NOW, I remember what I hated about the dictionary as a kid

     If I had to label my middle school academic development, I'd say it was fairly ordinary. I did my homework, not necessarily to the best of my abilities, but decently enough so as not to owe my parents too many explanations. I was interested in reading, mostly comics, and an occasional fantasy novel, but most of my energy was spent on sports and friends. I certainly did not possess then the type of hunger I  hold now for reading.
     This meant, among other things, that when I didn't know a word while reading about the last thing I was going to do was turn to that dusty tome, the dictionary, for help. I mean, I figured it was a big enough deal that I had cracked open a book to start -two books was asking too much.
     As an adult, I understand that my hesitation with looking to the dictionary was mainly because it took time to stop reading one book to turn to another only to go back to book one and pick up my thinking all over again. Or, so I thought. I was reminded this evening of another reason I avoided the dictionary.
     It was because the dictionary was often of no more help to me than if I had skipped over it.  It turns out that when you're 11 or 12, you  reallydon't know all that many words. And, you certainly don't know a word like abiotic (which is completely normal, but which is also going to be on the sixth grade science quiz at the end of the week). Therefore, you turn in absolute desperation to the dictionary for help.
     Hmmm...abiotic...that begins with A. So, that's gonna be in the front of the book. That'll save some time. This should be easy...Oh and it begins AB. That's even easier. Your 11-year-old elation dies upon actually finding the definitions of abiotic, because you don't expect to get this for an explanation: Not associated with or derived from living organisms. Abiotic factors in an environmentinclude such items as sunlight, temperature, wind patterns, and precipitation. Oh yeah, that's a BIIIIIIIIG help. Derived? Factors? Precipitation? Sorry, but I speak English not Scientist. 
     So where am I going with all of this? Great question. Let's see....ummm....err...oh yes. Dictionary.com has recently launched a new online tool which I had great expectations for -still do, though it may take some time. The site has launched a flashcard tool for studying at home. Even though it is in the beta stage, I gave it a whirl. I immediately set up a simple deck of social studies terms and found my enthusiasm sinking quicker than a stock portfolio in 2008. 
     When I typed the word delta, which is a social studies landform sixth graders with be quizzed on, I received a list of about 12 possible definitions. The first was in reference to the Greek letter. Makes sense. Not what I wanted, so I scanned further and got this: a nearly flat plain of alluvial deposit between diverging branches of the mouth of a river, often, though not necessarily, triangular: the Nile delta. Arrrrrgh! Seriously, alluvial? This might have been fine IF there had been a way to edit the definition. Mouth of a river, branches, and triangular all work, along with the example of the Nile delta, but, Dictionary.com doesn't allow for this.Unfriendly definitions aside, I decided to slap a deck together and see how the flashcards work.
     The site does more than just show a word and then expect you to guess what's on the other side. It begins by showing you the all the words and definitions you have chosen for study. When you feel ready, you move to studying. This involves selecting any one, or all, of three methods: a matching game, hearing the word and finding the definition,or  seeing the definition and writing the correct vocabulary word.
     When matching, a group of definition cards from your deck are displayed and only one vocabulary word. You click on the correct definition and you can move on. If not, you're show the correct card to study for a few seconds. When listening, you only hear a vocabulary word and then have to select the correct definition from a few of the definition cards. (Sometimes the choices are "All of the cards" and "None of the cards", which is a good way to reduce guessing. When asked to fill in the blank, you are given one definition and must type in the correct vocabulary word. 
      I do appreciate the variety of  approaches used. I also see the benefits that come from the score keeping the site does. When you've correctly nailed down a word and its definition it is considered mastered and doesn't come up again in your deck. This is sensible. Words you don't know, obviously come up with greater frequency. At the end of a cycle of practice, which depends on the size of the deck, you see your performance as an overall percentage. You also see how well you did with each individual word.
     Despite all the good the flashcards create, I keep coming back to the biggest detractor -no ability to either edit the definitions or chose from more age-appropriate ones. Don't  get me wrong. This site holds great promise for high school and college students, but not younger students. I do hope this changes and a more youth-friendly catalog of definitions are added. (Or, the chance to edit.) For now, there is no more than the same old, dense dictionary terminology I remember as a kid. Pass me the newest issue of Batman will you?