Session+4


 * __4.1 21st Century Vocabulary Terms__**

__Widget__: A picture or application from another source (noun; device or control that is very useful for a particular job) __Embed__: to cover (verb, to implant/fix/set securely) __Embed code__: a system/language that translates the image/picture (not found on this website) __Link:__ an address you click that brings the viewer to another site (noun, the means of connecting) __URL__: the address of a website (noun…on the world wide web) __Upload__: a file that is transferred from your computer to a site (verb, transfer from a smaller computer to a central computer) __Download__: a file that is transferred from a website to your computer (verb, transfer from a central computer to a smaller computer) __Search engine__: a site that allows the viewer to access additional resources (noun, a computer program that retrieves documents/files/data from a database) __Web 2.0__: a web-sharing program (not found on this website)


 * __4.2 Vocabulary.com__**

-Students and teachers may find Vocabulary.com more usefully than using a dictionary or glossary because it offers context. Context and examples reallythe student to get a better idea of the word holistically (I particularly liked the additional word look up/reference at the bottom). The more informal diction really helps to get a better grasp of how the word is used. Students who can handle a lot of information at once, bigger picture students, or those learn through example would really benefit from this.



__**4.3 Word Sift Screenshot**__

__//How is Word Sift an effective pre-reading strategy?//__ Word Sift helps the student by narrowing the scope for them. By this I mean that the program completes highlight the key words---this allows the student to then really delve into those keys words for more understanding,

__//How would Word Sift help students who struggle with reading?//__ Again, by have the keys words larger in font, it takes away the pressure to figure out the larger ideas. This is great for students who tend to think every idea is a main idea. This models how to select the most important terms.


 * __4.4 Using Word Sift__**

Strategy #1: Take Advantage of Online Reference Tools Link for Strategy: Visual Thesaurus Strategy #2: Combine Vocabulary Learning and Social Service Link for Strategies: Free Rice

__**4.5 Using E-Vocabulary Strateg****ies**__ Do you think the tools that you selected would be effective in your class? Visual Thesaurus would be effective mostly as pre-reading strategy for concepts. How would you use these tools in your class? (Be specific)

Strategy #1: Have Students Use Media to Express Vocabulary Knowledge Strategy #2: Increase Reading Volume by Reading Digital Text

Our students could break into groups and trace a motif within a text. This site would help them expand and organize ideas (they could then find specific examples from the text that match up with the words)
 * #1: Visual Thesaurus || #2: Free Rice ||
 * I think this tool would be effective a quick reference when reading, but I am leaning towards using it as a word study, a way to have the students really delve into one or two specific terms and expand understanding. || This site would be effective for ELL learners or explicit grammar instruction. The one drawback to this site is that is does not offer explanation to why an answer may be incorrect. So, this site would be more of an after-reading strategy, to check for understanding. ||
 * __-Tracing a topic__:

__Literary/Rhetorical Terms:__ I can see using this as a tool to build literary term awareness. Again, have the students select a terms and create example according to the words the site provides. || __Service Learning:__ A link on this page has to do with fighting hunger. We could use the ideas here in tandem with books we teach (I’m thinking //Night// or //The Soloist//, for example) to gain a better knowledge of these issues today.

__Creating your own Unit:__ A few of us in the English department have been playing around with ideas of students creating and teaching their own units. This site would really be a creative way to get the students involved in one of the many issues presented. ||