Microsoft Excel has always been a frustration for me, in particular using graphs and tables. I have had many assignments where I was to create specific types of graphs and was offered no guidance or instructions, so I would struggle for hours trying to figure it out for myself, following different tutorials that don't make sense, downloading different tool bars, and becoming more and more frustrated as time goes on. I think Excel is a great tool to use in the classroom, but ONLY with structure and assistance provided by the teacher. Excel is one of those programs that is easy to get overwhelmed with. I think if it is going to be used in a classroom, the teacher needs to have a deep knowledge and understanding of the program, so that he or she can provide step-by-step instructions for the students.
There are a lot of ways that Excel can be used in the classroom that I had never realized before. One of the most interesting new ways I learned to use it was in creating timelines. I never knew before that Excel could be used to make a timeline, and I think that is a creative way to engage students in history like never before. Excel can also be beneficial for teachers, in ways such as creating a gradebook that calculates averages and creating seating charts. If used properly, Excel can have tremendous benefits for the classroom. However, teachers must find a way to structure the use of Excel, as it is a very confusing program and students can easily become frustrated or overwhelmed.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Research Paper - Blogging in ESL Classrooms
For my professional paper, I researched the topic of using educational technology in English as a Second Language (ESL) classrooms, specifically the use of blogs. I wanted to find out how effective blogging could be with English language learners so that I could decide whether it would be a useful tool to use in my future classroom. I decided to start my research by going more in depth into what characteristics are required for effective second language acquisition. Thomas and Collier are two leading experts on second language acquisition, and have published a well-respected article on bilingual education and components of effective SLA. They found that there are four components to SLA that must be present in ESL classrooms in order for English language learners to reach their full learning potential: academic development, language development, cognitive development, and sociocultural processes.
As I did more and more research on the topic of blogging in the classroom, I began to find many connections between the effects of blogging and the components of effective SLA. The benefits that blogging provides to ELLs align very significantly with these four components, which would allow one to argue that using blogs in an ESL classroom could be very effective for students who are developing language proficiency in a second language. For example, when students are blogging, they are engaging in reflection and critical thinking skills. These skills, in turn, help students develop their cognitive thought processes - a critical component of SLA. Blogging also provides ESL students with authentic and meaningful interactions with other learners across the world. Authentic communicative situations are essential for ELLs to develop proficiency in a second language. Almost all of the characteristics of blogging that I found during my research aligned with at least one of the four components of SLA.
As a future ESL teacher, I would definitely use blogging as a medium of instruction in my classroom. I think that blogging provides ELLs with so many opportunities to build their language skills in a real, meaningful way. They increase motivation in students, because students are given choice and responsibility in their blog posts; this can instill a sense of pride, self-confidence, and esteem in non-Native speakers who may feel uncomfortable or insecure with their new language. Blogging also allows learners to connect across the globe, sharing their cultures, customs, languages, experiences, and values. When students have the chance to connect worldwide, they develop global and cultural awareness that is often not present in a confined classroom.
While blogging has many benefits to ELLs, and all students in general, it has to be implemented in an effective and structured manner. Teachers need to keep in mind that not all students have access to technology outside of the classroom, so they need to allow students class-time to work on their blogs. Many students may not have experience with the basics of using a computer, so teachers need to provide full, sequential instruction so that students are not overwhelmed by new information. Teachers also need to find ways to keep students engaged in the blogging process. This can be done by giving students choice about their blog topics, using partner blogs, having students comment on each other's blogs, and more. Blogging can be extremely effective for ELLs if it is implemented in an efficient and effective manner!
As I did more and more research on the topic of blogging in the classroom, I began to find many connections between the effects of blogging and the components of effective SLA. The benefits that blogging provides to ELLs align very significantly with these four components, which would allow one to argue that using blogs in an ESL classroom could be very effective for students who are developing language proficiency in a second language. For example, when students are blogging, they are engaging in reflection and critical thinking skills. These skills, in turn, help students develop their cognitive thought processes - a critical component of SLA. Blogging also provides ESL students with authentic and meaningful interactions with other learners across the world. Authentic communicative situations are essential for ELLs to develop proficiency in a second language. Almost all of the characteristics of blogging that I found during my research aligned with at least one of the four components of SLA.
