Real-time tool that translates content and activates learning
One hot afternoon last summer, I decided that instead of emailing the winners of the Resilient District Prize grants, I would call them with the good news.
When educator Alyssa Cruz answered, she sounded humble and slightly embarrassed. “I’m sorry. What organization are you with? It’s just that I’ve applied for so many grants, I can’t keep them straight. And honestly, I never thought that I would hear from you.”
As a middle school History and ELL/ELA teacher, Alyssa has been able to reach Spanish-speaking students in her class, but students who speak other languages—Mandarin, Creole, and French (to name a few)—were slipping through the cracks.
She’d applied for the RDP grant with the intention to purchase special headphones that could automatically and instantly translate her words into a variety of languages so that ALL of her kids could actively participate in her class, most especially those who are still learning to speak English. Although simple in concept, these headphones would offer a profound opportunity for student engagement and serve as an example of how technology can be used in the classroom to enhance instruction and learning. To no one’s surprise, the new program has been a huge success!
Last week, two staffers from Future of School went to personally present a Big Check in recognition of Alyssa’s RDP award. We spent time in her classroom watching her bring to life content for students in many languages and it was an incredible sight to see.
While Alyssa worked with a small group of learners, I walked around and secretly asked her students for words and phrases to describe Mrs. Cruz.
“Curious. Amazing. Collaborator. Very fun. Strict. Unbiased. Funny. Hard-working.”
“Someone who we can talk to, who understands us” said one teen…only to be interrupted by another classmate who leaned in and proclaimed with excitement, “YESSS!!”
The students are inspired every day by Mrs. Cruz and what she does “for them.”
When teachers are empowered—personally, professionally, and financially—to meet learners where they are, access and equity in education naturally increase. More of these stories, please! More smiling students! And please, more teachers like Alyssa Cruz (with a sheer look of joy on her face as she teaches).
