Note to the Teacher
An Introduction for Students
Version 2.0
Getting Started with
Topics Covered
Why should I care about vocabulary?
Reflect. Organize.
Reflect on the following questions and organize your ideas into a thoughtful response.
Gallery Walk
The previous questions are posted around the room. Your job is to complete the following:
Let’s Discuss!
A strong vocabulary is important to your academic, professional, and personal success. 🏆
With a robust vocabulary you’ll be a stronger, more strategic reader who can tackle challenging texts.
You’ll start to notice other words in your reading, too. The more words you know, the easier it is to learn even more new words!
With a robust vocabulary you’ll be a more thoughtful writer who can craft clear and engaging narratives.
You’ll be able to focus on planning and evaluating your writing instead of struggling to find the right words.
With a robust vocabulary you’ll be an effective communicator who can express your ideas and engage meaningfully with others.
You’ll be able to advocate for your own wants and needs in a much more persuasive way.
With a robust vocabulary you’ll be a more critical thinker who can clearly and rationally come to your own conclusions.
You’ll be able to ask the right questions, consider different points of view, and problem solve.
So, why does vocabulary matter?
It makes learning easier.
What is Membean?
Where does the word “Membean” come from?
Memory + Bean
Membean helps your “bean” have a good “mem”ory of words.
Membean’s memory engine creates a plan for YOU that will grow and evolve as you train.
What will you do on Membean?
Explore multimodal word pages:
Answer lots of questions:
Multimodal: many different ways to share information
What else will you do?
Take personalized quizzes.
Complete writing assignments.
No studying necessary!! 🤓
What are other students saying about Membean?
6 Things to Know Before Getting Started
How does it work?
What We Learn, We Quickly Forget
Hermann Ebbinghaus
“The Father of Memory”
It’s Normal to Forget Things
Have you ever aced a test but forgotten the information a week later? Us, too. It’s called the Illusion of Knowledge.
Knowing something right now or on the test day doesn’t mean that knowledge will stay in your memory. In fact, information is constantly moving in and out of memory.
Membean fights forgetting!
3 Rules for Boosting Your Memory According to Cognitive Science
Teach every word in many different ways
Practice
Make Connections
Answer Questions
Making Connections
The more things you know about something, the harder it is to forget!
Words are introduced via multimodal word pages, each “Memlet,” or section, providing opportunities to hook into your brain in different ways.
Want to impress your friends? The fancy term for this is Elaborative Encoding.
Answering Questions
Over time, your words are tested in different ways.
You’ll spend most of your training time answering questions.
Quizzing yourself like this makes recalling your words easier.
Want to impress your friends? The fancy term for this is Retrieval Practice.
Practice Makes Perfect You Remember
You’ll see the same words again and again, and even next year!
That repeated reinforcement is the key to long-term retention.
Membean’s memory engine gives you the practice you need to get your words strong in memory and make sure they stay strong.
It takes seeing a word 10-25 times in different ways to fully understand it!
It’s like having your own personal vocabulary trainer.
The engine analyzes your training behaviors and forgetting patterns to give you just what you need when you need it.
What makes up a Word Page?
Learning with Word Pages
There’s a lot more to a word than its definition.
Every word on Membean has a Word Page. The Word Page is made up of sections called Memlets. Each Memlet teaches you something different about the word.
Word Page Tools
Be on the lookout for helpful tools such as the following throughout the Word Page:
Now let’s break down the Memlets…
Activate the Power of Pictures with
Background Images
When we learn using both words and visuals, our brains understand and remember better.
The more surprising, entertaining, or interesting the image, the more memorable it (and the word associated with it!) will be.
Pairing words with images is called Dual Coding.
To view the Background Image, click Show Image in the top right corner of the Word Page.
Puzzle Out Meaning with Context Paragraphs
The Context Paragraph uses the word you’re learning 3-4 times, and it’s full of context clues.
Once you have an idea of its meaning, answer the question and review the definitions.
Trying to figure out what the word means before seeing the definition builds stronger brain connections.
All the words in the paragraph are simpler than the word being taught!
Break Words Apart with Word Ingredients
Words are made up of meaningful parts: roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
The Word Ingredients Memlet breaks every word apart into its building blocks and explains what they mean.
This helps you understand how the different parts combine to give the word its meaning.
These word parts are called Morphemes.
Click Around the Word Ingredients
This is an interactive Memlet. You’ll be able to explore other words with similar parts.
Knowing word parts, especially common ones, will help you figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words that you come across.
See Words in Action with the Word Theater
Videos help us remember things because they engage multiple senses at once.
