Very excited about tonight's #earlylang chat. If you're interested in using tech in language class for younger learners, please come join us! #langchat
Welcome to #EarlyLang! Tonight’s topic is “The Use of Technology in Early Language Classrooms.” I'll be moderating tonight and my awesome colleague @doriecp will be co-moderating
A1: Ss have 1:1 iPads, Ts have Dell tablets (amazeballs), Smart boards, tech labs w robots & 3d printers, Microsoft Suite school, Discovery Ed school...we do it ALL #earlylang
Starting in grade 3, all students have their own Chromebook. Grades 1-2 have a 1:1 iPad program. Pre-K and K have hared iPads. Grade 5 uses Chromebooks a lot - lesser in the younger grades. They have a tech class as young as K. #earlylang
A1: We tend to be a techphobes at my school. We just got chromebooks for 4th & 5th grade this year and I'm not sure our 4th grade teachers even know how to use them yet! #earlylang
A1: Starting in grade 3, all students have their own Chromebook. Grades 1-2 have a 1:1 iPad program. Pre-K and K have hared iPads. Grade 5 uses Chromebooks a lot - lesser in the younger grades. They have a tech class as young as K. #earlylang
A1 Beginning in grade 1, we are 1:1 iPads. All apps and computer programs (for classroom laptos) we use must be approved by the tech department. We are offered PD pretty routinely. #earlylang
but even with the PD and teachers are offered the opportunity to sit down 1:1 with specialists, we still have teachers who's iPad carts go untouched during the year. #earlylang
A1: On the teacher end, we all have iPads and MacBook Airs. And LCD projectors. And a course management system to keep up. But no Smartboards at my current school. :-( #earlylang
This sounds like our 4th grade team. It's making other teachers upset that they get chromebooks but aren't using them when there are other teachers in different grade levels who would. #EarlyLang
A1: Most teachers use technology, and those that don’t find it difficult to advance and keep up with professional demands. The students look forward to using tech & feel comfortable using it .#earlylang
Not only do other teachers get upset, but we have taxpayers who are pretty upset about it too. Such a waste of $$$ if they aren't used, or used to their potential! #earlylang
A1 All classroom have interactive projectors, we have laptops, iPads and the students have iPads in some grades and Chromebooks in other grades.
#earlylang
Each building in our school has a tech para. They are there to help with the physical and software maintenance of any tech. They don't offer much pedagogical support though. #earlylang
A2: the SAMR model is really helpful. I don't see it as a qualitative model, rather what can we do with the resources & tools available?
https://t.co/MzW040bCo6@WLClassroom#earlylang
A2: My criteria list is hefty! It has to be age-appropriate. It must work with our class time (20 min for K, 25 min for 1-3, 30 min for 4-5). Must fit our communicative goals. #earlylang
Q2: this may sounds pessimistic, but I always ask myself if I can do a low-tech back-up version of the lesson if the tech doesn't work. Srlsly tho, I think tech really needs to be an integral part of the lesson, not just frills #earlylang
A2 It has to enhance what we're doing and I have to be able to explain how to do it in TL. It also needs to take the same amount of time to accomplish the goal with tech as when we do it without. #earlylang
A2: I use mine as a collaborative writing tool for older grades and a recording (and sharing tool) for the younger ones. I judiciously use some target language games that support whatever theme we're working on. #earlylang
A2: My criteria list is hefty! It has to be age-appropriate. It must work with our class time (20 min for K, 25 min for 1-3, 30 min for 4-5). Must fit our communicative goals. #earlylang
Communicative goals - this is why I usually have students work in pairs even when using tech so that they have to use interpersonal skills to complete the task. #earlylang
A2 I also have a question in the back of my head on whether it fosters life skills: digital citizenship, presentation skills, organization of information #EarlyLang
A2 I use the interactive projector a lot in different ways, sometimes it is a book, sometimes it is radio, sometimes it helps bring visuals, but it is always supporting the main goals of the class #earlylang
I made signs for my classes that say "iPads? si! or iPads? no". I go to the classroom that morning and flip them to the right side. Then the classes drop off their iPads in my room before they go to recess/special. #earlylang
A2: I don't use a lot of tech (other than youtube videos on the smart board). If I do it has to be something we really couldn't do otherwise...like green screen, hour of code, or using website like animal adoption sites. #EarlyLang
Good question. I hate when people say things like "kids come in already knowing how to use tech!" Yes and no. They don't know how to use it *well* like in the examples you provided. #earlylang
A2: Now that we have chromebooks I'm looking into how to integrate and use google classroom, hopefully in a way that encourages study outside of my class. #earlylang
