Examining ChatGPT’s Responses: Touro University TESOL Candidate Cassandra Fegert’s Analysis

EDPN 673 Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language

This course provides a historical overview of second language acquisition theories and teaching methods. Students learn how to apply current approaches, methods and techniques, with attention to the effective use of materials, in teaching English as a second language. Students will engage in the planning and implementation of standards-based ESL instruction which includes differentiated learning experiences geared to students’ needs. Emphasis is placed on creating culturally responsive learning environments. Includes 15 hours of fieldwork

As an educator, I find it paramount to incorporate the use of Language Learning Models (LLMs) into our graduate students’ discussion boards. Such AI tools not only serve as a training ground for understanding complex terminologies but also foster a culture of fact-checking, promoting truthfulness and accuracy in student discourse. Moreover, working with the LLM’s answers aids in understanding language homogenization – students can see and read the output which is often mechanical and ‘bland’, or features overly complex or simplistic language. Ultimately, the use of LLM sharpens students’ skills and helps build out prompting strategies, research and fact-checking skills.

The DB assignment

DB 4 Culture and Pragmatics in Language Teaching and Learning Assessment in Second Language Classrooms

  1. In many ways, cultural references are closely intertwined with reading, discourse, and text. What is the role of linguistic proficiency and cultural proficiency in ESL/EFL reading and/or writing? How important can L1 literacy be in learning to read and write in ESL/EFL? (Culture and Pragmatics in Language Teaching and Learning Chapter 25 Celce-Murcia, Marianne; Brinton, Donna M.; Snow, Marguerite Ann. Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language (p. 394). Heinle ELT. Kindle Edition. )
  2. Chapter 21 has explored the use of assessment for formative purposes as well as for summative ones. Review the use of assessments in your classroom setting. What purposes do they serve? How are learners involved in learning and assessment? What external factors (e.g., NYS guidelines or state-mandated assessments) impact your choices about assessment? Celce-Murcia, Marianne; Brinton, Donna M.; Snow, Marguerite Ann. Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language (p. 335). Heinle ELT. Kindle Edition.
  3. Ask ChatGPT the following 3 questions and then compare them with your own research and your peer postings. Post the ChatGPT answers in your DB as screenshots. Write 2 sentences on your observations – if you think the answers were factually correct and truthful, or incorrect, or simply made up (hallucination). Write one sentence on why UPI think I am giving you such an assignment.

Describe the key legislative milestones that have shaped bilingual education in the United States since the 1960s.
Analyze how demographic shifts in the U.S. population have influenced the development of bilingual education programs from the 20th century to today.
Evaluate the effectiveness of current bilingual education practices in the United States in fostering academic success among non-native English speakers.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU USE APA-STYLE REFERENCING.

Cassandra Fegert is an English Language Arts high school teacher in Queens, New York. She is always seeking ways to underscore the importance of language and literacy while promoting student agency in her teaching. Having taught both English to native speakers and those learning English as a new language, she seeks to incorporate various ways of knowing in her classroom.

I am pleased to feature Ms. Fegert’s exemplary DB contribution.

Expanding my AI Knowledge with Google’s AI Essentials Course

Today, I completed Google’s AI Essentials course to build upon my existing AI knowledge. As someone who believes in continuous learning, I found the course to be a valuable resource for professionals looking to enhance their AI skill set.
The course content was comprehensive, covering a wide range of topics from foundational concepts to practical applications of AI in the workplace. The hands-on exercises and real-world examples helped reinforce the learning material and provided opportunities to apply newfound knowledge.
One notable aspect of the course was its emphasis on the responsible and ethical use of AI. It provided a framework for understanding potential biases, inaccuracies, and security risks associated with AI and offered guidance on mitigating these issues.

