Knox, C., & Anderson-Inman, L. (2001, February). Migrant
ESL High School Students Succeed Using Networked Laptops. Learning &
Leading with Technology, 28(5), 18-21. Accessed November 12, 2012,
from ISTE. WWW.ISTE.org
What: In this article by Carolyn Knox and Lynne
Anderson-Inman entitled Migrant
ESL High School Students Succeed Using Networked Laptops it is about technology
for Spanish speaking students. It explains how student that do not speak English
as a primary language do not understand the material given to them in secondary
schools. The technology available to them is note takers and speech to text. It
describes how program works and benefits students that don’t speak English as a
first language. The authors go over the results of this program and in detail
explain the 5 results. These five results are Student
Success in School: higher grades, Individual Migrant Student Lifestyles, Student
Acquisition of Bilingual Literacy Skills, Teachers in the Classroom, Student
Acquisition of Technology Skills. The article also explains the benefits of
wireless note taking devices for these students, allowing for the difference in
language and reading skill.
So What: this is
important because many students that we as educators may have in our class may
not speak English as a first language. As an educator it is my job to ensure
all my students have the same opportunity to learn and retain the information. Some
of the students that do not speak English as first language tend to get board,
or skip class, or just don’t try. So it is important to have access to the
technology that can help these students learn and feel a little more
comfortable in the classroom.
Now What: I fully
intend to incorporate this technology into my classroom if I am faced with
students that do not speak English as a first language. Students need all the
help they can get especially if they do not understand the language the lecture
is being presented in. being in southern California this will probably be a
common problem I as an educator are faced with. I will do every thing in my
power to make sure my students have the tools necessary to succeed in my
classroom.
Charles, great article on how we, as teachers, must face the fact that as many as half of our students may not speak English as their first language. The use of these speech to text tools, as well as the fact that ELL students can use the computer in their native tongue is a wonderful tool to help students better achieve their goals in school. It is important that we, as their teachers, remember that this technology is available and can be used to help these ELL students succeed in school. I, for one, didn't know that this was available, only that interpreters or sitting the student next to another more fluent bilingual student were the only ways to help these ELL students learn.
ReplyDeleteCharles,
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really interesting article. I chose to read another article for this assignment, but I think this one sounds great. I think that giving laptops to migrant students is a really innovative idea. Do the migrant students take the laptops with them as they travel from school to school? If they do, I think that this would really help them take ownership over their education. This is an often ignored population of students that really needs reaching out to. Great job with this post.