also touch on the quizzes, games and teaching notes on his website, aimed at furthering involvement in and enjoyment of reading. AND…. He has promised to read from his books too!!

Presented by a lady who says…librarians are my favourite people in the world (But you know that…), this session will be both challenging and inspirational.
She also says - and these quotes are completely without context -

• Learning is not technologically dependent. It remains reliant on commitment, interest and passion.
• It is assumed that students know how to read before they enter a library. For a digital library, "we would probably assume that people have to be trained in digital literacy before they can use a digital library"… Skills need to be taught, rather than assumed.
• Too many students put three words into a Google search and think they are conducting research.
• If I could uninvent one software programme, it would be PowerPoint.

2006 sees the introduction of the new Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE). This is an exciting time for teacher librarians, with loads of opportunities to collaborate with teachers and students. This session will consider the implications of the WACE for the library resource centre; collaboration with teachers; the development of tasks and the provision of a range of resources.

Contemporary picture books provide invaluable tools for fostering positive attitudes towards literature, particularly in reluctant readers and boys. They are a comprehensive resource for developing all English student outcomes, especially the Viewing Strand, through explorations that are both challenging and highly enjoyable for young people. This workshop will demonstrate a range of practical strategies for gaining the maximum potential out of their use in the library and classroom.

This will be a show and tell session demonstrating how the Smartboard literally brings everything to one's fingertips. Anything on a computer can be instantly used in a lesson in full multimedia. Whilst demonstrating the use of the Smartboard, this team will show how classroom teachers, the Teacher Librarian and the IT teacher will share the development and implementation of their inquiry program through which the SOSE and Science learning areas will be taught in 2006.

Books as friends, books to stir the soul, books to take us to other places, and into other lives; and books as lifelong companions, even when the power goes off! "Don't leave childhood without'' these favourites, old and new, for primary students.

Researching and Writing `The Janna Mysteries'
Felicity Pulman. Author

After giving an overview and brief description of the series, I'll discuss the setting, including history, politics and society in 1140-1143, and the civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda. I'll talk about the difficulties and resources available for researching medieval England: the sites, flora and fauna (with illustrations), and how medieval crimes and methods of investigation differ from the present day. Finally, I'll discuss characters and themes in `The Janna Mysteries', and their interest and relevance to contemporary teenagers. I am happy to take questions, and also read a passage from one of the books, time permitting.

The presentation will include scenes from the various sites where my novels are set (forest, abbey, farm, Sarum, Stonehenge, Winchester and Oxford), flowers mentioned in herbal remedies, depictions of historical characters (Empress Matilda, King Stephen, Bishop Henry), and examples of sacred and secular medieval music.

Publishing has changed: Implications for resourcing the courses of study
Sue Scott. Coordinator of CMIS Evauation
Jill Midolo. Curriculum Officer at CMIS

The digital future of books in schools: opportunities and challenges For the new millenium
Stephen Cole. Managing Director, Ebooks Corporation

Stephen will discuss

• The history of ebooks
• Challenges and impediments to the adoption of digital books
• Ebook formats, ebook devices and the problem of piracy
• Opportunities for improved accessibility for distance learning and the sight-impaired
• Ebook pricing - shouldn't ebooks be a lot cheaper than printed books?
• Opportunities provided by interactive texts in the classroom
• What's the point of a library if even the books are digital?

What do oceans, doorways and rock-n-rolling have in common?
Anette Ainsworth. Teacher Librarian, JSRACS

The Present Non-fiction Fashion; How to get teenagers reading
Maryann Ballantyne. Publisher Black Dog Books

There has been a burst of activity in publishing non-fiction for children. At last non-fiction texts seem to be getting equal respect to fiction. Or are they? What is good non-fiction? What do young readers want in non-fiction and how are they going to find it?

Unlocking learning and literacy with ICT
Gary Green. Head of Library, Presbyterian Ladies' College

ICT can be used with great effect to enhance learning and literacy outcomes for students. There are many simple ICT applications that can be used to offer more varied, interesting and pedagogically sound alternatives to students to engage with the learning opportunities in a library/classroom context. This session will focus on which applications are most powerful and discuss how they enhance student learning and literacy outcomes. The session will also sketch out why the construction of longer-term digital units of work can greatly value add to learning programmes and place teacher librarians as key stake holders in an outcomes-based curriculum.

