MLesinski ESL509 Blog

This week, the article I read was “ A Historic Literacy Effort in California Brings Personalized Learning to English Language Learners ” by Tim Newcomb. The article really shows the power that personalized learning can truly have not just for ELL students, but all students, if it is implemented properly. In Napa County, California, Barbara Nemko (the superintendent of schools) partnered with Footsteps2Brilliance® to bring a digital version of early learning literacy to the students in her district. Footsteps2Brilliance® is “ a transformative pre-K through 3rd grade literacy solution that utilizes mobile technology to connect school, home, and the community for academic success.    Its innovative Mobile Technology Platform allows comprehensive literacy apps to be accessed online or offline from any mobile device (Apple or Android) or traditional computer.    This enables school districts, for the first time ever, to leverage the mobile devices that parents alrea...

This week I focused on articles that show how both students and teachers can benefit from the use of technology in the classroom. The  article  I explored showed how teachers, students, and even parents can benefit from the use of technology in the classroom.  One of the main focuses of the article is the ease with which students can access information and different sources of information. With the click of a mouse or the touch of a screen students can access information from sources all over the world. This can be especially beneficial for students looking to learn another language as they can practice conversation in their foreign language with a tutor who lives in the country of origin of that language.  Another benefit of technology in the classroom is that it can remove the ability for peer judgment. In the middle school setting, being viewed as "cool" is the top priority for many students. When students struggle with a concept or with the ability to fl...