Technology for active learning: Using iPads to support learners with English as an additional language

Teacher Reflection

Written by: Cassey Williams and Duncan Kilty

Published on: January 16, 2019

2 min read

The New Wave Federation consists of three high-performing local authority primary schools in Hackney, Inner London. Improving outcomes through academic success is central to our mission and we endeavour to equip our children with the skills and understanding to make appropriate and positive choices about their own learning (Thomas , 2017). Technology, and specifically the iPad, has been a key driver of this vision. Our schools have a high percentage of children for whom English is an additional language. Many of these children do not speak English at home and their attainment is affected by their English language proficiency. Interventions aimed at enhancing vocabulary knowledge can aid English language and literacy development in children with EAL (Murphy , 2015), and we felt that with the tools available on the iPad, we could enhance the vocabulary of these learners in a number of ways. We use technology with consideration of the SAMR model of integration (Puentedura , 2015). T

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This article was published in January 2019 and reflects the terminology and understanding of research and evidence in use at the time. Some terms and conclusions may no longer align with current standards. We encourage readers to approach the content with an understanding of this context.