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The power behind StudentWorks lies in its ability to build mental organization templates creating a cognitive information filing system that students will draw upon for a lifetime. This is the unique ability of an effectively used computer: to emulate and enhance the power of the brain. Learning to use the computer as a tool for the mind is perhaps the most challenging and important task our children face; StudentWorks teaches them how.
Harnessing the personal computer's potential for learning is a basic and crucial skill for children growing up in the Information Age. Children are constantly faced with the challenge of turning new information into knowledge. StudentWorks© provides them with an engaging electronic learning environment for organizing, storing and retrieving information in purposeful/dynamic/metacognitative ways.
StudentWorks uses the collection motif, a natural, ingrained learning mechanism that all children are familiar with through their own hobbies and playtime. The StudentWorks templates motivate students to acquire information and vocabulary in context, rather than through short-term rote memorization. This process of collecting and contextualizing promotes word concept formation, the essence of verbal intelligence.
As a set of interconnecting cross-platform database templates, StudentWorks is comprised of distinct files that focus on teaching students how to develop effective study skills and language concepts. There are individual templates for each major category of information including vocabulary words, notes, source citations and semantic maps. The files shown below interconnect so that each serves the whole. For example, Bibliography Maker entries drop book and author information into NoteTaker cards. In turn, new vocabulary encountering during note-taking may be automatically dropped--along with context--into the WordBank. Graphic Organizers map word concepts, notes titles and essay plans. Words from any file may be added to the WordWork file for later spelling rehearsal.
NoteTaker provides index card layouts for research note-taking. It features the ability to create up to eight categories and unlimited keywords for tagging information. It teaches indexing and main idea by asking students to title notes. New vocabulary may be transferred to the WordBank along with notes context and research tag. Students must enter sources into Bibliography Maker before taking notes.
Works for any reference citation style, updated for the internet. This template provides a layout for taking down source information ready for pasting into NoteTaker citations. Formatted bibliography may be exported to a word processor.
Notes may be sorted by category in customized order, converted into a titles outline or a compilation of all notes ready for export to any word processor as a first draft.
Students may enter new vocabulary along with a personal definition, pictures and sounds. Word and context transfer automatically from NoteTaker. This file works in conjunction with any on-line dictionary or the StudentWorks© customizable dictionaries. It teaches connotation by asking students to choose the best synonym for a context, and illustrates word structure through a word derivation feature. It features an on-screen "cloze" rehearsal exercise and printed lists and card games.
The Dictionaries may be customized to match content area and student cognitive level. Built-in dictionaries of Latin roots, common homonyms and a sample set of basic social studies vocabulary words automatically drop into a student's WordBank upon matching word entry.
Spelling words identified while note-taking or entering words into the WordBank may be rehearsed on screen as "cloze" exercises or printed as lists.
Paragraph structure screens motivate students to recognize and use compare/contrast, cause/effect, simple listing and time/order patterns. Drop-down lists aid retrieval of signal words.
All files provide hard copies of flash cards, index cards and reference lists that students are proud to hand in to teachers and to keep for future reference. Data from any StudentWorks© file may be exported to other programs.
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© Elspeth Sladden 1997