Learning Resource Center

Tech Tip Tuesday Wordle

Wordle could be described as a “toy” that allows users to create a word cloud. A word cloud, also referred to as a “tag cloud is a visual design from the source text. The source text can include but is not limited to:

·         Websites

·         Books

·         Maps.

The design is generated simply and automatically by two ways:  

·         pasting text into a box then click go

·         There is also an option to enter the URL of a blog or website with an RSS feed.

 The cloud that is generated displays the words from the next giving prominence to words that frequently appear in the text. Here is an example Wordle.

Wordle is a useful tool for both educators and students especially in the Web 2.0 World. Wordle fits into the Web 2.0 model because the design of the interface is user centered. The user has the freedom to change:

·          fonts,

·         Layouts

·          colors 

 Another feature of Wordle is that it is a collaborative online tool that is entirely web based. This gives the user the freedom to keep the information published on the web or to remove it if the user chooses.  

If you are an English teacher, starting to read a new text, Wordle could be a great tool for an introductory vocabulary lesson for the text.  The lesson would look like this:

·         Paste the text from the book into the text box.

·         All the words from the text will appear in the cloud. The words that appear most in the text will be the largest appearing words in the cloud.

·         The class could have a discussion about the words in the cloud and have a discussion about new and unique words.

·         Based on the discussion the class could look up unknown words in a dictionary.

·         The class could also try to determine subjects the text might be about.

In a history classroom a teacher teaching a class about current events could paste the URL of a news website that has an atom or RSS feed and Wordle could then display a cloud of the prominently used words within the site.

The class could have a discussion about the words and it could lead to a discussion about the type of information provided on the website.

• The class could have a discussion about the words and then it could lead to a discussion about the type of information provided on the website.
• The class could determine the news stories of the day based on seeing the prominent words.
• The class could go to the site and read the actual news stories and then follow up with a discussion about the actual news stories for that day.