31 Puzzle-Solving

Learning Objectives

Students will use the online Academic Word List (AWL) and the specified online dictionary to collaborate with classmates in small groups to solve assigned word puzzles. 

Purpose/Rationale

Instructions

First, in small groups, students explore the online AWL and the online dictionary in order to report back to the larger group how these resources are valuable in identifying and learning vocabulary that is important in the context of college coursework. Second, to familiarize students with the word puzzle format, they receive a demo word puzzle, containing academic vocabulary, for the entire class to solve together aloud (with the help of the just-discussed AWL and dictionary). Third, once students have demonstrated a basic understanding of how the demo puzzle works and the relationship between online resources and the puzzle, students divide up into small groups and work together to solve Word Puzzle 1 (pre-designed by the instructor), preparing along the way to report their answers back to the larger group when prompted to do so. Fourth, depending on the time available, students move on to solve collaboratively Word Puzzles 2, 3, etc., within their groups and in the same manner. 

Format Requirements

Each word puzzle has its own design format that students need to learn first. For instance, most students have little if any experience with American crossword puzzles featuring across and down clues, so they first need to be provided basic instruction in reading and solving in this case. 

Rubric/Criteria

Each word puzzle counts as an in-class exercise, with the in-class exercise category as a whole allotted a portion of the overall final grade as detailed in the syllabus. Also, students are made aware that the academic vocabulary words used in the puzzles will also show up on routine vocabulary quizzes throughout the semester, so the words in the puzzles will in effect be included as part of the course’s overall quiz grade, another category specified in the syllabus.