Settlement Language Training PD

After studying expressions to voice opinions and debating skills, discussion forums can be used for students to have to participate in a debate.  Recently in class, I read posts from a discussion forum that debated subjects related to education (which is our theme).  With blended learning students can then participate in a class debate online and write their own posts.  You could also use different choice questions to survey the class on hot topics and then using the results, discuss the topic in class.

Since my students are ESL literacy, they need a lot of review. They are also lacking in many basic computer skills. In order to help the students develop their computer skills, I am revealing activities on the edulinc courseware that we have completed as worksheets in class. In this way, they are reviewing the language covered in class in a familiar fashion. Since they can complete these activities on the edulinc courseware as many times as they like, they can feel good about getting that 100% as well as reviewing as often as they need. This will allow them to concentrate more on using the computer itself, and navigating through the edulinc site. 

Direct links to outside, online resources that students can access.  These links would be linked directly to curricular content and give students access to a broader knowledge and understanding.

Using the discussion forum to have students practice their writing/grammar for particular functions.  For example; commenting on a prompt posed by an instructor.  Something as simple as "Tell me about your weekend" (simple past) or something more complex as writing a letter or response to a current event.  Good practice for typing skills as well as writing.  

Learners can use a discussion forum to reflect on their learning, as well as their past language learning experiences and future goals. Although the forum needs moderating by the instructor, it can represent valuable skill development through an increased understanding of appropriate language and etiquette for written exchanges.

Towards the end of a unit on the environment, the teacher could post a question on the discussion forum asking the students to reflect upon what they've learned in the unit and post one change they could make to their lifestyles / daily living in order to "live green". 

Discussion forums can be a good way for learners to express their points of view or offer suggestions on how to resolve certain issues or difficulties.

Once a topic or issue has been introduced and covered in class, the learners then participate in a forum to express their points of view and make comments about other posts. This can be a good way for the learners to practice language covered in class, such as giving opinions, commenting on opinions, offering suggestions.