1:1 i-Pads for

English Language
Learners in the
Classroom

Stephanie McElvain

EDU 214-1004

February 20, 2019

 Technology That Helps ELLs

In a study conducted with English Language Learners, we learned about how i-Pads
can be used to assist in a student learning English as their second language.
Teachers used i-Pads and the Technology, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge
(TPAK) as the framework to help their students to learn English. There are several
applications available for download in the Apple App Store that can be used in an
ELLs class.
You can click here to be directed to the Apple website and learn about integrating
Apple technology into the classroom.

https://www.apple.com/education/apple-professional-learning/
How Are 1:1 i-Pads Used by Students to Learn
The English Language?

Students can use i-Pads for translation using Google Translate to assist them with
navigating their reading assignments. They can also use different language
teaching apps that are available in the App Store. In the study, many students used
the i-Pads to create different projects related to what they were learning, from
creating movies, a newspaper, to creating an e-book. These options are easier and
more effective than asking an ELL student to write an essay on a subject. If the
student comes across a word that they are unfamiliar with during their research,
they can also translate it using i-Translate (Apple’s version of Google Translate) or
even an image search to help them understand its meaning.
Click the arrow to see a video
showing how an i-Pad can be
used to assist an English
Language Learner in the
classroom!
 Of course there are Pros and Cons to using
this technology in the classroom, here are a
few of each.
Pros
– Using the i-Pad can be motivational because there
are immediate rewards from accomplishments.
– Hands-On learning helps students with their
understanding.
– Different Apps can be enrichening to the
curriculum.
– The i-Pads provides an intriguing approach to
learning that simple lectures or other classroom
activities may not provide.
Cons
– Having to work through technical issues as the
arise. Many students in the study lost unsaved
work due to technical issues.
– Teachers must first learn how to use the i-Pads in
order to implement them into the classroom-
Time consuming to start.
– The teachers in the study found very little support
from their administration team and felt that
administration should have been more involved.
– Can be costly to get enough i-Pads for each
student. Many schools do not have that kind of
technology funding for 1:1 i-Pads.