What does digital literacy mean for a student who is learning English? What does digital literacy mean for a student who has not yet learned basic computer skills? As classes move to online formats, how can teachers identify weaknesses in digital literacy for students with budding second language abilities?
In this presentation, strategies will be provided for teachers of English Language Learners (ELLs) to support their digital literacy while also supporting their language acquisition. Concepts to be discussed include: assessing basic technology skills, using technology-specific vocabulary supports, engaging ELLs with online language resources, and modifying online assignments to promote language acquisition. Additionally, a comprehensive list of resources will be provided for teachers to utilize.
Supporting emergent bilinguals can be difficult, especially when differentiating for diverse technological abilities is required; however, the tools and methods proposed through this presentation can ease the burden of teachers with ELLs.