Course Profile   English (ENG4E), Grade 12, Workplace Preparation, Public

 

Unit 1:  Rights, Responsibilities, and Issues

Time:  30 hours

 

Activity 1.1 | Activity 1.2 | Activity 1.3 | Activity 1.4

 

Unit Description

This introductory unit uses health and safety concerns as a context for developing the communication skills for the workplace. This unit examines health and safety concerns as they relate to students on a personal level. This unit also looks at workers’ rights and their responsibilities in maintaining a workplace environment that is ethical and free from discrimination and harassment. Investigating the role of legislation and unions in maintaining the work environment is also an important aspect of the course. Students finish the unit by completing a culminating activity based on one of the issues studied.

Unit Synopsis Chart

Activity

Learning Expectations

Assessment

Tasks

1.1

How Safe is Your Workplace?

 

8 hours

LS1.03, WRV.01, WR1.01, WR1.04, LA1.02, LA1.03

Thinking/ Inquiry Communication Application

 

Observation
checklist
Writing rubric
Feedback or oral presentation rubric

Technical writing rubric

Examination of workplace health and safety issues through discussion and viewing of video clips Introduction of culminating activity for Unit 4 Compare and/or contrast prior experiences with health and safety in the workplace using a Venn diagram

Compare and/or contrast paragraph, using material collected in Venn diagram

Research skills and reading strategies used to investigate types of health and safety regulations in the workplace

Develop interview questions on health and safety in the workplace

Role play this interview

Interview skills will be examined and developed Research skills used to complete technical writing task of formulating a bulletin of health and safety regulations for the workplace

1.2

Know your Rights and Be Ethical

 

10 hours

LS1.03, WR1.02, LAV.02, LA1.01, LA2.02, LA2.03, MD1.04, MD2.01

Knowledge/ Understanding Thinking/ Inquiry Application Communication

 

Rubric for a culminating product

Discussion of ethics through personal experience as well as in the workplace

Begin student glossary with terms: ethics, discrimination, and harassment

Discussion of codes of ethics in workplaces in groups

Compare and contrast priorities of jobs using graphic organizer

Read report on ethics and discuss

Compose a journal entry

Mind map discussion with terms: discrimination and harassment

Read story or article on discrimination and harassment and discuss

Refer to Employment Standards Act or Ontario Human Rights Code and discuss the people to be contacted when a right violation occurs

Analysis of rights violated in a real or fictitious scenario

Write a summary report analysing rights

Group discussion of rights addressing discrimination and harassment in the workplace Interview questions generated for contacts of right violations

Guest speaker

Note-taking skills used during guest interview Composition of a journal entry

Creation of poster to illustrate problems associated with discrimination, harassment or ethics in the workplace

1.3

You be the Judge

 

5 hours

LS1.03, WRV.03, WR2.03, LAV.01, LA2.01, LA2.05

Knowledge/ Understanding Communication Application

Examination of violated laws in case studies of discrimination and harassment through discussion, summarizing content, determining law violations, recording decision and supporting details and presenting

Formal letter of recognition to worker that expresses regret and understanding of situation Review of format for formal letter writing Worksheets or textbook exercises on proofreading, editing and revising skills

Role play a case study in the form of a debate on discrimination and/or harassment in the workplace

1.4

Putting it all Together

 

 

7 hours

WR1.02, WR1.04, WR2.01, WR5.02, MD2.01

Knowledge/ Understanding Thinking/ Inquiry Communication Application

Case study involving one of the issues in the unit

Choice for culminating activity on various issues discussed in unit

Possible choices are series of posters, pamphlet, storyboard for a commercial, informational page, newsletter, website, interactive display, visual essay or collage

 

Activity 1.1:  How Safe Is your Workplace?

