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they brainstormed a list of tasks that they'd like the ELL students to be able to do with the tool. The list included support for textbooks in audio format, access to English language movies and videos, and internet access both at school and off campus (whether at home or a local WiFi hotspot).

from a teacher's perspective, it was extremely important that the tool allow students to record their voice so that their fluency could be monitored," explains Jennifer Wivagg, Comal ISD's instructional media specialist. "We needed a device that would allow them to make recordings at home. We also needed the tool to include translators, dictionaries, and other language-based tools that are important for an ESL student, and to be small enough for the students to carry in their pocket, so they have constant access to these important resources."

Second, do you have the spaces?  If your vision does include learning online, you have to have school-supported digital spaces.  It can be anything really, but you have to have something.  And I’m not talking about individual teachers putting something together, because that doesn’t make sense for kids or from an organizational standpoint in terms of support and dedicated growth and development in concert with the vision.  I also don’t believe this should be something left to students to self-organize around-if its part of the vision, the school has to be intentional about it and provide a common landscape for all.