A Mobile-Assisted Funds of Knowledge–Featured Writing Instructional Model for iPanchitos via Google Apps for Education

• In Event: Designer Decision-Making and Implementation

Abstract

The purposes of this mixed methods study were to explore the Funds of Knowledge (FoK) sources existing in young English Language Learners’ (ELLs, also referred to as iPanchitos) families and to inform a mobile-assisted instructional model to conceptualize the explored FoK to develop young iPanchitos’ writing skills. The trustworthiness of the qualitative data collection was verified by triangulation of home-visits, in-depth interviews, field notes, and informal observations. Eighteen iPanchitos completed 180 essays through five repeated writing activities. Results from the paired samples t-tests, repeated measures ANOVA, and a custom contrast analysis revealed significant growth in the development of iPanchitos’ narrative writing skills as well as growth in writing skills across the five repeated measures using mobile-based Google Apps for Education.

Authors

• Yan Chen, University of Nevada - Las Vegas

• Hayley J. Mayall, Northern Illinois University

• Cindy S. York, Northern Illinois University

• Thomas J. Smith, Northern Illinois University