Time:  8 hours

Description

This introductory activity is devised to give students the opportunity to bring their own personal experiences and interests to the exploration of issues of health and safety in the workplace. The principles of health and safety are studied and applied through many different activities. The initial activity explores issues through videos and CDs in order to make students aware of the issues and of the importance of accident prevention. Students demonstrate the writing process through persuasive and technical writing. Students are encouraged to demonstrate the inquiry process using the required research skills. Presentation skills and questioning techniques are strongly emphasized in this activity through the interview process. After obtaining a basic understanding of health and safety issues, students move to an examination of their own rights and responsibilities throughout the first unit

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Strand(s):  Literature Studies and Reading, Writing, Language

Learning Expectations

LS1.03 - interpret and assess explicit and implicit information, ideas, and issues in literary and informational texts;

WRV.01 - use a variety of print and electronic sources to gather information and ideas and to develop topics for personal, school-related, and workplace-related writing;

WR1.01 - investigate potential topics for written work, including an independent study project, by formulating questions, identifying information needs and purposes for writing, and developing research plans to gather information and ideas;

WR1.04 - use information and ideas from prior knowledge, personal experience, and research to develop content for personal, business, and technical writing;

LAV.02 - use listening techniques and oral communication skills to participate in classroom discussions and more formal activities, with a focus on using specialized language appropriately in interviews, oral reports, and meetings;

LA1.03 - select and use appropriate language to communicate in a consistent voice and tone in a variety of spoken and written communications.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

·         Ability to use the writing process

·         Ability to write a comparison paragraph

·         Ability to use graphic organizers

·         Ability to research using print and electronic sources

·         Ability to analyse and summarize information

·         Ability to present material both in writing and orally

·         Ability to create a visual display

Planning Notes

·         Provide the students with the overview of the course and the Culminating Activity.

·         Establish the writing process that will be followed throughout the course.

·         Use the Live Safe, Work Smart Resource package that is current and available in every school.

·         Work in conjunction with the cooperative education program teacher(s). This may be a great resource and support for your program.

·         Gather examples of health and safety regulations and bulletins from the workplace.

·         Establish a database of useful websites for job exploration. Update it regularly and encourage students to participate in this activity.

·         Collect video clips that deal with the issues of workplace health and safety. Be sensitive to the area of bias in this regard.

Teaching /Learning Strategies

1.1.1     Student Activity: Students view videos relating to workplace health and safety issues and/or read safety regulations from various workplaces. Students discuss why safety issues are particularly important to young workers.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher provides video clips and safety regulations. Use appropriate videos in Live Smart, Work Safe published by the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. It includes several appropriate videos such as “Things You’d Better Know…to work smart, work safe” and “We Miss David.” This resource kit also includes CDs and posters, as well as a resource binder. Teachers may also choose to discuss clips from videos dealing with work-related safety issues. Teachers show the students regulations from various workplaces on an overhead projector or photocopy sample regulations from different occupations. Students conduct a jigsaw exercise.

1.1.2     Student Activity: Students receive the Culminating Activity for Unit 4. There will be opportunity for discussion and questions.

Teacher Facilitation: Provide the Culminating Activity and review expectations with the class.

1.1.3     Student Activity: Students write down one type of job that they have had (either volunteer or paid) and make a point-form list of the health and safety issues/rules that applied to this job. Compare list with a partner. Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the health and safety rules of these two jobs.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher may begin by modelling this task on the board or overhead. The teacher may provide the students with a Venn diagram template. For example, if you were to compare babysitting and lawn maintenance, chemicals, sharp objects, etc. would appear in the overlapping area.

1.1.4     Student Activity: Students write a comparison paragraph using the material gathered with their partner and recorded in a Venn diagram, in Strategy 1.1.3. Students write an outline and then a first draft. Students share writing with the same partner for peer-editing purposes. Students revise, edit, proofread and word process their paragraph before submitting it to the teacher for final evaluation.

Teacher Facilitation: Prior to assigning this task, the teacher may need to review paragraph structure (topic sentence, supporting details) and review the explicit skills necessary for writing a comparison paragraph. The teacher may need to review audience and formal and informal tone.

1.1.5     Student Activity: After brainstorming a list of interesting occupations as a class, students investigate the health and safety regulations associated with a job of their choice. Students conduct their research using print and electronic material. Students fill in the information collected in the graphic organizer provided for a research report.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher makes a list on the board of many occupations of interest to the students. Encourage the students to add to the list of occupations, with an emphasis on those that will be needed in the future. The teacher may choose one occupation to use as a model. Prepare a graphic organizer or develop one as a class. It may contain the following headings: responsibilities, hazards, prevention, accidents, and rights.

