Hypertext Narratives Arranged by Field of Study

French speaking students here in Quebec are required to take two English courses at junior college (CEGEP). The first is a general, competency-based course matched to their proficiency-level. We have four proficiency levels, which I call false-beginner, low-intermediate, high-intermediate, and advanced. The second English course at the same proficiency level is intended to build on the first course by having the students read, write, listen and speak with a link to their fields of study. To that end, I have been asking my low-intermediates to write listicles, glossaries, new-top summaries,  and hypertext narratives. I also ask them to create a YouTube walkthrough of a field-related website and a walkthrough of  their own hypertext narratives. The tasks and supporting readings and listenings can be found in Actively Engaged Online (Walker, 2015). If you are interested in using any of these tasks with your students, leave a comment and I will be happy to share some resources with you.

Hypertext Narratives for College ESL Digital Literacy

A hypertext narrative is a cross between a computer game and a story. The reader is invited to make choices that influence the outcome of the story. I provided learners with a template, and they filled in the blanks. Some decided to simplify the structure of the story and write longer passages. In every case, there should be a story and hyperlinks that lead to different outcomes.

Some of my colleagues view the learning needs of their students as being similar to their own first language learning needs 20 or more years ago. In my view, not only are the needs of second language learners strikingly different from their first language counterparts, but the need for digital literacy and lifelong learning strategies must be integrated into all four skills. If they don't learn digital literacy from us, who is going to teach them? Their 17th Century French Literature teachers? Their Philosophy teachers?

English is the language of the internet, and teaching students how to write and speak online will provide learners with a chance to continue developing their English skills beyond the confines of our courses. To that end, I ask students to create Blogger and Youtube accounts, and use the VirtualWritingTutor.com and FieldRelated.com to help them get feedback on their errors and vocabulary.

Examples of Hypertext Narratives Arranged by Field of Study

Here are a few examples of hypertext narratives written by students. I asked them to work cooperatively to share ideas and help each other integrate workplace and field related vocabulary into at least one branch of their stories. The links to the stories are organized below by field of study. I created 3D book covers to make navigating the various fields of study easier. Leave a comment, share, or like this blog post if the mood takes you.

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Accounting and Management #1 Accounting and Management #2 Accounting and Management #3 Accounting and Management #4 Accounting and Management #5 Accounting and Management #6 (very weird and innovative!) Accounting and Management #7

Business Management #1 Business Management #2 Business Management #3 Business Management #4 Business Management #5 Business Management #6

Geomatics

Criminology 1 Criminology 2

Diagnostic Imaging #1 Diagnostic Imaging #2 Diagnostic Imaging #3 Diagnostic Imaging #4 Diagnostic Imaging #5 Diagnostic Imaging #6

Business Management #1

International Relations

Literary Studies

Paralegal Technology 1 Paralegal Technology 2 Paralegal Technology 3

Policing #1 Policing #2

Prehospital Emergency Care 1 Prehospital Emergency Care 2

Psychology (very simple but still a hypertext narrative) Psychology (very simple but still a hypertext narrative) Psychology (44 scenes) Psychology (44 scenes) Psychology (3 scenes)

Youth and Adult Correctional Intervention 1 Youth and Adult Correctional Intervention 2 Youth and Adult Correctional Intervention 3 Youth and Adult Correctional Intervention 4 *