Play Free Rice! (Addicting and socially positive)

[LynzM]

http://www.freerice.com/index.php

For every word you get right, 10 grains of rice are donated to and distributed by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).

How does the FreeRice vocabulary program work?
FreeRice has a custom database containing thousands of words at varying degrees of difficulty. There are words appropriate for people just learning English and words that will challenge the most scholarly professors. In between are thousands of words for students, business people, homemakers, doctors, truck drivers, retired people… everyone!

FreeRice automatically adjusts to your level of vocabulary. It starts by giving you words at different levels of difficulty and then, based on how you do, assigns you an approximate starting level. You then determine a more exact level for yourself as you play. When you get a word wrong, you go to an easier level. When you get three words in a row right, you go to a harder level. This one-to-three ratio is best for keeping you at the “outer fringe” of your vocabulary, where learning can take place.

There are 50 levels in all, but "it is rare for people to get above level 48," apparently. I'm hanging out around 40-43, but you wouldn't know it from my DU posting. :)

2610 grains, and counting.... :thumbsup:

[hlthe2b]

1. Who is behind this? A great idea... just curious who is funding.

:thumbsup:

[LynzM]

3. From the FAQ, about funding:

Who pays for the donated rice?
The rice is paid for by the advertisers whose names you see on the bottom of your vocabulary screen. This is regular advertising for these companies, but it is also something more. Through their advertising at FreeRice, these companies support both learning (free vocabulary for everyone) and reducing hunger (free rice for the hungry). We commend these companies for their participation at FreeRice.

If FreeRice has the rice to give, why not give it all away right now?
FreeRice is not sitting on a pile of rice―you are earning it 10 grains at a time. Here is how it works. When you play the game, advertisements appear on the bottom of your screen. The money generated by these advertisements is then used to buy the rice. So by playing, you generate the money that pays for the rice donated to hungry people.

Who distributes the donated rice?
The rice is distributed by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). The World Food Program is the world’s largest food aid agency, working with over 1,000 other organizations in over 75 countries. In addition to providing food, the World Food Program helps hungry people to become self-reliant so that they escape hunger for good. Wherever possible, the World Food Program buys food locally to support local farmers and the local economy. We encourage you to visit the United Nations World Food Program to learn more about their successful approach to ending hunger.

[hlthe2b]

6. that's really a great idea...

:thumbsup:

[mod mom]

2. First attempt only 39

I missed on ziggurat. We had a ziggurat wall in our last house so I went w sliding step but it's actually an ancient temple. fun.

[LynzM]

4. Cool :)

I like that it constantly adjusts, so if the words are too hard it makes them easier until you're getting most of them right, and if you keep getting them right, it makes it a little harder. Keeps it interesting! I didn't know what a ziggurat was, thanks!

[KurtNYC]

5. lots of horse related words for me

head armour for a horse = ?
Fun.

[LynzM]

7. I saw that one, too!

Also the one about the back part of a saddle, though I can't remember the name for that right now...

[Greyskye]

8. K&R!

Good luck with this! I had a great response last week when I issued the Free Rice Challenge!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2247068

[LynzM]

10. Wow, awesome!!

I missed it last week... :blush:

Hey, the more the merrier (and fed), right?

[Greyskye]

16. Absolutely!

This is way better then me starting another thread on this! :yourock:

:thumbsup:

[ElboRuum]

9. Got up to 45 before quitting... :)

[LynzM]

11. Nice :)

:bounce:

[BeHereNow]

12. I'd PAY to watch a freeper play...

:evilgrin:
BHN

[LynzM]

13. Heh.

That'd be fun, eh? :)

I was also thinking it'd be a neat tool in a classroom, both to improve language skills and to teach about world social awareness.

How's life, dude? Long time since that yummy Thai lunch, a million or so years ago... :hi:

[peacebaby3]

14. I played about a week or so ago and every time I would get in the 40's with 2000+

grains of rice, it would freeze up and bump me to a "can't find the server" page so I don't know if my rice counted or not. I started over 3 times, got to that level and had the same problem and got totally frustrated.

[LynzM]

15. Ugh, that's frustrating.

The FAQ does say that if you close the window, it's already been counted, so I hope yours count, too! :)

[Greyskye]

17. How about some additional REC's for visibility?

Come on people, the thread last week had 10 Rec's! You can do better then that!!!

[LynzM]

18. Yay, more recs!

:bounce:

[ddeclue]

19. Interesting...I did it for a while and got 1010 grains

My level moved up and down between 39 and 44...

[Gabi Hayes]

20. thank you!!!! emailing it to myself at school for EVERYone to use.

over 600 kids.

hope I can get every teacher to make it available.

thanks again....

[FredStembottom]

21. Got to 46 briefly!

Pretty good for an unedumacated guy ;-) - but one who has always been fascinated by word-roots. That allowed me to figure out a lot of the words I haven't encounterd before - especially the animal genus type ones (xxxxxxopods and xxxxxilates and xxxxxxxafores etc.)

(Can't believe how many of the words were worm related!

Truly addicting!

[knitter4democracy]

33. Me too!

I lost it on a couple of older words that I couldn't quite remember in context.

[FredStembottom]

36. Cracking good score, Grommit!

!

[guruoo]

22. k&r

[FloridaJudy]

23. I get to 50 briefly

Very briefly, then I fluff it and get bounced back. It helps that a lot of those "hard" words are medical terms!

[FredStembottom]

27. I noticed that.

Medical words - but not the easily figure-out-able disease or drug kinds. More like obscure medical terms for things like oxygenation and pooping ;-)

If you have a medical degree - you have an advantage!

[JackRiddler]

24. mAd stuf

I gots 48 onze, but dam if I didn haff to gess haff o th'time.

Tough!

[ClayZ]

25. 2110 and going back in! K and R

[Jennifer C]

26. So addictive

2240 so far, thanks for posting :thumbsup:

[LynzM]

29. Sweet!

Welcome to DU! (Unless you're a new user name for an old poster? :) )

[progressoid]

28. Damn - have to stop and get back to work!

Thanks for a fun distraction

[LynzM]

30. Heh.

Work. Phooey :P

[Fierce]

31. Great for kids...

...it's got a wide variety of words. This is so excellent.

[LynzM]

32. I agree... think it would be great in a classroom.

Use it to teach not only language, but social awareness, as well. :)

[treestar]

34. Addicting

I got to 50 once and was mostly on 45-48.

[Vilis Veritas]

35. Very cool link...

And this is something my 7 year old will love...

Thanks...