Building Bridges: Using Technology to Connect Multilingual Learners and Families

Outline

1. Introduction: The Role of Technology in Supporting Multilingual Learners
Overview of how technology can enhance language development and communication for multilingual students.
Highlight the importance of engaging both students and their families in the learning process.
2. Engaging Families as Learning Partners
Discuss the role of technology in bridging communication gaps between the school and multilingual families.
Explore tools for live translation and digital communication that empower parents to support learning at home.
Examples of real-time engagement strategies, ensuring that families stay connected to their child’s educational journey.
3. Building Personalized Learning Experiences
Demonstrate how technology can be used to customize activities for multilingual learners, addressing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
Showcase strategies for fostering independent learning by tailoring instruction to individual language proficiency and learning styles.
4. Fostering Global Collaboration for Multilingual Learners
Explain how students can use digital tools to collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds.
Provide examples of global learning projects that enhance cross-cultural communication and understanding.
Demonstrate how students can develop skills for global citizenship through technology-based collaborations.
5. Empowering Multilingual Students with Agency
Share strategies for giving multilingual learners control over their learning process through interactive, tech-driven activities.
Explore how students can track their progress, set goals, and seek feedback using technology, fostering confidence and ownership of their learning journey.
6. Creating Inclusive and Connected Learning Environments
Discuss how technology helps create a more inclusive classroom by providing equitable access to resources for multilingual learners.
Highlight methods for building a community of learners where multilingual students and their families feel supported and valued.
7. Q&A and Closing
Open the floor for questions and provide final thoughts on making technology a tool for empowerment in multilingual learning.

Supporting research

Moll, Luis C. "Elaborating funds of knowledge: Community-oriented practices in international contexts." Literacy Research: Theory, Method, and Practice 68.1 (2019): 130-138.

Zehr, Mary Ann. "Celebrating the voices of immigrant students." The Education Digest 83.8 (2018): 20-25.

Breiseth, Lydia, Kristina Robertson, and Susan LaFond. "A guide for engaging ELL families: Twenty strategies for school leaders." Data retrieved from http://www. bostonpublicschools. org/cms/lib07/MA01906464/Centricity/Domain/112/Engaging-ELL-Families. pdf (2011).

Findel, Ashley. "Empowering English Language Learner Family Engagement." (2022).