Emerging Technologies in ESL Teaching

Jorge F. Figueroa- Flores, PhDAssistant Professor of ESL/English

Universidad del EsteCarolina, PR

[email protected]

Jorge F. Figueroa- Flores, PhDAssistant Professor of ESL/English

Universidad del EsteCarolina, PR

[email protected]

Emerging Technologies in ESL Teaching

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

ObjectivesObjectives

• By the end of this presentation you will be able to:

1. Identify emerging technologies for your classroom.

2. Compare and contrast web 2.0 technology with other technologies used in ESL.

3. Evaluate different options for your classroom or unit incorporating emerging technologies.

4. Incorporate emerging technologies into your teaching.

IntroductionIntroduction

• For many years we’ve heard about the use of technology in the ESL classroom.

• What about the applications?• What software is the best?• According to Ybarra and Green (2003),

computers can play an integral part in providing ELL students with valuable language experiences as they learn a new language.

Technology Use for ESLTechnology Use for ESL

• On Site use– involve learning that takes place in the classroom or

computer lab in a teacher-led, whole-group setting.– supplement to the core curriculum and are carried out

within normal course meeting times.– the use of software programs designed for language

learning.


• Blended use– a supplement to the primary course curriculum and is

used both within classes or labs and outside the classroom (e.g., in the home, library, or community center) without the teacher.

– According to Chapelle (2008), technologies that lend themselves to blended uses include software, and computer-mediated communication (CMC).

– A LMS is necessary to carry out this type of use.


• Project-Based Web Learning

– learners work together to complete tasks that are primarily Internet-based and may involve the use of e-mail and word processing.

– Webquests are a specific type of Project-based Web learning that focus on inquiry and group work and involve gathering information and resources from the Internet


– Smith –Stoner & Willer (2005), mention that Web-based games can be accessed from the classroom and other locations.

– Examples include crossword puzzles, games based on grammar, vocabulary, and spelling, matching games etc…


• Online Learning– is entirely Internet-based. – Teachers never meet onsite– A LMS is necessary to carry out this type of

teaching/learning.– Communication and the transmission of course

content take place online. – Reynard (2003) has named this type of learning for

ESL computer mediated distance education (CMDE)– Well known LMS include: Blackboard, Web CT,

Moodle.


• Three examples of online learning projects are English for All, USA Learns, and Learner Web.

Are we using Emerging Technologies?Are we using Emerging Technologies?

• The answer is……. “partially”.• We use links, sites, and software.• But we are not using all the advantages of the

emerging technologies.• Remember that emerging technologies involve

innovation, communication, and last generation systems.

Emerging Technologies are….Emerging Technologies are….

The Transition…The Transition…

Look around….and always look around your classroom…Look around….and always look around your classroom…

How can we benefit our ESL students?How can we benefit our ESL students?

• The answer is the Web 2.0• According to O’Reilly(2005), the Web 2.0 are

web applications that facilitate interactive information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and collaboration on the World Wide Web.

• The evolution of traditional technologies into web applications focusing on the end user.

• Web 2.0 is an attitude not a technology

• Applications that move away from the traditional desktop.

• A second generation of web-based communities and hosted services such as social networking, sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies

How can we benefit our ESL students?How can we benefit our ESL students?

O’Reilly GraphicO’Reilly Graphic

Directories are neededDirectories are needed

Web 2.0 Directory (http://www.go2web20.net)

Find all Online tools and applications on one page, get a short description, compare, read reviews, see what people are saying about each one on the web.

Listio (http://www.listio.com)

Listio is a directory of web 2.0 applications and tools. Users can submit new web 2.0 sites, or vote and comment on the best web 2.0 websites

http://www.go2web20.net/

http://www.listio.com/

Integrating Web 2.0 to ESLIntegrating Web 2.0 to ESL

• Most students use Web 2.0 technology thanks in part to video streaming and social networks:– You Tube, Google Video– Facebook, Twitter, MySpace– Podcasting

My Proposal….My Proposal….

• Integrate blogs, wikis and podcasts to the ESL/English course and keep promoting social networking and video streaming.

• Combine the traditional classroom setting with Web 2.0 technology.

What is a Blog?What is a Blog?

• A Blog is a website where entries are commonly displayed in reverse chronological order.

• Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries.

• A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic.

• The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs

Why Blogs?Why Blogs?

• Engage students with native speakers• Good for assessing writing• Let instructors post and track homework• Empower students• Integrate Internet resources as links

Blogs in the ESL ClassroomBlogs in the ESL Classroom

• The use of blogs in the ESL classroom– Use as a journal or diary.– Promotes critical thinking.– Open Classroom walls.– Can assess student writing.– Promotes Process Writing– Shows the wider world what is happening:

• students+students with other schools+parents+organizations• Anyone with Internet connection• Could create language learning communities

To Create a Blog….To Create a Blog….

Blogger (http://www.blogger.com)

is a free blog publishing tool from Google for easily sharing your thoughts with the world. Blogger makes it simple to post text, photos and video.

Wordpress (http://www.wordpress.com)

is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog.

Blog (http://www.blog.com)

provides a fully-featured publishing platform for free. Blog by yourself or establish a writing community, all under an address

http://www.blogger.com/

http://www.wordpress.com/

http://www.blog.com/

What is a Wiki?What is a Wiki?

• Is a software that allows users to easily create, edit, and link pages together.

• Why Wikis?– Because content is the priority and not the design.– They are easy to read and follow up by the learners.– They combine video and audio.– Used for creating collaborative websites.– Empower communities.

Wikis in ESL?Wikis in ESL?

• We use Wikis for…– Collaborative projects– Classroom projects– Web pages– Integrate audio, video, text, files, and images– Discussion boards– Online platforms

To Create a WikiTo Create a Wiki

Wikispaces (http://www.wikispaces.com)

Wikis are simple web pages that groups, friends, and families can edit together. Starting your wiki at Wikispaces is fast, free, and easy.

PbWiki (http://www.pbwiki.com)

Wiki website where you can start your project and have a cool online collaboration.

Wiki (http://www.wiki.com)

A web site that makes it simple for anyone to create and share web pages, images, and much more in an instant. If you can browse, you can wiki!

http://www.wikispaces.com/

http://www.pbwiki.com/

http://www.wiki.com/

PodcastingPodcasting

• Is a collection of digital media files which is distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds (RSS of XML) for playback on mobile devices and personal computers

• Why Podcasting?– Use voice to connect students– Audio and video can be integrated– Bridges cultures– Motivate students– Because a real audience exist

Podcasting benefits for ESLPodcasting benefits for ESL

• Podcasts benefits– Record classes– Students record episodes– Good for assessing pronounciation– Short radio shows– Flexibility– Playback– Synchronization of Episodes

To Create a PodcastTo Create a Podcast

• Podomatic (http://www.podomatic.com)

Get a free podcast, share your faves.

• GabCast (http://www.gabcast.com) Is a podcasting and audioblogging platform that offers virtual communities, individuals and organizations an easy way to create and distribute audio content.

• ODEO (http://www.odeo.com)

Share your voice with the world. Insert your audio and create a podcast to share in your blog.

http://www.podomatic.com/

http://www.gabcast.com/

http://www.odeo.com/

How we know this works?How we know this works?

• Universidad del Este in Santa Isabel is one of the branches of Universidad del Este and part of the Ana G. Mendez University System

• It’s located in the city of Santa Isabel in the South of Puerto Rico

• It offers undergraduate and graduate programs and has over 1,000 active students

• The students are mainly young adults from the cities of Santa Isabel, Salinas, and Coamo.

• The family background includes low income and limited education.

• Mostly are first generation students.• The institution presented a retention problem

within the Basic English/ESL courses.• Retention rate in the Basic English/ESL courses

was 64% in 2007.



• After integrating Web 2.0 to the Basic English/ESL courses the retention rate increased to 94% in 2008 and was kept in 93% in 2009.

After the success…After the success…

• It was decided to integrate Web 2.0 applications to all the general education courses including Spanish and Mathematics.

• 85% of the professors from the School of Social Sciences and Humane Studies are blogging.

• New technologies have been implemented.• Training in Web 2.0 and Open Source software

has become essential.

What we are implementing now?What we are implementing now?

• Web Streaming

– It means taking the video and broadcasting it live over the Internet.

– The process involves a camera for the video, an encoder to digitize the content, a video publisher where the streams are pushed to and a content delivery network to distribute and deliver the content.

