Hi, my name is Ashley. And today's lesson is titled using adaptive learning with students who are English language learners.
In today's lesson, we will look at the features of students who are English language learners. We'll also look at the challenges that they face on a day-to-day basis. And how adaptive learning can support their learning. Also, we'll take a look at resources that are available for parents and teachers in order to assist English language learners.
Students learning English as a second language make up 10% to 20% of students in the K through 12 classroom. These students included in this statistic are very diverse in that they are at different levels of language proficiency, their socioeconomic status' vary, there are different levels of content knowledge, and their expectations of schooling are not all the same, as some students have little or no schooling experiences before entering a school.
What are the challenges that English language learners face? About 4% of ELL eighth graders in 2005 scored proficient on the reading section of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, compared to 31% of eighth graders who also scored proficient. This proves there's a challenge for students with reading and vocabulary. Knowledge of grammar rules also causes a problem because there are so many exceptions to the rule. And sentence structure is significantly different from their own language.
Math also is consistently an issue due to symbols used, and the fact that we use the customary system, opposed to the metric system which is used in other countries. Also math is experienced as a rote experience in other countries, unlike a problem solving way as we currently do in the United States.
How can adaptive learning support English language learners? The adaptive learning system can be organized so that it incorporates more visuals and images, opposed to text. This relieves the frustration of having to decode words, and puts the focus on comprehension of the images.
Adaptive learning offers intelligent tutoring, which can address a student's specific needs at their level. It can meet them where they are in terms of language and vocabulary development. This is another tool that will help reduce academic frustration that may be encountered in the traditional classroom.
We mentioned earlier, English language learners are all diverse, and some don't have specific content knowledge. With the use of adaptive learning, it can assist in building prior knowledge, which makes new learning more meaningful. And helps students to make connections to vocabulary in their language and English.
What resources are available? One resource is the WIDA Can Do statements and another is the Colorin Colorado. Let's take a quick sneak peek at these two sites.
Here's the WIDA Can Do statement site. This is a resource to help the general education teacher learn to differentiate instruction appropriately for students who are learning to speak English. The Colorin Colorado site is for families and teachers of students who are learning English for the very first time. On this site, you can find resources to assist students in learning the English language.
In today's lesson, we discussed that English language learners are a fast-growing group of students in the K through 12 school setting. They are a very diverse group in that they have a range of abilities. Some challenges that are faced by these students is that reading and vocabulary become very difficult. Grammar is very hard to understand, as well as the sentence structure since it is so very different from other languages.
Adaptive learning can support English language learners by incorporating images, offering intelligent tutoring, and by building on prior knowledge. We also looked at two resources that can be used to help teachers and parents find ways to assist students who are learning to speak English.
Consider how adaptive learning systems can benefit students who are learning the English language. Tour the sites, and discover how they can be helpful in instructing ELL.
As you reflect on how this new information can be applied, you may want to explore the Additional Resources section that accompanies this video presentation. This is where you'll find links to resources chosen to help you deepen your learning and explore ways to apply your newly acquired skill set.
Overview
(00:00 - 00:12) Introduction
(00:13 - 00:34) What Will You Learn Today?
(00:35 - 01:05) What are the Features of Students who are English Language Learners?
(01:06 - 01:59) What are the Challenges that ELL Face?
(02:00 - 02:52) How can Adaptive Learning Support ELL?
(02:53 - 03:38) What Resources are Available?
(03:39 - 04:26) What Did You Learn Today?
(04:27 - 04:54) Reflection
Engaging English Language Learners with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education
This article suggests that teachers and students view the world differently. As a result, there is frequently a disconnect that gets in the way of learning. The authors suggest the Mutually Adaptive Learning Paradigm (MALP) as a framework
for using the students' way of understanding to access new learning and understanding.
https://www.nysut.org/~/media/Files/NYSUT/Resources/2010/May/Educators%20Voice%203%20Adolescents/educatorsvoice3_adolescents_08_ell2.pdf
Adaptive Learning in ELT: A Mismeasure of language
This particular blog entry provides a comprehensive overview of using adaptive learning with English Language Learners from the perspective of a practitioner. Throughout the blog, the practitioner reviews several adaptive learning platforms (with screenshots) for use with English Language Learners. The practitioner offers strong cautions about how these programs should be used with students.
https://adaptivelearninginelt.wordpress.com/2015/01/10/the-mismeasure-of-language/