(image created via screenshot of Visuwords mapping of "technology")
My students in my fourth grade practicum class are always asking my cooperating teacher and I about the origins and meanings of the words we study. Instead of answering with "I don't know" or directing students towards dictionaries and thesauri, we could use Visuwords to create interactive concept maps of new and familiar words.
Using Visuwords is quite simple. To create a concept map of a specific word, you or a student may enter it into the search engine or you have the option of mapping random word. Visuwords uses different colors of bubbles and connector arrows to illustrate different meanings of words, contexts of words, and parts of speech. For words that have a more wide array of defining or related terms, it is possible for the user to zoom in and out while toggling around the screen.
I could envision a teacher using Visuwords as an avenue for introducing new words and the depth of language. By teaching students the origins and roots of words, they are better equipped to more easily independently define new words in their reading. Learning roots and origins of words also makes students better spellers. A teacher could also use Visuwords in extension activities. In word study, students can use Visuwords to establish broader frames of reference for already familiar words or new words.
Visuwords can also be used to support a variety of different extension activities. For example, a 3rd-5th grade teacher could have students create their own word maps in Kidspiration or a similar software modeled after a word map created in Visuwords. In addition, 4th or 5th grade students could use a Visuwords map to introduce a term in a presentation or at the beginnings of new thematic units. Learning about word roots and origins are usually characteristic of upper grades but I would be interested to hear ideas about using Visuwords in Kindergarten - 2nd grade.
Visuwords is a helpful website for enhancing student knowledge about the currency of words used daily to ascribe meaning to every day life.
To see for yourself - navigate your browser to www.visuwords.com
This site sounds pretty interesting! I think that it is important that students are able to fully understand the words that they are using and for them to make connections with words that are similar. This site would be a great tool to use to show students how to make concept maps and how they can be used. Once students have become comfortable with the site they can start to make their own concept maps. Concept maps can also be used as a way to assess student knowledge for example the teacher can have the students fill in blanks or figure out what the word is. Great find!
ReplyDeleteEryn, this is a very interesting site that I have never encountered. My practicum students are always asking similar questions, and this is a good way to go about answering them. You are not shutting down the student's curiosity, or giving them a vague answer. Instead, you are allowing the students to find the solution, but at the same time explore the solution. One concern that I have is computer use and ratio of students to computers in the classroom. If students catch on to this, will they be able to use it when needed? Or, will not having enough technology available provide difficulty? Also, you could extend this activity and have the students make concept maps for their word study words. Neat!
ReplyDelete