– The URL can then be viewed by end users live


• Ustream (http://www.ustream.com)

Broadcast video LIVE to the world from a computer, mobile, Android or iPhone in minutes, or watch thousands of shows from news to entertainment.

• Live Stream (http://www.livestream.com)

Broadcast and live stream your own channel for events, performances, sports, ... Sign up for a Producer account to stream live to millions from Livestream.com.

http://www.ustream.com/


• Virtual mentoring and tutoring for ESL students.• Students sign up for mentoring or tutoring

individually or in groups to a maximum of 6.• The professor, the teaching assistant, or the tutor

provides the service on schedule thru audio or video conference

• We use Skype (http://www.skype.com) and ooVoo (http://www.oovoo.com)


• Cloud Computing– It’s an emerging technology for the user.– It gives access to the user of controlling or backing up

information without any hardware.– Frequently used with virtual flash drives.– File Sharing at it’s best.

What are we implementing now?What are we implementing now?

• Using the cloud for ESL– By using file sharing with the students the professor

provides online feedback of the document without expending paper.

– Anyone could use this technology for document’s back up, file sharing, and creating web documents.

– We use Box.net (http://www.box.net) because it offers 5gb of free space.

– Another cloud is Dropbox (http://www.dropbox.com) it serves for the same purpose.

• Video engines

- Youtube (http://www.youtube.com)

is a place to discover, watch, upload and share videos.

- Teachertube (http://www.teachertube.com)

Our goal at TeacherTube.com is to provide an online community for sharing instructional teacher videos. Upload your lesson plan videos or watch students.

Important Applications for your Classroom Important Applications for your Classroom

• Web Site creators

- Webnode (http://www.webnode.com)

is the best way to create and manage your own website or blog for free. You can add picture galleries, discussion forums or widgets and gadgets.

- WIX (http://www.wix.com)

Create a free website with Wix.com. Use Wix free website builder to design stunning Flash websites designs with drag and drop website builder.



• Converters– Zamzar (http://www.zamzar.com)

Online file conversion, covering a wide range of different image, document, music, video and compression formats. Free for files up to 100MB.

– Comet Docs (http://www.cometdocs.com)

Over 50 different conversions. On the fly OCR conversion capabilities.

• Presentations

Share your presentation on the Internet . Create links and embedded codes using Author Stream (http://www.authorstream.com) or Slideshare at (http://www.slideshare.net)

• Create multimedia presentations with Animoto at http://www.animoto.com


Open Yourself to Open Source SoftwareOpen Yourself to Open Source Software

• Open Source software– It’s the user freedom to copy, execute, distribute, and

change the application.– It’s a development method for software that harnesses

the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process.

How are we implementing Open Source software?How are we implementing Open Source software?

• Most of our students are on a limited budget.• They have no money to purchase software.• For every software there is an Open Source.• We are providing our students with Open Source

Software such as Open Office, Moodle, and Cam Studio.

Open OfficeOpen Office

• Download at http://www.openoffice.org

– A multiplatform and multilingual office suite and an open-source project. Compatible with all other major office suites, free to download, use, copy, and distribute.

– Insert the download tool in the blog or wiki to facilitate it to the students.

Cam StudioCam Studio

• Download at http://www.camstudio.org • As an instructor you can use Cam Studio to do

different tutorials with your students and publish them on the web.

• The recorded file has two formats AVI and SWF.• You can select areas to record live.• It has a clear sound.

MoodleMoodle

• Is a Course Management System (CMS), also known as a Learning Management System (LMS) or a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

• It is a free web application that educators can use to create effective online learning.

MoodleMoodle

• Places to work with Moodle (Free Web Hosting):

– Key to School (http://www.keytoschool.com/) At Key To School (KTS), we believe that Moodle is indeed a gift to all educators.

– Gnomio (http://www.gnomio.com) If you are interested in having your own free unlimited learning site with admin privileges fill the next form and you will have it online within seconds!

– Global Classroom (http://www.globalclassroom.us/) Create your own school.

And remember….And remember….

• We are living “The Battle of the Apps”.• We don’t know what else is coming.• We should be ready and use it in the classroom.• We need to hear the learners because they

dominate the technology.

Documents

Emerging Technologies in ESL Teaching