1.1.6     Student Activity: Students create a list of interview questions for a role-playing activity relating to the health and safety regulations and practices in the occupation they researched in Strategy 1.1.5. Students may ask questions such as: What dangers are there related to this job? What are the emergency procedures? When will I receive WHMIS training? Is there any safety clothing that should be worn?

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher may give students a few sample questions. Review interview and questioning techniques as well as personal presentation skills like eye contact, etiquette, etc. Prior to the preparation of the questions and interview, the teacher provides a rubric to be used to evaluate the content of the interview and the oral presentation.

1.1.7     Student Activity: Students role-play the interview in front of the class. Students prepare for an interview regarding their chosen occupation (previously researched in Strategy 1.1.5 and rehearsed in Strategy 1.1.6) with a partner who is acting as a member of the Health and Safety Committee. Repeat this task with a partner in reverse roles.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher evaluates the role-play activity.

1.1.8     Student Activity: Students develop a list of the health and safety regulations to be included in a bulletin (poster format) to be posted in the workplace. It is recommended that students use the occupation that they have become very familiar with through Strategies 1.1.5-1.1.7. After they have the list edited by a peer and then approved by the teacher, students are expected to make this bulletin visually appealing, effective, and appropriate for the audience (employees) of the chosen workplace.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher will show exemplars or ‘real’ examples from various workplaces. Teachers may need to review the components of effective poster making as well as technical writing at this time.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

Task

Tool

Links to Achievement Chart

Links to Learning Skills *

Examination of Issues

Checklist

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry

Work Habits, Works Independently

Comparison Paragraph

Rubric

Thinking/Inquiry Communication

Work Habits, Works Independently

Research Report Organizer

Checklist

Thinking/Inquiry

Work Habits, Works Independently

Interview Presentation

Rubric

Communication
Application

Team work, Initiative

Bulletin

Rubric

Thinking/Inquiry
Application

Work Habits, Works Independently

* These links and the student learnings about their own work habits are important to their personal development. While their assessment does not contribute to the final mark it is considered in the Learning Skills section of the report card.

Resources

Saliani, Dom. Communicate. Toronto: Nelson Canada, 2001. ISBN 0-17-619718-4

Schaefer, Nancy. Good Job! Toronto: Stoddart Publishing Co. Limited, 2000.
ISBN 0-7737-6185-3

Live Safe, Work Smart, WSIB Ontario, Workplace Safety & Insurance Board, WSIB Communications Division, 2001. CD and video package included

 

Activity 1.2:  Know Your Rights and Be Ethical

Time:  10 hours

Description

This activity is intended to introduce students to ethics and rights in the workplace, specifically in the areas of discrimination and harassment. Student glossaries that will be used throughout this course are started. Students examine various sources to gain an understanding of the importance of workplace ethics and rights. Journal writing and a summary report are used to have students reflect on their personal opinions, and those of others, in relation to the topics being discussed. The class generates questions for a guest speaker on the topics of discrimination and harassment. As a culminating activity, students create a brochure or poster promoting an awareness of workplace harassment and discrimination.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Strand(s):  Literature Studies and Reading, Writing, Language

Learning Expectations

LSV.02 - demonstrate an understanding of the elements of a range of forms of fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry, and informational material;

LS1.03 - interpret and assess explicit and implicit information, ideas, and issues in literary and informational texts;

WR1.02 - classify and organize information, ideas, and sources to suit specific forms and purposes for writing;

WR5.04 - edit and proofread their own and others’ writing, identifying, and correcting errors according to requirements for grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation listed below:

(*) Grammar and Usage: use parts of speech correctly and construct sentences to communicate ideas clearly;

(*) Grammar and Usage: use parallel structure for clarity in lists and instructions;

(*) Spelling: demonstrate and understanding of a variety of spelling patterns, rules and strategies by recognizing and correcting their own and others’ spelling errors;

(*) Spelling: use commonly confused words correctly;

