Still popular 20 years later
The language path was unique in its kind when it was introduced in the early 2000s. The learning tool will soon be relaunched with modern games.
LEARNING ABOUT RHYME AND SYLLABLES: Students should understand the difference between sounds and letters.
It all started 20 years ago with a colossus of a resource binder. It was made for the teachers at one of the elementary schools in Enebakk. Could the binder be moved to the screen? That's what Gro Jørgensen, the founder of the digital publisher Kunnskap.no , wondered when she met the data manager at Ytre Enebakk School during a course.
– Could it be possible to collaborate with Kunnskap.no ?
The answer was yes, and the two teachers Kari Jakobsen Nordhagen and Grete Aambø Redse were thus appointed as resource persons from the school. Remi Jakobsen from Kunnskap.no made the tasks interactive.
The result was a pioneering product in preparatory reading and writing education. The Language Path was born.
Rhymes and words
– The Language Path is a program for working with preparatory reading and writing training . And although a lot has happened in development since then, the teaching tool is as relevant today as it was then, says Grete Aambø Redse, who now works at Ryenberget School.
– It's about understanding what rhymes and syllables are. And listening to sounds. Which sound comes first? Last? In the middle? What are compound words? What is a sentence? What are short and long words? For example, which is the longest of train and locomotive ?
READING COURSE RUNNER: Experienced teacher Grete Aambø Redse runs reading courses and uses Språkstien a lot in her teaching.
Target group
The language path is primarily designed for 1st grade and possibly 2nd grade.
– But it can also be useful in special education, for older students who are learning to read and write, says Redse.
The experienced teacher himself runs reading courses.
– It is a course for students who are a little behind in their reading development. I see that having Språkstien under their skin is very useful. Students should understand syllables, listen out sounds. They should understand the difference between sound and letter. That is the very foundation for learning to read, she says.
In groups or in class
The teacher has experience using Språkstien in small groups, whole classes, and with spes.ped students. She helps them with the actual login, and then the students work independently from computers or iPads afterwards.
- What is the advantage of the Language Path?
– Students receive immediate feedback as they get it right. They have an owl with them throughout the tasks. It says “Great!” “Excellent!” “Are you sure?” and so on. They get the response in their ears right away, whether it is right or wrong. In addition, there is visual feedback - a circle - where one sector at a time is filled with color when the answer is correct.
Relaunched with games
Older films in the learning tool will soon be replaced with modern games.
– It will be a completely new product. After all, it has been 20 years since the resource folder was in the teachers' room, and we digitized the assignments. Some changes have been made since then. The teaching material has been transferred to the iPad, among other things. But this will be the most comprehensive revision of Språkstien, says Redse.
The new version of Språkstien will be released during 2020.