Benefits of Technology / Game-Based Learning Tools and Universal Design for Learning to Better Support ELL Students with a Range of Diverse Learning Needs related to English Proficiency.
Concepts
Universal Design for Learning
“UDL presents alternatives for how children achieve educational standards and enables learners who differ widely in their physical, cognitive, behavioural, and communicative abilities to fully engage in the regular curriculum” (Orkwis & McLane, 1998).
To me as an educator it essential to take into consideration the Curriculum and our students’ learning needs, their abilities and learning styles and the student’s learning styles. This includes using technology and game-based learning tools to give all students an equal opportunity to succeed. Video games support ELLs because they provide visual imagery, kinesthetic movement, and repetition that helps mastery. (EI Yaafouri, September13, 2019)
Curriculum and Technology / Game-Based Learning Tools
The game-based learning tools give ELLs multiple ways to acquire information, provide them with alternatives for demonstrating what they know and support their engagement by offering choices and appropriate levels of challenge.
Game-base tools support ELL students to practice Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening in a meaningful way. (EI Yaafouri, September13, 2019)
Educators' Strategies to Use Technology Tools Effectively to Better Support ELL Students
- Using digital activities/game-based tools related to learning goals
- Use Assessments to get to know all students’ strengths and needs, because every student is unique. There are many cases when an ELL student’s Oral, Reading and Writing Skills vary
- The Software is available for use for all students
- Ongoing collaboration with colleagues and professional development and training for teachers to better support students using digital/game-based tools
- Set up groups and special days to use game-based tools based on their strengths and needs
Benefits of Game-Based Tools
The benefits of games support students’ understanding and vocabulary development and integrating language structures/concepts. In addition, games scaffold collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, learning in a meaningful/fun way and offers low anxiety. (Dene Poth, March 18, 2025)
Concepts
ELL Students' Everyday and Specific Digital Supporting Tools
Some of these tools include Simple English Wikipedia that helps students with reading, Google Translate that helps ELLs with translation, ThinkCERCA that supports students’ reading at different levels and audio versions of texts. Book Creator is a great opportunity for students to be creative in their story telling. Duolingo is a helpful digital tool where ELLs needs and language proficiency are met. (Knutson, December 12, 2023)
Teaching with Digital Games in Elementary
Examples of positive impact of game-based learning tools & Apps on ELL students
- Duolingo-It helps ELL students build vocabulary and grammar skills through interactive exercises.
- Blooket and Quizlet Live- They are multiplayer games that help Ells learn vocabulary through flash cards and team-based challenges.
- Wordwall-It provides Interactive games like word matches, puzzles to support vocabulary development.
- Classcraft-It is a roleplaying game where students earn points for completing language related tasks.
- PBS Kids Games-It provides educational language games designed for ELL students.
- Scratch-1-12- block-based visual programming language for creating interactive stories, games, and animations
The Importance of Coding and Gaming to Enhance Learning
Coding supports critical thinking. Through coding games students learn about history, empathy, get creative, think critically to solve problems and above all and build writing skills. (Kiang, May 20, 2014)
The use of Kahoot, Blooket and Quizizz is a requires preparation on the part of the teacher. Educators teach valuable skills to students by using games. They also provide feedback to them after assessing their knowledge and understanding. This a good experience to play whole group games, small group games and independent ones. get a feedback and self-assessment. (Sanderell, August 27, 2024)
Challenges to Use Technology/ Game-Based Tools for ELLs and Five Competencies of Using Technology Tools
The use of technology and game-based tools can be challenging due to limited time and busy curriculums. It is very important that students are responsible by balancing online and classroom activities, think critically of the digital tools they are using, engage respectfully and respond to online risks. (Fielding & Belmont, March 28, 2025)
REFERENCES
Kiang, D. (2014, April 28). 3 ways coding and gaming can enhance learning. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/coding-and-gaming-enhance-learning-douglas-kiang
Poth, R. D. (2025, March 18). Boosting engagement in world language classes with games. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/games-world-language-classes
Sanderell, H. (2024, August 27). Teaching with Digital Games in elementary school. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/game-based-learning-ideas-elementary-students
Poth, R. D. (2025a, March 18). Boosting engagement in world language classes with games. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/games-world-language-classes
Knutson, J. (2023, December 12). How to use technology to support ells in your classroom. Common Sense Education. https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/how-to-use-technology-to-support-ells-in-your-classroom
Fielding, K., & Belmont, T. (2025, March 28). Light lift strategies for incorporating digital citizenship into lesson plans. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/strategies-incorporating-digital-citizenship-lessons
Yaafouri, L. E. (2019, September 13). 5 free video games that support English language learners. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/5-free-video-games-support-english-language-learners
Government of ontario | gouvernement de l’ontario. (n.d.). https://files.ontario.ca/edu-learning-for-all-2013-en-2022-01-28.pdf
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Benefits of Technology / Game-Based Learning Tools and Universal Design for Learning to Better Support ELL Students with a Range of Diverse Leaning Needs related to English Language Proficiency.
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