Teaching & Learning Context
The Teachers
The teachers in this mainstream school in Calgary are responsible for teaching all subjects in the elementary curriculum. Collaboration is large part of how we develop and plan lessons and activities throughout the classes. Since there are only 8 teachers from grades K-6, working together to enhance the school culture is an important factor when considering technology and how it is used with the diverse student population. There are no assigned ESL specialists to our school due to our small size but as a group, we have come together to ensure our ESL student population and their learning is represented in our teaching practices. Fuller and Stone (2010) suggest that teachers need to "make decisions on how and what they expect the students to learn, depending on each student's individual abilities, instructional needs, and levels of achievement" (p. 155)
The teachers in this mainstream school in Calgary are responsible for teaching all subjects in the elementary curriculum. Collaboration is large part of how we develop and plan lessons and activities throughout the classes. Since there are only 8 teachers from grades K-6, working together to enhance the school culture is an important factor when considering technology and how it is used with the diverse student population. There are no assigned ESL specialists to our school due to our small size but as a group, we have come together to ensure our ESL student population and their learning is represented in our teaching practices. Fuller and Stone (2010) suggest that teachers need to "make decisions on how and what they expect the students to learn, depending on each student's individual abilities, instructional needs, and levels of achievement" (p. 155)
The Students
With a student population of just over 170, the students at our school are continually changing, demographically, socially, and academically. As demographics change, so too does our student population. We are now seeing more students entering the school whose families are from India, Africa, China, and the Philippines. Some students are also refugees from Sudan, making language learning challenges even greater. The students involved in this thematic unit are in grade 5 and ESL benchmarked at levels L2 (Developing) to L3 (Expanding). Their communicative language skills are well-defined, but they struggle with content/vocabulary knowledge. All are very motivated to learn new vocabulary and excel at using technology. Designing a thematic unit that incorporates iPad technology increases vocabulary development potential. Roessingh (2014) argues that "teachers can adapt and strengthen the materials through applying the principles of developmentally appropriate practice and using a planning tool that promotes teaching curriculum content through a language-learning lens" (p. 86).
With a student population of just over 170, the students at our school are continually changing, demographically, socially, and academically. As demographics change, so too does our student population. We are now seeing more students entering the school whose families are from India, Africa, China, and the Philippines. Some students are also refugees from Sudan, making language learning challenges even greater. The students involved in this thematic unit are in grade 5 and ESL benchmarked at levels L2 (Developing) to L3 (Expanding). Their communicative language skills are well-defined, but they struggle with content/vocabulary knowledge. All are very motivated to learn new vocabulary and excel at using technology. Designing a thematic unit that incorporates iPad technology increases vocabulary development potential. Roessingh (2014) argues that "teachers can adapt and strengthen the materials through applying the principles of developmentally appropriate practice and using a planning tool that promotes teaching curriculum content through a language-learning lens" (p. 86).
The Setting
The classroom has 25 students, of which 8 are ESL. Each classroom is equipped with Wi-Fi accessibility. We are starting to have issues with our server capacity, as each year our enrollment numbers increase and more connectivity is required. We have one complete set of 25 laptops shared between two Divisions - Div #1 (K-3) and Div # 2 (4-6). Teachers are responsible for ensuring the integrity and appropriateness of iPad apps that students access. For this project, students will be able to share information using some of the iPad apps.
The classroom has 25 students, of which 8 are ESL. Each classroom is equipped with Wi-Fi accessibility. We are starting to have issues with our server capacity, as each year our enrollment numbers increase and more connectivity is required. We have one complete set of 25 laptops shared between two Divisions - Div #1 (K-3) and Div # 2 (4-6). Teachers are responsible for ensuring the integrity and appropriateness of iPad apps that students access. For this project, students will be able to share information using some of the iPad apps.