English is your ticket to knowledge -- Open Dictionary of English and LearnThatWord offer rich data and free tutoring online
We focus on vocabulary solutions to empower effective communication. Our personalized, rich tools support effective learning.
About You
About You
First Name
Rosevita
Last Name
Warda
Twitter URL
http://twitter.com/#!/Learn_that
Facebook URL
About Your Organization
Organization Name
LearnThat Foundation aka eSpindle Learning
Organization Website
Organization Country
United States, CA, Sonoma County
Country where this project is creating social impact
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
How long has your organization been operating?
More than 5 years
The information you provide here will be used to fill in any parts of your profile that have been left blank, such as interests, organization information, and website. No contact information will be made public. Please uncheck here if you do not want this to happen..
Innovation
Entry Form title
English is your ticket to knowledge -- Open Dictionary of English and LearnThatWord offer rich data and free tutoring online
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Growth (your pilot is up and running, and starting to expand)
How long have you been in operation?
Operating for more than 5 years
THE NEED: Describe the need for your solution and the size/dynamic of the community (ies) you will engage
English is the communication platform of choice for people with different language backgrounds, shared by more people than any language ever before, and key to accessing humankind's shared knowledge. Even content published in other languages tends to be available in English, if offered in translation.
Vocabulary acquisition is the primary challenge when learning any language.
The market for English language materials is estimated at $50 billion/year. In addition, building a strong vocabulary is a substantial challenge even for native speakers. Currently, 40% of fourth graders do not meet basic literacy levels; 75% of them will drop out of school as a consequence. Half of the adult US population is considered "functionally illiterate" (NIFL). Their English deficiencies makes it hard to employ them in any function that requires reading or writing.
English is a prerequisite to benefitting from the Internet's resources and to participate in effective international exchange. LTW's free, effective, and fun strategies build skill and confidence quickly and effectively. People around the globe gain access to information. Those at a loss for words can make themselves heard.
THE SOLUTION: Please explain what your solution offers and how it is innovative. How will you put your solution into the hands of users or beneficiaries? Be specific!
Making free vocabulary resources and tutoring available through the web is a key equalizer in the knowledge economy and the foundation for effective communication across borders.
The Open Dictionary of English (ODE) and LearnThatWord.org (LTW) provide an effective solution that allows anyone worldwide to build their vocabulary skill and confidence freely through the Internet. Free tutoring launches alongside the ODE and new tutoring modules in November of 2011 in a completely overhauled online platform.
Our project combines a few innovative aspects into an effective and powerful solution:
1 - The Open Dictionary of English (ODE) is the first wiki-dictionary with explicit usage and learner focus. It balances user votes and submissions with an editorial team for quality control and integrates with the tutoring module, LearnThatWord.
2 - LTW is the first English vocabulary solution that is based on a complete dictionary, and that provides personalized, adaptive tutoring based on the student's learning profile. Extensive research targeting further optimization of the spaced review cycle is planned with Prof. Pavlik (Memphis University) and Prof Bjork (UCLA) for the 2012/13 cycle.
3 - ODE is a free offering. LearnThatWord is offered under the Freemium model: Free tutoring can be upgraded to premium features for a membership fee or our Pay-per-result concept. Pay-Per-Result is a concept particularly popular with institutions, since it allows administration to only invest in measured learning results, assuring 100% knowledge return on their investment.
THE MODEL: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference through use of information technology and media
LearnThat.org and the ODE are designed to overcome the three primary obstacles to vocabulary acquisition.
It offers:
1 - Personalized word selection vs. static, prescriptive methods
2 - Enriching, usage-based context vs. technical definitions
3 - Just right, personalized review cycle vs. cramming for short-term retention
More details:
1 - The brain learns what is of interest. Letting the student select words is far superior than asking them to study a static list of words, which may be too hard or too easy. ODE allows users to tag words for free tutoring, and the LTW platform let's users easily add lists of words or to selected them from our word list archive.
Over the next 6 months we will also develop widgets that allow users to select words online, offline, and through mobile devices, for language learning that is integrated with English interaction.
