Learning Connections
WordWeb on Your Desktop
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Tips and Tricks
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By Kathleen McClaskey
Problem: it's hard to find a free online dictionary that you can use to look up words you come across while surfing the Web, using any application, or reading e-mail.
Here's a solution: WordWeb is a free desktop dictionary/thesaurus that contains more than 150,000 words and 120,000 synonym sets. once it's installed in the system task bar, you can select any word, whether online, in an application, or in an e-mail, to find the definition or check the spelling. if you select a synonym, the number of its meaning is highlighted in the definition part of the window. it also offers an audio pronunciation and a cross reference to the Web for alternate definitions. although this tool is for the pc (Windows 98/2000/me/Xp/ Vista), it also offers an audio dictionary for iphone and other mobile phones. Download it at http://wordweb.info.
This tip comes from Kathleen McClaskey, president of EdTech Associates. For the past 25 years, McClaskey has held positions as a computer teacher, a technology integration specialist, and a K–12 director of technology in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. If you have a tip to share, post it on the comment wall on the L&L group page of the ISTE Community Ning at www.iste-community.org/group/landl.
Copyright © 2009, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), 1.800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 1.541.302.3777 (Int'l), iste@iste.org, www.iste.org. All rights reserved.
September/October 2009 | Learning & Leading with Technology
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