Tutela Online Resource:

An Adult Settlement Blended Language Training: Selected Annotated Bibliography.”

What are the pros and cons of blended learning? Are there practical ways to introduce technology to the classroom? What impact can Web 2.0 have on the language classroom? TESL professionals looking for research on blended language instruction in settlement programs have a convenient new online resource for professional development and research; The LearnIT2teach Project has just released “An Adult Settlement Blended Language Training: Selected Annotated Bibliography.” This Tutela online resource summarizes the contents of more than 100 articles from the research literature. The bibliography is divided into 16 sections ranging from Instructor Readiness to Learner Readiness and Learner Attitudes Toward Technology, all the way to Technology Tools.

Researchers Trudy Kennell and Maria Moriarty researched and wrote the bibliography and update it with new entries regularly. According to Trudy and Maria, “We were glad to have this opportunity. It gave us a chance to apply our separate backgrounds and depth of knowledge in the areas of language learning and blended learning. We were able to critically analyze some very useful research.”

Interesting surprises for the authors were the importance of digital technologies and the Internet in the lives of newcomers to Canada, and the role information technology plays in helping people stay connected to their home country while adapting and adjusting to life in Canada. Making their job a bit easier was, “The availability of such a wealth of material freely available – and just a couple of clicks away – educators, researchers, and scholars are so generous in sharing their thinking and their work.”

https://tutela.ca/Resource_25908

http://bib.learnit2teach.ca/

TVLT is pleased to announce a new contribution agreement with IRCC for fiscal years 2017 – 2020. This agreement will allow the LearnIT2teach Project to continue to provide Edulinc blended learning courseware for LINC classes across Canada, and continue to train teachers to use the courseware to create blended learning classes. The project team will also continue to augment and improve what we offer learners, teachers and LINC service providers. 

The LearnIT2teach team will continue to:

• Provide Stages 1, 2, 3, 4 of teacher training through a coast-to-coast network of expert mentors and regional partners;
• Partner with TESL Ontario to support PTCT accreditation for Ontario TESL teachers who’ve completed Stages 3 and 4 of the teacher training;
• Create and distribute informal professional development through the Live Help chat option, twitter feed, articles and podcasts on our project portal and Tutela webinars;
• Provide online training in Learning Technology Innovation Leadership to sector managers and aspiring lead teachers;
•  Apply a strategy for continuous improvement of all our tools and services through a Participatory Action Research model.

Some of the highlights planned for 2017 – 18:

• Updating the learner courses to CLB levels from LINC levels;
• Further developing tools and techniques to support PBLA;
• Continuing to modify and update the courseware to support delivery on tablets and cellphones;
•  A pilot of synchronous online delivery of Edulinc courseware for learners who have geographical or other barriers to conventional face-to-face learning;
• Consultation with the IRCC-funded language training sector to move ahead the national learning management system project.