ELLs comprise students from diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences, and they have different strengths and needs. Since the language of instruction is English, ELLs require time to be proficient enough to be able to comprehend different subjects. Tutors, however, can utilize different resources and techniques to help ELLs access the curriculum within an appropriate period. Technology is one of the available resources that can be used with ELLs to enhance their learning experiences.
How to use Technology to apply Cultural Awareness to Instruction
Technology offer tutors with different opportunities to develop effective teaching materials to instruct both the language structure and the target culture. Technological resources such as PDAs, computers, laptops, smartphones, and Web 2 innovations can be used to enhance learning in classrooms (Lee & Markey, 2014). Technology offers reliable communication within a collaborative setting that promotes cultural instruction (Lee, 2009). The application of interactive media allows learners to depend less on books and engage more with reliable cultural information. For example, web 2 technologies, such as blogs, can promote cultural education because of their collaboration and interactivity (Wang & Camilla, 2012). ELLs can become culturally aware of different views of the native speakers by simply reading blogs that native speakers compose (Lee, 2009). Besides, free blog publishing tools exist, for example, Blogger, which teachers can adapt to an ELLs classroom.
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Teachers can incorporate blogs in ELLs instruction to allow students learn about the perspectives and practices of the target culture in which they can choose blogs with different topics, such as the popular culture of the target language, current events and daily life (Ducate & Lomicka, 2008). According to Ducate and Lomicka (2008), blogs allow ELLs to gain knowledge about the target culture that they do not get from printed texts and allow them to appreciate their individual culture.
Podcasting is another web 2 technology that can be used to teach cultural awareness among ELLs. ELLs can listen to accurate native language recordings and record their individual voices through podcasts. The podcasts in the native language allow ELLs to examine the target culture and language independently (Lee, 2009). Both blogs and podcasts allow ELLs to discuss cultural views with native speakers, which enable them to learn about the cultures of others (Lee, 2009).
Virtual world technology is another technological tool that can be used to enhance cultural awareness in classrooms (Levy, 2009). ELLs can interact with avatars in different situations, which include dedicated language learning spaces (Levy, 2009).
Technology-based instruction allows ELLs to directly interact with the English language and its culture without physical and time limitations, and to examine and develop deep knowledge of the target culture.
Description of the Commercially Prepared Product Lesson Plan
Students will learn about vocabulary and terminology related to the Solar System to gain knowledge about the meanings of different words. In turn, this will allow them to learn how to create scientific meanings and how to express their ideas scientifically using the required vocabulary. For example, observation and hands-on experience will be utilized to enhance learning in which students will observe images of the solar system and practice arranging items, such as planets, in their correct locations while describing the planets using the related terms. The lesson integrates both the content and the language objectives as it involves both speaking, listening, writing, activities and reading as students will create their own solar system, describe it in terms of differences and similarities, record information and discuss among themselves regarding the different aspects of the solar system.
Oral description of concepts by the teacher will also allow students to learn about the solar system and space vocabulary, and to develop the background knowledge of the unit. At the end of the lesson, students will be given an opportunity to reflect on what they have learned, ask questions and complete puzzles and projects individually to test their mastery of the knowledge. The instructor will perform an assessment to determine the areas that students did not understand and choose an appropriate strategy to ensure that students understand the domain appropriately.
Description of two Technological Resources included in the Lesson Plan
The moonblink website (https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/why/solsys) and the quizlet flashcards (https://quizlet.com/10862512/solar-system-vocabulary-3rd-grade-flash-cards/) are the two technological resources included in the lesson plan. The moonblink website gives students facts about the solar system through written material and through a graphical representation of the solar system with varying colors. The site describes the solar system using simple scientific language that students can understand with links to more description about specific solar system terminology. The site also depicts the sun, the earth and the Moon in different colors for easy identification. In turn, this reinforces the students’ understanding of the different terms, shapes, parts and make-up of the solar system. When reading the website, students will also encounter the terms they have learned to describe the different planets, stars and satellites, which will help them, remember the vocabulary related to the solar system and space. The site also has links to different parts of the solar system, which students will learn while visiting it.
The quizlet flashcards contain solar system terminology and vocabulary accompanied by audio files on how to state them. Each terminology is accompanied by a description of what the term means. Both the written words and the audio recordings will allow students to learn how to state the terms correctly and learn how to describe the solar system using the correct terminology. In turn, this will enhance their solar system vocabulary.
Efficacy of the Lesson Plan
The lesson has sufficient activities to enable students to gain knowledge of the solar system and its parts. The activities will offer students with an opportunity to develop the vocabulary and terminology related to the solar system, which they will use to describe the solar system. The after lesson assessment will identify the students’ weak areas, which will assist the teacher to develop appropriate mechanism to enhance those areas. The lesson will, thus, meet its objectives.
References
Ducate 1, L. C., & Lomicka, L. L. (2008). Adventures in the blogosphere: From blog readers to blog writers. Computer Assisted Language Learning , 21 (1), 9-28.
Lee, L. (2009). Promoting intercultural exchanges with blogs and podcasting: A study of Spanish–American telecollaboration. Computer Assisted Language Learning , 22 (5), 425- 443.
Lee, L., & Markey, A. (2014). A study of learners’ perceptions of online intercultural exchange through Web 2.0 technologies. ReCALL , 26 (3), 281-297.
Levy, M. (2009). Technologies in use for second language learning. The Modern Language Journal , 93 , 769-782.
Wang, S., & Camilla, V. (2012). Web 2.0 and second language learning: What does the research tell us?. Calico Journal , 29 (3), 412.