Dreamweaver: what's in it for me?
Margaret Chapple. Head of Information and Library Services, Santa Maria College

This is a hands-on introduction to Dreamweaver. Dreamweaver MX 2004 is the professionals' choice for building websites and internet applications. Learn about how this software can be used to enhance your intranet. Work with layers and create a simple page outline. Some previous experience with web page software is desirable.

Swishbone
Gabrielle Horlin. St Stephen's School

In the (Swish) Zone (a hands-on-technology session). Impress your colleagues and friends: learn how to use SwishZone - a cheaper, easier-to-learn variety of Flash - for animating objects. Watch while a student shows you how easy it is to create moving text effects for your web page and learn, from her, how to do it for yourself. Great fun, very cute and really useful.

Balancing Fiction and non-fiction
Carole Wilkinson. Author

Carole Wilkinson's success in writing both fiction and non-fiction is evident in the Children's Book Council of Australia awards, with `Dragonkeeper' being CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers, 2004, and `Black Snake', CBCA Honour Book, The Eve Pownell Award for Information Books, 2003. Carole will explore the differences in writing and researching techniques and the value of alternating between writing a fiction book and then a non-fiction book.

Publishing has changed: Implications for resourcing the courses of study
Sue Scott. Coordinator of CMIS Evauation
Jill Midolo. Curriculum Officer at CMIS

Design elements in books and the importance of design in Assisting Literacy
Maryann Ballantyne. Black Dog's Publisher

Design is important from a marketing point of view but it is also paramount in assisting literacy. Design elements such as measure, font choice and size, and number of words on a page, can determine the readability of a book. If the design is careless, a reader`s first thought will be `I don't like reading', rather than `This book is unreadable'. Good design has the potential to invite readers in and support them while they are reading. Design elements and features can extend the text in surprising ways.

Improved use of digital pictures
Rob Barugh: Technology Coordinator, Hale School

The iceberg: hidden treasures of the web
Rosemary Horton. Teacher Librarian, Trinity College

Regular search engines access only a small percentage of the web. In 2001 the "deep" web was 400-550 times the size of the "normal" web; 7,500 terabytes compared to 19 terabytes in size; had 550 billion documents compared 1 billion; had 200,000 sites; 50% more traffic, had 1000-2000 better quality and best of all was 95% free. This session will provide the opportunity to become familiar with and use a range of "invisible web" tools, enabling participants to search academic and research databases.

Who still Needs books? we do. yes, we do! (primary)
Celia Cole. Children's Literature Specialist, Westbooks

Books as friends, books to stir the soul, books to take us to other places, and into other lives; and books as lifelong companions, even when the power goes off! "Don't leave childhood without'' these favourites, old and new, for primary students.

Computer games and children's literature
Len Unsworth. Professor in English and Literacies Education, School of Education, University of New England

Electronic game narratives not only exemplify aspects of the new literacies required to function in the textual habitat of our contemporary digital communication environment, they also exemplify a new form of narrative art, worthy of serious attention in literary studies and in the formal educational experience of children and young people. Game narratives are a heterogeneous phenomenon entailing an extensive and complex range of genres, including many different types of game activities. Many of these games have been designed as an integral part of the expanded realm of literary works published as books and movies _ often in multiple formats. These hybrid inter-media forms of narrative experience apply not only to emerging new literature, but also to the re-presentation of classic and traditional literature. The first section of this session will address some literary aspects of video games discussed by James Gee (2003) . The second section will propose a framework for understanding the different types of electronic game narratives and their role in the development of literary understanding. The final section considers opportunities for the inclusion of the games dimension in classroom activities with literary narratives.

Techno Savvy or just Techno Oriented - What does the research tell us about the information seeking behaviour of the `Net Generation'?
Barbara Combes. Lecturer, School of Computing and Information Science, Edith Cowan University.

Children growing up during what has been called the technological or digital revolution have never known a world without instantaneous communication and easy access to vast quantities of information using multiple formats, text types, graphics and multimedia. The question for researchers and educators to ask is whether these `techno savvy' students of the `Net Generation' have an intuitive grasp of the skills that inform their information seeking behaviour, or is this, in fact, an illusion, because their culture of use and attitude towards technology predisposes them to using technology?