The course content was comprehensive, covering a wide range of topics from foundational concepts to practical applications of AI in the workplace, with many aspects directly transferable to higher education and my field: teacher preparation and second language acquisition. The hands-on exercises and real-world examples helped reinforce the learning material and provided opportunities to apply newfound knowledge. The course provided insights into prompt engineering and its potential to streamline workflows and inspire creative solutions. This skill can greatly augment tasks and improve efficiency in various industries.
Throughout the course, I acquired several key skills that are applicable to both my academic work and teaching:

  • Augmenting tasks with AI: Learning how to effectively integrate AI into my workflow to enhance productivity and performance.
  • Critical thinking: Developing the ability to critically evaluate AI tools and their potential impacts on projects and decision-making processes.
  • Iterative thinking: Understanding the importance of iterative problem-solving when working with AI, refining solutions based on feedback and results.
  • Prompt engineering: Mastering the art of crafting precise and effective prompts to guide AI models in generating desired outputs.
  • Confronting AI challenges: Gaining awareness of potential biases, inaccuracies, and security vulnerabilities associated with AI systems and developing strategies to mitigate these concerns.

However, it is essential to recognize that learning AI is an ongoing process. The field is constantly evolving, and staying up-to-date requires a personal commitment to continuous learning about and exploration of new AI tools. As AI technologies advance at a rapid pace, those of us who wish to remain competitive in the field must actively seek out opportunities to expand our knowledge and skill set. This may involve attending conferences, participating in online courses, engaging with AI communities, and experimenting with emerging AI platforms to stay at the forefront of this exponentially transformative industry. And in my case, this meant using the 4th of July to complete the course.

Touro University TESOL Candidate Mia Sessa on General Academic Vocabulary, Cross-Curricular Terms/Processes & Function

As an Associate Professor for the Touro University TESOL/BLE Department, I am immensely proud to feature outstanding student work from our MS in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Program. New York’s linguistic diversity demands teachers who can find common ground and effectively communicate with students from different language backgrounds. Academically rigorous and practice-intensive, the 33-credit program leads candidates who complete all coursework, and fieldwork to recommendation for ESL certification.

Ms. Mia Sessa is an entry-level elementary special education teacher passionate about working with students with disabilities and multi-lingual learners! Ms. Sessa is a Third Grade Priority Substitute on Long Island, New York. This is her first semester as a graduate student in the TESOL program at Touro University, and she is extremely excited to continue to learn and grow as an educator and individual at Touro! One of her favorite quotes is; “When planning programs and instruction for English learners, we sometimes focus solely on what they are not yet proficient in and fail to consider the assets they bring to school.” – MaryEllen Vogt, Jana Echevarria, and Deborah J. Short

Ms. Sessa wrote an exceptional DB 3 for our course EDDN 637 – Second Language Learners and Content Areas

TESOL Graduate Candidate at Touro University, Alexa Armentano on CR Part 154 Comprehensive ELL Education Plan (CEEP), ENL staffing requirements, and Community Language Teaching

As an Associate Professor for the Touro University TESOL/BLE Department, I am immensely proud to feature outstanding student work from our MS in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Program. New York’s linguistic diversity demands teachers who can find common ground and effectively communicate with students from different language backgrounds. Academically rigorous and practice-intensive, the 33-credit program leads candidates who complete all coursework, and fieldwork to recommendation for ESL certification.

Alexa Armentano is a candidate in the TESOL Graduate Program at Touro University. She attended Hofstra University for her undergraduate degree where she earned a dual degree in Early Childhood Education and Childhood Education, as well as a Psychology degree. Fun Fact! She coaches the Commack High School dance team.

My journey through the Touro University Graduate School of Education TESOL program has been an enriching experience that has deepened my passion for teaching and equipped me with the skills necessary to make a meaningful impact in the field of education.

Alexa Armentano, TESOL Graduate Candidate at Touro University

Directions and the Tasks: Discussion Board 3 Program Models – Bilingual & ESOL

CUT AND PASTE QUESTIONS IN ORDER AND ANSWER EACH ONE OF THEM.

