Url: https://jr.brainpop.com/artsandtechnology/technology/email/

Age recommendation: Foundation to Year 3

Accessibility: Brainpop Jr is a web 2.0 tool that is able to be accessed through internet browsers or dedicated free applications on mobile tablet devices. It requires a subscription fee of $1,350 USD for schools to subscribe to the site for one calendar year.

Australian Curriculum Links: ICT general capabilities: Communicating with ICT Level 2

“Students understand that computer mediated communications may be received later by the receiver” (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2014).

"Construct texts featuring print, visual and audio elements using software, including word processing programs" (Australian Curriculum, 2014, ACELY1674).

 

Description: This Brainpop interactive learning activity allows students to listen to an explanatory video about email and how it works and then complete a variety of learning activities or quizzes to check or extend their understandings.

 

Critique: Visualisations must be task appropriate to improve student understandings therefore, this interactive learning activity is beneficial for use with students in lower primary classrooms as the explanatory video is very clear and models the purpose, function and correct use of emails in language that is appropriate for young learners (Plass, Homer and Hayward, 2009). Although most visualisations are more effective with an interactive component, this activity is still useful as students can practice the skills learnt in the video after watching it by playing the linked Brainpop Jr game and using the quizzes to test their understandings, before applying their skills to compose their own email to a classmate (Plass, Homer and Hayward, 2009; Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2014, ACELY1674).

 

References:

 

   Australian Curriculum and Assessment Reporting Authority. (2014). Foundation to Year 10 Curriculum: English (ACELY1674). Retrieved from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/english/curriculum/f-10?layout=1

 

   Plass, J, Homer, B., & Hayward, E. (2009). Design factors for educationally effective animations and simulations. Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 21(1), 31-61. Retrieved from http://steinhardtapps.es.its.nyu.edu/create/classes/2505/reading/JCHE_Plass_Homer_Hayward_09.pdf