Vocabulary, Grammar, & Writing

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 communicate?

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. Google Docs
  2. Google Slides
  3. Google Sheets
  4. Google Drawings
  5. Google Classroom
  6. Google Translate
  7. Quizlet
  8. Kami Chrome Extension
  9. Flippity Add-on for Google Sheets
  10. PowToon
  11. PhotoFunia
  12. Meme Generators
  13. ReadWrite for Google Chrome Extension (text to speech)
  14. Padlet
  15. Pixton
  16. Canva
  17. Piktochart
  18. WeVideo
  19. Kahoot
  20. Socrative
  21. Plickers
  22. Nearpod
  23. Pear Deck
  24. Awesome Screenshot Chrome Extension
  25. Conjugemos Website
  26. LucidChart

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. Convert vocabulary and verb conjugation worksheets to Google Docs and share with students via Google Classroom. Create an assignment and make a copy for each student. Doc settings can be changed to a variety of languages in the File menu.
  3. Create a Google Spreadsheet and use the Flippity Add-on for Sheets to create interactive vocabulary activities.
  4. Use the Kami Chrome Extension to task students with annotating PDFs as they define new vocabulary.
  5. 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.
  6. Allow identified students to use Read&Write for Google to use accessibility tools like text to speech to learn new vocabulary. Change the settings to reflect the language of your choice.
  7. Allow students to use Google Translate to learn new vocabulary.
  8. 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.
  9. Task students with creating picture dictionaries using Google Docs and Google Drawings to identify and define vocabulary relevant to a unit of study.
  10. 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.
  11. Upload your Google Slides presentation to Nearpod or Pear Deck and insert assessment questions between your slides to check for understanding in real time.
  12. Task students with annotating screenshots using the Awesome Screenshot Chrome Extension.
  13. Assign students verb conjugation activities from the Conjugemos website.
  14. Create a template in Google Docs that includes a graphic organizer (i.e. table) for organizing/brainstorming information, allowing each student to have space to write. In Google Drive, “make a copy” of the original template and rename it for the relevant assignment. In Google Classroom, create an Assignment and allow students to edit the document to brainstorm ideas in the graphic organizer in advance of a writing task.
  15. Create a Google Doc with an essay prompt. Create an Assignment in Google Classroom and attach the Google Doc, making a copy for each student. Set a due date for students to turn in their work. Provide feedback to students using Google Docs' Comment tool or record your feedback using Screencastify and return their work. Pro Tip: Share comments with students BEFORE they turn in their work.
  16. Task students with using Lucidchart to create Venn Diagrams or other graphic organizers outline their thoughts in advance of a writing task.