Vocabulary Instruction

OVERVIEW

In this module, you will be learning about a variety of instructional technology tools and strategies that support vocabulary instruction

OBJECTIVES

  • transform a traditional lesson plan that incorporates student-centered vocabulary acquisition through meaningful instructional technology tools and strategies

WONDER

Have you ever wondered how you can help students acquire vocabulary to better understand works of fiction and non-fiction literature?

INVESTIGATE

Choose some tools/strategies from the list below that you'd like to investigate further.

LEARN

Visit the Resources page to view some video tutorials and read various support materials about your chosen tool/strategy to learn how to integrate technology into your lesson. Don't see what you'd like to learn? Please contact Rob Leo, Coordinator of Instructional Technology Training for support.

CREATE

Create a real-world example of whichever tool/strategy you have chosen, transform a lesson plan that integrates your selection, and deploy your lesson with your students.

Tools

  1. Quizlet
  2. Kami Chrome Extension
  3. Flippity Add-on for Google Sheets
  4. PowToon
  5. PhotoFunia
  6. Meme Generators
  7. ReadWrite for Google Chrome Extension (text to speech)
  8. Google Translate (for ELLs)
  9. Padlet
  10. Google Drawings
  11. Pixton
  12. Google Slides
  13. Canva
  14. Piktochart
  15. WeVideo
  16. Google Sheets
  17. Kahoot
  18. Socrative
  19. Plickers
  20. Nearpod
  21. Pear Deck
  22. Backchannel Chat

Strategies

  1. Task students with creating a poster or meme using PhotoFunia's "Motivator" filter, a meme generator like Image Chef, Google Drawings, Google Slides, Padlet, Piktochart, or Canva to demonstrate vocabulary meaning and context by uploading an image, and writing a definition and sentence for each term.
  2. Create a Google Spreadsheet and use the Flippity Add-on for Sheets to create interactive vocabulary activities.
  3. Use the Kami Chrome Extension to task students with annotating PDFs as they define new vocabulary.
  4. Create a study set (or search for a shared study set) using Quizlet and share it with your students. Students can use the Learn, Flashcards, Write, Spell, Test, Match, and Gravity tools to learn new vocabulary.
  5. Allow identified students to use Read&Write for Google to use accessibility tools like text to speech to learn new vocabulary.
  6. Allow ELL students to use Google Translate to learn new vocabulary.
  7. Deliver your traditional lecture using Google Slides. After the lecture, assess student understanding using a digital formative assessment tool like Kahoot, Socrative, Plickers, or some other digital assessment you have pre-created.
  8. Deliver a traditional lecture and allow student to take notes collaboratively or individually using a Graphic Organizer (table) you have pre-created using Google Docs. Assign the Google Doc via Google Classroom and make a copy for each student. If students are taking notes collaboratively, assign a group leader to invite peers to the document to edit.
  9. Upload your Google Slides presentation to Nearpod or Pear Deck and insert assessment questions between your slides to check for understanding in real time.
  10. Set up a "back channel" for students to communicate and ask questions as you deliver your lecture using Backchannel Chat. Refer to the transcript to respond to students' comments and questions after your lecture has concluded or in real time.
  11. Task students with creating a script that integrates key vocabulary relevant to assigned literature. Students can create a digital story using PowToon, WeVideo, or Pixton to demonstrate meaning and context.