  1. CREATE A  COMPARTIVE TABLE WITH AT LEAST 3 POINTS; How do the BLUEPRINT FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER/MULTILINGUAL LEARNER (ELL/MLL) SUCCESS http://www.nysed.gov/common/nysed/files/nys-blueprint-for-ell-success.pdfLinks to an external site. and CR Part 154 Comprehensive ELL Education Plan (CEEP) and ENL staffing requirements connect with each other? http://www.nysed.gov/bilingual-ed/cr-part-154-comprehensive-ell-education-plan-ceep?  Links to an external site.http://www.nysed.gov/common/nysed/files/programs/bilingual-ed/enl-k-8-units-of-study-table-5-6-15.pdfLinks to an external site.
  2. How might the principles of CLT be applied or adapted to meet the challenge posed by the following context? Students seem to be shy and unaccustomed to discussing topics of a personal or social nature with one another, and the teaching approach is very teacher-centered. Celce-Murcia, Marianne; Brinton, Donna M.; Snow, Marguerite Ann. Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language (Chapter 2). Heinle ELT. Kindle Edition. 
  3. How do (or might) you use technology for CLT language teaching and learning in your context? What constraints do you face? Do you think that you as a language learner or your  (future) students would want to engage in virtual or simulated learning environments online? Why or why not? Please write from your own experience and from the I perspective. Chapter 2Celce-Murcia, Marianne; Brinton, Donna M.; Snow, Marguerite Ann. Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language (p. 29). Heinle ELT. Kindle Edition. 

TO DO:

  1. Please cut and paste the questions into your DB dialogue box and answer each question.
  2. Spell and grammar check your answers.
  3. Create a reference section/bibliography in APA style – https://www.citationmachine.net/apaLinks to an external site.

Announcement: Dr. Jasmin Cowin selected for the 2024-2025 CETL Faculty Fellowship at Touro University

I am honored to share that I was selected as the recipient of the 2024-2025 CETL Faculty Fellowship at Touro University. This fellowship, effective immediately and running through June 30, 2025, marks a significant milestone in my academic career, allowing me to spearhead an innovative project integrating Artificial Intelligence into our teaching practices.

Under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Shlomo Engelson Argamon, Associate Provost for Artificial Intelligence and Professor of Computer Science at Touro University, I will be developing a faculty development course on AI, set to launch in Spring 2025. This initiative aims to explore how we approach and engage with digital transformation in education.

Throughout the fellowship, I will contribute to the CETL webpage, sharing insights and resources to support my fellow faculty members and peers. Additionally, I will serve on the CETL Faculty Advisory Board, working collaboratively to enhance our collective efforts and drive educational strategies.

As I begin this fellowship, I look forward to sharing the developments and insights gained with our larger Touro University academic community. I anticipate engaging in meaningful conversations and collaborations.

Stay tuned for updates on this initiative, and join me in exploring the potential of AI in shaping the future of education at Touro University.

#CETLFellowship #AIinEducation #DigitalTransformation #TouroUniversity

Touro University TESOL Candidate Irene Theotokas’ Curriculum Map

EDDN 635 Curriculum Development and Classroom Management in the Technology Era

This comprehensive course builds upon the foundation of curriculum development and classroom management in the context of teaching English language learners. Expanding its horizons to embrace the digital age, the course adeptly weaves innovative technology integration into the domain of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Crafted to empower prospective TESOL/BLE educators, the course hones in on fostering competence in designing, implementing, assessing, and reflecting within diverse language learning environments, all while capitalizing on the potentials of cutting-edge technology. With a strong focus on practical application and discerning appraisal of technological tools, this course primes upcoming educators to excel amidst the ever-evolving educational landscape. Includes 10 hours of field work.

