Using Technology to Enhance Learning

This week I read an article about technology strategies teacher can use to English language learners. Using technology to enhance learning science is significant for students, especially who... See More

This week I read an article about technology strategies teacher can use to English language learners. Using technology to enhance learning science is significant for students, especially who regard English as their second language. Help ELL students expand their vocabulary of science is essential. Teacher can use resource such as dictionaries and videos. This article introduced incorporating online interactives. Some online interactive application help students “attach meaning to words in authentic contexts.” (Campbell & Rivas, 2012) The next strategy is digital word magnets. Teacher will create a template which contains the picture and some labels. Students should move labels to “identify elements in the picture.” (Campbell & Rivas, 2012) This activity will be interesting and effective because images can help students memorize unfamiliar words and children are interested in completing the blank template. Graphic organizers also can promote understanding of what they learned. Students can check how they work on through the words I know template. It includes a main word, a drawing or insert picture, some words students think similar or related, their definition of that word and when do they use this word. In addition, venn diagrams is a great way to help students distinguish two similar or related things. For advanced students, they can create their own words and make illustrations on venn diagrams. Another strategy the article provided is short video creation. ELL students can create vocabulary videos to increase their visual literacy. Assessment is also necessary after the instruction. Students should have teacher-reviewed graphic organizer. In summary, using technology to enhance students’ learning of science is effective.

Technology to Embrace Learning

Besides explicitly teaching students vocabulary terms, this article reviews other ways to embed words into students’ internal dictionaries so that the terms can be used in context more comfo... See More

Besides explicitly teaching students vocabulary terms, this article reviews other ways to embed words into students’ internal dictionaries so that the terms can be used in context more comfortably. Technological tools to facilitate this process are described. They include incorporating online interactives, using digital word magnets, integrating graphic organizers, creating short videos, and encouraging meaning-making with Venn diagrams. The authors promote the use of technology to actively engage students so that technology integration is used as a tool of instruction and not just a means to deliver said instruction. Many of the technology applications described in the article are free offerings.