Design ProcessIt is my hope to inspire other foreign language teachers to "re-invent" themselves after looking at this Capstone project. In the 21st century it's not an option for us to decide whether or not we want to modify the way we teach. It is a necessity because technology has completely changed the way we live and the way we communicate with others. The second language classroom has also changed with technology.
Our goal is no longer to have our students memorize words and learn verb conjugations. Our goal should be to prepare our students to be successful and be able to communicate and connect in a multicultural and multilingual world. Research Prototype
After I finished my Action Research it was time to step back and review the whole language acquisition process. My main goal was to find the right technologies and pedagogies to facilitate second language learning and acquisition.
I created the prototype below to guide my thinking and further my research. Having a flowchart with the visual representation of the multiple tools and the selection process made me realize that it would be a good idea to organize and categorize the digital tools I'm familiar with. I decided to classify those tools in four groups according to the specific language skill they support: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. Please go to my Skills page to read more about the four areas of language. Instructional Design
"Instructional Design is putting together training in ways that learners learn best"
There are several models if Instructional Design, and The Four Pillars is one of them. Below is a slide show that summarizes this model. How my Logo Evolved
PHASE 1:
When we were told that we needed to create a logo I knew that I wanted to convey the idea that technology can facilitate second language acquisition, which in turn promotes global connections and communication.
Whit this in mind, I visualized a logo with two people communicating around the world while using technology. I created my first logo but it didn't feel complete. I really wanted to convey the idea of global communication, so I added a globe. After few weeks I decided to change the visuals inside the globe as well as adding a slogan. This lead to my third logo on the far right below. PHASE 2:
After getting feedback from my cohort, I decided to start again and completely change the design and colors. I still wanted to convey the same idea and keep the three main elements: a globe, technology and oral communication. However, this time I wanted a more vibrant logo and a slogan that reflected the language acquisition piece.
After a few tries I came-up with the logo on the left, which I really liked. However, after getting some feedback I made a some final "tweaks" to come-up with my final logo, which is the one on the right. This logo includes all the elements I wanted to have present on my design: Language, Technology and Global Communication. |