Irene Theotokas: As a first-year teacher, she is on a mission to mirror the impactful mentorship she received as a young student. Inspired by the teachers who shaped her path, she aspires to be a beacon of guidance and support for her students, just as they were for her during her formative years. It is a privilege for her to give back to the community that helped mold her, and she is dedicated to being the role model she once looked up to.

“At Touro University, earning my Master’s in ESL has been a journey of growth, inspiring me to teach and uplift English learners by showing how language can connect us all.”

Irene Theotokas, Touro University TESOL Candidate

As Irene Theotokas’ professor, I am impressed by how thoroughly she completed her curriculum map for EDDN 635 Curriculum Development and Classroom Management in the Technology Era. Her work reflects a high level of dedication and competence, meeting and exceeding the course requirements.

Bailey Konen, Touro University, TESOL Master’s Candidate Differentiated Assessment Using Authentic Student Products

As an Associate Professor for the Touro University TESOL/BLE Department, I am immensely proud to feature outstanding student work from our MS in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Program. New York’s linguistic diversity demands teachers who can find common ground and effectively communicate with students from different language backgrounds. Academically rigorous and practice-intensive, the 33-credit program leads candidates who complete all coursework, and fieldwork to recommendation for ESL certification.

Touro University has made it possible for me to be a full-time educator while also pursuing my master’s degree. The professors in the Touro GSE have been accommodating, knowledgeable, and incredibly helpful in my teaching journey, and I look forward to continuing my master’s degree.

Bailey Konen, Touro University, TESOL Master’s Candidate

The assignment calls for:

Differentiated Assessment Using Authentic Student Products with Emphasis on The Practices and Principles of Differentiation

Assignment Objectives:

  • Understand and integrate principles of differentiation into assessment techniques.
  • Modify existing lesson plans to incorporate differentiated assessments using authentic student products.
  • Integrate and discuss anonymized student products, focusing on differentiating assessment based on readiness, interest, and learning profile.
  • Reflect on the practices and principles of differentiation and its impact on multilingual learners.


Assignment Tasks:

  • Review the “Tools for High-Quality Differentiated Instruction: An ASCD Action Tool”, emphasizing differentiated assessment techniques for ELL/ML students.
    Explore the Practices and Principles of Differentiation based on Carol Tomlinson’s model. Open Education resource: (https://rutamaestra.santillana.com.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Classrooms-2nd-Edition-By-Carol-Ann-Tomlinson.pdfLinks to an external site. )
  • Understand the significance of content, process, and product differentiation.
    Modify an existing content lesson plan YOU delivered to ELL/ML students:
    Integrate proactive adjustments based on student readiness, interest, and learning profiles.
  • Discuss anonymized student products as tangible evidence of differentiation in assessment. These products should align with differentiation principles, taking into account students’ readiness, interests, and learning profiles.
  • Align the assignment with the provided assessment criteria and integrate concepts and practices from “Classroom Practices for Multilingual Learners and English Language Learners” and “The Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards”

I was struck with the authentic reflection of Baily Konen:

“After teaching this lesson and differentiating it for my ELL/ML students, I’ve realized that some of my practices that I have used in the past may not have been appropriate for my English Language learners. It is important for educators to understand that their ELL/ML students can all learn in different ways, and that often it’s not that the student does not understand, but rather that they were never put in a position to succeed from the beginning of the lesson. It is not fair to expect a student that is a fluent English speaker and a student that is an emergent English Language learner to be able to complete the same academic tasks during a lesson.”

Bio:
Bailey Konen is a graduate student at Touro University and a teacher in a Long Island school district. He completed his undergraduate degree at the State University of New York at Geneseo with a Bachelor of Science in Childhood/Early Childhood Education. B has always had a passion for working with children and is constantly trying to learn more about how he can help all of his students succeed.

