!Introduction+and+Overview

media type="youtube" key="fK1lBHA2SUw" height="263" width="317"

Watch a short overview of Thinkmap's Virtual Thesaurus from [|Call for Help] with Leo Laporte.

"The Visual Thesaurus is an animated display of words and meanings organized in a conceptual map to provide a visual representation of the English language. Presented in a dynamic diagram, the Visual Thesaurus creates unique and detailed word displays that go beyond the mere static lists of a traditional thesaurus."

General information:


 * The Visual Thesaurus has over 145,000 words and 115,000 meanings.
 * Students can search for their selected word and then follow a trail of related concepts to reveal the way words and meanings relate to each other.
 * Helps users find words through their semantic relationships with other words and meanings.
 * Focus on connection of words to other words through their meanings results in a more precise understanding of the English language.
 * Audio feature allows users to hear correct pronunciation of words.
 * From any word, user can expand search to the internet encouraging further research, exploration and learning.
 * Spell check feature suggests alternatives so users may find right word even if unsure of spelling.

Benefits for K-12 market


 * Makes clear what a thesaurus is and how powerful a tool it can be.
 * Creates visual map of words and their related words and meanings.
 * Enables easier learning by the use of concept maps and visual dynamic diagrams.
 * Reinforces lessons on the parts of speech and understanding words in context.
 * Generates excitement in vocabulary building by sparking explorations in vocabulary and word usage.
 * Promotes literacy by making vocabulary building exercises easy.
 * Helps students become better writers by allowing them to discover and use more descriptive words in their creative writing, poetry and essay writing.

English as a Second Language and foreign Language Learners: Students who are learning English as a second language love the Visual Thesaurus because it helps them to understand that many words can mean the same thing, and that there are subtle differences among similar concepts. Visual Thesaurus in French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, or German. Students can see how words are related in different languages to aid their memorization of words and their understanding of word concepts, while seeing the English counterparts for words and meanings."

(The preceding material is quoted verbatim from the sales and marketing site: http://www.hrlc.org/vendors/visualthesaurus10.htm)