Wordle

As we continue to learn about Web 2.0 tools our groups have started to teach the entire class about specific tools.  This week one of the groups taught the rest of the class about Wordle.  Wordle is a Web 2.0 tool that allows one to make a word cloud of their own words, and then print it out or save it to their computer.

I had previously used Wordle several years ago, but was not very familiar with it and did not know how advanced that it could be.  In the above image I made a simple word cloud of the vocabulary words of the water cycle.  Using some of the tips from class I made "The Water Cycle" stay together and made it larger than the other words.  And then, I was able to make the more important words a little larger than the least important words.  Using the randomize tool I was able to go through various designs until I found a layout that I liked.  I then finished it off by changing the colors.

Wordle is a tool that could be used in many different ways in the classroom.  Teachers could make word clouds of vocabulary words or key words from a specific lesson.  They could also let their students make their wordles that included the main points of a book or lesson, or maybe as a get-to-know assignment in which the students made a wordle that included some references to their favorite things.  I believe the possibilities are really endless.  I think students would enjoy using this tool, and that teachers could come up with many different ways to incorporate it into their classrooms.d