Loom
Loom is an interactive web platform that allows students to record and post videos. Loom could be used by teachers to demonstrate lesson procedures or new e-learning programs, to explain new content concepts, or to extend lessons. Students can also use LOOM to narrate stories or presentations they create in a slideshow or through another digital medium. These types of videos would be helpful for ELs because students can take their time watching the videos (which are typically short) and replay sections as many times as needed if the students need extra help with a certain step that is explained in the video or with understanding the language being used. Teachers can also model proper pronunciation in their videos. There is also a comment feature on each video that includes a video time stamp so learners who have questions or responses to certain parts of the videos they are watching can comment what they’re thinking or what they’re confused by with a time stamp reference to make it easier for the teacher to better understand exactly what needs to be addressed. Some strategies that could be embedded in these videos to specifically support ELs include visual aids, captions to provide visual words to go along with the words being spoken by the teacher, and other forms of scaffolding. These videos can also be created by teachers as scaffolding tools for in-classroom or distance learning lessons.