Skip to main content

Adventures in Ed Tech with an ESL twist

Update:

I've been working with several local adult education agencies. I was hired to teach basic "digital literacy" to adult learners, both GED and ESL classes. I am learning that it's not enough to just know how a computer works or how to access the internet. I need to make the material accessible and understandable for all the students, no matter their literacy level and English-speaking skill. Although I will admit that the English-speaking skill is more of a barrier.

I sometimes have a translator, and some students bring their tutor to class to help them learn the "technology jargon." But most of the time, I have to come up with concrete explanations for words like "Malicious software" or "Malware." It's a challenge to describe "malicious" to someone who thinks that word sounds like "delicious."

I am enjoying the journey. I rejoice in each small step. This last week my 6 ESL ladies each sent their first email to me or the Spanish-language translator. They even attached a web address of an interesting article for us to read.

With January will come the switch in the GED test to an online version. Now for those students, computer skills will become more a tool than a game or social network machine. I expect a bit of a bumpy transition--especially for those who don't have the 25 wpm minimum skill.

Stay tuned for more adventures...

One App that we love is Duolingo. The adult learners can use Spanish to English or Italian to English. or even translate English into their native languages. Check it out!

Comments

  1. UnknownDecember 10, 2013 at 7:37 AM

    Amazing how simple it to communicate with people and have them understand a certain topic adventures in Ed Tech with an ESL twist, you made my day.

    language translation | language translation services in ahmedabad

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My GAME Plan-Week 4

During week 4, I need to evaluate my Action Plan using the following questions. Are you finding the information and resources you need? I am doing well finding information. I make time to read educational technology (ed. Tech.) blogs and listen to ed. Tech. podcasts. I have also signed up for our school district's instructional fair technology classes. I plan to attend sessions on Web 2.0 tools that work within my school district's strict filtering policies. I also plan to attend sessions on using Ebooks, and creating a web 2.0 web site, using our district-provided software.   Do you need to modify your action plan?  So far, I do not need to modify my action plan. Things are going well. I even have colleagues who plan to attend the technology sessions with me. What have you learned so far?  I have learned that I am using some of the teaching and assessment methods about which I am reading. I am feeling good about being a self-motivated and self-directed lear...
5 comments
Read more

Construction Zone?

I like using the constructivist theory in my classroom. Over the years, I have taught in several states and subject areas. I found a great “hands-on” or constructionist science curriculum that I could integrate with the one I was required to use. This curriculum is part of the Challenger Center program, http://www.challenger.org/. The point of each activity is to ask the students a key question, give them a materials list, and allow them to create an experiment or artifact that will answer the key question. My students loved this material, and their grades in my science class improved. I was surprised to see that their grades and problem-solving skills also improved in other classes as well. I currently teach computer literacy. I use a modified constructivist method in which I give students information, demonstrate the procedures, and then allow them to practice the skill on their own. This method can work with a technology class, as well as an academic area class. I love all the onli...
5 comments
Read more

Teaching 21st Century Skills

I recently visited http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/ . I found a lot of resources regarding what skills students should be taught in order to succeed in the 21st century. There were also several states listed that have initiatives to implement policies and standards that will ensure students are presented with opportunities to learn these skills. I liked the recent news events of businesses partnering with schools to help further the students' education, but I was disappointed that there were not more states or businesses listed. I was also looking for suggestions as to how to implement teaching these skills in my class, and did not find them. Did anyone else find good ideas here?
3 comments
Read more