Concept Maps for Vocbulary

Often, when teachers use iPods for vocabulary, they think of words in linear terms.  However, the human mind processes words, not through a linear list, but through a series of relationships.  The more synapses that connect, the stronger the likelihood that a student will internalize the full concept of a word.

One way that students can see these concepts is to visit the Thinkmap Visual Thesauraus. In my experience, I've found that many second language learners used this site to find synonyms and Latin-based cognates.

It becomes even more powerful when students create concept maps (also called mind maps) on their own.   Here are a few benefits of using concept maps for vocabulary:

• Students can develop their own organizational structure through the use of shapes (for example, each shape represents a type of speech) or colors (colors represent synonyms and antonyms)
• Students can easily manipulate the space with their hands, allowing them to organize the words spatially
• It is easy to zoom in and out to get a visual sense of how words are organized.

Here are a few of the potential drawbacks:

• It can take awhile at first.  Programs like IdeaSketch can be very touchy, because there is very little double-clicking. 
• The screen size is limited. 
• Features like color-coding can be difficult at first

iPod Touch: 10 Recommended Apps

The following are ten apps that I would recommend teachers download to use in the second generation iPod Touches. 

1. Splice: This video app makes it simple to add text, video, audio and transitions from the iPod. It is also easy to edit and crop clips. 
2. Dictionary / Thesaurus: Sometimes the simplest features make the biggest difference. The fact that students can use search, voice recognition and listen to the pronunciation allow students to access language in a fast, reliable, intuitive way
3. IdeaSketch: So far, this has been our favorite concept mapping (also called mind-mapping) tool. It is intuitive, visually appealing and multifunctional. 
4. BeFunky: As a photo editing tool, this has everything a student would need: cropping, resizing, filters, etc. 
5. Bump: A great app for sharing items from one iPod to the next.  
6. Sonic Pics: This slideshow program allows students to put together pictures and annotate it verbally without having to use other apps.  It's clean, simple and intuitive. 
7. Comic Touch: Students can take pictures and add captions, thought bubbles and dialogue in order to make it more meaningful.  
8. Google Earth: Students can use spatial reasoning to reference geography, view sites and locations, and engage in Google literature trips.  
9. Animoto: The advantage over Splice is that this is web-based and easier to use than Splice.
10. iSpreadsheet: Sometimes the simplest, oldest apps (like a spreadsheet) can be the most powerful way for students to analyze data (especially in science and math) and display the information in a graph.  

Additions: based upon feedback from fellow bloggers

• Doodle Buddy: While it might seem like a simple drawing app, it can become a multifunctional way of organizing information.  This works really well with vocabulary.