1. Vocabulary Learning: Formative Assessment and Online Gaming Practice with Free or Inexpensive Digital Resources Lee Ann Tysseling, Ph.D. ltysseling@boisestate.edu www.delicious.com/BSULee www.pinterest.com/leeanntysseling/ www.slideshare.net/LeeAnnTysseling/ https://twitter.com/Read2LiveLee Boise State University Celebrate Literacy! NW Regional NCTE Conference March 1, 2014 Portland, Oregon

2. Today we will: Review three online resources for formative assessment Explore free or inexpensive resources for vocabulary development Look at website/apps review sources

3. Before We Begin: Principles of Vocabulary Development Wide reading Teaching individual words Teaching strategies for learning words independently Fostering word consciousness Stahl, S.A. & Nagy, W.E. (2006). Teaching Word Meanings. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum

4. A Second Look: In the Classroom What Works: Differentiation Wide reading Explicit teaching of concept critical words Exploring words as they are met Multiple exposures over time Inter-lesson cohesion Returning again and again to new words that have been discussed What Does Not Work: Copying out definitions Memorizing definitions for a weekly test Context clues (except for the most able readers) Supplementary vocabulary programs (except for the most motivated learners)

5. The Latest: NAEP Report Vocabulary and Reading comprehension are strongly linked at all grade levels! http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp? pubid=2013452

6. Assessment of Vocabulary Knowledge The Problem: We dont have any good assessments of vocabulary knowledge. Pearson, P. D., Hiebert, E. H., Kamil, M. L. (2007). Vocabulary assessment: What we know and what we need to learn. Reading Research Quarterly 42(2): 282-296. Scott, J. A., Hoover, M. Flinspach, S. & Vevea, J. (2008). A multiple-level vocabulary assessment tool: Measuring word knowledge based on grade-level materials. 57th Annual Yearbook of the National Reading Conference. V. R. Y. Kim, D. Compton, D. Dickinson, M. Hundley, R. Jimenez, K. Leander, D. Rowe. Oak Creek, WI, National Reading Conference. 57: 325-340. Some may be in the works Word Generation Project www.wordgeneration.org VINE Project (Vocabulary Innovations in Education) www.vineconsortium.org

7. Assessment is complex Any multiple-choice test that tries to capture student word knowledge is likely to fall short of that goal. Assessing word knowledge may seem simple, just as acquiring word knowledge may seem simple at first blush. But words are intertwined with experiences and background knowledge, can be used literally or figuratively, occur in idioms and with multiple meanings, and have nuanced meanings in different contexts. Assessment of word knowledge is not an easy task. Scott, Hoover, Flinspach & Vevea, 2008, p. 336

8. While We Wait Possible formative assessment solutions: www.vocabulary.com www.freerice.org www.visualthesaurus.com

9. www.vocabulary.com General vocabulary development or specific word lists Adaptive learningadjusts to success or lack there of Spaced repetition Varied questions & contexts Game-based learning Badges and awards Teachers have access to tracking tools

10. Vocabulary.com

11. Free Rice

12. VocabGrabber (Visual Thesaurus)

13. VocabGrabber Data Possibilities Vocabulary variety: Different Words over Total Words Name 9/27 10/27 LeeAnn 188/447 42% Jenny 255/739 34% Zuricha 155/403 38% NY Times 353/724 11/27 49% Vocabulary Qualitative: Inspection (count) of Rare Words Name 9/27 10/27 LeeAnn 38/447 8% Jenny 10/739 1% Zuricha 30/403 7% Alphose 25/542 5% 11/27

14. Vocabulary/Spelling City

15. Summary: Formative Assessments Vocabulary.com: Pointscan report directly to teacher (for a fee) Free Rice: Level Numberstudents must report to you VocabGrabber: Qualitative lists of vocabulary usedlaborious Percentage of different words over total words Vocabulary/Spelling City

16. Digital Dictionary Resources Word Consciousness: Notice and explore unfamiliar words E-reader look-ups www.visualthesaurus.com or www.vocabulary.com www.wordnik.com www.yourdictionary.com www.onelook.com www.wiktionary.com (or wikipedia) Merriam Webster on-line www.refdesk.com other link for dictionaries Rhyme Zone

17. Gaming Many students passionate gamers 69% of all heads of household play computer and video games. 97% of youth play computer and video games. 61% of CEOs, CFOs, and other senior executives say they take daily game breaks at work (p. 11). McGonigal, J. (2011). Reality is broken: Why games make us better and how they can change the world. New York, Penguin Group Incorporated. Work from the known to the unknown!

18. Evaluating Quality of Games Adaptive: gets harder or easier with success or failure Substantive Feedback: learn as you go Variednew contexts/new clues Repetition: incorrect words are recycled

19. Review Sources for Games/Apps Apps for Students with Special Needs: http://a4cwsn.com/ Common Sense Media: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/ David OBrien & Richard Beach: http://www.appsforlearningliteracies.com http://usingipads.pbworks.com For Younger Literacy Learners: http://www.mrandrewsonline.blogspot.co.uk/

20. Some Recommendations Vocabulary.com Free Rice Rootonym (Merriam-Webster)--morphemes Crossword Puzzles: USA Today easier & provides clues Learning Network (New York Times)designed for schools Smart Crossworddesigned for language delayed learners Mission-us.org History with emphasis of vocabulary

21. Rootonym

22. USA Today Crossword

23. Or Leverage the Games Students Play Already

24. Warning! Our students are sophisticated consumers of games Evaluate games before you recommend them There are many chewing gum games Give explicit attention to the learning goals you have for the game! Model your thinking process as you are gaming Devote some classroom time to discussion of learning Consider a bookmark reminder Metacognition and Metadiscourse are important!

25. Join Our Community Word Travelers: Using Digital Tools to Explore Vocabulary and Develop Independent Learners Tysseling, 2012. Stenhouse Publishers http://dictionaryteacher.pbworks.com This presentation Links Discussions Lesson ideas (socially constructedadd your own!) Online Courses this SummerSee Lee Ann Advanced Content Literacy (CCSS emphasis) in 3-D Gamelab Literacy and Technology