Using Technology to Help Teachers Meet the Needs of Language-minority Students in the USA

In an attempt to meet the challenges of increasingly diverse school populations and increased limitations on methods of instruction for pre-service teachers, the Bilingual Training, Development, and Improvement Project at the University of Houston has developed five interactive video modules for linguistic-minority students. Commercial videodiscs were repurposed using HyperCard, and the modules were field-tested on fourth and fifth graders in inner-city schools. Results from content and language measures indicated that students showed significant gains after viewing the modules. Students also responded favorably to the technology on attitude surveys. An interactive video program designed to inform pre-service teachers of the needs of linguistic-minority students was also developed.