In search of the Santo Espiritu: Constructing literacy from historical evidence

In search of the In search of the Santo Espiritu:Santo Espiritu: Constructing literacy from Constructing literacy from

historical evidencehistorical evidence

Mary ReynoldsSt Stithians College

Baseline course Baseline course (basic skills)(basic skills)

Information Information literacy courseliteracy course

What is Information Literacy?

Traditional LiteracyReadWriteCalculate

Computer Literacy

PC OperationEmailWord processorSpread sheetPresentation toolGroupwareDatabase access

Information Literacy

* Computer Literacy+ Information finding+ Information understanding+ Information value/creation+ Collaboration with others through communication

* = Ability to solve problems, take advantage of information technology and networks



Computer Literacy







Computer Literacy







Computer Literacy





Nishimuro (1999, p.1) Information literacy

The Question is …The Question is …

The question is how come the teacher asks all the questionswhen I'm the one who needs to know things. The question iswhy I'm supposed to have the answersto all my parent's questions when they can't answer mine. The question iswhy scientists ask ten questions for every answer they getbut I have to answer seven out of ten to pass. The question iswhy politicians learn not to answer questionswhile I must learn how to answer them. The question iswhy questions have to be answered fast in schoolwhen philosophers take years to answer them.The question iswhy there are so many little questions in schoolwhen Marie Curie spent her whole life on one big question.The question iswhy I must find answers to already answered questionswhen I have questions that have not yet been answered.The question iswhy can't I be in charge of the questions? Jamie McKenzie Jamie McKenzie www.fromnowon.org

http://www.fromnowon.org/

From evidence to hypothesisFrom evidence to hypothesis

Observe …Observe …

Plates, bowls, jars?Plates, bowls, jars?

http://gotheborg.com/webshop/view_product.php?product=TANABGV43

Keyword 1Keyword 1 Keyword 2Keyword 2 Keyword 3Keyword 3 Keyword 4Keyword 4 Keyword 5Keyword 5

Learner 1Learner 1 Double Mouth

carrack survival vitrification China

Learner 2Learner 2Macao

Santo Espiritu

cobaltAgulhas current

navigation instruments

Learner 3Learner 3 Delgoa Bay shipwrecks Ming sherds trade winds

Learner 4Learner 4 Portugal/Portuguese

Indian Ocean

Symbols Porcelain Jingdezhen

Table 1: Table of keyword distributionTable 1: Table of keyword distribution

Challenge hypothesis with questionsChallenge hypothesis with questions

Factual questionsFactual questions

Prime questionsPrime questions

WhoWho

What?What?

Where?Where?

When?When?

Why?Why?

How?How?

Which?Which?

What if?What if?

Basic factsBasic facts

ReasonsReasons

CausesCauses

ConsequencesConsequences

SuppositionsSuppositions

Scaffolding the research processScaffolding the research process

Library +OPACLibrary +OPAC

KeywordsKeywords

EvaluatingEvaluating

Skimming & Skimming & scanningscanning

Multiple sourcesMultiple sources

ReferencingReferencing

Scaffolding understandingScaffolding understanding

• Information processing sheet (IPS) example

• Information processing sheet (IPS) template

The story unfoldsThe story unfolds

Jingdezhen

MacaoMacaoPortuguese Portuguese CarrackCarrack

Alternative routes?Alternative routes?

http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/eurvoya/map.html




Trade winds

Ocean currentsOcean currents

Navigation Navigation instrumentsinstruments

Astrolabe: Rabbi Zacuto Astrolabe: Rabbi Zacuto Portugal 15thCPortugal 15thC

Compass: 300 China BCCompass: 300 China BC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Astrolab.JPG


Chinese map of Africa 1389

Chinese map of the World 1418


The Wild Coast is exactly that: “the pounding breakers and cauldron of its boiling seas when stormy conditions reign” causing many shipwrecks.

http://www.beachandbush.co.za/thingsToSee/scenic_places/wild_coast_shipwrecks

http://www.beachandbush.co.za/thingsToSee/scenic_places/wild_coast_shipwrecks

The story unfoldsThe story unfoldsBlack Rock is a graveyard to a number of ships, such as the Santo Espiritu which ran aground in 1608. Testimony to this are a number of Carnelian beads and Chinese blue and white Ming porcelain shards found in the shingle and grass lining the rocky shore.

http://www.dispatch.co.za/1999/12/13/entertainment/FUN1.HTM

Survival!Survival!

Vitrification = indestructibleVitrification = indestructible

Delgoa BayDelgoa Bay

“Of the original party of 72 only nine made it back to Delgoa Bay … where they were hoping to find a ship to transport them back to Portugal and only four of these men made the trip back home.”Port Elizabeth Times

Problems encounteredProblems encountered

• LogisticsLogistics– Teacher turnoverTeacher turnover– Time slot and lengthTime slot and length

• CognitiveCognitive– Global awarenessGlobal awareness– Sequencing and linking conceptsSequencing and linking concepts– Co-operationCo-operation– Superficial questionsSuperficial questions– Ignore cached websitesIgnore cached websites– Cueing presentationsCueing presentations

BenefitsBenefits

• Global thinkingGlobal thinking– Holistic view of the world (North-South, East-West)Holistic view of the world (North-South, East-West)

• IntegrationIntegration– Natural ScienceNatural Science– GeographyGeography– Arts & cultureArts & culture– MathematicsMathematics– EnglishEnglish– ZuluZulu

The role of HistoryThe role of History

• A unifying role in the curriculumA unifying role in the curriculum• About culture , trade, art, language, influenceAbout culture , trade, art, language, influence• How different might our history have been if Zheng He had How different might our history have been if Zheng He had

been a conqueror not just an explorer?been a conqueror not just an explorer?• Toleration of uncertaintyToleration of uncertainty• Creative imagination and courage to challenge the unknownCreative imagination and courage to challenge the unknown

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Documents

In search of the Santo Espiritu: Constructing literacy from historical evidence