566+-+Module+3

= 566 Module 3 - Tech Tools for Working with ELLs = Expected time: 2 hours

//21st century technologies offer a plethora of new tools to support ELLs' learning and teaching. Many of these tools are free and readily available! Your job as a teacher is to be aware of tech tools and then to use them in smart ways to accomplish educational purposes. Remember that a tool is just a tool. You can use a hammer to build something - or you can use it to smash a window. Tech tools are similar. How and why we use technology is more important than what we use. You can think about tech tools in several ways. You might start with a tool and then think about ways to use it to enhance learning, or you might start with a learning goal and then identify a tech tool to help you accomplish that goal. The main thing is that you **purposefully connect the tool with learning.** This module invites you to explore tech tools in a playful way. I'm not looking for a right answer. Rather, I'm looking for you to imagine possibilities!//

Playful Exploration
1. http://esltechies.com/ - Skim 7-8 posts on this blog. The purpose of reading this is to give you a taste of the many ways technology is being used to support learning. As you're reading, look for general statements that communicate principles for wisely using technology. For example, this quote is from one of the posts, ". . . to empower students to direct their own learning by coming to class prepared to ask questions and problem solve . . ." It provides a general principle/rationale for educational technology.


 * Your task:** After reading, select five quotes from the blog that explain general principles for using technology. Copy these quotes onto the very top of your googledoc. (Type "Module 3" as the heading.)

2. You'll need one hour to do this activity. Go to this wiki: http://elltechmpls.wikispaces.com/ELLs+&+Tech+Sites As you can see, it's a large collection of tech tools/resources specifically useful for working with ELLs. Scroll down to the very bottom of the page and take a look at the chart at the bottom. Notice how the author categorized the tools based on language learning purposes. Spend one hour (minimum) exploring any of the links on this wiki (from the chart of elsewhere on the site). Follow your own interests. As you're exploring, think about your own future classroom and imagine educational opportunities using some of these tools.

a. On your googledoc, write 1-2 paragraphs describing your exploration. For instance, you might think about these questions: What did you do? What did you learn? What questions arose? What excited you? What overwhelmed you? etc. (Note: This is not a list of questions you must answer, just some ideas.)
 * Your task:**

b. Select 3-5 specific tech tools you encountered from your exploration. These should be tools that are new to you, or tools that are being used in a new way. On your googledoc, make a bulleted list of these tools:
 * Name and link for the tool
 * Short description of the tool (2-3 sentences) (what is it? what does it do?)
 * Short description (~5-6 sentences) of how you can imagine using this to support ELLs' learning. This is where you directly connect the tool to a learning purpose.


 * As you do this, keep in mind that you need to incorporate two tech tools into your curriculum project. Be thinking of what you might choose to use!**