As a future ESL teacher, I would definitely use blogging as a medium of instruction in my classroom. I think that blogging provides ELLs with so many opportunities to build their language skills in a real, meaningful way. They increase motivation in students, because students are given choice and responsibility in their blog posts; this can instill a sense of pride, self-confidence, and esteem in non-Native speakers who may feel uncomfortable or insecure with their new language. Blogging also allows learners to connect across the globe, sharing their cultures, customs, languages, experiences, and values. When students have the chance to connect worldwide, they develop global and cultural awareness that is often not present in a confined classroom.
While blogging has many benefits to ELLs, and all students in general, it has to be implemented in an effective and structured manner. Teachers need to keep in mind that not all students have access to technology outside of the classroom, so they need to allow students class-time to work on their blogs. Many students may not have experience with the basics of using a computer, so teachers need to provide full, sequential instruction so that students are not overwhelmed by new information. Teachers also need to find ways to keep students engaged in the blogging process. This can be done by giving students choice about their blog topics, using partner blogs, having students comment on each other's blogs, and more. Blogging can be extremely effective for ELLs if it is implemented in an efficient and effective manner!
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Visual Learning
Many of our students in the classroom are going to be visual learners, meaning that they need visual representations of the content in order to develop a deep understanding of it. As a future ESL teacher, I think visual learning is especially important. When teaching non-native speakers, it is crucial to provide visual cues so that the student can make connections with the new language and the visual material. If the student is just given the language, how are they supposed to gain a full understanding of what it means?
I had a great experience of this idea today at the school where I am completing my observations. I was working with two Spanish-speaking kindergarteners, and we were working on the names of colors. Since this was my first time working with these two students, I decided to try a quick exercise to get a sense of their background knowledge of colors. I first asked them to point to something blue. The two students just looked at each other, unsure of what to do. I asked the same question but substituted the color yellow, and arrived at the same result. My understanding of this exercise is that the students had no context in which to put the words "blue" and "yellow." I grabbed a pack of crayons and some coloring sheets for the students and we began coloring together. As we colored, I held up each color crayon, said its name, and asked the student to repeat it for me. I then found a corresponding object in the classroom that went along with the color. After a few repetitions of each color, the students began naming the colors without any help from me. Next, I took them to the carpet, which had each color blocked off in its own section. We began by stepping on each color and saying its name. Then to really test their knowledge, I decided to instruct them to go to certain colors. For example, I would say, "James can you hop to the color purple?" By the end of the game they were hopping around and they knew the names of their basic colors! Providing them with visual cues was crucial in developing their understanding of the content I was trying to teach them.
There are many technologies that can help teachers develop visual aids for their students. Last week I learned how to use Inspiration, and I have been using it for my own benefit ever since! Inspiration allows users to create webs, graphic organizers, lists, and more that organize material in an appealing visual style. I have been using it to create graphic organizers for my midterms that are coming up, and it has been really beneficial for my own learning.
I had a great experience of this idea today at the school where I am completing my observations. I was working with two Spanish-speaking kindergarteners, and we were working on the names of colors. Since this was my first time working with these two students, I decided to try a quick exercise to get a sense of their background knowledge of colors. I first asked them to point to something blue. The two students just looked at each other, unsure of what to do. I asked the same question but substituted the color yellow, and arrived at the same result. My understanding of this exercise is that the students had no context in which to put the words "blue" and "yellow." I grabbed a pack of crayons and some coloring sheets for the students and we began coloring together. As we colored, I held up each color crayon, said its name, and asked the student to repeat it for me. I then found a corresponding object in the classroom that went along with the color. After a few repetitions of each color, the students began naming the colors without any help from me. Next, I took them to the carpet, which had each color blocked off in its own section. We began by stepping on each color and saying its name. Then to really test their knowledge, I decided to instruct them to go to certain colors. For example, I would say, "James can you hop to the color purple?" By the end of the game they were hopping around and they knew the names of their basic colors! Providing them with visual cues was crucial in developing their understanding of the content I was trying to teach them.
There are many technologies that can help teachers develop visual aids for their students. Last week I learned how to use Inspiration, and I have been using it for my own benefit ever since! Inspiration allows users to create webs, graphic organizers, lists, and more that organize material in an appealing visual style. I have been using it to create graphic organizers for my midterms that are coming up, and it has been really beneficial for my own learning.
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