Developing IT skills among low-level ESOL students enabling them to access aspects of IT to enhance their learning.
Full time ESOL students were taught IT skills which they cascaded to other ESOL students. The intention of the project was to build a ‘community of practice’ where students could actively participate, learning from and supporting each other’s development.
Full time ESOL students had support in building their IT and communication skills. When they were confident in their skills, with the support of an IT tutor they delivered a lesson on basic IT skills to pre-entry students. Pre-entry students IT skills improved and the full-time students gained confidence in their ability to communicate as well as improving their IT skills.
OTLA 8
1. Reflect on what works best in your teaching and learning to meet the diverse needs of students - The approaches used were new to many of the team who initially struggled with students having control of the learning. Through meeting regularly, gathering feedback from students, and discussing progress with them, the team were able to constructively and honestly reflect on what worked best in teaching and support each other to make improvements. Regular reflection enabled the team to appreciate the benefits of the approach used, enhancing teaching practice whilst additionally encouraging effective relationships with each other and the students.
6. Build positive and collaborative relationships with colleagues and students - The project's success hinged on effective collaboration on many different levels. Initially, full-time students and teachers worked together to decide on topic delivery, needing to build up trust and confidence in each other. In classroom teaching sessions students increasingly relied on each other to help with communication and the execution of practical activities. Collaboration was further needed to provide honest feedback on activities so their usefulness could be effectively assessed and any improvements made.
15. Promote the benefits of technology and support students in its use - This project developed IT skills for ESOL students who struggled with the concept. Being taught by other ESOL students helped to lessen language barriers enabling them to express their difficulties more readily. Those teaching the sessions were able to recognise difficulties other students had in using IT and, with the teacher's help, support them appropriately to understand and use IT more effectively. As a result of the project, most students have grown in confidence in using IT. In addition, the project helped teachers better appreciate students’ difficulties and find more effective means of working to enable them to meet challenges and overcome barriers to learning.