WMU professor uses affordable tech to boost English language learners skills

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — It's black, plastic and fits in the palm of your hand.

Selena Protacio, who holds a doctorate degree in education, didn't invent the handheld voice recorder, but she is getting recognition for her grant award to bring the affordable technology to her English language learning students.

"Each unit was only $36," said Protacio, an associate professor of literacy studies at Western Michigan University.

Earlier in the year, Western's Office of Research and Innovation awarded several grants for research related to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the university, the grants totaled $31,620. The grants are funded by the Meader Presidential Endowment, which is a fund designated for promoting excellence at Western.

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When the pandemic forced shutdowns in March, schools closed to in-person learning. Protacio said this lead to challenges for her students, who are adult teachers studying and training to teach English as a second language to K-12 students.

"I asked my teachers in about April 'what do you wish you had to help your English learners?" Protacio said. "At that time, they had Chrome books and hotspots, but they were on back order, so really what was happening is that their students just had packets of paper that were being sent home. So, imagine that they are sitting at home with this paper and couldn't read it."

Protacio's project was one of the five grant winners using the funds to continue their ideas in helping the public during the pandemic.

"In light of the COVID pandemic, English learners are one of the most vulnerable student populations," Protacio said. "It's really hard to adapt to an online setting."

Protacio also said interaction is key to learning a new language.

"You want English learners to be able to express themselves in English; hear a lot of English and it's hard in an online setting especially if the English learners don't have a lot of access to technology," Protacio said.

Protacio's students distributed the voice recorders to their students and families living in a rural school district, while also maintaining COVID-19 guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"The families were so excited to receive the voice recorders," Protacio said.

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Protacio said the teachers can record their lessons, and drop off the recorders to the students' homes, along with standard work packets every week. She said this will increase participation and academic and language proficiency.

"The English learners can then respond into the voice recorder and read aloud, so that is a type of assessment," Protacio said. "With a voice recorder the English learner can actually read a book to their teacher, and teachers can see how the students are doing in terms their reading."

According to Western, results of this study will be used to assess the ability to use affordable technology alternatives.

Additional information on the grant and the other award winners can be found on the university's website.

"First & 42" is in partnership with Southwest Michigan First.

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