Seeing and hearing information together makes it easier for our brains to understand and remember what we're learning.
It’s also fun!
Make it Stick with Memory Hooks
Memory Hooks give your brain an extra clue to help find the information later. You can view the Memory Hooks we’ve written, or create your own.
The funnier, catchier, or more clever you can make it, the better it sticks!
Explore Networks of Words with Constellations
The Constellation mimics how our brains store information. It allows you to explore networks of words.
Doing so helps you see how words are related to one another, and establishing those relationships helps you remember.
Use the left and right arrows to trace your steps.
What do all those colors and lines mean?
Read Real World Usage with Examples
Membean words are words people actually use. The Examples Memlet shows you real-world examples of that.
Seeing a word used in different contexts helps you remember it and be able to use it correctly yourself.
Explore Relationships with Related Words
The Related Words Memlet presents other Membean words with a similar or opposite sense to the word you’re learning.
Knowing these words helps you create a strong network of connections in your mind, making the word easier to recall.
Related words can have slightly different meanings or uses, too. Learning these differences helps you choose the right word.
Hover over any word to see its definition.
Expand Your Vocabulary with Variants
The Variants Memlet gives you different forms of the word. This shows you how a single root can change to fit different contexts.
Knowing various forms of a word will help you use the right word in the right situation.
Make Personal Connections with Notes
The Notes Memlet allows you to jot down your thoughts related to a word.
By connecting the word to your own experiences or ideas, you make it more relevant and meaningful to you.
Your notes will automatically save, and only you can see them.
How can I get the most out of my training?
Consistent Training is Key
It’s very important to train every week.
Taking a day or two off between sessions is good for memory, but large gaps in training will make it more likely you’ll forget your words.
Space Your Learning Throughout the Week
You’ll remember more words for longer when you break your training up into chunks throughout the week instead of doing it all at once.
This is known as The Spacing Effect. Our brains work better when we learn things slowly over time.
Train for 10-15 minutes at a time
This time frame is best for memory and engagement.
You’re more likely to get tired or distracted during long training sessions, and you won’t have enough time to get “in the zone” when sessions are too short.
Use the ? on Each Memlet to watch a Short Video
These videos will help you understand the Memlet and and its learning value.
Bite-Sized Learning is Best
You don’t have to learn everything on a Word Page at once.
Take it in chunks.
First time seeing a word?
Study Different Memlets Upon Review
Instead of returning to your favorite Memlet each time you study a word, mix it up.
Second time seeing a word?
Spend at least 30 seconds reviewing the Word Page.
Embrace the Struggle: It’s Good for Memory!
Some questions will be difficult. You probably won’t get them right the first time. That’s okay!
The more you think about something and struggle to figure it out, the stronger the connections in your brain become.
Note: “Cloze” questions, like this, are not spelling questions. We are seeing if you can recall a word with minimal context. You only need to enter the first 3 letters.
Use the “I’m not sure” Option
If you aren’t certain of an answer, don’t guess. Use the “I’m not sure” option. When you relearn a word, it comes back stronger next time.
Don’t Aim for Perfection
You should be getting some questions wrong. It means the engine’s working!
You’ll be answering questions on words you may not have seen in months. Those questions will get harder and harder as time goes on. We want you to struggle because it will strengthen your memory.
Around 65% accuracy is just right.
Make Your Own Connections
Aim for making a new connection to the word each time you see it.
The Notes Memlet is a great way to do so.
Just click the note icon next to the word to open the Notes Memlet.
Review the Memlet Related to Your Question
The questions you answer are related to the Memlets on the word page. When you get a question wrong, go back to the related Memlet to see what you missed.
How do I set up my account?
Creating an Account with the Enrollment Link
First, click on the enrollment link provided by your teacher. It looks something like this:
https://membean.com/enroll?t=#######
Then, follow the prompts to create a new account if this is your first time using Membean or to transfer your old account to your new class if you used it last year.
⚠ IMPORTANT: Each class has a unique enrollment link. Don’t use one from your friend in another period.
Creating an Account with the Class Code
Go to membean.com/enroll and enter the class code.
Then, follow the prompts to create a new account if this is your first time using Membean or to transfer your old account to your new class if you used it last year.
⚠ IMPORTANT: Each class has a unique class code. Don’t use one from your friend in another period.
First time on Membean? Let’s see what you know!
Returning user? Pick up where you left off. No need to recalibrate.
Student Dashboard
You can easily view…
Begin Your First Training Session!
How’d It Go?
Happy Membeaning!