Enhancing English language learner’s vocabulary through Technology

Brianne Doty

Course Overview

Purpose

This mini-course is a resource for early childhood educators and teachers to develop English language learning students’ English vocabulary. I aim to provide interactive online lessons that teachers can utilize for children that are having difficulties adjusting to the language and reinforce common academic skills in the classroom. I have multiple English language learners in my preschool class this year. For most of the children, my classroom is the first place that they are immersed in the English language. My students have had to adapt and find other ways to communicate their ideas and knowledge of the learning activities at hand.

Assessment of Learner Needs

In the past few years, teachers have experienced an increase in students who are English language learners. The targeted learners for this course will consist of early childhood educators from both public and private school backgrounds that are familiar with the Early Learning Standards in New York State. Early childhood educators may not be aware or trained in integrating technology into their classes, nor are they aware of the interactive online lessons they may utilize to strengthen ELLs English vocabulary and academic skills. When teachers integrate technology into their classrooms, they are creating a more engaging learning environment for their students. This technology can have the ability to track student’s involvement. This feedback provides information to teachers to have student-teacher conversation and scaffolding after lessons. At the end of a lesson through these technologies, teachers can quickly look through the retrieved data to gauge student understanding. They can use this technology to understand what academic skills need more direct instruction and/ or reteaching.

Performance Objectives

At the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Identify online instructional activities to optimize vocabulary building lessons for ELL students
  
• Develop online lessons for ELL students to learn English vocabulary
  
• Execute scaffolding and supports through technology for students both in and outside of the physical classroom
  

Course Units

This mini-course includes the following units Click the title of a unit to go to it's page.

Extended Resources

Children's Technology Review (2018). Khan Academy Kids. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADYFoIXJBP4

Costley, K. C. (2014). The Positive Effects of Technology on Teaching and Student Learning. Arkansas Tech University. Retrieved from: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED554557.pdf

Khan Academy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.khanacademy.org/

Khan Academy Kids. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/kids

Khan Academy Kids Featured Articles. Teacher Guide: Using Khan Academy Kids in the Classroom. Retrieved from https://khankids.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360014856151-Teacher-Guide-Using-Khan-Academy-Kids-in-the-Classroom

Khan Academy Academic Help Center. Helping ELL's. Retrieved from https://khanacademy.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/115008114988-Helping-ELL-s

Khan Academy Teacher Resources. Creating and managing assignments for your class. retrieved from: https://www.khanacademy.org/

Khan Academy Teacher Resources. Creating assignments for your students.Retrieved from: https://www.khanacademy.org/

Khan Academy Teacher Resources. Viewing and using assignment reports.Retrieved from: https://www.khanacademy.org/

Roblyer, M. D. (2013). Technology Integration in the Content Area Assignment: Review of Lesson Plan for Technology Integration. p 2 Rubrics for Technology Integration based on the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards. Center for Catholic School Effectiveness, School of Education, Loyola University Chicago, in partnership with the Barbara and Patrick Roche Center for Catholic Education, Lynch School of Education, Boston College (2012).

Technology Integration Rubric. (2010). Jobs for the Future

Why I use Khan Academy - an educator's perspective - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SseqbIzXjg