symbols in esl teaching –beyond snapshots of nouns small.pdf · symbols in esl teaching ......

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Presented by: Bogdan Pospielovsky

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1.2

Symbols in ESL Teaching

– Beyond Snapshots of

Nouns

Presented By:

Bogdan Pospielovsky


May 13th – 15th

• See new technologies

• Network with professionals

from across Canada

• Learn from educational and

assistive technology leaders

• Discover UDL strategies

• Experience Technology

hands on.

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EducATe

Content – Canadian curriculum in AT tools, templates,

tutorials, tip sheets

Courses – How to, application of AT, requests

Community – build learning communities, post events and news


Introducing Youdle

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Introducing the Youdle Box


How to Learn More

• Subscribe to Blog

• Free Info Sessions

• Bridges’ to Learning Conference

• Web based live Software Demos

• Bridges Loan Pool– Switches

– Communication Aids

– Mounts etc.

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Outline of Presentation

• Look at differences between symbols, realia and pictures

• How to use Symbols to support growth of BICS and CALP

• Overview of using the symbol based software in support of BICS and CALP

• Drawing on Research by:

– Chris Abbot (Symbols Now, 2000)

– Tina and Mike Dethridge (Literacy Through Symbols, 2002)


Types of Technology

Closed

Curriculum

Multi-Media

Authoring

Task Based

Tools

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Widgit Literacy Symbols (WLS)

• Designed with a focus on literacy• Over 10,000 symbols available from Widgit

Software

Simple Line Drawings


Symbol

Pictures vs. Symbols

Picture

Symbol

• something used for or regarded as representing something else; a

material object representing something, often something immaterial;

emblem, token, or sign

• focuses on a single concept/idea

• can be put together to build more precise information

Picture

• visual representation of a person, object, or

scene, as a painting, drawing, photograph

• conveys a lot at once/detail

• its focus may be unclear

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Limits of Photos and Realia

• Intensive use of concrete photographic visual representations language acquisition plateaus after initial success

(Kang, S.H. & Dennis, J.R. (1995). “The effects of

computer-enhanced vocabulary lessons on

achievement of ESL grade school children.”

Computers in the Schools, 11 (3), 25-35).


Iconicity

Transparent Opaque

guessability learnability

drink

A continuum that describes symbols based on their ease of

recognition

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Iconicity

Opaque

Concrete Abstract

verbs setsnouns Function

words

Transparent


What is the Message?

What is the lesson?

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Choosing Symbols: Considerations

• Does the symbol convey the correct meaning?



• Do the symbols have a clear schematic structure to support learning?

WLS

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Symbolstix




PCS

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• Do the symbols have a grammatical structure to

support reading/writing?

– Verb tenses



• Do the symbols have a grammatical structure to support reading/writing?

• plurals, comparatives, superlatives

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• Do the symbols support a range of vocabulary required for curriculum?


Contexts in which we use symbols

• Communication

• Organization and Independence

• Vocabulary support for concept development, oral language ELL support, reading/writing

– within the symbol application

– combined with other software applications

• Create materials for reading support

• Within grids to support student writing

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BICS

• Basic interpersonal

communication skills


Behaviour

• concrete references and/or cues are easily accessed during new, difficult, tense or escalating situations.

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Pragmatics and Semantics

• subtly of language given in a visual context to make them more accessible and concrete.


Homophones

• words pronounced the same as another but differing in meaning, whether spelled the same way or not.

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Heterophones

• words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations and meanings.


Metalinguistic Awarentess

• Metalinguistic awareness (MA) across languages (Bialystock, 2007) very important

• Supported by studies by McCarthey et. Al (2004) and Garcia (2000)

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Boardmaker –

Dual Language Search

• Searches in English

• Presents in Language of your Choice

– Arabic

– Russian

– Hindi etc.


