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Coralis Mollitor
Enriching Second Language Acquisition for Emergent Bilinguals
Applied Digital Learning 2024-25
Synthesize Digital Learning
This page is dedicated to the reflection of my journey in the ADL program, but more importantly, the transformation of my learning. What started with an application to Lamar is ending with an individual that shares ideas.
Where I've Been
Where and when did you realize you had choice and voice in your authentic learning?
COVA Spark
00:00 / 02:41
I realized I had a choice during the ADL course 5313. I miss read the assignment due date and saw a bright red F on my gradebook. I was confused, overwhelmed, and lost. I couldn't believe I forgot an assignment. After contacting my professor and reviewing the late submission policy, I got to work. I was already in the worse case scenario for the class, thus all I could do was turn in a really good assignment. This ignited my creative brain! I ended up formatting the assignment as an interview. I remember the assignment fondly. I remember enjoying the creation process and loved the finish product. Once I chose to make it an interview, I freed myself from the standard essay that I always do. I owned my decision and elevated it. I brought back my quirk voice that I had during 5303 blogs. Even for this project, it has given me the freedom to connect with the assignment how I want. This is why I am blending that 5313 interview style with the podcast assignment from 5317.
What was your initial reaction when given freedom and responsibility to choose to take ownership of your learning an authentic project?
Be Prepared
00:00 / 05:59
It has been some time since I first started, but I do know myself, I am pretty sure I was overwhelmed. I was and am relieved and happy that this program is not a traditional dissertation. I didn't want to research and write a paper that most people will not read or want to. Creating an ePortfolio is something I wanted to design but never did. I love trying everything, but I never had the focus to select and stick to a topic. Let's look back at my first blog, Avoid the Dial-Up Sound. I wrote that creating an ePortfolio was "overwhelming" because of the "limitless possibility". That checks out, because my brain is constantly thinking of multiple things at once, having to pick one thing at a time was not going to be easy. Since I would want to talk about everything at the same time. Rereading my initial posts highlights that I was not aware of what this program really was. I would describe that my perspective was whimsically positive, almost delusional like I was convincing myself that this was a walk in the park. I don't think I was ready for the COVA learning experience. I kept pushing back my master's program, because of work. Every year, I thought the next work year will be easier, and I could dedicate more time to my learning, yet it never happened. Every year was more and more difficulty. This year was my most difficult year, yet I am doing this. It has been a self appreciation booster. I tried being a diagnostician last year, and had to quit, or postpone it, because I couldn't find a mentor. This took a toll and I lost confidence in myself; however, this changed because of my cohort. Collaborating with them, made me feel heard and no longer alone in wanting to promote change. I began accepting the freedom, and indulging my learning. The different assignments boosted my creativity and pushed me out of my comfort zone. They prepared me to be a leader and a publisher. I am very grateful for trying the activities that I always wanted to do but didn't. This program should be the standard for all degrees.
What did you do to adjust to this style of learning? What would you do differently?
Learning Style
00:00 / 06:11
I had to accept that I am out of my league. I had to learn to be patient with myself and forgiving. I learned that the hard way. There were times that I was cruel to myself. I have high expectations and feel like I have a standard that I need to achieve. That is fine! The problem was I didn't want to experience failure. I mention this in my Growth Mindset Plan. Failing has always been out of the question in every aspect of my life. For this learning style, I had to accept that this. I had to take the risk with each assignment that I was completely wrong. I rarely felt confident when I turned in an assignment, but I accepted that if something was wrong, it is ok. It is ok for me to learn and improve my learning/assignments. Even though this next thought isn't failing, it is related to the unforgivingness I have towards myself. To learn, I had to accept that this ePortfolio is in a beginner level. This isn't fleshed out and perfect, completely unable to be altered. This is the best I have for this instance, but I can improve on it later and others will improve on my plan and passion. Because new things are going to be created, and it is going to improve life. The number one thing I would do differently, I mentioned this in my last discussion group for 5318. I would change my discussion board by combining it with blogging. I would like to post my discussion board with my groups, but have a more direct influence to my ePortfolio. Learning Community Contribution post feels like it's missing something. I haven't put too much thought to this yet. When I do, I'll post a blog about it and update this section. There is something with discussion board and blogs that could work together. Another option would be making podcasts with my groups and we post them (I just discovered the podcast page template that Wix has). I wonder if with my groups consent could I have AI voice our discussion post as a podcast. Food for thought!
It was not difficult to control my voice. I have been an elementary school teacher for almost 10 years and emphasizing my persona to create a voice is done on a daily. For 5303 blog posts, I took into consideration my audience and how I wanted them to perceive me. I am passionate about emergent bilingual education and reflected that with ease. I did struggle with maintaining my audience in mind. I forget that not everyone is a bilingual teacher, therefore, I would not address my audience clearly. I received that feedback in an assignments. During 5389, which was creating professional development for my audience; I did not focus on convincing them. I failed at connecting with the heart. I over thought it and missed. Usually, when I struggle with an assignment for this program, it was caused by the lack of audience. Even now, these responses are not focused. It is more voice than audience.
Voice Over Audience
00:00 / 02:26
How difficult was it to take control of your own voice and focus on your organization as the audience for you work?
How was your attitude towards leading change grown throughout the program?
