Technological Resources in Education

By: Elyse Jones

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• Articles

» The Effects of Computer- Assisted Pronunciation Readings of ESL Learners’ Use of Pausing, Stress, intonation and, Overall Comprehnsibility by Mark W. Tanner and Melissa M. Landon

» Publisher Launches ELL Resource Center by Scott Aronowitz

» 10.5 Million PreK-12 Students will Attend Classes Online by 2014 by David Nagel

The Effects of Computer-Assisted Pronunciation Reading on ESL Learners’ Use of Pausing, Stress,

Intonation and overall Comprehension Summary: The article discusses how CALL or Computer-Assisted Language Learning has taken a fore-front since the integration of technology into the educationally system in the early 90’s.In a current study students are being evaluated on a self-directed computer based oral communication program. This program teaches non-English students to pronounce words, and to comprehend the English language. During these CAPS ( Computer Aided pronunciation) the student “ will listen to passages recorded by NS’s, Mark the location of an individual suprasegmental feature, practice the reading orally with the appropriate feature marked, and then record themselves reading the passage” (53). NEXT

Self-Reflection

• The research offered up a useful tool for Language teachers to use, not just for students who do not speak English, but for students wanting to learn a foreign language in America. As a future teacher I do see a use for this. However, this seems like this would be hard to implement outside of a “small school” settings.

• Students could benefit from even learning how to be proficient in their own language using this tool.

Summary Continued…• This CPR is administered to a class size of 75

students, ages 17-54.• Mainly self-taught, minimal teacher input.• Students can go over CPR tasks multiple times.• In order to explain each concept multiple

examples are used.• 6-7, 20 minute tests are administered to

complete certain goals and tasks.• 85% of the participants felt like their English had

improved due to this CPR.

Publisher Launches ELL Resource Center

• EBSCO-Publishing has created a Resource database to introduce technology to help English Language Learners, or ESL students improve their abilities in speaking English.

• The database provides:Research tools to learn the meaning, pronunciation, and context of words.

• Has the B, I and A levels for students

ELL Summary Continued

Free trials are offered to this technological resource.

This resource has a free trial. It provides Audio/ Textual resources to help non-native speakers learn and pronounce.

The main goal of this program is to improve literacy.

Self-ReflectionThis resource like the last resource are similar. Both offer Help for non-native speakers via technology. These resources help with pronunciation and also assist with proficiency in English. One thing I really enjoyed about this particular article and resource is that unlike the first article, it allows for other subject areas to be covered, not just speaking English for the use in conversation. The program assists with history, geography, sciences, English literature, politics, etc.

This latest resource really helps with teaching.

10.5 Million Pre-K Students Will attend Classes online by 2014

• In the article the author gives the staggering number of 2 million prek-12 students are attending online schooling whether it be for one class or for entire schooling.

By 2014 nearly 10 millions students will attend online courses. This is a result of “cyber charter schools”. This number is obviously small compared to the students who physically sit down for school.

Summary Continued…

• This however can be insight into how technology plays a role in education. The article attributes the success of this is due to the availability of electronic learning products and services that accumulate nearly $16.7 billion in resources. Despite the decline in demand the resources are still available and a report on online learning will be released in November 2009.

Self-Reflection

• As a college student I see the resources available online to be a sign of many things to come in education. For example this class, it has had challenges for me but I have learned to use many technological resources like Microsoft Office, De.lious, Blogspot, and Podcasting. The same too can be offered by for profit online schooling resources.

Conclusion

• To conclude, these three articles offer up some resources that are now available to educators. The Ebscohost and study done with Brigham Young University show that the next emerging technologies are with for profit online schooling resources. I would definitely reuse these articles and resources.

Works Cited• Aronowitz, S. (2009). Publisher launches ell resource center. T.H.E. Journal, Retrieved from

http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/11/30/publisher-launches-ell-resource-center.aspx?sc_lang=en

• Nagel, D. (2009). 10.5 million prek-12 students will attend classes online by 2014. T.H.E. Journal, Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/10/28/10.5-million-prek-12-students-will-attend-classes-online-by-2014.aspx?sc_lang=en

• Landon, M. Tanner, M. (2009). The Effeccts of computer-assisted pronunciation readings on esl learners' use of pausing, stress, intonation, and overall comprehensibility. Language Learning and Technology, Retrieved from http://llt.msu.edu/vol13num3/tannerlandon.pdf