Learning communities finding common ground for the common good

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Abstract

Museum educators and instructors of English as a Second Language (ESOL) at a community college in New York reflect on their experiences facilitating a program designed to enrich the language, cultural, and visual literacy skills of adult immigrant students. The CALTA21 program brought together three stakeholders, immigrant ESOL students, language instructors, and museum educators in collaboration to build linguistic, social, and cultural capital. A professional development institute, utilizing Visual Thinking Strategies as a core pedagogy, provided a common practice used by the stakeholders in the classroom and the museum. This democratic method subverted the traditional student-teacher relationship by using inquiry and personal narratives to inspire an exchange of ideas. The case study will consider the elements of the program that supported the development of a dynamic community of learners, and the empowering experience of teaching and learning within a model of shared authority.

Citation

Relevant Evidence Summaries

The evidence was reviewed and included in the following summaries: 

What strategies are effective for English language acquisition in newcomer populations?

This evidence summary, authored by Switchboard, provides an overview of the current evidence on the effectiveness of various interventions for English language learning among newcomers. It addresses two crucial questions: Are there specific elements of English language acquisition programs for newcomer populations that are more effective or efficient than others? What role does technology play…

About this study

AGE: Adults

FULL TEXT AVAILABILITY: Paid

HOST COUNTRY: United States

HOST COUNTRY INCOME: High

OUTCOME AREA: Education

POPULATION: Immigrants

REGION OF ORIGIN OF PARTICIPANT(S): Multiple Regions

STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: Suggestive

TYPE OF STUDY: Suggestive evidence

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2019

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