Group items tagged

The consistent message is that we are preparing our students for success in a world very different to that which was the norm only a short time ago. The implications of this change are immense and require a shift in our thinking about what matters most in our classrooms. Such is the pace of change that within any school there will be multiple generations who normalise different perspective on technology and its place in their lives. What becomes clear that the skills we most need within our schools at every level are those which are critical for individuals to be empowered, self-navigating learners. But what does this mean in practical terms?

A 3D role-playing game designer that encourages learners to create stories narratives by playing the game. Designing games is fun and it is easy to share with your class mates. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/English

Jennifer Barnett's blog post on professional learner at Education Week Teacher

This site teaches grammar through a good collection of multiple choice quizzes and games. There is also a junior version of the site for younger learners. Both sites also have downloads for teachers. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/English

A great site which has a vast amount of English language resources for both native and learners of English as a second language. Sections include business English, grammar, games and more. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/English+As+An+Additional+Language

With the following four variables in place, a learner can exceed expectations. 1. A good prompt, motivating challenge, or thoughtful question 2. Appropriate materials 3. Sufficient time 4. Supportive culture, including a range of expertise The genius of this approach is that it is self-evident. If you lack one of the four elements, it is obvious what needs to be done

Print out this personal Thesaurus for younger learners. This PDF has a collection of words in each section, plus space for your children to write their own. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/English

A simple online drawing tool with just the essential tools. Great for younger learners. Download the end product to your computer. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/Art%2C+Craft+%26+Design

Welcome to the Games-based Learning collection of resources. Here you will find a range of ready to use resources, adaptable resources and lesson plans/suggestions for playful approaches to learning across the curriculum, as well as for encouraging learners to become creators of their own games. Why not contribute your own ideas? We'll be looking for featured resources and contributors that we can include in the updated collection at the end of January!

A cute online animal alphabet book for very young learners. See a animated letter shaped animal with sounds for the whole alphabet. You can even write words with these animal letters, making this a good resource for making interesting name labels. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/English

"Larry Ferlazzo's choices for The Best Sites For Learning About Protests In History (that are accessible to English Language Learners):"

This post pointed out reviews, and included "a portion of my [Larry's] Introduction that explains the parts of the 'Organizing Cycle': Building Strong Relationships with Students ... Accessing Prior Knowledge through Stories ... Identifying and Mentoring Students' Leadership Potential ... Learning by Doing ... [&] Reflection.

"... The project described in this digest was designed with the belief that teacher professional growth can best be fostered through sustained collaborative inquiry between teachers and researchers. It has set out to incorporate what is known about quality professional development with the special features necessary for meeting the needs of English language learners. The project has defined a model of sheltered instruction based on the research of best practices, as well as on the experiences of the participating teachers and researchers..." (¶1).

Smartphones and tablets give students access to all types of multimedia. Mobile access to Internet services offers a virtually constant, uninterrupted connection to learning resources. Access to sound files, mobile apps, podcasts, and video files from around the globe make mobile technology ideal for any student who would like to learn to speak a foreign language through multimedia.

Without a course or program, it could be difficult for an independent learner to organize a curriculum; but what if vocabulary lessons were at your fingertips?