Session+4

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==== =Session 4=


 * Session 4.1 21st Century Vocabulary Terms**


 * Widget - a small application that can be placed onto a web page by an end user that is useful for a particular job. **
 * Embed - to closely enclose or implant a photo, link or video onto a web site or web page.**
 * Embed Code - a code needed in order to embed video, photos, text, audio, graphs, etc. **
 * Link - a method or way to get to a website such as a highlighted word or icon at a particular location. **
 * URL- web address that helps describe the location of something on a network or the world wide web (Uniform Resource Locator)**
 * Upload - to put something onto the Internet or a personal website or to transfer a file or program to a central computer from a smaller computer or a computer at a remote location. **
 * Download - to take off the Internet or a website onto your own computer or technological device.** Transfer FROM as opposed TO when downloading.
 * Search engine - a computer program such as Google or Yahoo, etc that allows you to retrieve what you are looking for on the Internet.**
 * Web 2.0 - is associated with web applications that facilitate participatory information. It is a "user-centered" concept that by design encourages collaboration and sharing. It promotes web-based communities and is considered the "Second Generation" of the World Wide Web.**

Session 4.2 Vocabulary.com Vocabulary.com is a tremendous resource as it gives more than the traditional one line or multiple phrases found in a traditional dictionary like Webster's. It brings the word down and immediately tries to explain where and how the word may be used. It eliminates the fear that students (and most of us for that matter) have in trying to understand a new word via a definition that they do not understand..This resource attempts to put the word in context and hopefully connect to the student in some way. By making a connection to a student's individual standpoint it brings a clearer picture as to where the term might have come from or what it means.

Although all students and teachers would be happy beneficiaries of such a source like vocabulary.com, the student who can explain things greatly but has difficulty in finding that one word or term that stumps them in their writing or speaking would be a delighted user. Students who are visual oriented would greatly benefit from this source also. I have had many many students who can explain things but who have difficulty in finding that one word that blocks their progress in completing an essay or paper. I remember a Spanish professor in college who taught us that do not let "not knowing one word or term" hinder us from speaking Spanish. Go around it he would exclaim and explain it using words you do know, or experiences you had or other things you learned to get your message connected. Dictionary.com allows students to do such a thing.

Session 4.2 Using Vocabulary.com



The two tools I have selected after reading the article are: www.wordcentral.com. and www.freerice.com http://www.freerice.com/ http://www.wordcentral.com/ Word Sift is a very effective pre-reading strategy because it allows students to become quickly acquainted with the key words and terms than stand before them. It gives them a leg up in a colorful and non-threatening manner on tackling an article or section of a chapter. Word Sift engages the students to connect to the readings through potential familiar references and personal standpoints. Instead of reading from the outset in which two of the first ten words might be unfamiliar, Word Sift removes the pressure of reading through a light but expansive view of the vocabulary.
 * "Session 4.4, Using Word Sift"**
 * "Session 4.4 Word Sift Screenshot"**

Word Sift is a perfect tool for struggling readers because as I stated above, it hopefully removes the pressure of facing a long and daunting reading. There is a "strong correlation between vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension." Taking this a step further, vocabulary knowledge leads to enjoyment of reading. Struggling readers can utilize Word Sift to break down a reading (through its vocabulary) and set a comfortable and organized pattern in taking on the assignment. Adding Word Sift to a pre-reading exercise allows the struggling reader to attain a background and understanding of the key terms and words that will make a significant impact on his or her comprehension success. I think the tools I selected (www.freerice.com and www.wordcentral.com) would be very effective in my class. As an 8th grade Social Studies teacher, we are continually searching for ways to connect the historical material we cover with the actual events of the day. The free rice aspect will allow the students to learn and do well at the same time. So much of what we learn from Medieval history is about poverty, darkness and inhumane conditions. Creating vocab. games and challenges that assist in confronting those same elements today is rewarding socially and academically. What 8th grader would not feel good about themselves in becoming a better reader and world citizen at the same time. "Wordcentral" is just a terrific site with a large assortment of games from "building your own dictionary" to "resolving jumbles, crosswords, etc" in a fun atmosphere- much lighter than the freerice website. My students love any word game that is competitive, group oriented and brain twisting. Wordcentral does such without too many interactive bells and whistles. Next year I hope to use "freerice" in conjuction with our studying of West Africa, the Dark Ages by explaining how poverty was rampant and that despite our advanced civilization we still confront these tragic problems today..We can help just through our learning. I would like the students to consider what might have happened if the scholars of the Medieval days had such a program as "freerice for learning" how the world may have been different. Could we have saved lives and how might we have implemented such a program? Wordcentral would be quite useful when the class is confronted with a section or chapter where there are some new and unfamiliar terms and words. Breaking it up in a light and competitive style with word games could lighten our path in tackling the material. Additional Resources 4.6
 * "Session 4.5 Using E-Vocabulary Strategies"**

Widget – n. a tool on the web which takes web applications (like videos, interactive activities, marked up documents, etc.) and places that application on your personal page (for this course we’ll be using wikispaces). You can find the tool for widgets once you hit edit. The icon is on the editing toolbar and is in the shape of a little TV. http://www.wikispaces.com/Widgets Embed – v. to put a widget into your wikispace page. Here’s a link that explains how to embed a video(we’ll be teaching you how to embed a variety of items in a later lesson, but this gives you a good idea what embedding is): http://collaborationnation.wikispaces.com/How+to+embed+a+video Embed code – n. the code which you will need to find on the website of origin which you will need to plug into the widget editor in order for your widget to appear on your wikispace page. Often times this will be obvious on a webpage (youtube has button underneath every video which says “embed”). Other times it might be tougher to locate, being accessed through a button that says “Share” or some other variant. Link – n. a connection made between two websites where simply clicking on a bit of (usually blue) text takes you to a relevant, yet different website or page within a website. v. To insert this bit of text into a website (like your wikispace page) so that others can get to another page or website quickly and easily) URL: n. the internet address of any website or page you go to. Literally the Uniform Resource Locator, it allows your computer to access information from a specific location on another computer which will give you the information for that website. You’re using it right now! Upload: n. transfer data that is put onto a website or page from your computer : to transfer data or programs, usually from a peripheral computer to a central, often remote, computer, like the server for wikispaces. You’ll be uploading lots of data to your wikispace page Download: n. A transfer of data from another computer on to your own, for instance music that is taken from the internet and put into a media player. v. to transfer or copy data from one computer to another, or to a disk or peripheral device, or be transferred or copied in this way Search engine: n. a website which seeks out other websites which contain relevant information based upon search parameters entered into the engine. Most popular search engines are Google and Bing Web 2.0: n. a use of the world wide web as a means to allow all computers to operate as both users and creators in which digital media is both produced and used collaboratively. This is in contrast to users being given information in which they only view the information, becoming much more passive in their activity.