Notes to parents

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'Communication Friendly Environments'


Guide to creating a Communication Friendly Environment

www.symbolsinclusionproject.org/evidence/cfe

Symbols Inclusion Project

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*Current support *Communication *Environment

www.symbolsinclusionproject.org/evidence/cfe

Audit strands self survey



Why do we use symbols?

• Supplement text to increase reading comprehension.

Symbol Inclusion Project(2006)

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Learning to Read


Guided Reading:

What Will You Be For Halloween?

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Supported Curriculum Learning

– Reading books and worksheets



Creating Reading Materials

• Communicate in Print

• Symwriter – writer

• Clicker 5 – clicker library, PCS and/or WLS

• Boardmaker Plus - symbolate

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Communicate Ideas


Add Vocabulary to SMART Notebook

Copy and paste Paste into

gallery

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Concept Mapping Software


CALP

• Cognitive academic language proficiency (Cummins)

• Symbols can be used effectively to support:

– Discrete subject specific academic language learning

– Scaffolded subject specific Writing

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“ELL’s are especially hurt by the fals presumption that

they will continue developing advanced literacy skills

in mainstream classrooms through mere exposure to

classroom discourse and text reading, even without

effective, ongoing language learning assistance

(Allison 2008, Callahan, 2005) p132

•


Can you do this worksheet?

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Symbols illustrate meaning


Key symbols help where meaning is unclear

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• Supported text

– primarily text, with a few key words symbolized, used mainly for specific curriculum topics

• Symbol Literacy:

– full content in symbols and text, symbols reflect grammar, one sentence per line, no more than 8 symbols

• Symbol information:

– Simply imparts the vocabulary terms associated with the topic

Levels of Symbol Support



Simplified

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Full symbol

support



Symbol

supported text

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Text


Pupils often understand the ideas but cannot always read the

words or write their responses.

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Communicate Ideas:

Widget Software


In Smart notebook

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• Word processor that displays a symbol

(if available) for each word typed.

Communicate: SymWriter


• Supported writing environments for

selecting from predefined grids and

buttons


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•Over 10,000 Widgit Literacy Symbols, color

and black & white

•Smart Symbolizing


• Speech feedback

• Symbolic spell checking


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Vocabulary Support

• Within an application for creating displays :

– Communicate in Print - WLS

– Boardmaker – PCS (WLS addendums)

– SymbolMate - Symbolstix

• Concept Mapping Software:

– Kidspiration/Inspiration

– Smart Ideas

– Communicate Ideas – WLS

• Pasted into other applications

– Boardmaker

– Communicate Ideas

– Symbolstix online

– WLS Metafile Collection


Writing

• What is the activity, the goal?

• The place for symbols for spellers

– Consider the impact of using a symbol processor on motivation

– Consider vocabulary support in text mode

– Language representation in word prediction?

• Language representation in the word processor as well as the grid?

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Other Curriculum Symbol Supports

• Web support:

– Point (Widgit)

– Purchased by the web site developer



• Web support:

– Insite (Widgit) • create and display symbol-supported content on your

website

• new "content editor" plugin which can replace or work

alongside your existing content editor

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• Web support:

– SymbolWorld http://www.symbolworld.org/


Communicate: Ideas

• A dynamic environment for modeling and organising thought

• Comes with the Widgit Symbol set of over 10,000 images

• Easy to use

• Ideal for younger grades

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Symbol Supported

Assessment?

“It is essential that ELL’s be assessed in a way that uncouples language proficiency from content knowledge.”

Improving Achievement for English Learners Claude

Goldenberg


Useful Web Resources

Symbol World – Symbol supported resources

www.symbolworld.org

www.tarheelreader.com

www.dictionary.com/translate

www.wordle.net

www.tagxedo.com

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Contact Information

Bogdan Pospielovsky, B.A., B.Ed

Bridges Canada

1-800-353-1107, 2178

[email protected]

Please contact me with any questions!

Or Comments!

symbols in esl teaching –beyond snapshots of nouns small.pdf · symbols in esl teaching ......

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