Ultimate Spelling For Education
Ultimate Spelling EDU is the world's most advanced spelling learning system for schools. With Ultimate Spelling, you have your spelling teaching requirements completely under control.
Based on proven science, Ultimate Spelling EDU contains all the features of Ultimate Spelling plus:
It's absolutely essential your students graduate with their spelling educational requirements met. With Ultimate Spelling EDU these spelling requirements are more than met. Students also improve academic performance, are prepared for standardized tests, and improve their confidence.
The next step is to see Ultimate Spelling for yourself. Simply fill out the form and we'll send you a free no obligation trial of the full version of Ultimate Spelling EDU.
The Science
Ultimate Spelling is scientifically designed, and utilizes principles based on decades of research in learning, retention, and psychology. Here is a summary of the theory and research behind Ultimate Spelling's effectiveness.
Craik, F., and Tulving, E. "Depth of processing and the retention of words in episodic memory." Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, Vol 104(3) (1975): 268-294. Print and PDF. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0096-3445.104.3.268
In this seminal study performed at the University of Toronto, Canada, the authors performed a series of tests in which they gave the study participants a sequence of words to learn, with information related to each word as it appeared in order. They discovered that when the information provided stimulated the participant's brain to process the word on a more involved level (referred to as "deep encoding" or "degree of elaboration" in the study), that word was more effectively learned and remembered. With Ultimate Spelling, the user is given a wide range of additional information about each spelling word, including the word's definition - one of the key factors in enhanced memory, according to this study - as well as usage examples, synonyms, and antonyms.
Gelman, B.D., Gruber, M.J., and Ranganath, C. "States of Curiosity Modulate Hippocampus-Dependent Learning via the Dopaminergic Circuit." Neuron, 22 October 2014, 84(2): 486-496. Web. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2014.08.060
Students who are eager to learn are more likely to remember what they have learned, something that the authors of this study demonstrate. They used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to show real-time connections between a person's curiosity about a specific topic, and the production of dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and the brain's reward system. The authors also concluded that a higher level of interest and curiosity in a topic or question leads to better memory and enhanced learning. Including exercises that stimulate curiosity, and providing reward mechanisms as part of the study process, also increases a person's ability to absorb and retain information, as the researchers found. Ultimate Spelling has a text import feature that allows each user to include and incorporate practice material that matches their interests, while learning the spelling of words in those texts. The system also uses several different reward systems to encourage users to continue working towards their defined goals.
Garcia, S.M., Tor, A., and Schiff, T.M. "The Psychology of Competition: A Social Comparison Perspective." Perspectives on Psychological Science, November 2013, 8(6):634-650. Print and web. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1745691613504114
Each person is influenced by a unique set of factors related to their own status and progress towards goals, but is also affected to a greater or lesser degree by the achievements and perceived standards of the people around them. This analysis of past and current studies looks at the way people view and are motivated by individual goals as well as societal achievement (competition). The authors conclude that effective use of motivational strategies must take both into account. This is something that Ultimate Spelling accomplishes by providing each user with the ability to set personal goals, earn reward points, and view their own progress tracking reports, and also to publish all of those results on public social media platforms.
Kivetz, R., Urminsky, O., and Zheng, Y. "The Goal-Gradient Hypothesis Resurrected: Purchase Acceleration, Illusionary Goal Progress, and Customer Retention." Journal of Marketing Research, February 2006, 43(1):39-58. Web. http://dx.doi.org/10.1509/jmkr.43.1.39
In a study focusing on the influence of reward-scheme programs on behavior, the authors found that when people see visible progress towards their goals they are more likely to increase the activity required to reach those goals. The study also confirms that most people are also motivated by receiving rewards for completing specific activities, even if those rewards are not immediately transferable to actual material or monetary benefits. Status points, rewards, and real-time progress tracking are all methods used in Ultimate Spelling to encourage frequent spelling practice by awarding points for the completion of exercises and activities. Because the user can access their progress charts at any time, they will always be able to see how close they are to achieving their personal spelling goals.
Buton, M., Winterbauer, N., and Todd, T. "Relapse processes after the extinction of instrumental learning: Renewal, resurgence, and reacquisition." Behavioural Processes, May 2012, 90(1): 130–141. Print and web. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2012.03.004
Instrumental learning, also called "operant conditioning," is a method by which behaviors are learned in connection with a stimulus, a reward, or both. In this research done at the University of Vermont, the authors studied the ways in which the information connected to a specific behavior is retained when the stimulus is removed, and how subsequent repetition or reward reinforces information recall and a resumption of previously learned behaviors. They conclude that there are two primary methods of reinforcing active memory and behavior: by creating a different way to test the subject's memory, and by providing the opportunity for intensive focused repetition of that stimulus-behavior response. These two methods are widely used in the Ultimate Spelling activities and games to create the link between instruction and memory that is so crucial in effective spelling learning on the student's part.
