Language Learners in a Digital World Lori Roe, MEd
Instructional Technology Specialist and Director, STARTALK Chinese Summer Program, Cape Henlopen School District, Delaware
Technology and 21st century skills are essential in preparing world language learners to communicate effectively and live productively in an increasingly digital world. Today’s
technologies can be used to support and enhance language and cultural learning. When opportunities are provided for learners to use digital media and resources in active engaging learning experiences, we are supporting them in the development of two critical lifelong learning skills of the 21st century: 1.) communication in another language and 2.) the ability to make discerning and effective use of technological tools to access, collaborate, create and distribute information across cultures and geographical borders.
Digital Learning is more than just using the technology tools; it’s the instructional strategies for personalized, authentic, student-centered learning. Teachers provide opportunities for engaging and meaningful learning experiences for language learners. Young learners are naturally intuitive and adept with emerging technologies, including virtual gaming, augmented reality, social networking, and use of mobile devices.
The iPad has revamped teaching and learning with interactive apps, access to online resources, ibooks, videos, music, and the HD camera to engage and empower students beyond our
expectations. The many apps for learning languages, as well as interactive books, podcasts, and videos in iTunes immerse students in the target language. Here are just a few activities that utilize these apps for supporting and enhancing language learning.
Creativity and Innovation, Technology Literacy /Reading/Interpretive
• QR Code Readers
Generate QR codes, phrases, short narratives in the target language or have students generate QR codes for each other to scan and read with a QR scan app. QR codes can also be used to embed links to videos or places on a map. QRpedia is a language detecting QR code generator fromWikipedia. Use a QR Code Reader app to scan for maps, information, photos of places, people of other cultures.
•Scavenger Word Hunt using the iPad HD camera
Create a scavenger hunt for students to learn vocabulary words. Form teams of 3 or 4 students.
Prepare by generating QR codes in the target language at the website QRstuff. com. Ask each group to scan QR codes for their “mystery word.” Students use the iPad camera to take 5-10 photos that represent their word. Students create a slide show (music is optional) as clues to share with the other groups, who guess their word.
• Interactive apps
Use interactive apps relevant to content to enrich, reinforce, and practice concepts presented during instruction.
• Read an eBook
Assign reading passages with a purpose: highlight, take notes, bookmark passages, locate repeating words and patterns. Milly, Molly, and the Bike Ride is one of many interactive books available from http://kiwamedia.com/.
Video
Text or Characters
Website
Creativity and Innovation, Communication, Collaboration Reading, Writing, Speaking/ Interpersonal & Presentational
• Digital Storytelling with Claymation using iStop Motion and iMovie
Students work independently or in teams using a storyboard to plan and script a story, based on a thematic unit. Students then create their characters with clay, set up a backdrop, and use their iPads with the app iStop Motion to capture images for Claymations. Save the Claymation to the photo gallery, then easily import into iMovie to add narration, sound effects, and music.
Students in Cape Henlopen’s Chinese Summer Camp created stories based on the theme of protecting the ocean. Their sea characters became sick because of the pollution. Hai Long Wong, the Sea Dragon, came to their rescue. The message was that everyone needs to do his or her part to protect the ocean.
Sunny Trivits, student in Cape’s Chinese Summer Camp program, 2012 photo by Lori Roe
• Digital Storybooks with the apps Storykit and Doodle Buddy
Students use the iPad to take photos with the built in camera or create illustrations using a drawing app, as Doodle Buddy or Drawing Pad. Then they insert photos into a storybook app, such as Storykit or Book Creator. Add text with the international keyboard or use the built in tools to draw characters, and finally add narration with the built in audio recorder.
• Create WordClouds
Use the app Word Collage (or web 2.0 tools, Wordle, Taxedo, TagCloud, Tagul) as a way to introduce a topic for discussion, develop vocabulary, create word associations, match words, assessment and reflection.
Creativity and Innovation, Communication, Technology Literacy Speaking, Intrapersonal and Interpersonal
• Video Journal
Students use the camera app to record a video of what was learned each day.
• Record a conversation
Students videotape a skit or puppet show using the target language.
• Puppet show
Students create interpersonal dialog through characters created with the apps Puppet Pals or Sock Puppets.
• Cartoon strips
Apps such as Comic Life, Comic Strip, and Comic Touch are some ways that students can create an interpersonal dialog in the target language with cartoon characters.
• Create a movie trailer
Use the iMovie app to allow students to create a “how to” video with photos and writing in the target language.
• Record a reflection
Students record responses to a question prompt. This can be used for informal assessment, measuring and tracking progress, understanding of concepts.
Media Literacy, Social and Cross Cultural Skills Listening and Reading, Interpretive
• Listen to a podcast
Subscribe to a podcast on iTunes or a teacher/student created podcast for students to listen to with guiding questions.
• View a video - from you tube, discovery education, iTunes U or other sources to reinforce concepts introduced.
• Listen to music with words
Have students listen to a song and view the lyrics and artwork to
interpret. iTunes preferences on a computer can be used to insert the lyrics. Students using iPod touch devices can follow along with the words in the target language.
• Audio recording
Use an audio recording app, such as Voice Notes, Dragon Diction to take notes or narrate to add to other projects. Use apps such as Talking Tom, Talking Gina, or Talking Panda to record students speaking or singing in the target language.
• Interactive worksheets
Students can complete or create using Pages with audio and video.
• Create a sound collage
Students mix or remix audio and sound clips in Garageband to be used in a project.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Technology Literacy Reading, Writing, Presentational
• Internet websites for research
Scaffold activities to build researching skills, gather info/assignments/photos
• Graphic organizer
Use the app Corkulous, IdeaSketch, or Simple Notes for brainstorming, note taking and organizing.
• Augmented Reality
Use the app Sekai to create airtags in the target language. Create a photo or video of the
animated Chinese dragon in China with the Aurasma app
• Maps
Have students locate and tag locations using Google Maps or Google Earth
• Multimedia presentations
Have students create presentation in the Keynote App
Productivity and Accountability/ Assessment
• Draw/ illustrate/ Matching with Color
Create a labeled image that will open in a drawing app for students to color to learn numbers in the target language or have students create their own and exchange with classmates. Use Doodle
Buddy, Drawing Pad or other illustration app.
• Use Google Forms to create a “Can Do” Survey.
Create an icon on the home screen of the iPad for students to access and take this survey for instant data collection for teachers in a spreadsheet.
Creating a rich, digital learning environment for language learners requires planning and
preparation in applying technological tools and resources for authentic, engaging experiences for each learner.
The International Society for Technology in Education’s Standards for Students, along with World Language and Common Core Standards, provides a foundation for designing innovative learning opportunities through challenge and project- based learning. To learn more about the Partnership for 21st Century Learning and access the complete ACTFL 21st Century Skills Map, visit http://www.p21.org