Transcript Slide 1

Symbols in ESL Teaching
– Beyond Snapshots of
Nouns
1.2
Presented By:
Bogdan Pospielovsky
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Introducing Youdle
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Introducing the Youdle Box
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How to Learn More
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Outline of Presentation
• Look at differences between symbols, realia and
pictures
• How to use Symbols to support growth of BICS
and CALP
• Overview of using the symbol based software in
support of BICS and CALP
• Drawing on Research by:
– Chris Abbot (Symbols Now, 2000)
– Tina and Mike Dethridge (Literacy Through
Symbols, 2002)
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Types of Technology
Closed
Curriculum
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Multi-Media
Authoring
Task Based
Tools
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Simple Line Drawings
Widgit Literacy Symbols (WLS)
• Designed with a focus on literacy
• Over 10,000 symbols available from Widgit
Software
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Pictures vs. Symbols
Picture
Picture
• visual representation of a person, object, or
scene, as a painting, drawing, photograph
• conveys a lot at once/detail
• its focus may be unclear
Symbol
Symbol
• something used for or regarded as representing something else; a
material object representing something, often something immaterial;
emblem, token, or sign
• focuses on a single concept/idea
• can be put together to build more precise information
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Limits of Photos and Realia
• Intensive use of concrete photographic visual
representations language acquisition plateaus
after initial success
(Kang, S.H. & Dennis, J.R. (1995). “The effects of
computer-enhanced vocabulary lessons on
achievement of ESL grade school children.”
Computers in the Schools, 11 (3), 25-35).
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Iconicity
A continuum that describes symbols based on their ease of
recognition
Transparent
Opaque
drink
guessability
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learnability
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Iconicity
Transparent
Opaque
Concrete
nouns
verbs
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sets
Abstract
Function
words
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What is the Message?
What is the lesson?
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Choosing Symbols: Considerations
• Does the symbol convey the correct
meaning?
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Choosing Symbols: Considerations
• Do the symbols have a clear schematic
structure to support learning?
WLS
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Choosing Symbols: Considerations
• Do the symbols have a clear schematic
structure to support learning?
Symbolstix
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Choosing Symbols: Considerations
• Do the symbols have a clear schematic
structure to support learning?
PCS
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Choosing Symbols: Considerations
• Do the symbols have a grammatical structure to
support reading/writing?
– Verb tenses
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Choosing Symbols: Considerations
• Do the symbols have a grammatical
structure to support reading/writing?
• plurals, comparatives, superlatives
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Choosing Symbols: Considerations
• Do the symbols support a range of
vocabulary required for curriculum?
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Contexts in which we use symbols
• Communication
• Organization and Independence
• Vocabulary support for concept
development, oral language ELL
support, reading/writing
– within the symbol application
– combined with other software
applications
• Create materials for reading support
• Within grids to support student writing
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BICS
• Basic interpersonal
communication skills
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Behaviour
• concrete references and/or cues are easily
accessed during new, difficult, tense or
escalating situations.
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Pragmatics and Semantics
• subtly of language given in a visual context to
make them more accessible and concrete.
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Homophones
• words pronounced the same as another but
differing in meaning, whether spelled the same
way or not.
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Heterophones
• words that are spelled the same but have
different pronunciations and meanings.
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Metalinguistic Awarentess
• Metalinguistic awareness (MA) across
languages (Bialystock, 2007) very important
• Supported by studies by McCarthey et. Al (2004)
and Garcia (2000)
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Boardmaker –
Dual Language Search
• Searches in English
• Presents in Language of your Choice
– Arabic
– Russian
– Hindi etc.
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Notes to parents
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'Communication Friendly Environments'
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Symbols Inclusion Project
Guide to creating a Communication Friendly Environment
www.symbolsinclusionproject.org/evidence/cfe
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Symbols Inclusion Project
Audit strands self survey
*Current support
*Communication
*Environment
www.symbolsinclusionproject.org/evidence/cfe
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Why do we use symbols?
• Supplement text to increase reading
comprehension.
