Demonstrating knowledge of current technologies and their application in ESOL.
Imagine Learning
Imagine Learning is an online application that can be accessed on a computer, laptop or a device such as an iPad, iPhone or Android. There are three main uses of this application: Language & Literacy (Pre-K to 6th grade), Spanish (Pre-K to 2nd grade) and Math Programs (Pre-K to 8th grade). Imagine Learning is best known for its engaging content, individualized instruction and proven efficacy. Each program within this resource also has ongoing assessments as well as comprehensive reports that can be viewed by parents and teachers . One benefit of this resource that applies to ELD or ELL teachers are both the Language and Literacy program as well as the Spanish program. The Language and Literacy portion of this resource uses research-based and standards aligned curriculum that builds core reading and academic language skills with support in 15 languages. Allowing students to build literacy skills in their first language, will increase the probability that they make rapid progress in reading and writing in English (Wright, 2015). The Spanish program develops Spanish literacy and language proficiency through personalized instruction within a rich cultural framework. As a result, this resource is widely used among ELL students. One suggested use of Imagine Learning would be to have it installed on a classroom set of either computers or iPads and have this serve as a rotating small group station. Link to Imagine Learning: https://www.imaginelearning.com/ |
Bitsboard
Bitsboard is a applications used by over 3 millions students and teachers. This app is available on Android devices or the Apple app store. There are three main ways to use the content available within this resource. The first is the dozens of highly engaging mini-games for all aged learners. Some categories of games include spelling, matching, memory and word searches. The second use is access to thousands of carefully curated lessons across all domains and subjects of learning. The final use is the ability for teachers to not only create their own lessons, but also track students progress as well as share results and information online.
One ELD and ELL teacher benefit of Bitsboard is the teachers ability to select a language area for each students to focus on. For example, if during ELD one week, the class is focusing on contractions, the teacher can set all or some students Bitsboard game options to only those that deal with contractions. One suggested use of this app would be track students progress for a specific language goal or objective such as decodable word building or sequencing. Using this as a form of assessment ensures that you are using multiple measure (not just pencil and paper tests) to assess an ELL's progress and abilities. A lack of multiple measures of ELL students can demonstrate weak results with questionable validity (Wright, 2015). Link to Bitsboard: bitsboard.com/
Phonetics Focus
Phonetics Focus is a iOS application that is available through the Apple app store. This resource features 20 activities to improve English Phonetics and pronunciation. This app features a complete and interactive phoneme chart with sounds, words and symbols. Phonetics focus also allows students to listen to a phoneme, repeat the phoneme, record their own voice and play it back to compare against the true pronunciation. In addition, there are also phonetic quizzes for students and/or users to complete. Phonetics Focus sells for $2.99 per download.
One benefit of this application specific to ELD and ELL teachers is this resources' focus of pronunciation which is essential for a English as a second language student to receive extra practice and support with. Knowledge of phonology helps teachers understand issues related to pronunciation which can be critical is supporting ELLs (Wright, 2015). One suggested use of this resource would be to have ELL students use this app around 15-20 minutes each school day to get extra practice with phonemes and what they represent within the English language.
Link to download Phonetics Focus: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/phonetics-focus/id393109855?mt=8