Keynote on Saturday 10/15: Making creative connections - What does it mean to be literate in the 21^st century?

Once, not so long ago, reading print on a page, and being able to write print on a page, were sufficient skills for 'being literate'. But communication no longer occurs predominantly through text on paper, and that means new skills are required to be literate. We need to be able to read images and symbols, and understand the way these multiple modes interact with print.

But are these really 21^st century skills? Join me on a walk through the history of communication to see how we have been creatively connecting these modes for hundreds, even thousands, of years. Communicating through multiple modes is part of our human condition so how can we get back to ‘nature’, particularly in the face of political and bureaucratic discourse that insists on a much more narrow definition of literacy – the kind that can be easily tested.

Workshop on Sunday 10/16: Using children's literature to teach creative reading and writing to English language learners

The best way to learn language is by looking at it doing its work in context. Using authentic children’s or teenager literature in the classroom increases engagement and enjoyment and gives a real purpose to learning to read. Yet very often, English language learners are given reading scheme books or abridged works rather than original authentic literature. In this workshop I model a method for using literature to teach how the English language works by looking closely at the writing of authors whose books students love to read. 

Bio - Misty Adoniou

Misty Adoniou is an Associate Professor in Language, Literacy and TESOL at the University of Canberra. She has received numerous teaching awards, including an National Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning and the 2014 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

She was a lead writer for the national English as an Additional Language Teachers Resource which accompanies the Australian Curriculum and has served on several national advisory boards in Australia the Federal government’s Equity and Diversity Advisory Group and the Orientation Consultative Committee advising the Federal government on the settlement needs of refugees.

She believes in the advocacy power of professional voices and the importance of professional associations in corralling that strength. She has served as the President of two national teachers associations – TESOL Greece, and the Australian Council of TESOL Associations. She is currently on the board of Directors of TESOL International, an affiliation of 105 teachers associations around the globe.

Her most recent research projects have been curriculum reviews conducted for the International Baccalaureate Organisation and the International Organisation for Migration. She also works closely with schools around the world leading professional learning in spelling, grammar and writing, most recently in the UK, Hong Kong and Greece.