(*) Spelling: use a variety of print and electronic resources to flag possible errors and improve spelling;

(*) Punctuation: use punctuation correctly to achieve clarity in writing;

LAV.02 - use listening techniques and oral communication skills to participate in classroom discussions and more formal activities, with a focus on using specialized language appropriately in interviews, oral reports, and meetings;

LA1.01 - apply a variety of strategies to extend vocabulary, with an emphasis on acquiring the language proficiency needed to function as responsible citizens, pursue careers, and participate in the community;

LA2.02 - communicate orally in group discussions, applying such skills as the following: contributing productively to discussions; setting priorities; recording and assessing key information; summarizing the discussion; reporting on the process used by the group to solve problems; and completing tasks as required to produce high-quality presentations and products;

LA2.03 - use critical listening skills to understand the content of oral communication;

MD104 - explain the connections between media works, media industry practices, including marketing distribution methods, and such factors as industry codes and government regulations;

MD2.01 - design or create media works based on ideas, themes, and issues examined in this course.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

·         Ability to present material in a written journal format

·         Ability to take notes during a question and answer period with a guest speaker

·         Ability to use persuasive language

·         Ability to use techniques for creating effective posters

·         Ability to use proofreading and editing skills properly

·         Ability to write summary reports

Planning Notes

·         Have students begin a glossary that will be added to throughout the course. Teachers provide definitions for the terms that they find appropriate for their class. The teacher instruct students to make a separate section in their notebooks for this glossary

·         Locate a variety of Codes of Ethics from workplaces. If none can be found, all school boards have a Code of Ethics available.

·         Locate a guest speaker for Strategy 1.2.11 from the list of possibilities.

·         Locate a case study about an ethical issue. Guidance, Co-op and law teachers also have resources for this task.

·         Consider using law books as a source for case studies about the various topics examined. Law teachers should have textbooks available.

·         Find a story or article on discrimination and/or harassment. It is not necessary that this story or article be specifically about the workplace.

·         Consider the use of graphic organizers for some of the activities.

·         Ensure confidentiality for students who may not wish to share their journal entries, depending on the personal content. (1.2.9)

·         Connections to the culminating unit (Unit 4) should be made throughout these tasks.

Teaching/Learning Strategies:

1.2.1     Student Activity: Students are asked questions such as: What are ethics? Why are ethics important? Which ethics are important to you? Why are ethics important in various workplaces? In order to introduce the topic of ethics, students reflect on their own personal experiences and consider examples in the workplace.

Teacher Facilitation: Provide questions for discussion of ethics in the workplace. The teacher leads the discussion about ethics and asks students to reflect on their own personal experiences in the workplace.

Student Activity: Students begin a glossary of terms to be used throughout this course. Students are asked to record the definition for the word “ethics” in their glossary.

Teacher Facilitation: Provide students with a definition of the term “ethics” so students can record it in their glossaries.

1.2.2     Student Activity: Students examine Codes of Ethics from various workplaces. Students compare and contrast the priorities of various jobs as far as ethics are concerned, in small groups. Students may use a comparison/contrast graphic organizer for this activity.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher provides students with several examples of various Codes of Ethics from a variety of workplaces. The teacher circulates among groups to ensure understanding of the activity and that students are on task. The teacher may provide a graphic organizer to the groups and may assess learning skills at this time.

1.2.3     Student Activity: Students read a report on ethics in a particular workplace. Ethics in the workplace and everyday life are discussed. In order to aid discussion, students relate specifically to the report that they have just read.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher provides students with a report or story on ethics in a particular workplace. Resources that could be used are “The Body Shop” in Expanding Your Horizons: A Career Guide, “The Big Story” in Foundations 11 or “Business Ethics: When Your Conscience Calls the Shots” from Realm Magazine. The teacher leads a discussion that relates specifically to the report or story read and how it relates to ethics.

1.2.5     Student Activity: Students write a journal entry using the information gathered in the previous activities to answer the question: Why are ethics important in all jobs and everyday life?

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher needs to instruct students to use personal opinion as well as material previously reviewed in this sub task to complete this activity.

