Instructional Strategy: Cooperative Learning
App: Skype
Alternative Apps: FaceTime, Google Hangouts
Link: Skype
This app can be used as a supplement to in-class language practice from home. You can set students up in community groups, preferably pairing strong language learners with weaker learners. A topic would be predetermined in class (i.e. "What do you do after school") group members could meet online and practice productive language skills at a designated time.
Instructional Strategy: Assess proficiency
App: Duolingo
Alternative Apps: Byki, Mango
Link: duolingo
With this language app students can pick lessons according to their level of competency. Skills are considered "learned" when they complete the lessons within that particular skill. Features such as "retry" and "timed practice" challenge the students while reinforcing that particular skill set. Duolingo measures which questions the students struggle with and the types of mistakes they make and compiles the information in order to address their weaknesses with more exercises and practice time. Teachers can monitor progress by logging into each student account. It's highly interactive and an engaging way to learn a new language.
Instructional Strategy: Compare and Contrast, Adapt Content
App: Subtext by Renaissance Learning
Alternative App: PDF Printer
Link: Subtext
Subtext is a digital reading platform that allows classroom groups to exchange ideas in the
pages of digital texts. It’s easy to set up a closed group for your
class to help students collaborate and stay
focused as they read. Students in a closed
group can only see notes from their teachers
and classmates. You can also layer in enrichment materials, assignments, and polls—
creating opportunities to engage students and foster analysis and writing skills.
App: Explain Everything
Link: Explain Everything
Explain Everything is an interactive whiteboard tool that allows you to annotate, narrate, animate and manipulate and edit photos, backgrounds, texts and images. You could use it as a storyboard for ESL where students would see a series of slides and write their own unique story. Teachers can import authentic material for reading and analyzing. This tool can be used for all four language learning skills, reading, writing, speaking and listening.
