In treating with the topic, I am able to reflect on our session regarding the development and uses of wikis and have come to the understanding, that instructional technological practices and strategies designed for developing vocabulary do not need to be difficult and overwhelming. There are several interactive approaches that are highly student-centered, and provide an environment that is motivational, engaging, collaborative and thus create a classroom environment rich with learning opportunities. This environment is sustained by a variety of activites that are couched within theoretically framed learning strategies.I think the pupils who engage in such activities are likely to become independent, higly motivated learners . As a result, not only will the students be developing vocabulary knowledge but they will also build their capacity to learn and perform.
I would suggest integrating strategies whereby pupils, for example, create wikis that depict new vocabulary with a visual aid and audio file for the word meaning and maps can be created to show vocabulary connections. We can engage our students in a continuing story in which our students are required or are invited to add new sentences using new vocabulary . In this way they, for example, may write an adventure story in collaboration wth the whole class. I believe it will be unlikely that they will forget the meanings of the words as they read and re-read their story each time they visit the wiki to make additions..The story can be a single class version or it can branch off into multiple versions and endings. I hope you find this helpful in some way.
Lemoy
Lemoy this post was an interesting read especially when you have pointed out a practical application of the wiki. Also when you consider its multiple uses, especially with reading specialists to enhance reading.
ReplyDeleteI also believe another use of the wiki involves administrators using this technology to communicate with their staff members. As well as parents and students collaborating with teachers, themselves and so on. I like your suggestion of integrating strategies whereby pupils, for example, create wikis that depict new vocabulary with a visual aid and audio file for the word meaning. You also suggested that maps can be created to show vocabulary connections. This in fact can be very effective and to can really engage students. The down side to this though is that not all schools have Internet access and if they do some administrators are not too keen on it being used...Fantastic I think I will you this in the presentation of the lesson plan.
Thank you for your kind words on my blog, I will try to do my best to keep it interesting.
ReplyDeleteI do admire the aesthetics of your blog though but much more than that I am drawn to the arguments advanced about reading, rereading and writing wikis to ensure long term memory of the meanings of words(lines 22-24).
Interestingly though,this is also a strategy that facilitates fluency and is supported by the literature in the field.It is referred to as repeated reading and is a researched based strategy based on the theory of automatic processing in reading (Samuels 1997).
I believe that comprehension on the literal level and the nuances of inferential understandings lie in the subtleties of language which is best revealed by prosodic reading. Students have a great opportunity for practice on wikis that go beyond writing to comprehension which is aided by fluency.
Reference: Samuels,S.J. (1997).The method of repeated readings. The Reading Teacher,50.(5).
376-381.
Mary Grant
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ReplyDeleteWow! As educators we have been presented with a new and exciting way to teach vocabulary. I agree that the students would be motivated, meaningful learning would take place and learning would become fun. Undoubtedly as teachers we would be speaking a language that the students understand: “technology”, and the impact on education would be tremendous. The use of visual aids, audio files and maps to teach new vocabulary is a great idea, and of course caters to the different learning styles that we encounter as educators. As I read your blog on vocabulary development, images of teaching it were already vivid in my mind. This is exciting stuff, Lemoy!
ReplyDeleteThank you ,Janice. Let's keep collaborating.
ReplyDeleteLemoy