Using Educational Technology with English Learners from Coursera

This course is designed for early career teachers to learn about evaluating and incorporating technology into the classroom to engage students, especially English learners (ELs). Teachers face the challenging expectation of helping ELs achieve grade-level standards and to develop additional 21st century skills, including citizenship, collaboration, creativity, communication, character, and critical thinking. Selecting and utilizing appropriate, high-quality educational technology as part of the learning process can motivate students and facilitate academic success.

Throughout the course, we will raise awareness of special linguistic, cultural, and pedagogical considerations for using educational technology with English learners. Teachers will apply best practices to select and use educational technology effectively, and evaluate online educational tools and resources for classroom adoption. Course participants will watch interviews with highly-experienced English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers who will share their personal experiences of utilizing technology to teach 21st century skills to English learners. Teachers will interact with peers in the educational field to discuss how to apply course concepts in their own teaching environment. Finally, course participants will receive practical, classroom-ready recommendations for helping ELs develop 21st century skills using technology.

By participating in this course, teachers will increase their own digital literacy skills and be better prepared to serve the English learners in their classrooms through educational technology.

What's inside

Syllabus

21st Century Skills and Facilitating with Technology

In Module 1, you will learn about the importance of digital literacy and facilitating other 21st century skills with technology in the classroom. We'll briefly explore the history of computer-assisted language learning (CALL), and discover how you can implement CALL components to engage English learners. Wrap up the module and prepare for the rest of the course by reflecting on your experience and comfort level incorporating technology into meaningful learning activities.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Builds a strong foundation for English learners to develop 21st-century skills using educational technology

Provides practical classroom activities and projects that incorporate educational technology

Instructors are experienced English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers who share their expertise in utilizing technology to teach 21st-century skills to English learners

Offers a comprehensive study of educational technology tools and resources for English learner instruction

Introduces principles of universal design (UDL), accessibility guidelines, and copyright law for selecting and using educational technology

Reviews summary

Practical tech integration for english learners

According to learners, this course offers a highly practical and applicable framework for integrating educational technology with English Learners. Students consistently highlight the invaluable insights from experienced ESL teachers and the comprehensive evaluation rubrics for assessing tech tools. The emphasis on linguistic and cultural considerations for ELs is a significant strength, preparing teachers to foster 21st-century skills. While many appreciate the principled approach, some students felt the course provided more theoretical guidance than hands-on tutorials for specific technologies, and found certain tech examples to be somewhat generic or less current. Overall, it's a strong foundation for educators working with ELs.

Offers a robust rubric and principles for assessing educational technology.

"The framework for evaluating new tech tools is something I'll use constantly."

"The core principles and evaluation rubrics were strong, which I found very useful."

"I learned a lot about evaluating educational technology and applying those principles."

Features invaluable insights from experienced ESL teachers.

"I particularly enjoyed the interviews with experienced ESL teachers; their insights were invaluable."

"The interviews with ESL teachers were a highlight for me."

"I found the interviews with experienced teachers to be very insightful."

Tailored for English learners, considering linguistic and cultural aspects.

"The course did a fantastic job of highlighting linguistic and cultural considerations."

"I learned a lot about evaluating educational technology and considering ELs' specific needs."

"The emphasis on cultural and linguistic considerations is vital and often overlooked. I feel much more equipped to support my students digitally now."

Provides strategies directly applicable to teaching English learners.

"This course was incredibly practical and directly applicable to my classroom! The strategies for integrating tech with English Learners were exactly what I needed."

"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work with EL students."

"Every module offered actionable strategies. It provides a comprehensive framework, practical tools, and real-world examples."

Some felt technology examples were generic or less current.

"Some of the technology examples felt a bit generic, but the core principles and evaluation rubrics were strong."

"Some of the tech recommendations seemed a bit outdated or too general. I was hoping for more cutting-edge tools."

"It covered a lot of ground but didn't go deep enough into any particular technology or strategy."

Course focuses on principles rather than specific software tutorials.

"I felt it lacked depth in actual technology implementation. It talks a lot about *what* to use but not enough *how* to use it effectively."

"If you're looking for hands-on tutorials for specific tech, this isn't it. It's more theoretical than practical."

