Last week I had the opportunity to visit Bonham Language Center in Grand Prairie ISD which houses the Pre-K Dual Language Program. I was blown away by the level of Thinking Maps Implementation. Not only were teachers using the Maps with fidelity, but the students were moving beyond the visual language of the Maps and using them as tools for creative and critical thinking. The language development, in both English and Spanish was evident throughout their Thinking Maps, their writing, and oral language. What was most inspiring about my visit was the ingenuity in using technology in a way that enhanced rather than complicated the classroom experience.
Incorporating 21st Century Technology within the classroom is not a decision to take lightly. From losing as much as thirty minutes to figure out why the projector isn’t working to saving worksheets in a format that can opened by all devices and more, the decision can be weighed down by ease of use. However, there are times when technology can be simple and it can add multiple dimensions to a classroom project that would be impossible without it.
The teachers at Bonham Language Center used Quick Response (QR) Codes to capture students’ voices as they learn a second language. For every oral presentation they first recorded students’ voices with an audio recorder. They created QR Codes using a QR Code generator and attached them to the map. Each code is unique to each presentation.
By scanning the QR Code in the photo above, you will hear an English-speaking child try her best to speak in Spanish. The teacher gently encourages her and she continues. The teacher also honors her language by allowing the rest to be in English. Remember, she is only 4 years old. Because of the vocabulary included in her map, the level of language used was high. Also, in the middle of her presentation, you hear her try to say it in Spanish again which demonstrates the level of comfort she felt to continue to take risks.
One of the many benefits that this technology provides is in assessment. Listening to an oral presentation while at the same time assessing the work requires multitasking. But by recording the presentation, the teachers were able to separate the listening from the assessment. Teachers could then focus on encouraging their students in a productive manner during the presentation and listen to the presentation in the recorded form to evaluate the student’s oral language development.
Another benefit that the QR Codes provide is the ability to save and share students’ language development as an artifact. It is evidence that the student’s ability to speak a second language is improving and it also allows parents to hear their child present. They enjoyed sharing it with family and friends.
Kudos to these teachers, students and the administrative team for a job well done. It does take a village to raise a child!
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