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

  • March 20, 2018

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/

LearnIT2teach Project Update

  • May 9, 2017

LearnIT2Teach PresentationTVLT 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.

Update on LearnIT2teach Training and Mentoring

  • October 31, 2016

In the early days of the project, nearly all face-to-face training events required our small team of trainers to travel, sometimes long distances, to deliver training events. The project now has a trainer network encompassing seven provinces and comprising 14 trainers, allowing us to minimize travel and maximize our training resources. These trainers not only provide face to face introductions: they also provide online mentoring through the additional stages of training. Get to know the LearnIT2teach team by visiting: http://learnit2teach.ca/wpnew/about-2/our-team/

These are the events we’ve hosted since April 1, 2016:

  • Stage One: Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Regina; 30-Apr-2016
  • Stage One: TESL Saskatchewan; Johnson Collegiate, Regina, 30-Apr-2016
  • LINC Leadership: TESL Sask.; Johnson Collegiate, Regina, 30-Apr-2016
  • Stage One: YMCA of Greater Saint John, NB, 20-May-2016
  • Stage One Training: Woodgreen Community Services, Toronto; 10-Jun-2016
  • Stage One Event: Saskatoon Intercultural Association 17-Jun-2016, Saskatoon.

Teachers learning computer skillsYou can expect specific additional events to be announced through the fall, but we plan to hold our first Stage 1 in Newfoundland and Labrador, and at least one event in PEI, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Alberta (Calgary), Alberta (Edmonton) and BC. Most of these will be the Stage 1 introduction to the Edulinc courseware from the learner’s perspective, but a leadership session is scheduled at the Continuing Education School Board Administrators (CESBA) Conference in Toronto in early December. Additional Ontario events are planned in Mississauga and Windsor-Chatham but the project is looking for Stage 1 opportunities to get service providers started with blended learning.

LearnIT2teach Manager of Distributed Learning Jim Edgar has observed attitude changes since the beginning of the project. Blended language learning is now better understood by teachers, even before they enter the training: “In the beginning, people were very curious and exploratory but somewhat skeptical about innovation. Most didn’t understand blended learning and some worried about how sustainable technology innovation was. Today, teachers seem to understand learning technology innovation is here to stay before they even arrive at a Stage 1. Technology-enhanced language learning seems to be better understood, and most people realize that information technology needs to be threaded through LINC classes much like it is through modern life.”

To request a training event or register for online training, please contact Mavis Spencer by email: admin@learnit2teach.ca

LearnIT2teach launches Blended Settlement Language Training Online Searchable Database

  • October 28, 2016

What are the pros and cons of blended learning? Are there practical ways to introduce technology to the classroom? What potential do teachers see  in technology tools and why is this important? TESL professionals looking for research on blended language instruction in settlement programs have a convenient new place to start; The LearnIT2teach Project has just released a searchable online database of annotations and links to relevant articles. “Adult Settlement Blended Language Training: Selected Annotated Bibliography.”newbib

This resource summarizes more than 90 articles from the research literature. The bibliography is divided into searchable categories including Digital Literacy, Innovations, Instructional Design and Ongoing Issues. 

Researchers Trudy Kennell and Maria Moriarty researched and wrote the bibliography.  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.” 

An interesting surprise for the authors was 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.”

The database is open for exploration at http://bib.learnit2teach.ca/

 

LearnIT2teach Upgrades Edulinc Courses to Latest Moodle Version

  • August 31, 2016

newmoodleLike any successful information technology product, Moodle is constantly working to improve. We are happy to announce the project has now migrated all edulinc.org courses to this latest version of our learning management system of choice.

LearnIT2teach has produced two videos to help you and your learners navigate and take advantage of the major and minor improvements to the LearnIT2teach Moodle: ‪

Among the major and minor changes described in the videos are:

  • The ‘Home’ link has been replaced by ‘Dashboard’, providing a drop down menu to edit your settings and preferences.
  • Editing course pages is now easier.
  • A recycle bin provides 7-day insurance if you have accidentally deleted content and want to recover it.
  • Easier addition of text, pictures and other media, including the ability to drag and drop images into the text editor.
  • New PBLA based activities and resources.

Free Training and Online Courseware

  • July 30, 2016

If you are working in an IRCC-funded language training program and you are interested in any of the four stages of teacher training, or the innovation leadership courses we offer to managers and lead teachers, please be in touch with our project Events Coordinator, Mavis Spencer at admin@learnit2teach.ca LIT2T Image
Once an instructor has completed the Pre-Stage 2 training they can request the appropriate Benchmark Level courseware to use with their students. They contact their mentor and let them know the benchmark level the students are working at and their mentor will make sure the courseware gets set up and they will also pass along the necessary generic student account information.

Introducing Literacy Learners to Online Learning!

  • July 15, 2016

There’s no doubt working online with low level learners is challenging. For guidance and tips from an Edulinc veteran, be sure to attend this Tutela webinar by Catherine Porter.

Online with Low Level Learners
July 26, 1:00 pm EDT
Presenters: Catherine Porter

Introducing low level learners to computer-based learning is a challenge. Literacy and low level learners can benefit from learning online but often have no exposure to computers. The objective of the webinar is to illustrate how computer literacy and activities can be successfully integrated into teaching plans. The presentation will present learners’ navigation aids that have been implemented in a Literacy/CLB 1 classroom. Participants will view select websites and worksheets.

Catherine Porter has been working with low level ESL students in the TDSB LINC programme for 18 years. Catherine “married” software and classroom instruction in her Level 1 teaching plan for years prior to introducing her Literacy/CLB 1 learners to edulinc.org in May 2014.

Latest ESL LINC Digital News Available!

  • June 30, 2016

newsglasses

Read the latest edition of the LearnIt2Teach newsletter. Information about the summer schedule and our PBLA Resources. Information and links to eLearning tools and great online activities as well as links to some great Blogs. New jobs are listed and there are new links in the e-Resource Corner to some great resources for teachers. ” View and read it here!.

Free Training and Courseware

  • June 20, 2016

Anyone working in an IRCC-funded language training program who is interested in any of the four stages of teacher training, or the innovation leadership courses we offer to managers and lead teachers, please be in touch with our project Events Coordinator, Mavis Spencer at admin@learnit2teach.ca LIT2T Image

May ESL LINC Digital News Available!

  • June 1, 2016

Latest Edition of ESL LINC Digital News.

May Edition of ESL LINC Digital News.

Read the May edition of the LearnIt2Teach newsletter. Project News. Information and links to eLearning tools and information about our PBLA Demo Course. Some links to some great Blogs such as 10 educational trends that we can expect to gain even more traction. New jobs are listed and there is a new links in the e-Resource Corner to a great resources for listening exercises. View and read it here!.