For me at least, computers now make it MUCH more likely that I'll look up a word in the dictionary. Dictionary.com contains definitions of the word (including a sound bite for pronunciation) from multiple dictionaries as well as the word translated to other languages. You can also easily see entries nearby for other words. E.g., http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malinger Another handy source is urbandictionary.com and of course the various urban legends websites. I just this morning saw a video on how fly fishing works (that was pretty cool and informative). Certainly we have WAY MORE information at our finger tips than we had even 10 years ago. Isn't the point that kids (and adults) in their free time do what they are most interested in doing? Marie **************************************************** Marie Helweg-Larsen, Ph.D. Department Chair and Associate Professor of Psychology Kaufman 168, Dickinson College Carlisle, PA 17013 Office: (717) 245-1562, Fax: (717) 245-1971 http://alpha.dickinson.edu/departments/psych/helwegm <http://alpha.dickinson.edu/departments/psych/helwegm>
**************************************************** ________________________________ From: Pollak, Edward [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, November 19, 2007 10:20 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] Am I expecting too much? A few weeks ago I gave an exam in animal behavior and asked a question about "Kamikaze sperm." One student asked what species a Kamikaze was. I then asked the next 4 students entering my office if they'd ever heard the word , "kamikaze." The first three had never heard the word. I'm convinced that the problem is that most students no longer read for pleasure. This has been problematic for years but is getting worse. Try asking your student if, as children, they ever read books (not magazines) "just for fun." It's no wonder their general knowledge is so pathetic. And there's a BIG difference between looking up the definitive of a specific word on line and learning words incidentally while reading a book. Even looking words up in a dictionary is better because you naturally do a little browsing of other words when you look it up. That's not as easy/common when looking up a definition on line. The Kindly Old Curmudgeon Edward I. Pollak, Ph.D. Department of Psychology West Chester University of Pennsylvania Office Hours: Mondays noon-2 and 3-4 p.m.; Tuesdays & Thursdays 8-9:00 a.m. & 12:30-1:30 p.m. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/epollak/home.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Husband, father, grandfather, biopsychologist, bluegrass fiddler and herpetoculturist...... in approximate order of importance. --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) ---