Xue, G., Mei, L., Chen, C., Lu, Z-L., Poldrack, R., Dong, Q. "Spaced Learning Enhances Subsequent Recognition Memory by Reducing Neural Repetition Suppression." Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 2011;23(7):1624-1633. Print and web. http://doi:10.1162/jocn.2010.21532
In this study comparing long-term and short-term memory, the study authors tested the neural activity of participants as they memorized a set of images. Half of the study participants used massed learning techniques, in which each new image was presented multiple times in a row; the other half were given the images in a spaced repetition mode, where the images were shown in alternating order. Although each participant saw each image the same number of times, the people in the spaced-repetition exercise were able to accurately remember more images, and for a longer period of time. Repetition is a key technique in learning spelling, and Ultimate Spelling incorporates spaced repetition in two ways. First, the system uses randomized selection of spelling words from the user's current list to populate the activities and exercises, ensuring an interval between word reviews. Second, the system's Word Discover feature provides pop-up instant review of the words on that list, again in random order. By providing users with multiple opportunities throughout the day to read and review their words, Ultimate Spelling provides all of the benefits of the spaced repetition methodology in its spelling instruction.
Blocki, J., Cranor, L., Datta, A., and Komanduri, S. "Spaced Repetition and Mnemonics Enable Recall of Multiple Strong Passwords." Cornell University Library, January 3, 2015. PDF. http://arxiv.org/abs/1410.1490v2
Spaced repetition is a memory training tool that relies on frequent and consistent review of information; mnemonics is a memory technique that involves multiple ways of looking at that information, such as the incorporation of images or story lines. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University focused on the combination of spaced repetition and mnemonics in evaluating how best to train people to remember specific pieces of information: computer passwords. They found that by combining the two methodologies, the results in both ease of learning and retention were increased. Ultimate Spelling uses each method separately and together to help users learn and remember new spelling words by using the same words in multiple exercises, presenting spelling words in a variety of formats, and encouraging users to add information related to each word to make a personal connection that helps them to remember that word and its correct spelling.
All learners of English, especially those at post-intermediate level, face the same problem: how to maximize their lexical learning capacity, how to retain the vocabulary they learn. This post will outline a procedure that students can follow to remember the lexis they come across.
1. Explore the context
Try to notice where the word is in the sentence. This will give you a lot of information about the grammar of the word: for instance, is the new word a noun, an adjective, a verb or an adverb? Classifying the word grammatically will help you towards understanding syntax; it also helps that word order rules are quite fixed in English.
e.g. Authorities tried to position the missing aeroplane but its position could not be determined.
The first “position” comes after to, so that makes it a verb. The second “position” comes after a possessive (its) and before a modal verb (could), so that makes it a noun.
2. Guess the meaning
It may seem difficult at first, but all it takes is practice. In every sentence, writers use words which are semantically (i.e. in terms of meaning) linked to the word you don’t know.These words are called contextual clues. All you have to do is notice these other words. Let’s see an example:
The young boys felt ravenous after their long hike in the woods.
Assuming ravenous is your unknown word, the contextual clues in the sentence above are: young boys, long hike in the woods. So, to guess the meaning, all you have to do is ask yourself: “How does a young boy feel after a long hike in the woods?” Tired. Hungry. Both. So, here are your possible answers. You have limited down the possible meanings to three. That’s no mean feat. Now, look around the sentence where the unknown word is. If the text continues: “They devoured the food in no time”, then you understand the word ravenous means hungry.
3. Memorize chunks, not individual words
So, you want to learn this word. You want to make a note of it. If you take the trouble to do this, then do it right. It won’t help much if you write: ravenous=hungry.
If you write, though, the whole sentence where you first saw the word and underline the target word (the word you want to learn), then you will have made an association between young boys+felt ravenous+long hike in the woods. Your mind will find it easier to remember the new association than a word in isolation. Plus you will have done something with the new word with your own hands. Your chances of remembering the word in the long term will be higher.
4. Personalize the new vocabulary
OK, so you’ve learned “ravenous”. Well done! This word was a stranger a minute ago. Now it’s yours. Or is it? If you want this word to stay with you for ever, then USE it in a context that is meaningful to YOU.
“I remember the day I started this wonder diet. I had to eat a broccoli salad and an apple and drink lots of water.Boy, was I ravenous at the end of the day!”.
5. Revisit your notes regularly
Do you learn phone numbers by heart? Chances are you don’t these days since smart phones do this for you. A couple of decades back, though, I noticed that the more often I dialed a number, the sooner it took me to learn the number by heart. I still remember phone numbers that I don’t dial anymore. What does this show? Your memory needs training. Repetition (review or revision, pick whatever term you like) is the training equipment you have at your disposal. If you get into the habit of reviewing your vocabulary regularly, then you will jog your memory and – to paraphrase “a healthy mind in a healthy body” – “a rich vocabulary in a trained mind”.
Author’s BioMichael Stavropoulos is an EFL Teacher. He holds a BA in Medieval and Modern Greek from the University of Athens, Greece, but has spent more than two decades teaching General and Academic English to teenagers and young adults. He has also translated books from English into Greek and edited publications of the University of Athens. He lives in Piraeus with his wife and son.
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