[NIFL-AALPD:1955] Integrating Computer Technology discussion

From: jataylor (jataylor@utk.edu)
Date: Tue Feb 15 2005 - 12:18:21 EST


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Hi All,
There's a great discussion on NIFL-Technology about Integrating Computer 
Technology in the ABE Classroom, with Liz Dillon-Marable as a guest moderator.
 I know many of us enjoyed a discussion of this topic (and of her research) 
last fall on NIFL-AALPD.  To continue that discussion with Liz, you can 
subscribe to NIFL-Technology by visiting:
http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/nifl-technology/subscribe_nifl-technology.html

I hope to see you there!

Best,
Jackie

Jackie Taylor
List Moderator
NIFL-AALPD
jataylor@utk.edu

>===== Original Message From nifl-technology@nifl.gov =====
Four or five years ago as many of you know I co-founded a program named LEAP
with a colleague. We seamlessly integrated technology into the classroom for
this adult population. However, it wasn't only computer technology--we
looked at it through a technology enhanced language learning approach rather
than a straight CALL. The classes were content based.

An example is our beginning class watched the movie Pauli (about a Parrot),
students looked up about parrots on the Internet, the different types etc.
and then using English they read each other the steps to putting a mobile
together. Our advanced class watched First Monday in October (the fictional
story (then) of a woman on the supreme court), looked up about the court
cases, and argued a case in front of the class.

These days though I teach a content based grad class at CCNY where students
learn how to parallel (I'm tired) incorporate language skills into content
or content skills with language. Most if not all haven't a clue how to use
technology and say that their schools in the Bronx have one or two computers
only. Even a vcr is difficult to get.

I think we forget that we have a digital divide, even here.

Tommy
Tommy B. McDonell
Doctoral Candidate, Steinhardt School of Education
tbr202@nyu.edu
Adjunct, Marymount Manhattan College
Adjunct, City College of New York-Graduate Education

H: 212-929-6768, before 10PM
F: 212-929-1129

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mariann Fedele" <mariannf@lacnyc.org>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov>
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 5:08 PM
Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:3425] RE: Seamlessness


> Thanks Carol and Marian for your additions to this discussion.
> Do others on the list have examples form your classroom or from
> observation?
>
> For my own part, I worked in a profesional development capacity with a
> really great NYC dept. of Ed. instructor who teaches an intermediate ESOL
> class in the Bronx. She wanted to do a classroom autobiography project
> with
> her students. She had been doing this type of project for years with her
> students which included: research, writing, interviews and oral
> presentation. She had recently had five PCs put into her classroom and
> wanted to use them more. As part of their autobiographies she had students
> do interviews with family members using email in addition to the phone or
> face-to-face interviewing. She had students use the internet to do
> research
> (for example, finding a map or graphic of their home country) and had them
> put the final product for presentation take the form of a Powerpoint slide
> show about their life. In my observation of her class she had students use
> any number of resources that were available to them and worked with
> students on building their technology skills in relationship to meeting
> their project and learning goals.
>
> Best,
> Mariann
>
>  At 03:53 PM 2/14/2005 -0500, you wrote:
>>I believe that we have some examples of seamlessness occurring in our
>>ABE/GED
>>classes. For example, I observed a teacher doing a group lesson on
>>fractions.
>>After the lecture and completion of a worksheet, the students moved to the
>>back of the classroom to a bank of computers. At the computers the
>>students
>>worked in instructional software on a fractions unit, and then moved onto
>>the
>>Internet to a website which reinforced those skills. Later the students
>>reconvened and played a card game which involved the fractions. The
>>integration of technology was "seamless". Different learning styles were
>>accommodated by the different teaching techniques and activities.
>>
>>Carol Donovan, Instructional Specialist
>>Calvert County Adult Education
>>4105 Old Town Road
>>Huntingtown, MD 20639
>>(410) 535-7385
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: nifl-technology@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-technology@nifl.gov] On Behalf
>>Of
>>Marian Thacher
>>Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 3:42 PM
>>To: Multiple recipients of list
>>Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:3423] Seamlessness
>>
>>Hi Liz,
>>
>>I appreciate the opportunity to discuss your findings with you - you get
>>to the heart of what we are really about, those of us who believe that
>>technology integration is an important direction in meeting the needs of
>>our learners.
>>
>>I want to respond to your question about examples of seamlessness. At OTAN
>>we have been making an attempt to document good examples of technology
>>integration by videotaping them. Some examples are posted at
>>http://www.otan.us/Itap/index.cfm?fuseaction=videogallery
>>Click on the image to go to the actual video.
>>
>>The first example is from an ABE class, where the students are learning
>>time management skills by making a calendar and putting important dates on
>>it as well as dates of personal importance like doctor appointments and
>>birthdays. The teacher begins with a whole group brainstorm activity to
>>set the framework for the lesson, and to come up with some important dates
>>in February. The students then use the Internet to research important
>>dates. They come back together as a group to share what the info they have
>>gathered, and then go back to the computer using a word processing program
>>to actually create their calendar page. To me, this seems like a good
>>example of seamlessness. Is this what you have in mind?
>>
>>Another good example is the fourth one, a beginning ESOL class on making a
>>business card. Although this is, in a way, a technology-based lesson, the
>>actual time students spend on the computer is relatively small. Most of
>>the time is spent learning the language of business cards, learning the
>>steps in the process of making the cards, and practicing the language of
>>exchanging business cards. But the computer activity is a crucial element,
>>actually creating and printing the students' individual business cards. I
>>like this example because it includes whole group, small group and
>>individual activities, and also demonstrates use of an interactive
>>whiteboard along with computers.
>>
>>Marian
>>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>Marian Thacher, Coordinator of Technology Projects
>>Outreach and Technical Assistance Network
>>Sacramento, CA
>>(916) 228-2597
>>mthacher@otan.us
>>www.otan.us
>>
>>
>>nifl-technology@nifl.gov writes:
>>>Hello everyone,
>><snip>
>>>
>>>I would like to conduct the first part of this
>>>discussion around those four areas and explore
>>>practices that you believe are indicators of these
>>>characteristics. Specifically, I'd like you to
>>>describe learning activities that you practice in your
>>>classroom - or that you have seen in someone else's
>>>classroom - that capture the these four attributes of
>>>optimal computer technology integration. We can begin
>>>with the attribute of seamlessness.
>>>
>>
>>>Can you describe a classroom in which you observed
>>>learners moving easily between computer-based
>>>instruction and other forms of instruction. What did
>>>you observe? How did you determine that what you
>>>observed was indeed the seamless use of computer
>>>technology?
>>>
>>>Seamless - There is easy movement between
>>>computer-based instruction and other forms of
>>>instruction.
>>>Thanks,
>>>Liz
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> Mariann Fedele
> Coordinator of Professional Development,
> Literacy Assistance Center
> Moderator,
> NIFL Technology and Literacy Discussion List
> 32 Broadway 10th Floor
> New York, New York 10004
> 212-803-3325
> mariannf@lacnyc.org
> www.lacnyc.org
>
>



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