Personal Inquiry and Vocabulary

Incorporating Vocabulary Learning Activities Now we can discuss research based vocabulary learning activities that are best practices for student learning. Alongside explicit vocabulary learning, there are several ways to incorporate engaging activities into the classroom, including student collaboration and discussion. Many of these include new literacy technologies which students can also use through personal digital inquiry practices to seek vocabulary knowledge independently. This post will explain vocabulary activities, how they affect all students, and how students can take charge of their own language learning. In one research article i came across, I found the term, “Self-directed inferential learning” . This terminology, “takes into account the motivation, attitude, interests, and active engagement on the part of the learner and helps to explain how learners acquire new knowledge (in this case language) through simple exposure.” (Cetin & Flamand, 2012). Research suggests ...

Personal Digital Inquiry So, what is Personal Digital Inquiry? “Developed by Coiro and colleagues, personal digital inquiry (PDI) is an inquiry-based learning framework that integrates personal inquiry with online research and digital participation. ” (Wargo, 2019). In the school district I work in, there has been a focus over the past several years for students to engage in inquiry processes, which includes asking questions and seeking answers in typically a traditional format. We can expand upon this concept by including digital aspects in our planning for students. Educators must also not forget that even though students are “digital natives”, that does NOT mean they are comfortable with using digital resources for research, or in creating a product that reflects their learning. We need to scaffold for students (especially in the elementary grades) how to use these digital literacy practices in the classroom. Bertram C. Bruce, and Leo Casey even go as far as to state that we should...

  Resource Evaluation      As part of my implementation plan, I have chosen to use Readworks.org, Book Creator, and Google Slides. These three resources support student learning of vocabulary words and can be used with personal digital inquiry. Another reason I chose to evaluate these resources was for the back and forth nature of in-person and virtual instruction we now face as educators. Educators need to grow and adapt teaching practices as technology evolves, and these are just three valuable resources that can be easily used in the classroom and at home.       The use of digital texts through Readworks.org supports research found in Reading, Writing, and Literacy 2.0 by Denise Johnson. Findings dictate that multimedia use in regards to vocabulary learning leads to deeper knowledge retention (Johnson, 2014). Readworks provides hyperlinks for specific vocabulary words in passages with definitions and use of the word in context. Whether students...

3...2...1… ACTION! Implementation Plan for 4th Grade Students Now, here comes the fun part...,...... IMPLEMENTATION! The plan I created incorporates disciplinary vocabulary with Social Studies standards, specifically about the Southeast Region of the United States. There are many reasons I chose to create a plan with a cross-curricular approach. I created this plan after referencing several research articles about 21st Century digital practices, disciplinary vocabulary, and personal digital inquiry. As we know, (research supports) all students need to be exposed to disciplinary vocabulary and reading the different kinds of texts prior to middle school, (Uccelli, P. et. al, 2015) as it plays an important role in student comprehension, which this plan includes. This time of the year I need to be working on the Southeast Region with students so we are also aligned with standards that have to be taught. This plan is aligned with Oklahoma Academic Standards for English Language Arts and Soc...