[Yr11 Information Technology] Web 2.0 - The Simple Wonders of WORDLE

[mppascoe at bigpond.com]

Folks, 

 

A couple of weeks ago I saw my son typing his spelling words into the
computer and then making this wonderful collage of colored words. 

He was using this free program called Wordle that his teacher had shown him
how to use at school. 

 

I have now started using WORDLE as well, and find it particularly good for
making PowerPoint Title or Summary slides and the like. Wordle has been
around a while, but perhaps others like me have not found out about it until
recently. 

 

WORDLE is a Web2.0 app that makes pictures called "Word Clouds" like this
one: 

 

http://www.passyworld.com/passyImages/MatrixWordle500x318.png 

 

The above "Word Cloud" was created using the "Wordle" application at:
www.wordle.net <http://www.wordle.net/>   . 

Wordle is a Web 2.0 tool that is 100% free to use, and does not require
input of an email address, or any signing up. 

 

Basically anyone can go to the website and use Wordle immediately. 

 

Note that the web address is .net and not .com, 

eg. http://www.wordle.com <http://www.wordle.com/>   is an entirely
different site altogether. 

 

The text that was used as input to generate the "Matrix" movie "Word Cloud",
came from a synopsis of "The Matrix" movie, that was obtained from "IMDB" -
the Internet Movies Database. 
IMDB ( http://www.imdb.com/ ) is a magnificent site that has information on
just about every movie ever made. Check it out sometime.

 

The only potential difficulties for using WORDLE might be if your computer's
Firewall blocks the Wordle Java applet from running, or if your Internet
Browser is not setup to allow Java to run. Both of these problems are easily
solved by reading through the information at: http://www.wordle.net/faq 

 

How to Use Wordle 

 

The Open Office Flash SWF Presentation in the link below gives step by step
information about How to Use WORDLE. 

(Click on the current slide to advance forwards each time.)

 

http://www.passyworld.com/passySWFs/WordleHowToPPA.swf  

 

If you would like to download the full 7meg Powerpoint 2003 (higher quality
resolution) version of the above presentation, then click here: 

(Be warned that it takes a good 2 minutes, or longer to load in) 

 

http://www.passyworld.com/passyPPTs/wordlePPAmod.ppt 

 

 

Using  Wordle in the Classroom 

The following Slideshare presentation has some great suggestions about how
to use Wordle in the Classroom: 

 

http://www.slideshare.net/JenniferW/wordle-ideas?type=presentation  

 

 

and here are 20 more ideas about using Wordle: 

 

(from:
http://thecleversheep.blogspot.com/2008/10/top-20-uses-for-wordle.html ) 

 

1] Convert a sonnet or Shakespearean play; or children's book (Dr. Seuss
anyone?);

 

2] Paste the contents of an online discussion to coalesce the main ideas;

 

3] Combine student 'Who Are You?' introductions, or 'Superhero 

Traits' to develop a class composite;

 

4] Condense survey data by dumping content of questionnaire responses into
the Wordle engine;

 

5] Combine news articles or RSS feeds on a given topic;

 

6] Turn an essay into a poster; 

 

7] Combine blog posts over time into a simplified represetation or use it to
compare the ideas of competing ideas;

 

8] Use font, colour and arrangement strategies to appropriately represent
content; 

 

9] Automate the creation of word poetry;

 

10] As an introduction to a unit or course, combine key words; themes;
curriculum expectations to provide learners with a visual overview of
content;

 

11] Convert nutritional content of one's weekly diet or of a group's menu
preferences;

 

12] Condense a Wikipedia article into it's essence; 

 

13] Paste the results of a Google search (Can you guess the keywords I
used?);

 

14] Convert social bookmark tags;

 

15] Enter keywords from weekly weather reports to obtain a seasonal picture;

 

16] Distill song lyrics like "Stairway to Heaven";

 

17] Find out what you've been up to by summarizing To-Do lists;

 

18] Represent the results of a brainstorming session or the minutes of a
meeting visually;

 

19] Show "Today in History" stories in a new way; 

 

20] Convert past or current email messages into a composite of your
correspondence;

 

 

Enjoy, 

Paul Pascoe 

IT / Maths Teacher 

St Francis Xavier College Berwick 

mppascoe at bigpond.com 

 

 

 

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