Wordle - 'Word Clouds'

I really like Wordle - although in my subject its uses are largely limited to producing keyword posters. I'm sure that it could have a wide range of uses in many subjects. You can change the font, and the colour scheme, as well as the basic layout (every which way, horizontal, mostly horizontal, half and half, mostly vertical, all vertical). The more often you enter a word, the larger the word is in the Wordle. TIP - put your text into a wordprocessor and paste it into the web-site 'create' window, in case you need to go back and re-do it - as it is lost when you press the 'create' button.

Wordle produces 'word clouds'. It's online at http://wordle.net/, and at the moment there are some unresolved problems with using it on the school network, so you can't use it with your students in lessons until these have been sorted, but you should be able to use it at home. Here are some examples, some are produced by me, others have been taken from the web-site (click on any of these to display them full screen):

Word Processor - keywords poster












Dylan Thomas











Colour Keywords - I searched for as many colour names as I could










Beatles - All you need is love












The Sermon on the mount

Content Generator - more (free) software

I love this stuff - it's great fun, and really good for a quiz. I use it with my A level students to reinforce definitions - I just wish they wouldn't customise the teacher to look quite so much like me though!

Or - you can get your students to think up the questions and answers. We've done this in ICT with A level students to help reinforce definitions and understanding.

There are several content generator programs - most of them are a 'paid for' option, but "Fling the Teacher", "Teacher Invaders", and "Match Up Generator" are free downloads. The network managers have kindly put them onto the network, and they are available in the staff workroom. (NOTE: now in B29 and A18 too)

Fling the teacher - this allows you to enter 15 or more multiple choice questions (four choices). There is a Flash animation of a teacher in a mortarboard, which the students can customise for hair style, colour, etc. As they correctly answer the questions a trebuchet is constructed, and when they get all 15 correctly in a row the teacher is flung from the trebuchet, complete with a countdown ("you know enough to throw your teacher away"). Like "Who wants to be a millionaire", there are three lifelines - 50:50; what were previous answers to the question; and 'ask an expert'. If they get an answer wrong it's back to the beginning. You must enter 15 questions, but if you put in more than that then the students get a selection of 15, so the more you put in the greater the degree of randomisation between students.












Teacher Invaders - like space invaders, but blatting teachers instead of aliens - a question every 20 seconds to get more time.

Match Up Generator - matching 6 different paired items - with a time limit if you want.

A text file is produced, and then your Flash file is generated from this - you don't need the generator program on the computer you are playing it on as it is saved as a Flash file which plays in Internet Explorer.

Formulator Tarsia - some useful (free) software

Formulator Tarsia is a free download - it is designed for Maths, but can be adapted for many subjects. It allows you to quickly produce a variety of different 'jigsaws', which can be used as starters, or to reinforce definitions, etc. You can even upload small graphics files. The network managers have kindly put it onto the school network - it is currently available on the computers in the staff workroom and B29, or you can download it yourself at home.

This is what a completed 'solution' to a jigsaw looks like:
















These are the options available:













The variety allows you to adapt to the ability of the group - for really weak students you can give them the middle six of a hexagon.

I photocopy the output onto card, which I then cut into the triangles, squares, etc, and keep in a (labelled) envelope.

Teaching and Learning - the Meeting

We had a really interesting meeting, discussing teaching and learning after school today. PN was full of enthusiasm, and had loads of ideas. There were lots of other members of staff from a wide range of departments, with some really good ideas for starters.

I personally think that ICT is going to be increasingly important in education, and that we must equip ourselves with the skills that will allow us to support our students in this changing world - but then I would do, wouldn't I.

I decided to set up this blog so that staff can share experiences, ideas and materials - and, just as importantly, practice blogging skills.

This blog should be for all staff at JFK to share any information about teaching and learning. It is for ALL teaching and learning ideas - not just ICT.

If you would like to be able to post or comment on this blog send me an e-mail - we can have up to 100 authors.