Blossoming
00:00 / 01:33
My complaining about education not being enough has diminished. I feel like I am actively working on improving the learning of emergent bilinguals.In a way, I have calmed down, but its because I am more active in finding a solution to the "problem" I saw. I have become more confident sharing with others. I am definitely more prepared to be a leader. I learned and have used various medias to lead and teach others.
How authentic is your innovation plan? Did you create it to get through the course work or did you really hope to change your organization?
Revising Plan
00:00 / 02:43
My innovation plan, as is, is authentic because the targeted learner that I want to help are emergent bilinguals. However, in its conception, it was a get through the course work while learning something new. As the program continued, I buy-in to my own plan. I do believe that ePortfolios help with the learning acquisition process. Reviewing it, it is limited and I need to update it. For one, I believe that ePortfolio helps with acquisition of language and knowledge. I researched other digital tools like artificial intelligence, audio and media support, and blended learning which also benefit emergent bilingual. I always believed in changing education for emergent bilingual, but I became a believer of ePortfolio through the course. Side note, I remember Dr. Johnson emailing us about our innovation plan. At first, I was going to research how the use of digital boards like Promethean can be used to help teach emergent bilinguals. I am glad, I didn't. I will add it to the ePortfolio during this school year, since I will finally have one in my classroom.
How does the COVA approach and CSLE align with your philosophy?
Philosophy
00:00 / 03:42
I believe in the constructivist philosophy. The idea that our background and passions influences our learning. It is the drive to acquiring knowledge. COVA and CSLE are student centered approaches. They believe in connecting with the learner. I think this is relevant for emergent bilinguals, because they have knowledge and foundation, they need to practice and transfer it to the second language. It is ideal to allow EBs to learn in an environment that supports their passions and interest. It will accelerate their learning process, because they will want to learn and share their topic. By implementing real world learning and application, EBs can use their second language naturally promoting acquisition. Learning a language in a formal setting is irrelevant. EBs need to be able to communicate with their peers. In fact, they develop BICS first, then CALPS. When learning in a natural second language conversation, they will learn the academics faster.
How has your perspective on learning and your learning philosophy changed?
Put It Junto
00:00 / 03:13
My perspective on learning and my philosophy changed by being more defined. Bilingual teachers have been taught to use student centered learning, reflection journals, and collaboration. Through experience, I have seen the positive effect, yet I couldn't place how and why it was working. After learning more about COVA, CSLE, blended learning, and the different philosophies, I can now see what exactly made it work. It was the creating learning environments that promoted students to learn about their interest and applying their academic knowledge to support it. For example, taking the reflection journals and make it a blog post. We are told to teach to the top 25% percent; with blended learning, we can continuously support the top 25% in their assignments meanwhile scaffolding all students to grow as well. We can provide supports and individual assignments to tailor their knowledge acquisition or for EBs language acquisition. Furthermore, by bringing their interest into learning we accelerate the process.
Where I'm Going
I want to prepare teachers and language acquisition specialist when designing lessons, activities, and learning environments for emergent bilinguals. Through the use of COVA approach and the implementation of CSLE, I can accelerate the second language acquisition without compromising the native language foundation (Innovation Plan). By using ePortfolios, emergent bilinguals can express and share their ideas to a broader public and with their peers. Not only can they use the ePortfolio to establish voice, but they can develop it and see their progress each academic year. I am going to have my students reflect on lessons and weekly experiences through blogging in ePortfolio. The assignments that I will design for their ePortfolios will allow emergent bilinguals to choose how they want to express themselves. They can share the knowledge they have in their native language after translanguaging activities for support. They will develop their voice in both languages and own their learning through student centered learning.
I will implement a flipped classroom. Through the use of online videos and reading assignments, students will be prepared based on their knowledge and language. Students that need more support will have scaffold resources to prepare them for the lesson; meanwhile, students who are knowledgeable in the topic will receive introductory assignment that allows them to investigate an interest using the skill that will be taught. For emergent bilinguals depending on their language proficiency, they will receive a translanguaging activity to prepare them for collaborative work. In-person, small group will allow me to implement other supportive methods to assist learners.
A challenge that I will face is redesigning a lesson to fit the COVA approach in an organization that does not permit innovation, creativity, or deviation from its curriculum guide. Another challenge is finding authentic resources in the students native language. However, I do what is best for the students and will enlighten my organization in the COVA approach to CSLE.
I will lead by example, by documenting my students success. I will use the plan that I created to demonstrate data. I will gather evidence and create videos on how the COVA approach can elevate our curriculum. I will use courses , like the one for 5318, to teach others on the implementation of digital technology to equip emergent bilinguals. I will create professional developments to help transition into a COVA learning environment. Finally, I will share my ePortfolios to entice my organization into believing in COVA.
Reference
Colorin Colorado. (2018, March 21). Terms to know: BICS and CALP. Youtube. https://youtu.be/SiknKt0PTME?si=wBPcOJxhy3QEPdR7
Dweck, C. (2016). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York. Random House LLC.
Harapnuik, D. (2024). Applied Digital Learning. It's About Learning.https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=8517
Harapnuik, D & Thibodeaux, T. (2023, August). COVA: Inspire learning through choice, ownership, voice and authentic experiences.
Harapnuik, D. (2024). CSLE + COVA. It's About Learning. https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=6988
Harapnuik, D. (2024). Learner's Mindset. It's About Learning. https://www.harapnuik.org/?page_id=8773
Thomas, D. and Seely Brown, J. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change.
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