Garrrett Cranford Resource Review 1

For my resource review, I chose to review the site www.freerice.com . While the site is

not a multiplayer game, it is game based learning for the students. I have used this site since it

was brought to my attention five or six years ago. The site originated as a vocabulary site where

students could practice word association and meaning. Not only did freerice allow them to learn,

it allowed the students to feel a since of pride or ownership in the idea of community service

with donating the rice.

Freerice has since evolved into a multi-discipline game for the students. Students can

now work on Humanities, English, Math, Chemistry, Language Learning, Geography, Sciences,

and even SAT Prep.

Free rice has also since evolved to allow students to create their own account and log in.

This allows the site to track their rice “winnings” or “points” and they can compare to their

Garrrett Cranford Resource Review 2

classmates as well as the world.

I originally fell in love with this site because I teach language arts, and vocabulary tends

to be a weaker point for many students. The site allowed them to work on their vocabulary as

well as their reading skills as well as their test taking skills. The students gained a confidence

when it came to making correct decisions on an assessment as well eliminating incorrect

answers.

This resource also helped me in creating an interactive way for my students to compete

against one another while learning. It also allowed me gauge their vocabulary and awareness to

the words. I found that I could divide my students into groups, usually no larger than four, and

allow them to work on the words together. I believe that allowing the students to work together

in groups allows the teacher watch and learn what each student is bringing to the group, how

they work as a group, as well as how they are learning.

Garrrett Cranford Resource Review 3

With the growth of the freerice website I believe this resource has become even more

valuable to educators no matter what discipline they may be teaching.