Wordle

=[|​Wordle]=

Creates word clouds from inputted text. The size of the words in the word cloud depends on the word's frequency in the input text. The word cloud can be customized using different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. **Resources**

[|Wordle Advanced] [|Worlde Blog] [|How to Create a Wordle]

Strengths

 * Free
 * No account needed
 * Easy to use
 * Ability to print Wordle without saving it to the gallery
 * Ability to take out common words (like the, and, or, but)
 * [|File may be saved as a pdf or svg]
 * Words that go together can now be kept together by inserting the tilde character (~). The tilde is converted to a space when the Worlde is created, and the words will appear next to one another (http://blog.wordle.net/2008/06/keep-words-together-with-tilde.html). (inability to keep words together was previously listed as a weakness)
 * Wordles may be embedded into a blog or wiki

Weaknesses

 * Unable to edit the format
 * Can only be save as a .jpg or .gif file using print screen and then it must be edited/cropped to contain only the Wordle

Opportunities

 * Use Wordle as a word analyzer
 * Use Wordle for Literacy

Threats

 * No moderation in the gallery
 * Searching for a Wordle is not a good idea for students because there are many in the gallery that are inappropriate.
 * Some school systems might block site due to district filters.

Ideas for Use in the Classroom

 * [|Looking at Poetry through a Wordle]
 * Wordle famous speeches to determine themes
 * Have students create a Wordle of themselves as an get to know you activity
 * Create a wordle and have students pick out the word that does not belong
 * Have students define/ explain each word. Similes can be used so students can compare the similarities among the words
 * How many compound words can you make?
 * Give students a specific topic, such as "Wars" and have students use Wordle to write all the wars they can think of. (This would allow students to use their memory, while being more entertaining than merely writing a list.)
 * Establish a literacy center where students use Wordle to list words that have the sound of the week. The students could also type the spelling words of the week, thus allowing students to have another experience with the words without boring them.
 * Students can build upon their vocabulary knowledge throughout the school year by consistently updating the Wordle as they learn new information
 * Students can create an acrostic of famous historical people or events for Social Studies classes. For example: [|John Adams].
 * Students could use this as part of a "What I Know" brainstoriming activity. The teacher could assign each student or group section of what they are about to study (1960's - policital movements, pop culture, science & technology) and have them come up with as many facts as they can. The group would present it to the class. As each group presents their Wordle, the rest of the class would fill out their "What I Want to Know" sections of their reading organizer writing down any questions they have about the information that is being presented.
 * Teachers could assign topics for review for tests. Each group would have to create a Wordle from an assigned group of topics from the teacher (The Pigman - characters, themes, setting). The group would have to present their Wordle to the class. Each member of the class would have a blank study guide so they could write down important points from the Wordle presentations to use as their review.
 * Create a wordle from the reading assignment to use as a pre-reading activity.
 * Have students create a wordle of material as review and they have to show what is more important by making those words larger. Can show if they understand big ideas and what is most important.
 * Have students create wordle of an interview. They put in key words and make what was most important stand out.
 * Character study through vocabulary lists.
 * Have students type their spelling words and print out a wordle to study from.
 * Using the advanced options, have students make a wordle for a reading story making the title the largest font, characters size based on importance in the book, and setting in the same fashion.

Examples of Uses in the Classroom
http://www.boxoftricks.net/?p=103 http://www.angelamaiers.com/2008/11/wordle-in-the-c.html http://murcha.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/using-wordle-in-the-classroom/ http://teachingtomorrow.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/wordle-in-the-classroom/