BLDA presentation: . Using technology to support Reading for Low Level ELSA Students

1. BLDA presentation:.Using technology to support Reading for Low Level ELSA Students Moodle & smart Board

2. MOSAIC Language Centre • ELSA – English Language Services for Adults: Pre-Literacy to Level 5 • Free English classes – government-funded,newcomers to Canada, ages 17+ • My Role: Team Leader for Literacy to Level 3 • Progress test – Ss must show CLB4 skills at L3 to progress to L4 • Facilitate greater use of technology in/outside the classroom • Encourage extended learning activities outside of class • Create opportunity for review of lessons at home • Increase digital literacy for lower level students

3. Puzzling Issues • Student reading ability – not passing progress tests • Instructors ask for more reading materials • Ss would benefit from outside of class supported learning • Photostory readers – http://www.grassrootsbooks.net/ca/grass-roots-readers • Currently purchased, but not being used • Online activities in pdf, but not SB friendly or accessible to Ss • Computer lab • Under-utilized – Ss need to develop digital literacy • Ss require safe & secure online access • SMART Boards (Interactive/electronic whiteboards) • Purchased over a year ago but not being fully utilized • Not all instructors adept at designing materials

4. PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH

5. Differing perspectives… .Analysing learning at different levels of aggregation in the learning cycle:Mayes & de Frietas 2007, p.21

6. Design Principles for the Blend.“Central to learning is the creation of an environment particularly conducive to the area involved” (Bork 1980, p.606).

7. Blend SMART Board In-classactivities MOODLE Out-of-class activities • Pre-reading activities • Introduction • Preview book • Predict the story • Post-reading activities • Remembering details • Comprehension check • Group discussion • SB games • Scrambled sentences • Ordering sentences • Word/picture matching • Listen to the story • Record their own reading • Vocabulary • Review • Vocabulary linked to Miriam WebsterLearner’s Dictionary www.learnersdictionary.com/ • Vocabulary bank • Extended activities • Worksheets • Online discussion • Giving/receiving advice

8. SMART Board – Introduction to the Story

9. MOODLE Sample Worksheet Ss would have access to the answer key to check their answers.

10. MOODLE – Outside of class activities

11. References Beetham, H. (2007) ‘An approach to learning activity design’, in Beetham, H. and Sharpe, R. (Eds) Rethinking Pedagogy for a Digital Age, Oxford: Routledge. Bork, A. (1980). Interactive learning. In R. Taylor (Ed.) The computer in school: Tutor, tool, tutee (pp. 53-66). New York: Teachers College Press. Available from: http://www.citejournal.org/vol2/iss4/seminal/article1.cfm [Accessed 14th December 2012] Mayes & De Freitas.(2007) ‘Learning and E-Learning: the role of theory’, in Beetham, H. and Sharpe, R. (Eds) Rethinking Pedagogy for a Digital Age, Oxford: RoutledgeFalmer. Sharma, P. & Barrett, B. (2007) Blended Learning: Using technology in and beyond the language classroom, Macmillian Education.