Using iPads, Tablets & SmartBoards to Support ELLs
Microsoft Office Suite is an essential technological tool for our students. This group of software can allow students to write, create math charts, give presentations, email a penpal, etc.
Google Docs can allow students to work in groups on the same project in many of Microsoft Office software. This is a powerful program because students can see the changes their teammates are making immediately.
Prezi is a great presenation software and has the ability for students to work together in the creation process with the sharing feature.
"A wiki is a website technology that allows students to create and edit a web page without knowledge of Internet programming protocols and languages such as HTML or DHTML. Wiki technology allows students to publish their work on the Internet, giving them the ability to link other Internet materials, videos, or images...Wikis are a wonderful way to implement writing workshops because students can write and teachers or peers can be assigned as their editors." (Herrell & Jordan, 2012, p. 287)
Using Tagxedo can be a great opportunity to focus on specific academic vocabulary words. This program also has a multiple languages feature which would allow the use of Primary Language Support. This program would be great for cognate studies and you could create birthday cards that have positive character traits about the child in English and their native language.
The Smart Board is a white board and a computer in one device. This allows the teacher to write on the board and drop in pictures and video easily to make content more comprehensible. You can also save the screen for later use.
The possibilities for the iPad are endless. The iPad can be used for listening center, project creation, reading e-books, listening to music, recording themselves speaking or interviews, countless educational apps and games, etc.