Bailey Konen Differentiated Assignment Video

Touro University TESOL candidate Rebecca Jarvis’Materials Critique & Redesign for EDPN 673



As an Associate Professor for the Touro University TESOL/BLE Department, I am immensely proud to feature outstanding student work from our MS in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Program. New York’s linguistic diversity demands teachers who can find common ground and effectively communicate with students from different language backgrounds. Academically rigorous and practice-intensive, the 33-credit program leads candidates who complete all coursework, and fieldwork to recommendation for ESL certification.

Rebecca Jarvis is a Preschool Special Education Teacher on Long Island. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and Speech Communication from St. Joseph’s College on Long Island. She is enrolled to receive a Master’s Degree in TESOL at Touro University.

Touro University TESOL Candidate Amanda Foti’s Instructional Materials Critique & Redesign with Infographic

As an Associate Professor for the Touro University TESOL/BLE Department, I am immensely proud to feature outstanding student work from our MS in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Program. New York’s linguistic diversity demands teachers who can find common ground and effectively communicate with students from different language backgrounds. Academically rigorous and practice-intensive, the 33-credit program leads candidates who complete all coursework, and fieldwork to recommendation for ESL certification.

Amanda Foti: She is in her third year as a fourth-grade teacher at P.S.131 in the vibrant Brooklyn, New York community. Alongside her teaching adventures, she is also deep into the TESOL graduate degree program at Touro University, adding more tools to her teaching toolbox. What really lights her up is the opportunity to step into the role of an ESL teacher for her incredible group of students, creating a classroom where everyone feels seen and supported. She believes that “In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.” – Phil Collins

At Touro University, I found that learning and teaching go hand in hand. As I learned, I also got to teach others, creating a circle of knowledge. Touro is not just a school; it’s a place where everyone learns from each other, making education a shared adventure.

Amanda Foti, TESOL Candidate,
Touro University, Graduate School of Education

Assignment description:

Instructional Material Critique & Redesign with Infographic

Setting the stage:

Imagine you are the TESOL expert and the librarian come to you to select books for your multilingual learners – how will you sdecide?  This project will help you focus on choosing inclusive books AND academically rigorous for multilingual learners.

Look at the books and texts YOU are using RIGHT now in your classroom – what is in your reading corner, what do you use with your students for history, math, music etc? Look at those books or chapters with a fresh focus! How can YOU support English language acquisition for your ELL’s? 

You will engage in a comprehensive evaluation and redesign project focused on creating culturally and linguistically responsive classrooms and instructional practices for English Language Learners (ELLs) and MLs. The assignment consists of five steps.  

You will choose 3 books to analyze or 3 book chapters.  Two of the books/chapters are in their grade level, and one book/chapter must be a different level; So if the first set is elementary level, the third book/chapter must be either middle or high school, and vice versa.  Going to your library is an excellent resource, please use it.   You must provide an appropriate APA style citation for EACH book. I welcome photos of your books that demonstrate what you are discussing.

Touro University TESOL Master’s Degree Candidate Anastasios Panagiotidis’ Tech Tools

As an Associate Professor for the Touro University TESOL/BLE Department, I am immensely proud to feature outstanding student work from our MS in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Program. New York’s linguistic diversity demands teachers who can find common ground and effectively communicate with students from different language backgrounds. Academically rigorous and practice-intensive, the 33-credit program leads candidates who complete all coursework, and fieldwork to recommendation for ESL certification.

Anastasios Panagiotidis works as a secondary education Earth Science teacher, proudly serving the South Huntington Union Free School District. As he prepares for his fourth year in a probationary track position, he is simultaneously enrolled in courses through Touro University to acquire his Master’s degree in TESOL. As an educator, his utmost priority is ensuring he has the “tools” necessary to meet the individual needs of his diverse student population.

“The reason I feel so strongly about this statement is that I once had an 8th grade Science teacher myself, who not only met my individual needs, but made me believe that I could prevail beyond my learning disability to accomplish anything I put my heart, mind, and soul into. She is who has propelled me to the point I am at today.”

Click: Anastasios Panagiotidis’Tech Tools Padlet