Symbol Inclusion Project
(2006)
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Learning to Read
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Guided Reading:
What Will You Be For Halloween?
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Symbols Inclusion Project
Supported Curriculum Learning
– Reading books and worksheets
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Creating Reading Materials
•
•
•
•
Communicate in Print
Symwriter – writer
Clicker 5 – clicker library, PCS and/or WLS
Boardmaker Plus - symbolate
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Communicate Ideas
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Add Vocabulary to SMART Notebook
Copy and paste
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Paste into
gallery
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Concept Mapping Software
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CALP
• Cognitive academic language proficiency
(Cummins)
• Symbols can be used effectively to support:
– Discrete subject specific academic
language learning
– Scaffolded subject specific Writing
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“ELL’s are especially hurt by the fals presumption that
they will continue developing advanced literacy skills
in mainstream classrooms through mere exposure to
classroom discourse and text reading, even without
effective, ongoing language learning assistance
(Allison 2008, Callahan, 2005) p132
•
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Can you do this worksheet?
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Symbols illustrate meaning
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Key symbols help
where meaning is unclear
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Levels of Symbol Support
• Supported text
– primarily text, with a few key words symbolized,
used mainly for specific curriculum topics
• Symbol Literacy:
– full content in symbols and text, symbols reflect
grammar, one sentence per line, no more than 8
symbols
• Symbol information:
– Simply imparts the vocabulary terms associated
with the topic
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Levels of Symbol Support
Simplified
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Levels of Symbol Support
Full symbol
support
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Levels of Symbol Support
Symbol
supported text
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Levels of Symbol Support
Text
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Pupils often understand the ideas but cannot always read the
words or write their responses.
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Communicate Ideas:
Widget Software
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In Smart notebook
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Communicate: SymWriter
• Word processor that displays a symbol
(if available) for each word typed.
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Communicate: SymWriter
• Supported writing environments for
selecting from predefined grids and
buttons
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Communicate: SymWriter
•Over 10,000 Widgit Literacy Symbols, color
and black & white
•Smart Symbolizing
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Communicate: SymWriter
• Speech feedback
• Symbolic spell checking
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Vocabulary Support
• Within an application for creating displays :
– Communicate in Print - WLS
– Boardmaker – PCS (WLS addendums)
– SymbolMate - Symbolstix
• Concept Mapping Software:
– Kidspiration/Inspiration
– Smart Ideas
– Communicate Ideas – WLS
• Pasted into other applications
– Boardmaker
– Communicate Ideas
– Symbolstix online
– WLS Metafile Collection
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Writing
• What is the activity, the goal?
• The place for symbols for spellers
– Consider the impact of using a
symbol processor on motivation
– Consider vocabulary support in text
mode
– Language representation in word
prediction?
• Language representation in the word
processor as well as the grid?
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Other Curriculum Symbol Supports
• Web support:
– Point (Widgit)
– Purchased by the web site developer
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Other Curriculum Symbol Supports
• Web support:
– Insite (Widgit)
• create and display symbol-supported content on your
website
• new "content editor" plugin which can replace or work
alongside your existing content editor
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Other Curriculum Symbol Supports
• Web support:
– SymbolWorld
http://www.symbolworld.org/
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Communicate: Ideas
• A dynamic environment for
modeling and organising
thought
• Comes with the Widgit Symbol
set of over 10,000 images
• Easy to use
• Ideal for younger grades
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Symbol Supported
Assessment?
“It is essential that ELL’s be assessed in a way
that uncouples language proficiency from
content knowledge.”
Improving Achievement for English Learners Claude
Goldenberg
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Useful Web Resources
Symbol World – Symbol supported
resources
www.symbolworld.org
www.tarheelreader.com
www.dictionary.com/translate
www.wordle.net
www.tagxedo.com
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Contact Information
Bogdan Pospielovsky, B.A., B.Ed
Bridges Canada
1-800-353-1107, 2178
[email protected]
Please contact me with any questions!
Or Comments!
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