Visual Dictionary

Visual Dictionary Mainanimations (frog life cycle), pictures, topic listing, french language. Biology: animal, plants and the human body, Transportation, Clothing and MusicVisual Dictionary Plants

The Visual Dictionary is a beautifully excuted interactive resource. While the topics are very limited (Animal, Human and Plant Biology, transportation, music and clothing) they are visually rich. Each image is labelled in great detail.  For example, the plants category has 55 illustrations of plant topics such as berries, meiosis, leave shapes, nuts, seeds, growth cycle of a mushroom, stems, roots etc.

Visual Dictionary Plants

Plant Cell

Many topics, such as the Amoeba and Life Cycle of a Frog, have animations and/or photographs. The Dictionary may be browsed visually by image, by theme or alphabetically through the Lexicon, or searched by keyword.  some topics are linked to Wikipedia entries. The Dictionary is available in two languages — English and French making this a great foreign language resource.

Streaming Video — “Streaming” by Discovery Education

Video on demand is a very powerful way to introduce

Streaming through Wayne RESA

new concepts, to reinforce learning objectives and to differentiate instruction. Often it is critical for learners, especially visually oriented learners or ELL, to simply experience a place, a new idea or just to see how something works. Discovery Education’s “Streaming” product allows educators at all levels K-12 to select entire videos or segments (some less than one minute long) to deliver just-in-time, relevant instruction. This is a subscription service often made available through the local ISD, in our case, Wayne RESA.

Videos may be browsed according to appropriate state standards via a search interface on the main page (bottom, left) or by subjects or grade.  For Michigan, there are options to select from Curriculum Framework, Grade Level  or Extended Grade Content Expectations for K-12.  Videos may be previewed using the “play” option (which is live streaming), but for classroom use, I recommend downloading it in advance to minimize glitches. 

Advanced Search

Using the advanced search option allows users to locate materials by keyword, subject, grade level, media type as well as features such as closed captions or “editable” titles which are great for including in presentations. Often supporting materials such as blackline masters and teachers’ guides are available as a hyperlinked document.

Additional content is available such as speeches and other sound files, lesson plans, images and quizzes.

 

Egypt Video

Teachers may share ideas, questions and best practices by joining the DEN (Discovery Educator Newtork (free)). One hour training webinars are reguarly scheduled as well as the EdTech connect series which features movers and shakers in the ed. tech. sphere (exciting!).

 

Of special interest is the “Teacher Center”  which has classroom tools such as “assignment builder, “classroom manager” and “writing prompts,” curriculum resources, for planning such as the “lesson plan library” and “thematic focus.” Have questions? join the DEN teacher community.

Discovery Atlas -- Iraq

Much deserving of a special mention, is one of the resources available (“curriculum resources”) in the teacher center is the “Discovery education Atlas.” The interactive resource organizes country study video segments in four areas: culture, government, history and the natural world. Fun and effective!