INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERSANGELA VONANCKENSEI 301FEBRUARY 1, 2016PROFESSOR DIANA LUCERO

IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO OUR ELL CLASSROOMS• Students will continue to use technology even after they are

out of school. By using the technology with our 1st grade students, they will be comfortable using it and learning with it.• Using technology will maintain the interest of students while

they learn important concepts. The technology is continually changing and updating therefore students will be challenged while using the technology.

TECHNOLOGY TO USE WITH 1ST GRADE ELL STUDENTS• Document Cameras

• They are manufactured by ELMO and usually come with the Smart Boards already used in classrooms.

• iPads• Many students are already familiar

with using these and the applications with the camera and video are valuable learning tools.

• Digital Cameras• Students can take pictures to create

slideshows or flashcards for relevant concepts.

SUPPORTING SOFTWARE TO USE WITH TECHNOLOGYOnce students have an understanding of how to use the equipment, it can be linked with computer software applications to enhance the learning.Possible software applications include the following:• Amimoto, Microsoft MovieMaker, and Apple iMovie can

create a slideshow or movie presentation with music and narration using the pictures or videos that students have taken with the digital camera, document camera or iPad.

• Photo Story can also take the pictures and create a summary of the concepts using student or teacher narration.

SO HOW DOES THIS TECHNOLOGY REALLY HELP OUR 1ST GRADE ELL STUDENTS LEARN?• Vocabulary

• Students can take pictures of objects that are known and unknown in English. These pictures can be used to help students learn and master the English vocabulary words.

• Cooperative Learning groups• Students will work together to learn how to

use the technology in a step by step process. Working with others will not only reinforce the use of technology but students will obtain a better understanding of the concept being taught through hands on experiences using the camera.

• Demonstrating a skill• Students can use the technology to photograph each

other performing different skills, such as steps to complete a math problem or sequencing story cards. Taking the photographs and using the software to assemble the photographs will reinforce the concepts and enhance learning.

• Assessment of learned concept• Students can use the technology to create a

presentation that will show what they have learned about the concept being taught. For ELL students, recording their voice to accompany the presentation, gives them more confidence since they can correct any mistakes made while speaking plus hearing their own voice is a learning opportunity.

SUMMARY

The more opportunities that ELL students have to use technology to enhance their learning, not only of English but the general education benchmarks, the better chance they will have of gaining and understanding of the language and concepts. Technology is an excellent tool in which to maintain student interest and the use of the iPad, document camera, or digital camera puts the learning in the hands of the students. The teacher can guide them and give them step by step instructions to complete a learning activity but the students will have the opportunity to be creative and show what they know and how far they have come learning the material.

REFERENCES

Brozek, E. & Duckworh, D. (2011). Supporting English Language Learners Through Technology. Educator’s Voice, v IV, pgs. 10-15. Retrieved from:

https://www.nysut.org/~/media/Files/NYSUT/Resources/2011/March/Educators%20Voice%204%20Technology/edvoiceIV_ch2.pdfColorin’ Colorado website. (2009). Technology in Classrooms. Retrieved

from: www.colorincolorado.org/teaching-ells/technology-ells/technology-classroom.