1.2.6     Student Activity: The following questions are posed for student discussion: Is it possible for a person’s ethics to be challenged? This leads students to discuss, through teacher facilitation, the terms “discrimination” and “harassment.” The teacher begins a mind map on the board with the two terms. After discussion, students put a definition of the terms in their glossaries. Students read a story or article where discrimination or harassment is portrayed. Students discuss the characters in the story or article and how they have been discriminated against or harassed.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher facilitates a discussion of the terms. It is also necessary for the teacher to provide students with examples or scenarios to which they can relate in order to facilitate a discussion of ethical discrimination and harassment. The teacher may choose to provide students with a story or article where discrimination or harassment is addressed. Examples of resources that could be used are “Excerpt from Night” in Foundations 11 or “Paper Matches” in Between the
Lines 11
. After students read the story or article, the teacher begins another mind map using the characters in the story or article as a basis for discussion.

1.2.7     Student Activity: Students refer to the Employment Standards Act or the Ontario Human Rights Code. Students read and discuss as a class the ways in which discrimination or harassment can be dealt with, according to these documents. Students also discuss, as a class, who would be contacted if a violation of rights has occurred.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher provides students with the Employment Standards Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. The teacher leads a discussion about the ways in which discrimination and harassment can be dealt with in the workplace. The teacher generates a list of people who may be contacted if a person has been discriminated against or harassed.

1.2.8     Student Activity: Students are provided with a real or fictitious scenario and analyse the rights that have been violated. Students refer back to the previous activity to complete this task. The students complete a summary report analysing the rights violated in this case. They should provide solutions and a rationale to support their decisions.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher provides students with a real or fictitious scenario to analyse. The teacher circulates amongst the class to ensure student understanding and make sure students are on task.

1.2.9     Student Activity: Students form groups and discuss rights that could address the kinds of harassment or discrimination that existed in their journal entries or scenarios provided by the teacher.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher asks students to refer back to the Employment Standards Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. The teacher circulates around the room to assist with the wording of the documents.

1.2.10   Student Activity: Students, as a class, generate a list of interview questions that can be asked of a person who would be contacted if a workers’ rights have been violated, e.g., a human rights representative, Workers Compensation, a health and safety representative, human resources person, union representative. A list of possible contact is also generated.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher advises students on which questions are best suited to their informational needs. The teacher provides assistance to students with regard to the list of contacts.

1.2.11   Student Activity: The class chooses a guest speaker from the list generated in class in the previous activity. The students ask the questions that were generated in the previous activity.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher invites a speaker to the class who is willing to answer the questions that are generated by the class.

1.2.12   Student Activity: Students take notes on the answers given by the guest speaker. Students complete a journal entry answering the question: How important is this person’s role in cases of harassment and discrimination in the workplace?

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher instructs students on note-taking skills in order for them to record the information provided by the guest speaker.

1.2.13   Student Activity: Students create a brochure or a poster that makes people in a workplace environment aware of the problems associated with harassment, discrimination or ethics by using the information that they have gathered throughout this sub task. Students use correct and persuasive language and use techniques for creating effective brochures or posters. Proofreading and editing are essential for this task.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher instructs students on techniques associated with creating a poster and using correct and persuasive language. Examples of resources that could be used are Foundations 11, Reference Points, or Communicate. It is essential that the teacher stress the importance of proofreading and editing skills for students’ final product.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

Strategy/Task

Tool

Links to Achievement Chart

Links to Learning Skills*

1.2.3

Group Work

Observation

Knowledge/Understanding Application

Teamwork Work Habits

1.2.5

Journal Response

Checklist

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry

Communication

Works Independently Organization

1.2.8

Summary Report

Rubric

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry

Works Independently Organization

1.2.13

Visual Representation

Checklist

Communication
Application

Work Habits Initiative Works Independently

* These links and the student learnings about their own work habits are important to their personal development. While their assessment does not contribute to the final mark it is considered in the Learning Skills section of the report card.

