Abstract
The aim of the Vidtionary project is to create an online video dictionary. The video dictionary features short, video definitions of various words, creating a visual link with the word itself as well as an inductive visual interpretation of the word. The videos provide a useful learning tool for those who are not yet literate in English, whether children or adults, native English speakers or speakers of English as a second or other language. While respectfully interpreting the meaning of the word and adhering to a consistent structure, Vidtionary aims to create enjoyable, brief, and engaging video definitions, which behave like cultural memes, memorable as a good pop song, TV commercial, or short poem.
The scope of the project will go beyond the duration of the TRU M.Ed program. For the M.Ed project itself, the goal has been to create a foundation upon which the dictionary can be built upon in the years following the program completion. This foundation includes sample videos, which provide a model for future videos, and a scaleable, dynamic website (http://www.vidtionary.com) where videos can be viewed and searched, complemented by a written component, which gives a rationale for the project and a literature review.