Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/using-educational-technology-with-english-learners
In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, equipping English Learners (ELs) with the skills necessary to thrive in the 21st century is paramount. This is a challenge many early-career teachers face, often with the expectation of helping ELs not only meet grade-level standards but also develop crucial competencies like citizenship, collaboration, creativity, communication, character, and critical thinking. Fortunately, Coursera offers a fantastic resource to navigate this complex terrain: the course “Using Educational Technology with English Learners.”
This course is a game-changer for educators looking to thoughtfully integrate technology into their classrooms to better engage and support their EL students. It provides a structured approach to understanding and applying educational technology, moving beyond simply using tools to strategically leveraging them for deeper learning.
The syllabus is thoughtfully designed, breaking down the learning journey into manageable modules:
**Module 1: 21st Century Skills and Facilitating with Technology**
This module lays a strong foundation by emphasizing the importance of digital literacy and how technology can facilitate the development of various 21st-century skills. It offers a brief yet insightful look into the history of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) and practical ways to implement CALL components to actively engage English learners. The module concludes with a valuable reflection exercise, encouraging teachers to assess their current comfort level with technology integration.
**Module 2: Technology for Collaboration and Culture/Citizenship**
Here, the focus shifts to two vital 21st-century skills: citizenship and collaboration. The course introduces practical, technology-infused classroom activities and projects designed to foster these skills in ELs. You’ll gain insights from experienced teachers on assessing collaborative, tech-driven projects and learn about Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, which are crucial for selecting accessible educational technology. The module culminates in a hands-on evaluation of educational technology using a provided rubric.
**Module 3: Technology for Design/Creativity and Communication**
Building on the previous modules, this section delves into creativity and communication. It presents engaging, technology-enhanced activities and projects specifically tailored for ELs. Expert perspectives from communication studies and psychology enrich the discussion on teaching and assessing these skills. The module also covers essential accessibility guidelines and reinforces the evaluation process for educational technology.
**Module 4: Technology for Character Education/Connectivity and Critical Thinking**
The final module addresses character education, connectivity, and critical thinking. Similar to Module 3, it offers practical, technology-driven activities and projects. Insights from experts in social policy and education provide valuable context for teaching and assessing these skills with technology. Crucially, it also covers important considerations like copyright law and open-source media, all while reinforcing the skills needed to evaluate educational technology for ELs.
**Recommendation:**
I highly recommend “Using Educational Technology with English Learners” to any educator working with English Learners, especially those early in their careers. The course is comprehensive, practical, and directly addresses the needs of today’s diverse classrooms. It empowers teachers with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about technology, ultimately leading to more engaging, effective, and equitable learning experiences for all students. Investing in this course is an investment in your professional development and, more importantly, in the success of your English Learners.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/using-educational-technology-with-english-learners