"I was looking for more cutting-edge tools or deeper dives into specific software. Disappointed with the lack of practical tutorials."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Using Educational Technology with English Learners with these activities:

Read "Teaching English Language Learners Through Technology" by Sarah Mercer

Show steps

This book provides practical guidance on how to use technology to engage English language learners and help them succeed in the classroom.

View Teaching and Learning with Technologies in the... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book
Reflect on how you can use the ideas in the book in your own classroom
Implement some of the ideas in your classroom

Volunteer at a local community center or school to work with English language learners

Show steps

Volunteer at a local community center or school to work with English language learners and gain hands-on experience in teaching English.

Browse courses on 21st Century Skills

Show steps

Find a local community center or school that offers English language learning programs
Contact the program coordinator and express your interest in volunteering
Attend a volunteer orientation
Start volunteering

Follow tutorials on how to use Google Classroom and other educational technology tools

Show steps

Follow tutorials on how to use Google Classroom and other educational technology tools to improve your teaching.

Browse courses on Educational Technology

Show steps

Find tutorials on how to use Google Classroom and other educational technology tools
Follow the tutorials
Practice using the tools in your own classroom

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Meet with other teachers to discuss how you are using technology in your classroom

Show steps

Meet with other teachers to discuss how you are using technology in your classroom and learn from each other's experiences.

Browse courses on Educational Technology

Show steps

Find a group of teachers who are interested in using technology in the classroom
Meet with the group regularly to discuss your experiences and ideas
Share resources and support each other

Practice using Edpuzzle and Kami extensions in Google Classroom

Show steps

Practice using Edpuzzle and Kami to make lessons more engaging for students.

Browse courses on Educational Technology

Show steps

Find an existing Google Classroom assignment to use with Kami or Edpuzzle
Make a copy of this assignment
Use Kami or Edpuzzle to add new content, such as notes, highlights, or audio feedback

Attend an EdTech conference or workshop

Show steps

Attend an EdTech conference or workshop to learn about the latest educational technology trends and best practices.

Browse courses on Educational Technology

Show steps

Find an EdTech conference or workshop that interests you
Register for the conference or workshop
Attend the conference or workshop
Network with other educators and learn about new educational technology tools and resources

Create a lesson plan that incorporates technology to teach 21st century skills

Show steps

Create a lesson plan that incorporates technology to teach 21st century skills, such as creativity, communication, and critical thinking.

Browse courses on 21st Century Skills

Show steps

Choose a topic that you want to teach
Identify the 21st century skills that you want to teach
Find or create resources that will help you teach these skills
Develop a lesson plan that incorporates these resources
Teach the lesson and reflect on your experience

Participate in the ISTE Standards for Students Coding Competition

Show steps

Participate in the ISTE Standards for Students Coding Competition to showcase your coding skills and knowledge of the ISTE Standards for Students.

Browse courses on Coding

Show steps

Gather a team of up to four people
Choose a coding project to work on
Submit your project to the competition
Present your project to a panel of judges

Career center

Learners who complete Using Educational Technology with English Learners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Educational Researcher

Educational Researchers conduct research on teaching and learning. They work with teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders to improve educational outcomes for students. This course will help you succeed as an Educational Researcher by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively conduct educational research.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educational Researcher

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers plan, develop, and implement educational programs. They work with subject matter experts to create learning materials that are effective and engaging. This course will help you succeed as an Instructional Designer by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively design and develop educational programs

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Learning and Development Manager

Learning and Development Managers plan, develop, and implement training and development programs for employees. They work with subject matter experts to create training materials that are effective and engaging. This course will help you succeed as a Learning and Development Manager by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively design and develop training and development programs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Learning and Development Manager

E-Learning Developer

E-Learning Developers plan, develop, and implement online learning programs. They work with subject matter experts to create online learning materials that are effective and engaging. This course will help you succeed as an E-Learning Developer by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively design and develop online learning programs.

See salaries and explore the career path for E-Learning Developer

Bilingual Teacher

Bilingual Teachers plan and implement classroom instruction to help students learn English as a second language (ESL) and succeed in their academic studies. They prepare lesson plans, deliver instruction, and assess student progress. This course will help you succeed as a Bilingual Teacher by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively teach ESL students. You will learn about the latest research on best practices for teaching ESL, and you will have the opportunity to practice these strategies in a variety of classroom settings. The course will also help you to develop the cultural competence you need to work effectively with ESL students and families.

