12.2: Conceptualize

When and where did I find this word: I found this word last night (Sat. Nov. 19th) when I was reviewing the article I chose for my classmates to read this week for my reciprocal teaching project. The article is called, "Writing to learn across the curriculum: Tools for comprehension in content area classes." (2006) by Kathy J. Knipper and Timothy J. Duggan. The word appears in the small paragraph about ABC lists on page 468.

What this word means: This word in context means that students gain the understanding of the concepts they are learning and internalize the meanings and/or connections they have made with them. According to www.dictionary.com, the word conceptualize means to form into a concept or make a concept of.

Level of familiarity: I have certainly heard this term used in the latter half of my educational career. I think I started to hear this term in high school. Teachers would often tell us that we needed to conceptualize the information they were giving us. The funny thing is that I don't think any one of them actually told us what that term meant. It wasn't until I started the education program at Florida Institute of Technology that I heard the term again and had to gain an actual understanding of its meaning.

Is this a word I want to know well?: I think this is a great word to know. Learning concepts is the way people can build knowledge onto old and existing knowledge to form new ideas and new connections so they can become more intelligent and communicate appropriately with their surrounding environment/society as to contribute towards a greater cause. Learning to conceptualize knowledge is extremely beneficial for everyone. That's how new ideas are born.

Is this a word I want others to know well?: I think others should definitely learn this term and use it, know it. This term goes hand in hand with becoming 'literate" and even obtaining a quality education. This term can be used by not only people in the education field but certainly by people everywhere all of the time. Everyone is conceptualizing information at one point or another throughout their day, whether it be formal or informal.