Instructional Technology Quick Tips--Online Dictionaries: A quick way to show students the practical value of online resources for academic work is to refer them to online dictionaries Here's the web address for the online American Heritage Dictionary http://www.bartleby.com/61/.htm.

One of the bonus features of the online American Heritage Dictionary is that students can hear unfamiliar words pronounced. E.g., do a search for the word "internecine" and you can see the syllabication for the word, hear the word pronounced, examine adjectives, look at the etymology, and read about the word's history. The coverage of online dictionaries is often better than that of desktop dictionaries; the word "internecine" is not included in the print version of The Random House College Dictionary. Another useful online dictionary is the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, but it does not include a pronunciation feature (a Thesaurus is included). Guiding students to online writing and reading resources is a helpful way to encourage more carefully worded postings in online discussions; of course online dictionaries are also important resources for term papers. (To read additional Tech Tips go to the Quick Tips Archive.)