triadic scaffolds

Meskill, C. (2005). Triadic scaffolds: Tools for teaching English language learners with
computers. Language learning & technology. Vol. 9. No. 1. Pp. 46-59.

The article starts by talking about how computers are being used more and more in the classrooms. It explains how technology can aid in teaching language and literacy. It discussed how one teacher used it exclusively to reinforce what she was teaching to English for speakers of other languages (ESOL). Some of the “critical elements of effective literacy instruction” (p. 46), were; “..learner involvement…in community of practice…and overt focusing and scaffolding…(p. 46). These quotes were in reference to the use of computers and language learning. Since this research/study involved English language learning (ELL) they make mention of the number of school children who are entering schools now whose first language is other than English. They discussed the expectations of the schools about the second language learners, how much they are expected to know and also they mention some of the experiences of what ELL go through once they enter school. The article than goes into detail about the study/research that they did on this one ESOL teacher did to teach the ELL with aid of computers. They reported on a transcription they did about the teachers use of computers to instruct her students. They reported on how these students excelled in being engaged in their lessons because of the computer use and about the enthusiasm and interest in learning because of the computer use. They also reported on the interviews they did with the teacher about student responses because of computer use in instruction which they labeled the “triadic scaffolding”. Where three mode’s are used: teacher verbal strategy, contribution of the computer, and what the strategy accomplishes. This method was reported as being successful in aiding language learning because it allowed the students to be engaged and learning.
I enjoyed reading this article about triadic scaffolding. I can see myself using it and trying it in my classroom in aiding me teaching our Yup’ik language. I am a developing learner as far as technology. With what I am learning about technology this past summer, about how technology can aide in language learning, I am excited to see and put into practice the claims of all the readings I have done.