2 - While definitions are useful, our brain learns best through examples. Even better: Examples that are visual and presented in relevant context. ODE is the first dictionary to offer an extensive set of video scenes per word (20+), showing how the word appears in context. We also offer pronunciations from around the world, usage samples with audio, tutoring comment, and an online forum, among others
3 - For a word to gain automaticity - to become part of our vocabulary - takes spaced review. LTW tracks user input to provide the right amount of tutoring, no more, no less. By personalizing the study cycle, students learn better and faster.
THE MARKETPLACE: Who are your peers and competitors? What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
Since LTW personalizes instruction, it is the right tool for every English language learner, native or a learner of English as a second/foreign language. Since the focus is determined by the student and/or teacher, it works for struggling students as well as advanced, children and adults, in the context of a classroom or for individual self-help.
Although we are currently a paid service (with free trial), our website already has a US Alexa ranking of 55,000 and expected to reach top 10,000 with launch of the Freemium site and ODE.
Since our inception in 2004, users and publishers alike have created an extensive word list archive, which integrates the program with a large range of existing textbooks, both language arts and other academic curriculum.
We built our solution by actively seeking partnership with a large range of programs, and will continue to do so. Our existing data set and technology exceeds any other offering, and is further unique in offering a solution to all skill levels, not only to elementary/beginning English learners.
With the launch of the wiki-platform around the ODE, we expect to further expand and improve our resources.
Social Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
FOUNDING STORY: We want to hear about your “Aha!” moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution’s potential to change the world.
Helping my daughter with word lists sent home by the teacher reminded me of the long futile hours I had spent trying to memorize vocabulary as an English language learner. It's obvious to me that "cramming" words or going through static lists that have no relevancy to the learner are ineffective, yet it's common practice.
Slowly the idea for LTW started growing in my mind. I realized that a complete and complex solution like LTW/ODE would not come from the existing publishers, who are making good money from the existing, limited approaches. Only an outsider could disrupt how vocabulary is taught, learned and internalized.
The inspiration to launch the ODE as a complement to tutoring came when I saw a picture of the red mailbox the first editor of the OED used in 19th century England to receive word info from around the world. If a project like the OED could be started with a red mail box and a pigeon shed, then launching a usage-based dictionary that presents English vocabulary as part of a colorful, global language and integrates with effective, personalized tutoring based on the wiki idea no longer seemed impossible, and a worthy adventure to undertake.
Specify both the depth and scale of your solution’s social impact to date
LearnThatWord has grown from membership revenue, loans from friends and family, and in-kind grants (Google grant etc.) In the beginning, we gave scholarship to literacy nonprofits who requested support.
In the 2010/11 school year, we offered free tutoring to third grade public school classrooms in the US and Canada. In this time period third graders learned over 4,000,000 words they did not know before (our result-based tracking counts words that students get wrong initially, then study via personalized practice cycle, and finally prove that they learned them successfully).
We are currently planning a major update to our site for October/November, 2011. This update will see the birth of the ODE, freemium revenue model, and new usage-based quiz modes that do not require active word entry.
We expect traffic for our site to further soar because of the free tutoring and additional offers. In addition, we will sustain the program through membership/Pay-Per-Result revenue for premium features and via sponsorships within the free tutoring quiz.
What is your projected impact within the next 1-5 years? Is your idea replicable? If so, how?
Being a web solution, LearnThatWord and ODE are indefinitely scalable, and we do expect substantial growth with the launch of the new features. Our goal for 2012 is to reach top #5,000 US Alexa ranking (currently #55,000) and to boost our monthly visitor base to 20 million users.
Long term goals: Become the Web's go=to tool for vocabulary acquisition, worldwide. Further, to engage in research that can optimize learning processes, and lead to the creation of a scientifically valid and data-driven interactive vocabulary assessment tool. This will further support learners in getting "always right" instruction and practice opportunities.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and mark growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Increase number of people visiting and using the site tenfold
Six-Month Tasks
Task 1
Launch ODE, new tutoring modules, freemium model
Task 2
Promote new offerings online/offline
Task 3
Build community around the ODE
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Increase number of people visiting to 20 million per month and members to 500,000
12-Month Tasks
Task 1
Build sales team to sell premium features to institutions and corporations
Task 2
Build and expand partnerships with other projects
Task 3
Engage in public relations efforts
How many people have been impacted by your project?
