Multithreaded Language Learning

In the article written by Robert A. Morrey title Multithreaded Language Learning: Students at Different Levels Working in One Classroom he goes on to discuss how he has created lesson plans that allow the students to work almost on their own and create their own lesson plans. He doesn't leave them hanging though. This is just on the technology part of the class. He does encourage the target language to be used in the classroom. This style was also used in an advance German class so it wouldn't be as effective in a beginning class due to the students already having a foundation. He uses technology such as the Internet, videos, news articles, CD's, books, audio-tapes, and many other forms of media to engage in learning and has assignments all geared around these medias. The students then have the freedom to learn about subject of their choice as long as they follow the guidelines of what is to be applied to the learning. He has presentations that they give, reports, summaries of what they learned all in the target language. The class he does this in is a 3rd and 4th year German class. They learn new vocabulary, customs, grammar, language skills, pronunciation, and many other aspects. This is taking the the traditional teaching role and allowing the students to learn about things that interest them while having the support and and guidance from the teacher. He stated that the interest of learning increases when he teaches in this manner and allows all students to find materials at their level of learning.

Food for Thought Questions

1. What if you are from a lower S.E.S. school how would you go about doing this?

You may not have that many computers but I'm sure their is one. You can use Newpapers, Cassettes along with your one computer as well as a VCR. Where there is a will their is a way.

2. Would you recommend groups? 

Groups could be good or bad. It might allow for to much group noise (distraction) and they may not allows be communicating in the target language. A pro could be group cohesion if they did it using the foreign language. They would be able to learn from one another and well as build socialization skills using the foreign language.

Technical Frience

In an article written by Maria Pastorek and Lisa Craig titled Technical Frience they talk about how they integrate multiple subjects and technology into one lesson plan. These subjects are Science, Foreign Language, and Social Studies. The language that this article talks about emphasizing is French. What the teachers have their students do is is very interesting. First the teachers read a book called The Mixed up Chameleon and learn about defenseless animals in English and French. The students then create their own defenseless animal and then used Kid Pix studio to re-create the animal on the computer. They then are assigned a country that speaks French and a title ambassador, consul, etc. and find their country on an atlas or globe. The students then group themselves by country and start the research. They research the habitat and climate in French as well as English and then discuss this with their group and decide what their animal needs to survive. They then go on to create a slide show using software that describes their animals and the country in both languages as well.  The teachers who wrote about this said their students not only learned about animals but how to use a globe/atlas, do research, French words, technology, as well as working in groups (social interaction). I think that this is a very unique way to be able to teach a wide variety of subjects in just one lesson and thought that it also builds student creativity. 

Food for thought Questions

1. What are the cost of this Kid Pix software that was mentioned for the creative process?

It can be picked up off of Amazon for around 20.00 dollars and there are different a few different versions as deluxe four seems to be the newest version.

2. What other alternative ways would you be able to do a similar project if your classroom does not have too many computers? 

You could still do the project just establish a time period for each group to use the computer and so on. Of course you allow everyone the same time just have the final project due at a different time for the different groups.