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Coralis Mollitor
Enriching Second Language Acquisition for Emergent Bilinguals
Applied Digital Learning 2024-25
This page is dedicated to creating a conscious awareness of my learning. I reflect on my own education and my implementation of learning in the classroom. The goal is to ignite learning and how it takes place.
Learning Manifesto
Innovating Education
My experience with education as of late has been frustrating. Education is supposed to be the means to the future. We are to facilitate the future generation; prepare them to be experts, innovators, and the creation of the world.
Unfortunately, we are struggling behind on bridging the needs of the children. With a career with high turnover rates, we are losing those minds that can help veterans reach the minds of the young ones.
There are several factors that are keeping education from flourishing:
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Reluctance to use technology: I have heard over and over again "Kids need to disconnect from the computer.", "They don't know how to test with pen and paper", and "I have always taught like this and they did better than these Tik Tok babies". Almost everything is online or digitally. The issue is not the tech, it is the fixed mind not being willing to adapt to a new learning style. Nobody lost the ability to read when using an ebook, or the ability to comprehend with an audiobook.
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Regurgitate: I would argue that memorizing never created an impact in learning or education. I can work out algebraic formulas because I learned how multiplication can be used, not because I know 5x5=25. It is through application and use that knowledge is powerful. We are still struck with using textbooks and worksheets, just because they are online that does not take away from it still being a textbook and worksheets. We need to apply what we learn.
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Oh So Boring: Piggybacking on the previous point, what good is education if I am being spoon fed information. Creation, research, and exploration is missing in education. I hear teachers frustrated that their kids are waiting for the answer, but if our lessons are not tailored to struggle, overcome, and learn what are we expecting? How are emergent bilingual students supposed to learn, if no connection or exploration between languages happens? HOw are they to build confidence, when they are thrown out there to read aloud a language they do not know?
My main goal in life is to help those around me so they can develop and help others in the future.
To accomplish this, I have subgoals to accompany it.
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My Personal Goal is to prepare myself. I have always been a stressed oriented person which influences my mindset. I spiral into a fixed mindset which makes learning difficult. After reflection, I created a Growth Mindset Plan where I will take to improve myself and have the outcome I desire. It includes improving my physical health, mental fortitude, and being conscious of my fixed mindset. Instead of being frustrated and completing a checklist of things to “learn” and “do”, I want to enjoy the time to develop ideas.
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My Learning Goal is one that relies on my personal growth. I want to embrace every part of my assignments, books, professional developments, and innate curiosity. I love learning, but I am not consistent in the indulging process. I tend to move on quickly because something new or urgent comes up. For example, I am learning that not every assignment in these courses are essays; I have a choice.
From a young age, I was taught the importance of achieving an education. My mom has been my number one advocate, supporter, and driving force in continuing my education. She would emphasize the importance of spending time studying and working diligently. However, the most impressive display of determination from my mom came in the countless hours she drove to take my brother and I to school.
My parents paid for private schooling because they offered bilingual education, for someone not speaking the language of the island this was crucial for me. The closest bilingual school was an hour away. My mom drove two and eventually four hours a day for my brother and I. This dedication has inspired and motivated me; it keeps me motivated.
Through my mom's efforts, I have come to value the not only the importance of education but the thrill of learning.
Principles and Beliefs
Approach to Learning
Change leads to innovation, to solutions and new concepts to explore. The change towards digital learning must be embraced.
If we continue to postpone learning with the new means we have, we postpone the future that is being crafted.
Technology and new learning styles change with the needs that we have. They develop to make our life easier, meaningful, and more efficient.
Digital learning has allowed us to seek certification online, learning new languages, read an endless bookshelf, learn new skills by experts, and share our growth with others,
Fixing Education
Education is moving towards technology in a incredibly slow pace, especially at economically disadvantaged schools. I have worked my whole career in Title I schools, thanks to the pandemic campuses were forced to be one-to-one technology schools. However, the knowledge behind the use of technology has not been provided. Schools need to create a team that researches, implements, and educates on using technology. This will encompass all my beliefs about learning.
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Collaboration: We can learn from other in different classes, countries, or from our own teacher using video call or pre-recorded videos. Technology allows collaboration through shared documents, email, conferences, and more.
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Meaningfulness and Empathy: Technology is the present, thus it is the future. We have been concerned for years of having a high illiteracy rate; if we misuse this opportunity to teach with technology we will continue to have illiterate individuals in print and tech. Text-to Speak, audiobooks, and ebooks allow learning to happen; it takes away form the stress and exhaustion of the physical toll of reading. Technology will help the us learn more than just to read, it will help us innovate programs for all obstacles.
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Variety: Creativity and flexibility at a faster rate. It takes forever to write, draw, plan, and read, technology gives a fountain of information and tutorials like Youtube. They also allow for a faster productivity leaving for innovation to develop.
Through technology, we can learn to use knowledge and give education a purpose. It takes away from the routine and opens the possibility for exploration. Instead of writing a dissertation or an essay, technology allows the creation of websites or blogs. The information we want to share is more accessible and it becomes a stepping stone for others to take further. It lives past us, while a paper gets shredded and withered. Technology helps grow learning.
Effective Learning in Action
What I have done thus far:
Blended Learning allows you to learn at your own pace. Whether it be a flipped classroom or rotation class, the learner is incharge.
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Collaboration. One can learn the lesson before meeting with peers giving confidence and efficiency in collaborative moments.
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Meaningful. Learners can focus on materials of interest without neglecting important material.
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Empathy. With the flexibility of modes, the learner is the main consideration and what class styles suits them best.
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Variety, Technology and traditional teaching, it is in the learner's hand.
COVA is learning with the learner in mind.
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Choice. Learners select what the want to learn based on their passion. They select based on their needs or interest.
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Ownership. Learners experiences are their own. They make all the decisions from content to aesthetics.
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Voice. It is the learners interest, style, and expression at the forefront of each learning experience.
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Authentic Experiences. Relevancy is key. Learners have genuine experiences that create meaningfulness.
Growth Mindset is the first step to a greater learning experience. No longer are learners tied to grades rather they are motivated to expand their way of thinking to focus on the knowledge and opportunities.
From a growth mindset blooms a learners mindset.
Learner's Mindset- a state of being where people act on their intrinsic capacity to learn and respond to their inquisitive nature that leads to viewing all interactions with the world as learning opportunities. ~ Harapnuik
References
Dweck, C. (2016). Mindset: The new psychology of success. New York. Random House LLC.
Harapnuik, D. (2024, February 10). It's About Learning. Using the learner's mindset-How and why this works. https://www.harapnuik.org/?s=learner+mindset
Harapnuik, D., & Thibodeaux, T. (2023). COVA: Inspire Learning Through Choice, Ownership, Voice, and Authentic Experiences. (2nd edition)
Horn, M. B., & Staker, H. (2015). Blended: Using innovation to improve schools. [Jossey-Bass]
TELPAS. (2024). TELPAS resources. Texas Education Agency (TEA). https://tea.texas.gov/student-assessment/telpas
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