Value of as a Classroom Tool In this tutorial In this tutorial, we show some ways that can be a valuable teaching tool and some research on using in the classroom Tutorial # 8

Goals of this Tutorial The goals of this tutorial are: to show a variety of uses for , which can easily be integrated within your current curriculum objectives to share some research on student learning in activities to show activities found on the ePals website to share other ideas Learning Objective: To understand the value of as a teaching tool

Value of In Classroom can be used for: Increasing student motivation Increasing the amount and quality of student writing Practicing authentic problem solving Increasing standardized test scores in reading and writing Providing authentic practice with new spelling and vocabulary words in reading and writing activities with a purpose Adding a writing component to other subjects Adding a social dimension to learning And much more! Learning Objective: To understand the value of as a teaching tool

Research on in Classroom L. Neilsen noted how incorporating real-life experiences into curriculum had motivational impact. She described a student high school pen pal program: As they composed questions for their keypals and wrote introductions of themselves, their literacy enabled them to extend their reach beyond the school and the curriculum as they knew it. Soon worksheets on vocabulary were abandoned for a chance to write to a real person they did not know and might never meet. Learning Objective: To understand the value of as a teaching tool Motivational impact of writing

Research on in Classroom Elementary teachers reported improved motivation and increased written- language production by students who share their written work. Learning Objective: To understand the value of as a teaching tool Improved motivation, increased student writing 7 of 8 elementary teachers reported increased motivation in student writing activities (Karchmer). “… clearly there was a change as students’ motivation to write increased” Expanding students’ written- language audiences fostered an increase in written-language production.

Research on in Classroom Problem solving in the Internet pen pal program constitutes students making decisions on whether to comment, what to comment and how to comment. These encompass the thought processes of writers before and during writing. These play an integral part in producing authentic text and subsequent written-language acquisition. Learning Objective: To understand the value of as a teaching tool Problem-solving skills develop

Impacts Standardized Test Scores State standardized test scores from a Grade 4 classroom in Newark Public Schools showed 30 points improvement in reading and writing. Students engaged in a twice-weekly exchange of letters with a peer classroom in Bologna, Italy, learning English. Teacher reported students were gradually increasing the amount of reading and writing they normally would perform each week. Students were self-motivated knowing other students would be receiving their work. Learning Objective: To understand the value of as a teaching tool Roseville Avenue Elementary School 4th Grade Classroom in Newark Gains 30 Points

Research on in Classroom Internet pen pal programs facilitate communication through authentic tasks Enthusiasm generated translates into increased amounts of student writing Special-needs students, second-language learners and general education students reported enjoying writing to an authentic audience The program facilitates problem solving and supports critical thinking in written language acquisition The social nature of learning is evident as a positive force in the correspondence between pen pals Learning Objective: To understand the value of as a teaching tool Study of 4 th Grade Classrooms in NH (Charron, 2007):

Teacher Testimonial Suman Sood, India 2010 Teacher Ambassador, The Great Bean Race Our project, the Great Bean Race, was done with schools from different parts of the world. It has again been a wonderful learning experience for my children. Not only was this learning as a scientific experiment, but they also learned that using is a wonderful way to stay connected with people all over the world. - Suman Sood, India

Teacher Testimonial We did a letter exchange with a school in Slovakia and a school in USA. My students like writing letters very much….They had a chance for language practice. They have self-confidence. They talk to their friends in Slovakia and America. They are proud of themselves because they write in English. By means of this, they study English, use the dictionary, and ask me, “Mrs. Gökgül, how can I write this sentence in English?” So, they are motivated. I am motivated, too, to see these hardworking students. -- Ozlem Gökgül, Turkey Ozlem Gökgül, Turkey 2010 Teacher Ambassador Language Learning Award Winner

Activities on ePals Site ePals Quick Classroom Activities available under Skillbuilders tab Safety Tips Etiquette Best Practices for Student Fiction Character Exchange Hello Friends Exchange Tall Tale Pass It On! Think, Pair, Share Activity What Am I? Activity Family History Exchange Learning Objective: To understand what kind of activities are provided on ePals site ePals Projects also have exchanges at their core!

Create Your Own Activities Replace assignments -- spelling and vocabulary sentences: Definition of vocabulary words: Ask students to use the words in an so that their pen pal will understand the words from the context Practice spelling words: Ask students to use the words in an Practice new words in another language: Make an assignment, to write a paragraph that uses the new words, but in an to a pen pal. The answer from the pen pal provides authentic practice with the new words! A quick exchange of daily information (today’s temperature and weather) A summary of day’s class activities, written by a different student each day for a classmate in the hospital Learning Objective: To think about other activities for the classroom

Review This tutorial Reviewed reasons to use in your curriculum Shared research on the power of in student learning Showed activities found on the ePals website Shared other ideas for using in the classroom setting Learning Objective: To understand the value of as a teaching tool Next Step: Understand Your ePals Communities Learn about various communities in which you can participate on ePals Global Community Understand your role and identify activities you can do within each of these communities