See salaries and explore the career path for Bilingual Teacher

Technology Integration Specialist

Technology Integration Specialists work with teachers and administrators to integrate technology into the curriculum. They provide training, support, and resources to help teachers use technology effectively in the classroom. This course will help you succeed as a Technology Integration Specialist by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively integrate technology into the curriculum. You will learn about the latest research on best practices in technology integration, and you will have the opportunity to practice these strategies in a variety of settings. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to work effectively with teachers and administrators.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technology Integration Specialist

Literacy Coach

Literacy Coaches work with teachers and students to improve literacy skills. They provide support, resources, and professional development opportunities to help teachers improve their instruction and help students improve their reading and writing skills. This course will help you succeed as a Literacy Coach by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively coach teachers and students. You will learn about the latest research on best practices in literacy coaching, and you will have the opportunity to practice these strategies in a variety of settings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Literacy Coach

Special Education Teacher

Special Education Teachers plan and implement classroom instruction to help students with disabilities learn. They work with students with a variety of disabilities, including learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and emotional disabilities. This course will help you succeed as a Special Education Teacher by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively teach students with disabilities. You will learn about the latest research on best practices in special education, and you will have the opportunity to practice these strategies in a variety of classroom settings. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to work effectively with students with disabilities and their families.

See salaries and explore the career path for Special Education Teacher

Reading Specialist

Reading Specialists work with students who have difficulty reading. They provide assessment, instruction, and support to help students improve their reading skills. This course will help you succeed as a Reading Specialist by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively work with students who have difficulty reading. You will learn about the latest research on best practices in reading instruction, and you will have the opportunity to practice these strategies in a variety of settings.

See salaries and explore the career path for Reading Specialist

Curriculum Developer

Curriculum Developers plan, develop, and implement educational curriculum and materials. They work with teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders to create educational programs that meet the needs of students. This course will help you succeed as a Curriculum Developer by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to develop effective educational curriculum. You will learn about the latest research on best practices in curriculum development, and you will have the opportunity to practice these strategies in a variety of settings. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to work effectively with teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Developer

Teacher Librarian

Teacher Librarians work with teachers and students to provide library services and resources. They help students develop their information literacy skills, and they provide access to books and other resources that support the curriculum. This course will help you succeed as a Teacher Librarian by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively manage a school library. You will learn about the latest research on best practices in school librarianship, and you will have the opportunity to practice these strategies in a variety of settings. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to work effectively with teachers and students.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher Librarian

Instructional Coach

Instructional Coaches work with teachers to improve their teaching practice. They provide feedback, support, and professional development opportunities to help teachers improve their skills and knowledge. This course will help you succeed as an Instructional Coach by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively coach teachers. You will learn about the latest research on best practices in instructional coaching, and you will have the opportunity to practice these strategies in a variety of settings. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to work effectively with teachers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Coach

Educational Consultant

Educational Consultants provide guidance and support to schools and other educational institutions. They work with administrators, teachers, and other stakeholders to improve educational outcomes for students. This course will help you succeed as an Educational Consultant by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively consult with schools and other educational institutions. You will learn about the latest research on best practices in educational consulting, and you will have the opportunity to practice these strategies in a variety of settings. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to work effectively with administrators, teachers, and other stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educational Consultant

Language Arts Teacher

Language Arts Teachers plan and implement classroom instruction to help students develop their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. They prepare lesson plans, deliver instruction, and assess student progress. This course will help you succeed as a Language Arts Teacher by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively teach language arts. You will learn about the latest research on best practices in language arts instruction, and you will have the opportunity to practice these strategies in a variety of classroom settings. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to work effectively with students.

See salaries and explore the career path for Language Arts Teacher

School Administrator

School Administrators plan, organize, and manage the operation of schools. They work with teachers, staff, students, and parents to create a positive learning environment. This course will help you succeed as a School Administrator by providing you with the skills and knowledge you need to effectively manage a school. You will learn about the latest research on best practices in school administration, and you will have the opportunity to practice these strategies in a variety of settings.

See salaries and explore the career path for School Administrator