More than 10,000
How many people could be impacted by your project in the next three years?
More than 10,000
Sustainability
Explain how your company, program, service or product is structured
Non-profit
What barriers have hindered the success of your project to date? How do you plan to overcome these and other challenges as you grow your solution?
Up until now, LTW was offered as a paid service with free trial. Since the freemium model is increasingly popular on the web, users are increasingly reluctant to engage with a fee-based service. Currently, our audience is a fairly select group of ambitious parents and schools who are used to investing in education.
The launch of the new Freemium model makes a basic version of tutoring available for free, and premium features for a fee. Free tutoring is supported through sponsorships, while premium features can be obtained via membership or through the Pay-Per-Result model (deposit of credits used for learning results).
How do you see the information-technology and media sectors shifting over the next decade? How will your solution adapt to and/or drive that changing environment?
The need to communicate well in English is ubiquitous, and the need to have a solid vocabulary will increase in importance. At the same time, the English language itself is changing as it is an increasingly global language.
The ODE is uniquely positioned to absorb and share the nuances and colors of the world language, English. It will be continuously updated, refreshed and refined by our community of users and editors. This makes ODE less static. It can embrace new words quicker as they enter the English language and be home to this living language.
Failure is not always an option. If your solution fails to gain traction in the next two years, what other applications of the idea could you explore?
The underlying tutoring technology can be applied to any area of learning that requires building long-term automaticity, the level of knowledge where one no longer has to think about something, but can apply it without effort.
We also plan development of a for-profit spin-off assessment company that uses LTW data to create the first scientifically validated and data driven vocabulary assessment tool. The goal is to raise funds, boost the LTW platform, validate the assessment tool and promptly sell it to one of the large educational publishers. The investment funds support the growth of LTW and ODE, and selling the tool creates a close bond with one or more educational publishers with strong reach into the market (LTW being the remediation tool that can build on the assessment outcome).
Expand on your selections, explaining how you will sustain funding
In the new platform, premium features are available to paying customers. On the individual level, this normally means memberships, and for institutions we offer the Pay-Per-Result model. Under this patent-pending technology, schools or businesses purchase a certain number of learning credits, and a credit is only deducted if one of the constituents had problems with a word and successfully completed the practice cycle for this word, demonstrating long-term retention.
In the past we have relied on online/organic traffic, and are now planning to build up an in-house sales force to pursue institutional sales.
Tell us about your partnerships
Current and planned partners include: Answers.com, google apps for education, dictionary.com, wordnik.com, learning.com, edutone network, Digital Learning Program (Bill & Melinda Gates foundation/Pearson joint venture, under development)
What type of team (staff, volunteers, etc.) will ensure that you achieve the growth milestones identified in the Social Impact section?
We currently have three full time staff members, and plan to expand it to 7-10 by the end of the year.
Our program has largely grown with volunteer support, and we will expand our volunteer community over the next few years by hiring a dedicated volunteer manager.
If we are able to secure investors for the assessment company spin-off, that would mean further acceleration of organizational development.
Changemakers is a collaborative and supportive space. Please specify any community resources you would need to grow and sustain your initiative. Select all that apply
Investment, Human resources or talent, Marketing or media, Collaboration or networking, Pro-bono help (legal, financial, etc.), Mentorship.
Specify any resources you might offer to support other initiatives. Select all that apply
Marketing or media, Research or information, Collaboration or networking, Innovation or ideas, Mentorship.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren’t specified within the list
We are always open to sharing our lexical resources with other projects who share our mission of helping learners build verbal confidence.
Summary
Define your company, program, service or product in 1-2 short sentences
ODE is an online wiki-based dictionary. It empowers English learners & provides free tutoring for an empowering vocab solution.
Identify what is innovative about your solution in 1-2 short sentences
We focus on vocabulary solutions to empower effective communication. Our personalized, rich tools support effective learning.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| dictionarymockup.png | 363.18 KB |
 | 87 weeks ago Rosevita Warda updated this Competition Entry. |
| 93 weeks ago Rosevita Warda submitted this idea. |
