Part B - Application of TPACK

The technology I chose to use is Moodle glossary and games. Moodle glossary allows students to create dictionary entries for their vocabulary words using text, speech recordings, or pictures. In addition, they will be asked to define the word using an example sentence. An example sentence is a sentence from which the meaning of the word can be understood. After the glossary has been created, it can be used to create games such as hangman and crossword puzzles. 


The content is the vocabulary words. This encompasses both the students' ability to recognize the word from context (such as if there is a gap in an example sentence) as well as their ability to use the word correctly in a sentence. 


The pedagogy is the use of example sentences, the use of a glossary which allows multimedia definitions, the high level of student teaching, and the use of games to study.

1. What is the TP knowledge for the solution?  (i.e., how does the technology you have chosen support the teaching strategies and methods you have chosen?)

The technology supports pedagogy in that the students create their own study materials and therefore teach each other. It also supports different learning styles by allowing students to use pictures and recordings as well as text to define the words.  The games allow for fun revision rather than cramming.

Moodle is especially well suited for this assignment because it includes a glossary, where students can add new entries.  The glossary allows students to use different media to define the words. Moodle then automatically uses the words in the glossary to create any games the teacher makes. Finally, the teacher can monitor how often the students use the study materials and how well they score on the games. This makes the students more accountable since they know that someone is watching them.

2. What is the TC knowledge for the solution? (i.e., how specifically does this technology make the content in your problem more intellectually accessible?  Be sure to think about representation.)

The technology makes the content more accessible because the words are defined in pictures and sounds as well as words. The use of games such as crosswords and hangman increases motivation and repetition, which is necessary for vocabulary retention. In addition, students can study from anywhere. Most of them have smartphones, tablets or Ipads so they can study even on the bus or subway.


Also, I can save previous groups' sentences and use those to build games if we're running out of time or if the students are very low. This allows them to benefit from lots of examples without having the stress of making all the sentences immediately.

3. What is the PC knowledge for the solution? (i.e., how specifically do your pedagogical choices make the content in your problem more intellectually accessible?) Be sure to think about how the student will experience the content given these instructional strategies.

The pedagogy supports content in that example sentences demonstrate a full understanding of the words including spelling, grammar, and meaning. Example sentences also help improve students’ vocabulary acquisition skills. In class, we study methods to guess the meaning of new vocabulary words. Students are able to practice these skills when trying to put the appropriate word in a sentence with a blank.

The use of Moodle as a teaching pedagogy allows the students to teach each other. They are able to see and learn from each other’s sentences and then use them to study.  In addition, the teacher can check the students’ sentences for misunderstandings before the quiz.