What technology standards do ESL Teachers need to meet?

TESOL Technology Standards 

for Language Teachers

Goal 1. Language teachers acquire and maintain foundational knowledge and skills in technology for professional purposes.

• Standard 1: Language teachers demonstrate knowledge and skills in basic technological concepts and operational competence, meeting or exceeding TESOL technology standards for students in whatever situation they teach.
•   I regularly prepare instructional materials for my students using programs such as Vocabulary A-Z  and Google images to connect pictures and words to create customized vocabulary lists. I also have kept up a classroom website and have introduced a variety of uses of technology resources to students.
• Standard 2: Language teachers demonstrate an understanding of a wide range of technology supports for language learning and options for using them in a given setting.
•  I share information about available technology with colleagues such as English in a Flash for vocabulary acquisition.
• Standard 3: Language teachers actively strive to expand their skill and knowledge base to evaluate, adopt, and adapt emerging technologies throughout their careers.
• I regularly research various information sources to research instructional activities that correlate with with language, content, and technology standards. For example, TESOL Quarterly offers electronic articles about current practices in the ESL field. I also frequently access the TESOL Standards and the WIDA Standards through the internet.
• Standard 4: Language teachers use technology in socially and culturally appropriate, legal, and ethical ways.
•  I conform to local legal requirements regarding accessibility as when requesting Acceptable User Procedure forms (AUP) signed by parents. I am also aware of the minimum age requirements for children using Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace and offer suggestions for Internet Safety Tips for parents.

Goal 2. Language teachers integrate pedagogical knowledge and skills with technology to enhance language teaching and learning

• Standard 1: Language teachers identify and evaluate technological resources and environments for suitability to their teaching context.
•  I identify the technological resources available in the school. For example, I offer EBook tools so students and parents have access to electronic books such as the free resource of the International Children's Digital Library (which is available in several languages).
• Standard 2: Language teachers coherently integrate technology into their pedagogical approaches.
•  I try to understand individual teacher's own teaching style by analyzing results from Learning Style Online Quiz.
• Standard 3: Language teachers design and manage language learning activities and tasks using technology appropriately to meet curricular goals and objectives.
•  I choose technology that is aligned with the needs and abilities of the students, such as introducing and training them to use the Accelerated Reader program (AR). I also use the Lexile Framework for Reading  to determine the lexile level of books for my ESL students.
• Standard 4: Language teachers use relevant research findings to inform the planning of language learning activities and tasks that involve technology.
•  I demonstrate familiarity with suggestions from research for classroom practice using technology such as the ideas shared in Empower ELLs with Tools from the Web. I obtain computer resources, software tools, and books about language research in the world using Ethnologue (which is offered in over 2,700 languages).

Goal 3. Language teachers apply technology in record-keeping, feedback, and assessment.

• Standard 1: Language teachers evaluate and implement relevant technology to aid in effective learner assessment.
•  I demonstrate familiarity with a variety of forms of assessment that employs technology such as when using MAP testing to assess reading and math knowledge. I understand that teachers need to weigh the values of utilizing Formative and Summative Assessments as they offer critical feedback and also provide data of student's academic growth.
• Standard 2: Language teachers use technological resources to collect and analyze information in order to enhance language instruction and learning.
•  I use the MAP Reading and MAP Math sites based on RIT ranges to practice skills with students as part of the feedback coming from each individual MAP assessment. Also, I have become familiar with using podcasting and can use it as a related technology-enhanced assessment or to review for tests.
• Standard 3: Language teachers evaluate the effectiveness of specific student uses of technology to enhance teaching and learning.
•  I value the effectiveness of using different types of technology in the classroom to enhance teaching and learning throughout the curriculum.

Goal 4. Language teachers use technology to improve communication, collaboration, and efficiency

• Standard 1: Language teachers use communication technologies to maintain effective contact and collaboration with peers, students, administration, and other stakeholders.
•  I draw from different resources and from other teachers (lesson plans and teaching ideas) that are posted online such as KET Encyclomedia, Curriculum SharePoint, and using the document camera.
• Standard 2: Language teachers regularly reflect on the intersection of professional practice and technological developments so that they can make informed decisions regarding the use of technology to support language learning and communication.
•  I am aware of technology resources and of professional development opportunities available for teachers within the district.
• Standard 3: Language teachers apply technology to improve efficiency in preparing for class, grading, and maintaining records.
•  I use electronic sources to organize data and to communicate to parents and students using graphic organizers, printable planning forms, calendars, worksheets, and the classroom website.