I just took an online grad class on using google classroom. It was really great and taught me a LOT (and the class was super affordable). LMK if you want the info. #earlylang
So glad Patty could join us!! She is always on the cutting edge of tech in the classroom. I have gotten so many amazing ideas from her over the years! #earlylang
A2 I also think that because I move around 13 different classrooms, the interactive projector helps to become what I don't have: walls for posters and signs, educational material, instructions...& that saves time to focus in the class goals #earlylang
A3: I like what @doriecp said: Can I give the directions in TL? Then let's use the tech tool. My kiddos know _tableta_ without it being explicit. (I hope!) #earlylang
A3: This is the million dollar question! I get so excited to try new things and want to intro new stuff all the time. But I need to let them build tech proficiency before piling on more. #EarlyLang
A3 If I'm using an app, I'm almost exclusively using one that they are already familiar with and use in their homeroom class. That way I don't have to waste time explaining how it works. Sometimes that means I have to differentiate for the different classes. #earlylang
A3 If I use tech, I describe what I am doing in the TL (hopefully in a comprehensible way) But TBH I'm not sure I have ever "introduced" anything new to the kids #earlylang
The only exception to this rule is @seesaw. I use seesaw often, but it's super intuitive and I love that it allows parents to see what my students can *do* with the language. #earlylang
A3: This is the million dollar question! I get so excited to try new things and want to intro new stuff all the time. But I need to let them build tech proficiency before piling on more. #EarlyLang
A3: I project it on the smart board and we do things as a group with me modeling before I let them loose on their own. Model, model, model is my motto. #earlylang
A3 I model it in class and THEN ask them to try at home first. My kids were tasked with creating an English Storybird at home months before their final TL product. #EarlyLang
A3: I project it on the smart board and we do things as a group with me modeling before I let them loose on their own. Model, model, model is my motto. #earlylang
It is convenient that a lot of the tech words are cognates. But I will admit, I haven't lived in a Spanish-speaking country since the invention of the tablet, so there was a huge learning curve for me. #earlylang
I need to figure out how to do this! For Hour of Code this year I logged onto all the chromebooks & computers and brought up the site myself. #earlylang
A4: ...so... like if I keep my language & content objectives in mind, how can we accomplish those w a good tech tool? Am I understanding this? #earlylang
A4: I make Ss work in groups of 2 so they have to talk together in TL to accomplish the task. We brainstorm a list of words & phrases we can use, and then I model what it might look and sound like. #earlylang#notjustfortech
A4 Acquisition is all about input. When I first started using tech, I was very focused on it being a tool for output (Ss could show me what they know). But now I'm seeing how I can use it as a tool to help give my Ss more Comprehensible Input. #earlylang
Yes! This is why I want to figure out google classroom. I want to do more interpretive tasks but let them do them at their own pace. Right now we do them together or not at all. #earlylang
A4 Ss and brains like patterns, so I keep the ExplainE pattern of my daily routine very similar. Helps them negotiate add'l EE lessons/games/assessments #earlylang
A2: My criteria list is hefty! It has to be age-appropriate. It must work with our class time (20 min for K, 25 min for 1-3, 30 min for 4-5). Must fit our communicative goals. #earlylang
The summary from tonight's #earlylang chat will be on NNELL's website next week. https://t.co/7c7G8NdlUn . In the meantime, check out some of our past topics.
Throughout this chat I'm noticing people saying to keep learning objectives in mind when planning for tech. That is so important! Too often teachers find a new exciting tool and think "how can I squeeze this into my class?" without giving thought to learning goals. #earlylang
A5 @Seesaw!!!! It's basically a digital portfolio you can share with parents. If you don't already use it, you need to check it out. They make it so simple and offer amazing step by step tutorials to answer almost any question you could have. #earlylang
Youtube videos & songs of many authentic children groups (and some others that might not be authentic, but are good delivering the target vocabulary is a fav. Kahoot, Seesaw, Flipgrid, games on the interactive board #earlylang
A5 Explain Everything. No longer dragging posters and 'flash' cards! Kids know it and I use it for summative. Very easy to adjust for IEP's. Sliced bread, baby! #earlylang
@WriteAboutThis is perfect for creative writing. Students can create your own story starters in any language! Pic Collage is great too and it's now web based. #earlylang
Wrapping up Q5, but feel free to keep sharing your favorite tools after the chat ends. I know sometimes I had those "why didn't I think of this?!?" moments after the chat is over. #earlylang