Resources

Davies, Richard and Glen Kirkland. Between the Lines 11. Toronto: Nelson Canada, 2001.
ISBN0-17-619706-0

Dawe, Robert and Paul Mallott. Reference Points: A Guide to Language, Literature and Media. Toronto: Pearson Education Canada Inc., 2001. ISBN 0-13-019871-4

Duncan, Barry. Scanning Television: Teachers Resource Binder

Elliot, Lindsay. “Business Ethics: When Your Conscience Calls the Shots” Realm Magazine, Burnaby, BC, Winter 2000/2001.

Employment Standards Act, Ministry of Labour, Government of Ontario
– http://www.gov.on.ca/LAB/es/ese.htm

Hilker, Douglas and Sue Harper. Foundations of English 11. Toronto: Harcourt Canada, 2001.
ISBN 0-7747-1494-8

Kearns, Susan and Judy Misener. Expanding Your Horizons: A Career Guide. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., 1993. ISBN 0-07-551392-7

Ontario Human Rights Code, Ontario Human Rights Commission, Government of Ontario
– http://www.ohrc.on.ca/english/code/hr.code.shtml

Saliani, Dom. Communicate. Toronto: Nelson Canada, 2001. ISBN 0-17-619347-2

 

Activity 1.3:  You Be the Judge

Time:  5 hours

Description

This activity is designed to further develop students’ understanding of discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Students apply the knowledge they have acquired from Activity 1.2 to both reinforce and extend their learning. A progressive continuum of tasks builds upon the foundation of case studies and prepares students to demonstrate their depth of insight through a performance task.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Strand(s):  Literature Studies and Reading, Writing, Language, Media Studies

Learning Expectations

LS1.03 - interpret and assess explicit and implicit information, ideas, and issues in literary and informational texts;

WRV.03 - use a variety of organizational structures and patterns to produce coherent and effective written work;

WR2.03 - select and use a voice and style appropriate to the specific purpose and intended audience of business, technical, workplace, and personal communications;

LAV.01 - use knowledge of vocabulary and language to read, write, and speak competently, with a focus on choosing, developing, and sustaining an appropriate voice and tone in personal, creative, and workplace-related communications;

LA2.01 - communicate orally for a variety of purposes, with a focus on assessing the validity of main arguments and supporting details; applying information and ideas in new situations; using specialized language appropriately; exploring alternatives; and identifying values, priorities, and perspectives;

LA2.05 - identify strengths and weaknesses in their oral communication skills and make an action plan to improve these skills for success in the workplace and community.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

·         Ability to write a formal letter

·         Ability to work in groups

·         Ability to organize a dramatic presentation and a debate

·         Ability to understand the organizational framework of informational material

·         Ability to proofread, edit and revise

·         Familiarity with peer and self assessment

Planning Notes

·         Gather and/or create a number of situations/scenarios that focus on a variety of types of discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

·         Review the Employment Standards Act and Ontario Human Rights Code.

·         Create a template for the organizational format of a formal letter.

·         Generate worksheets or gather sample exercises to review language study skills.

·         Book computer lab if required.

·         Prepare group/oral presentation rubric.

·         Consider using a debate format for Strategy 1.3.4.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

1.3.1     Student Activity: Students review the definitions of discrimination and harassment recorded in their glossaries. They read a case study and apply their knowledge and understanding of the Employment Standards Act or the Ontario Human Rights Code to identify the laws that have been broken. Students refer to notes made in their previous activities to support their decisions. They participate in a class discussion of the case study. Each group completes the following steps:

·         Read the case study.

·         Summarize its content.

·         Determine what laws have been broken.

·         Record the decisions and supporting details.

·         Present materials.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher distributes a case study to each student. A shared reading of material follows. A teacher-led discussion guides students to the identification of the law(s) that have been broken and elicits supportive details to confirm decisions. An instruction outline reviewing the five steps from above and a recording organizer using the pertinent headings for this assignment are provided.

1.3.2     Student Activity: Students each choose one of the case studies from the previous class activities. They draft a formal letter of recognition focusing on the violation of the worker’s rights and expressing understanding and regret of the incident, to the worker.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher reviews the format of the formal letter. A template of the organizational framework provides students with a model prior to beginning their draft. A review of language conventions appropriate for a formal letter is included in the lesson to guide student decisions. A list of conventions for a formal letter generated through class discussion is recorded for student reference during the writing process. The teacher circulates through the class providing encouragement and direction as students complete their draft letters.

