How can you use technology to engage diverse ESL learners?

3 Use adaptive learning

Adaptive learning can help you tailor your instruction and assessment to your ESL learners' individual needs, levels, and progress. Adaptive learning uses technology, such as artificial intelligence, algorithms, or data analysis, to adjust the content, pace, and feedback of your lessons according to your learners' responses and performance. For example, you can use adaptive learning programs, such as Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, or Lexia, to provide your learners with personalized and self-paced language learning experiences, or use adaptive learning platforms, such as Knewton, McGraw-Hill Connect, or Pearson MyLab, to deliver customized and adaptive curriculum and testing. Adaptive learning can help you differentiate your instruction and assessment, and support your learners' autonomy and motivation.

4 Use social media

Social media can help you connect with your ESL learners beyond the classroom, and provide them with more authentic and meaningful language use contexts. Social media can also help you tap into your learners' interests, cultures, and identities, and promote intercultural awareness and exchange. For example, you can use social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, to create groups or pages for your class, where you can share resources, updates, or challenges, and where your learners can post comments, questions, or reflections. You can also use social media platforms, such as Snapchat, TikTok, or YouTube, to create or explore fun and creative content, such as filters, stickers, memes, or videos, and to expose your learners to different genres, registers, and modes of communication.

5 Use gamification

Gamification can help you make your lessons more fun and engaging, and increase your ESL learners' participation and retention. Gamification uses elements of games, such as points, badges, levels, or leaderboards, to enhance your learning activities and outcomes. For example, you can use gamification platforms, such as Classcraft, ClassDojo, or Rezzly, to create immersive and collaborative learning experiences, where your learners can create avatars, join teams, complete quests, or earn rewards. You can also use gamification strategies, such as challenges, competitions, or feedback, to stimulate your learners' curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, and to foster a positive and supportive learning culture.

6 Use mobile devices

Mobile devices can help you leverage your ESL learners' access and familiarity with technology, and provide them with more flexibility and convenience in their learning. Mobile devices can also help you expand your learning resources and activities beyond the limitations of time and space. For example, you can use mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops, to enable your learners to access your online course materials, tools, or platforms anytime and anywhere. You can also use mobile devices, such as cameras, microphones, or scanners, to enable your learners to capture and share their real-life experiences, observations, or opinions, and to create authentic and relevant learning content.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?