Lifelong Learning Forest

  You know that moment when you're trying to convince your principal that yes, your students really ARE learning when they're playing games on their tablets? I've been there! But here's the thing – the research is totally on our side, and I'm excited to share some insights that might just change how you think about gaming in language learning. The Science Behind the Fun I recently dove into this study by Scholz and Schulze (2017) about students learning German through World of Warcraft (yes, you read that right – World of Warcraft!). These researchers followed university students for four months as they played this massive online game entirely in German, and the results were pretty amazing. What they discovered is that language learning through gaming works like a complex adaptive system – basically, it's messy, nonlinear, and totally individualized, just like real language acquisition should be. Instead of everyone following the same path from Point A to Point...

  In our increasingly connected world, smartphones and tablets have become ever-present tools that extend far beyond communication and entertainment. These mobile devices are now revolutionizing language education through Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL), offering unprecedented opportunities for personalized, accessible, and engaging language instruction. This blog post explores the current state of MALL research, its benefits and challenges, and practical applications for elementary educators. What is Mobile Assisted Language Learning? Mobile Assisted Language Learning refers to the use of mobile technologies—smartphones, tablets, and other portable devices—to support language learning and teaching (Al Shihri et al., 2025). Unlike traditional computer-based learning that is constrained by location and time, MALL provides learners with ubiquitous access to educational content, allowing them to engage with language learning materials anywhere and anytime (Lei et al., 2022). ...

As a third-grade teacher working with English Language Learners, I've witnessed firsthand how digital tools can transform learning experiences. This week, I've been exploring research on digital literacy for English Language Learners (ELLs) and discovered practical applications that address both opportunities and challenges in supporting my multilingual learners. The Theory Behind Digital Literacy for ELLs According to Yuan, Wang, and Eagle (2019), digital literacy extends far beyond basic technical skills (Yuan et al., 2019). Their research defines digital literacy as encompassing knowledge, attitudes, and skills that enable students to locate and consume digital content, create digital content, and communicate through digital platforms. Because these are fundamental skills, it is essential to focus on these skills with purpose for my ELLs.  Interestingly,  the researchers emphasize how digital literacy can disrupt traditional power dynamics in the classroom. Some of my third...