Best Practices using Best Practices using Technology for Writing Technology for Writing

Instruction and Instruction and Beyond Beyond

2nd Annual New England Regional Community College ESL Conference

Christina M. CavageOctober 21, 2011

Best Practices and Best Practices and Technology in the ESL Technology in the ESL

ClassroomClassroomAgenda:

Technological tools

How can you seamlessly infuse these tools into curricula?

Blended Learning Advantages

What role can blended learning play in supporting writing and other topics?

How can ESL programs connect students to these resources?

Why Use Technology?Why Use Technology?Follow a constructivism-connectivism approach to learning (learning is a social process . . .)

Promote a community of learners

Promote autonomy

Learners have greater access to materials

Appeal to their digital nativeness

Technological ToolsTechnological Tools• Podcasts

• WIKIs

a place to define new terms, to peer review essays, to create a collaborative project, as a resource center, a discussion board ACCCESLWiki

• BLOGs

• A great resource for reflective writing; students can respond to a prompt and respond to others, can help build vocabulary Judith's Blog

Course management systems, ie. Blackboard, or commercially developed LMS, ie. Mylab.

Using Web ToolsUsing Web Tools

• Bloom’s Taxonomy and Web 2.0:

• Higher Order

Remembering: networking, searching

Understanding: blogging, commenting

Applying: uploading, sharing, editing

Analyzing: linking, editing

Evaluating: blogging, reflecting, collaborating

Creating: wikis, editing

CreatingEvaluatingAnalyzingApplying

UnderstandingRemembering

Incorporating Tech Incorporating Tech ToolsTools

• Whatever the tool . . .

• Blended Learning is the key to creating access to course content outside of the classroom, as well as engaging learners at higher frequency rates and thus, making greater learner gains.

• What exactly is blended learning?

Blended LearningBlended Learning

According to Thorne (2003), “Blended learning blends online learning with more traditional methods of learning and development” (2).

However, beyond that, blended learning needs to support and reinforce the content delivered in the face to face environment.

Advantages of a Advantages of a Blended Learning Blended Learning

EnvironmentEnvironmentStudents interact with content more frequently when content is presented and supported in a web-based environment (supported by Dept of Ed 2009 research)

Advantages of Advantages of Blended LearningBlended Learning

Students have access to content anytime, anyplace . . . so that student who works till 3 am, can log on after work

Advantages of Advantages of Blending LearningBlending Learning

Students take more control over their own learning; i.e.. they develop greater learner autonomy

As supported, “Blended Learning in an ESL Class: A Case Study”, Maja Grgurovic, CALICO Vol. 29, No 1, September 2011

Advantages . . .Advantages . . .

• Students interact with content more frequently . . . (we know if we increase frequency of interaction, greater learner gains will be made)

• Students are able to work on their own schedule . . .

• Students take more control over their own learning—greater autonomy

Blended Learning Blended Learning EnvironmentsEnvironments

Three levels of blended learning environments

Electronic workbook

Reinforcement of course content (teacher can manipulate slightly, but not add

content)

Course management system that fully supports course content and can be manipulated by teacher, i.e.. teacher can add and delete content

Writing and The Writing and The Blended Learning Blended Learning

EnvironmentEnvironment• Can facilitate “pre-writing” activities

Writing and Blended Writing and Blended LearningLearning

• BL environments can help students build vocabulary

Writing and Blended Writing and Blended LearningLearning

• Allows teachers to customize writing topic

Writing and Blended Writing and Blended LearningLearning

• Supports revision and allows students to submit several drafts

Writing and Blended Writing and Blended LearningLearning

• Allows teachers and students to check for plagiarism

Writing and Blended Writing and Blended LearningLearning

• Keeps a draft history for learners and instructors . . .great evidence for mastery of student learning outcomes

• FOGI Examples

Writing and Blended Writing and Blended LearningLearning

• Instructors can clearly see students progress. Reports can be generated for conferencing, or for accreditation reporting

Connecting Students Connecting Students to Resourcesto Resources

• Use a learning management system

• ie. MyNorthStar Lab

• Build online homework activities into course

• Train students (and teachers!) in how to use the resources

Blended LearningBlended LearningUsing a blended learning environment . . .

allows the learners to have greater access to course content

allows the learners to interact with content in an engaging, stimulating way

allows learners to interact with course content at high frequency rates

allows the learners to self-direct their learning; leading to greater learner gains

Blended LearningBlended LearningUsing a blended learning environment . . .

allows ESL professionals to augment their teaching

allows ESL professionals to customize their course content to meet needs of their course/program(through the re-ordering to creating and deleting questions)

saves time for ESL professionals in searching for additional course support materials

provides ESL professionals with a “portfolio” of student work, evidence for mastery of student learning outcomes

Blended LearningBlended Learning

Questions??

Christina M. Cavage

ccavage@scad.edu

ReferencesReferences• Grgurovic, M. (2011). Blended Learning in an ESL

Class: A Case Study. CALICO Journal, 29, 100-117.

• Scida, E. E., Saury, E.R (2006). Hybrid courses and their impact on student and classroom performance: A case study at the University of Virginia. CALICO Journal, 23, 517-531.

• Thorne, K. (2003) Blended Learning: How to integrate online and traditional learning. London: Kogan Page.