1.3.3     Student Activity: Students complete a variety of teacher-generated worksheets or selected textbook exercises which focus on proofreading, editing, and revising skills. They apply this learning to their own work and produce a second draft of their letter. Students participate in the development of a checklist to assess their formal letter.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher provides students with copies of the worksheets or exercises. A brief discussion follows completion of the skill sheets to clarify expectations. The teacher circulates as students apply these skills providing mini-lessons and direct instruction as required. During the follow-up class discussions, the teacher records on the board or overhead the items that will be included in the formal letter checklist.

1.3.4     Student Activity: Students are given a situation or case scenario and then asked to choose a performance format and present it to the class. Choose to re-enact a scenario in a workplace setting in the courtroom. Make decisions about roles and responsibilities and create a script. Practise and present to the class. Each group completes the following steps:

·         Read the scenario.

·         Identify the issues.

·         Propose a solution/resolution.

·         Present the scenario and resolution to the class.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher distributes situations or scenarios to the students and facilitates the grouping of students according to their interests, skills, and needs. As group decisions are being made, the teacher monitors each group’s progress and guides decision-making as required.

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

Task

Tool

Links to Achievement Chart

Links to Learning Skills*

Discussion of Case Study

Anecdotal

Knowledge/Understanding

Work Habits

Formal Letter

Checklist

Communication
Accommodations

Works Independently, Initiative, Work Habits

Presentation

Rubric

Knowledge/Understanding Communication
Accommodations

Teamwork, Initiative, Work Habits

Peer/self-assessment

Checklist

Accommodation

Works Independently

* These links and the student learnings about their own work habits are important to their personal development. While their assessment does not contribute to the final mark it is considered in the Learning Skills section of the report card.

 

Resources

Adams, J., C. Costello, and S. Naylor. Reading and Writing for Success Senior. Toronto: Harcourt Canada, 2000. ISBN 0-7747-1490-5

Ontario Rights Commission – http://www.ohrc.on.ca

Ontario Ministry of Labour, Employment Standards – http://www.gov.on.ca./LAB/in.totm

Equal Opportunity Plan (EOP) – http://www.equalopportunity.on.ca

 

Activity 1.4:  Putting It All Together

Time:  7 hours

Description

This final activity asks students to further develop their independent research skills and critical thinking skills. Students find and research a case that involves one of the issues explored earlier in the unit: workers’ rights or health and safety issues. Students communicate their research and analysis of a case through a media product of their choice.

Strand(s) & Learning Expectations

Strand(s):  Literature Studies and Reading, Writing, Language, Media Studies

Learning Expectations

LSV.01 - read and demonstrate an understanding of texts from various countries and cultures, with an emphasis on interpreting and assessing information, ideas, and issues;

LS1.01 - use knowledge of the elements and organizational texts to understand information from print and electronic sources;

LS1.03 - interpret and assess explicit and implicit information, ideas, and issues in literary and informational texts;

WR1.01 - investigate potential topics for written work, including an independent study project, by formulating questions, identifying information needs and purposes for writing, and developing research plans to gather information and ideas;

WR1.02 - classify and organize information, ideas, and sources to suit specific forms and purposes for writing;

WR1.04 - use information and ideas from prior knowledge, personal experience, and research to develop content for personal, business, and technical writing;

WR2.01 - select and use an appropriate form to produce written work for a specific audience and purpose;

WR5.02 - produce, format, and publish written work, using appropriate technology to share writing with intended audiences;

LA1.03 - select and appropriate language to communicate in a consistent voice and tone in a variety of spoken and written communications;

MD2.01 - design or create media works based on ideas, themes, and issues examined in this course.

Prior Knowledge & Skills

·         Ability to develop questions

·         Ability to analyse case studies

·         Ability to write for various purposes and audiences

·         Ability to create media products

Planning Notes

·         Provide opportunities for the students to work in both the library/resource centre and computer lab to research and create media products.

·         Provide a list of possible issues students can research in their case studies.

·         Show examples of various media products listed in the Unit Overview Chart.

