I think using crosswords are an effective tool to engage students in learning terms. Instead of the old brick-and-mortar way of listing terms and matching them to the correct definitions, crosswords require that a student uses his/her knowledge to come up with the correct term. This allows the use of an elimination process by which the student must use the existing elements to summon the appropriate term.
I used Eclipse Crossword because it makes creating a crossword as simple as cut and paste. It provides a dynamic way to create and share your puzzle through a customized tile setting and gives you the option to print your puzzle or save it as a web file, Windows Media File, and a variety of other options. I saved mine as an html file and simply copied the source code into a blog page so I could share it online. The only downside is that the program has to be downloaded onto your computer first, but it only takes a minute so it is not inconvenient at all.
This crossword program can be effective in distance education because it is a familiar tool, yet it is being used in a non-traditional way. With the ability to customize the puzzle, it can directly apply to your curriculum and requires students to think a little more strategically in order to solve. With the capability to share the puzzle online or in person, it is easily accessible.
Computer Literacy
AprilMarieA
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