In my last blog, we explored activities to help students “frame the system” rather than game the system in order to think critically about the rules that should govern their digital lifestyles. Now I'd like to discuss an activity that helps students develop digital citizenship skills by imagining new technologies. The goal is for students to take charge of their futures by inventing it. Digital citizenship is often approached from a reactive perspective in response to unwanted behavior like cyberbullying or cyberstalking. In contrast, this activity approaches digital citizenship proactively, casting students in the roles of leaders and “imagineers.”
Current and former English language learners in high school are less likely to take advanced classes than their native English-speaking peers, a RegionalEducation Laboratory (REL) Northwest study finds.
Dollar General’s Youth Literacy Grants support literacy programs designed to help students who are experiencing difficulty reading or are performing below grade level.
Researcher and ELL expert Jim Cummins has identified three keys to success in teaching students who are just learning English:
• Engage students in their literacy by providing access to resources.
• Ensure that all teachers are prepared to scaffold their instruction across the curriculum.
• Affirm and value students’ background, culture, and identity.
Across the nation, many schools are using edtech tools to support their teaching of English language learners through these three tactics. Read Middlebury Interactive’s special report on how technology can help address the needs of English language learners.