At the end of this semester of Emerging Tech, we are asked to revisit our Top Ten post from the beginning of the semester. In typical ME fashion, I posted 2 lists:
- What I learned early on in the semester
- A ChatGPT prompt: What are the top ten things teachers of English Language Learners should know about technology?
Read on for copy/paste/reflection.
| Top 10 things I learned the first week: | Reflection |
| Blogging is harder than it looks | Yep |
| Repurposing and updating a blog for a new semester can work. | Not actually sure about that. I feel pretty stuck with a format I don’t love. I may take some time to start fresh before the next class that requires a blog. Or I may try to create one connected with our school website. |
| Technology moves fast and it sometimes leaves breadcrumbs that lead nowhere. | Absolutely true. The internet seems to be equal parts great ideas and dead ends and sometimes it takes more time than you think to figure out which path you are on. |
| Starryai is better for logos and fun illustrations than for complex images if the user is relatively inexperienced. | I am having more fun with Starryai than I thought I would after spending many hours being frustrated over the summer. |
| Canva is also good for making useful “publications” | I am looking forward to exploring Canva more. I have seen some great presentations by others who have used Canva. |
| Commonsense has a good interface with recommended tools to try with reviews and links. | I never looked at it again all semester! The Tech Literacy teacher at my school says he uses it a fair amount, however, so maybe it’s good. |
| Diigo was recommended as a place to catalog good ideas and so far I like it. | I stuck with it as an extra way to bookmark but it doesn’t work on my school google account so its use is limited and I don’t really see how it is better than bookmarks. |
| I am going to have to set a timer for each website/app/homework assignment to avoid pouring whole days into fruitless searches. | Spot on. Timers or I am down the rabbit hole. Thank goodness it stays light late. |
| I successfully avoided using ChatGPT until today./ChatGPT created a pretty good Top 10 list for me. | I actually found some pretty good applications of AI/ChatGPT tools. |
| ChatGPT prompt: What are the top ten things teachers of English Language Learners should know about technology? | Reflection |
| Digital Language Learning Platforms: Explore digital language learning platforms that cater specifically to ELLs. These platforms often provide interactive lessons, assessments, and opportunities for language practice. | I found a couple – Storyworld, for example, that I think may be helpful. But others like Mango Languages look like they are better for English speakers to learn other languages. This is an important distinction that is not always easy to spot because the apps all want to say they do both. |
| Multimedia Resources: Leverage multimedia resources such as videos, audio clips, and interactive presentations to engage ELLs in diverse language experiences. This can enhance comprehension and language skills. | I actually didn’t get to experience or see this much in my library practice. I think some teachers are making more use of video and interactive presentations like Edpuzzle but I didn’t get a chance to do much in this realm. |
| Online Language Games and Apps: Incorporate language learning games and applications that make learning enjoyable for students. Many apps are designed to reinforce vocabulary, grammar, and language proficiency. | The English team has adopted Reading Horizons for the literacy block but I haven’t seen it in action. |
| Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): Explore the potential of VR and AR for language learning. Virtual environments and simulations can provide immersive language experiences, helping ELLs practice in realistic scenarios. | I did not find any of this. Perhaps in the future? I think the reality of being an immigrant high schooler may be enough practice. |
| Collaborative Tools for Communication: Use collaborative tools like video conferencing, discussion forums, and chat platforms to facilitate communication among ELLs. This enhances language practice and fosters a sense of community. | Again, the reality of classrooms full of ELLs may mean that we don’t need all this virtual collaboration. I do think the students like some of how Edpuzzle allows for comments from the teacher online. |
| Adaptive Learning Technologies: Integrate adaptive learning technologies that tailor content to individual student needs. These technologies adjust the difficulty level of tasks based on each learner’s proficiency, ensuring personalized learning experiences. | Here is where fun exploration was really helpful. We dug deep on Diffit, an AI powered tool that allows teachers to differentiate their curriculum. I also want to get teachers to incorporate the Chrome extension read&write more extensively with all their students. |
| Online Reading and Writing Tools: Encourage the use of online reading and writing tools that provide instant feedback. This can help ELLs improve their writing skills and gain confidence in expressing themselves in English. | I think this encompasses much of what is listed above. |
| Digital Storytelling: Engage ELLs in digital storytelling activities. This can include creating multimedia presentations, videos, or podcasts, allowing students to express themselves creatively while enhancing language skills. | I didn’t find much specifically in this realm that we use in school but just as I would like to get more adept at Canva, I think the kids could also use it more to create strong presentations.We do have a podcasting class at school. I should try to see how I can help/what I can learn from them. |
| Language Translation Tools: Introduce ELLs to language translation tools that can aid in understanding and bridging language gaps. Emphasize the responsible use of these tools to support comprehension. | Yep. We are learning more and more translation tools. Just yesterday I used the camera feature on google translate to understand the caption (in Vietnamese) under a cute Tiktok video of a monkey and a rabbit. Extremely useful stuff. Also translation is part of read&write and the Gale databases. |
| Professional Development in EdTech: Stay informed about the latest educational technology trends and participate in professional development opportunities. This will help teachers stay current with effective tech integration strategies for language learning. | I am looking forward to learning and teaching tech tools and making a bank of lessons easily available to teachers à la Helene Blowers 23 Things. |
Library at BINcA 
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