Limited Staff Leads To Big Problems
At the beginning of this project, I knew there was an ENL teacher shortage, but learning about the overall impact of insufficient support for ELLs and how it affects overall success and graduation rates for these students was eye-opening. Learning about the limited staff and lack of resources and how this also contributes to ELL students being left behind was also important to learn in our overall understanding of the realities of these educational environments. For this reason, as we continue to move forward with the learning design, we understand that we need to keep in mind teachers' limited time, their need for easily accessible resources, and the ability to have choice in their learning.
Diversity in Voices as an Asset
Approaching this project as a team with different backgrounds and perspectives was incredibly helpful. By sharing our own experiences and findings from our literary and learner research, we were able to view and analyze the problems from different angles. This allowed us to work as a cohesive team with each of us showcasing our strengths, while also asking each other questions and digging deeper in regards to the problem space.
Needs, Learners, and Tasks - Oh My!
I have learned a lot about conducting needs, learner, and task analyses by working on this project. It's one thing to read about these steps and the approaches one can take, but it's another to actually apply it. Iteration has been key during this process. I've learned that it's always important to go back and iterate on certain parts of each analysis, especially if there are new findings or if you find better ways to communicate something.
Surprising lack of support for Gen-Ed teachers
Prior to working on this project, I had very little knowledge related to ELL learning outcomes, processes, and pitfalls. One of the main things that surprised me during the research phase was how few ENL teachers exist, and subsequently, how much support gen-ed teachers are asked to provide to their non-native English language speaking students. The majority of gen-ed teachers we interviewed, or encountered through scholarly texts, lacked proper training in how to help ENL students a) acquire the proper English skills necessary to succeed and b) do so in a manner that aligned with the overarching curriculum goals, for example, teaching English comprehension while simultaneously attempting to administer a biology lesson.
The impacts of the teacher shortage in the United States are widespread
The teacher shortage in the United States is currently at an all time high, according to Education Week, an online publication that centers K-12 news and education, teacher vacancies have steadily increased since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. As fewer teachers are available to support a steady influx of students, the needs of ENL students are often pushed to the wayside in order to accommodate for the majority.
When an SME is not readily available, you have to use the resources at your disposal to make the most of your research
One of the biggest barriers we initially encountered while conducting the research portion of this project, was lack of reliable and consistent access to an SME. The ability to speak to a SME is invaluable, in that it can provide researchers with insights into learner needs, current teaching processes and pitfalls, and general access to in-depth knowledge and expertise in the field. To account for this, the team and I did our best to compile as much quantitative and qualitative data as possible to paint a cohesive picture of the needs and challenges of gen-ed teachers as it relates to their experience supporting ENL students.
Mutual Respect as a Cornerstone of Good Design
One of the most significant insights I've gained from this experience is the importance of respecting everyone's ideas. As part of a team, it's inevitable to encounter diverse opinions. However, our group members have shown exceptional kindness and respect towards each other's perspectives. This atmosphere of mutual respect has been crucial in fostering a collaborative environment.
The (Ongoing) Hunt for an SME
The most challenging aspect we faced at the outset was finding suitable Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). To date, we have not succeeded in identifying an SME who aligns perfectly with our project's needs. This has been a substantial hurdle, as the expertise of an SME is invaluable in guiding the project towards success.
Discovering the Gaps, Defining the Problems
A pivotal part of our mindset has been to identify the gap between needs and problems. This identification is foundational, core, and crucial to our approach. Recognizing these gaps can be difficult initially, as it often involves challenging preconceived notions and navigating through potentially incorrect information or highly certain assumptions.
Literature Review as a Resource
Engaging in a thorough literature review has been instrumental in overcoming these initial difficulties. By critically analyzing existing literature, we have been able to refine our understanding and set a more precise direction for our efforts. This process has highlighted the importance of grounding our project in evidence and has provided a clearer path forward.