Wordle (www.wordle.net) is a great tool that anyone can use. Creating your own wordle is as simple as typing words into the program and clicking 'create'. The most useful feature of this tool is the way in which more frequent words appear larger. Wordle also provides learners with a fun, aesthetically intersting way of displaying their ideas.
Example: At the start of a SOSE unit about local heroes the teacher could ask students to describe what they think a hero is and type their responses into wordle. This would then be printed out for future reference during the unit. Students could create another wordle at the end of the unit and reflect on how their definition of a hero has changed. This would be an effective teaching strategy because visual representations of information assist students in acquiring new knowledge (Marzano & Pickering, 1997).
Hey Kyle, From your comments, it appears to me that you are talking about using wordle as a K-W-L or word wall? I think that is a great idea. I haven't done anything on wordle yet. Can you print it out for use around the classroom? (Like with powerpoints you can print out the slides). Would you use it as a class activity or with groups? Also I love your Voki. Have you seen the Marvin program?
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy, thank you for commenting on my blog. I would use wordle as a K-W-L with the whole class and in groups depending on the context. The reason why I would use this tool for brainstorming is because the more often you type a word in, the larger it appears. I would use this feature to initiate a discussion about which ideas were the most common and why. Also, wordle is so simple to use. There is a print option at the bottom of the page so you can print it as an A4 or A3 document and put it on display in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteThis would be a great tool to use at the begining of a lesson as a brainstorming tool. I think that the idea of creating another wordle at the end of the unit, would enable the students to see how much knowledge they have gained, just as Marzano and Pickering say.
ReplyDeleteDid not think about using this as a brainstorming tool - great idea.