·         Make clear that choice of media product must be different at the end of each unit in the course. Media products created in the first unit will serve as examples for future units.

·         Discuss research topic and availability of resources with library staff.

Teaching/Learning Strategies

1.4.1     Student Activity: Students find and research a case study that deals with an issue covered previously in the unit. Issues may include: harassment, discrimination, health and safety concerns, violation of workers’ rights, workplace regulations, etc. As a class, students develop a set of 5-10 questions to be used to explore and analyse the case study. Questions may include: What rights were violated in this case? Who is responsible for ensuring that regulations were followed? What ethics were challenged in this case? Students look at how the case was resolved and agree or disagree with the resolution. Students support their responses with research.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher assigns students the task of finding a case study that deals with the issues considered throughout the unit. The teacher helps students to create a set of 5-10 questions to be used to analyse and solve the case. Once questions have been generated the teacher circulates among students as they research a case study in the library/resource centre.

1.4.2     Student Activity: Students use a case study and research gathered to communicate information through a media product of their choice to classmates. Students choose to create one of the following: pamphlet, storyboard for a commercial, informational page, newsletter, website, interactive display.

Teacher Facilitation: The teacher informs students that they are to choose the media product that best communicates the information gathered through the case study analysis and research. Teachers inform students that a list of possible products will be used throughout the course and that at the end of each unit students will be required to choose a different media product to communicate what they have learned in that particular unit. Teacher shows examples of various media products listed. Teacher uses Appendix 1 to evaluate media product.

Resources

Davies, Richard and Glen Kirkland. Between the Lines 11. Nelson Canada, Toronto: 2001.
ISBN 0-17-619706-0

Dawe, Robert and Paul Malott. Reference Points: A Guide to Language, Literature, and Media. Toronto: Pearson Education Canada Inc., 2001. ISBN 0-13-019871-4

Hilker, Douglas and Sue Harper. Foundations of English 11.Toronto: Harcourt Canada, 2001.
ISBN 0-7747-1494-8

Appendices

Appendix 1 – Rubric for Culminating Activity


Appendix 1

Rubric for Culminating Product

 

Criteria

Level 1

(50-59%)

Level 2

(60-69%)

Level 3

(70-79%)

Level 4

(80-100%)

Knowledge/ Understanding

- uses conventions of selected form

- demonstrates understanding of information, ideas, concepts, themes researched

- limited use of convention of selected form

- demonstrates limited understanding of information, ideas, concepts, themes researched

- some use of conventions of selected form

- demonstrates some understanding of information, ideas, concepts, themes researched

- considerable use of conventions of selected form

- demonstrates considerable understanding of information, ideas, concepts, themes researched

- thorough use of conventions of selected form

- demonstrates thorough and insightful understanding of information, ideas, concepts, themes researched

Thinking/ Inquiry

- interprets, classifies, and organizes information, ideas

 

 

- shows limited evidence of organizational structure

 

 

- shows some evidence of organizational structure

 

 

- shows considerable evidence of organizational structure

 

 

- shows highly effective evidence of organizational structure

Communication

- communicates a sense of audience and purpose

- uses language and images to communicate information, ideas

- communicates with a limited sense of audience and purpose

- uses language and images to communicate information, ideas with limited effectiveness and clarity

- communicates with some sense of audience and purpose

- uses language and images to communicate information, ideas with some effectiveness and clarity

- communicates with considerable sense of audience and purpose

- uses language and images to communicate information, ideas with considerable effectiveness and clarity

- communicates with strong sense of audience and purpose

- integrates language and images to communicate information, ideas with a high degree of effectiveness and clarity

Application

- uses technology appropriately

 

- uses language conventions effectively

- uses appropriate technology with limited effectiveness

- applies language conventions with limited effectiveness

- uses appropriate technology with some effectiveness

 

- applies language conventions with some effectiveness

- uses appropriate technology with considerable effectiveness

- applies language conventions with considerable effectiveness

- uses appropriate technology with high degree of effectiveness

- applies language conventions with high degree of effectiveness

Note: A student whose achievement is below Level 1 (50%) has not met the expectations for this assignment or activity.

 

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