Planning and Implementing the Multimedia Networked ESL Laboratory Classroom.

ERIX FLORES

Best, Linda. “Planning and Implementing the Multimedia Networked ESL Laboratory Classroom.” Research and Teaching in Developmental Education, vol. 14, no. 2, 1998, pp. 75–86. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/42801999.

SUMMARY:

In this article the author Linda Best composes an ESL lab class structure that focuses on maximizing the English language acquisition for ESL students at a college level through the use of technology.  This person is the pioneer of technological integration and digital literacy for both staff and students.  This was around the time that the internet was being used in the public.  It was not popular at the time but it was on their way to be used in the public.  The author did take advantage of this change in society in order to make a change in the learning in education in general.

In this article, the author does not only wanted to integrate technology in the ESL classroom in the college level, but lab assistants were hired, and other professors/educators were attending professional development on how to effectively use this lab in order to maximize English language acquisition through the use of this lab.  Back in 1996 it was pretty obvious that many educators pushed back the idea due to the lack of knowledge of technology and internet.  At the time, many people did not know what was the internet for, so this is why the author developed this professional development for staff in order to be educated in the matter, and developed guidelines for students, professors, lab assistants, and administrators.

Moreover, the author also envisioned on buying software that will assist the learning of ESL students.  Although they did buy the software the school was not able to buy the software that the author envisioned due to the lack of funds but was postponed until next year.  Lastly, the author also touches on why the technological integration with ESL students will help them develop skills that will be required in the work force as well as developing social skills that fit into the American culture.  This is why I say that this author was the pioneer of technology education because she knew how the concept work and what benefits came with the use of technology.

REFLECTION:

Like I mentioned before,  Best was a pioneer of technology education because she had the right concept in place when it came with the learning benefits that comes along with technology.  The reason why I admire the knowledge that this author has is because this article was composed in 1998 and the plan to execute a ESL computer lab was back in 1996 where the internet was slowly becoming part of society, a lot of educators and people in general did not know what was the internet for and much less they would know that technology and internet would serve as a tool for learning.  Moreover, the author was ahead in terms of technology education and integrating it into a classroom.

Best did not only educate her students on how to maximize their English language acquisition but also had the right mindset that technology would not only help them learn but also help them get familiarized with the American culture and acquire skills that would ultimately benefit them in the work force, Best developed these guidelines in her article in which many educators at the time would have never thought about it.  In addition, she did not limit herself on educating the students but the lab assistants, educators, and staff in general since it was a new concept that Best started to integrate in the facility.  Moreover, there was a push back due to the lack of knowledge in terms of technology but it was a matter of getting the staff educated in the matter.

One thing that I wish the author could have done differently in this article and her project is to develop a class and professional development of how all of these technological skills that are being taught to both staff and students translate in the physical world.  I just think that the author could have developed a hands-on activity for both staff and students to execute the skills that they have acquired through the use of technology into the physical world.  After all, this was back in the late 1990s in which the world did not revolve around technology as much as we do today.  I would have like to see how all of these technological skills, community and identity that they author built in this project would have ultimately benefit in the physical world due to the time period that this was executed.

I do want to emphasize that I do like what the author developed here.  Best had the right idea in mind and in my opinion she was ahead of her time since she inadvertently knew that technology was going to be the new society and building the ESL students and staff knowledge, identity, and digital literacy would ultimately help in their academics as well as the work force since many of the technological skills were required in certain job labors.

QUOTATIONS:

 In the room I envisioned, technology would play an integral part in the curriculum rather than serving as an add-on or supplement.

 The effort to integrate technology into ESL instruction at Kean University has generated unique discussions about assessment and the nature of student progress. Certainly, improvements in knowledge about grammar and, more importantly, students' awareness of how to apply this knowledge to their own skills have been evident.


My aim was to transform the University's ESL Program into a model for computer- assisted interactive language learning and move beyond the frustration I was experiencing with outdated equipment and inadequate software.