My Review of Wordle

Wordle is a word cloud graphic that can be made at the website:
http://www.wordle.net/

Above is the wordle that I created to use in my class group's Thematic Unit on refugees.

Wordles are made by the user typing in a list of words, or cutting and pasting words into a box on the website.  The user can also select a color scheme , fonts and type of layout. You can make some words more important by entering those words multiple times.

Wordle can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. My class group chose to use it as part of a brain storming activity when presenting our unit. It could be used in this way as a group or could be used individually by students.

 There are pros and cons to the way this program works.

Pros

• This program is easy for students to use at any age. 
• It will give a good end result for every user. Success for everyone!
• The wordle can be changed and edited at the time it is made. This can give it some individuality.
• It can be applied to a wide variety of lesson plans. 
• It can be printed.
• It is fun!

Cons

• There is not an easy way to save your work.  You must either do a screen photo capture or copy the link after you send it to the gallery, or print it. You will never find it again if you don't do one of these.
• Editing is limited. You must do all your editing when you first create it.  You can not save it and edit it during another class.
• You can not add additional words without starting over.
• You can not add photos, texture, backgrounds or other elements to the design within this program. 

Overall it does offer lots of possibilities for classroom use!

All Students May Be Using 3D Printing in the Future

        I have been looking at articles about 3D printing and its uses in the classroom this week.  I have never seen one but have noticed alot of conversations about them on various blogs lately.  One article I read for this week is:

3D Printing Will Transform Education

by TJ McCue   http://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2011/11/01/3d-printing-will-transform-education/
 
and also curriculum examples on  Makerbot   http://curriculum.makerbot.com/

These sources explain that the 3D printer will soon be found on all students' desk and will be usable for a wide variety of subject studies.  They give examples and lesson plans  for how it can be used in Math, Biology, Art and many other subjects.  They will create an actual 3D object that students can study or they can create their own.  The article uses legos as an example as similar to how students will be able to use these to build their own objects.
    
There is currently a pilot program being used in the New York City public high schools.  Students can study models and create their own models for classwork.  They can upload their designs on the website http://www.thingiverse.com/. or download designs from the digital library to be printed.

I believe these printers are definitely becoming much more available and user friendly.  I could see their uses in any type of curriculum.  The article states that the company " wants students to have an “invention engine” in the classroom. Students can have an idea, design it, print it, and if it doesn’t work, make it again. “The make it again part – that’s the powerful part,” adds Pettis."

I am sure that their are many more companies and websites that will offer similar printers to the education community.  I am excited to see one and try it out someday for myself!

Posters for Refugee Unit

 

 

          These are posters for more visual literacy in our Refugee Unit!  They will be used to start discussions and as an introduction for some of our activities.

Reference Materials for Refugees Unit

 

This week I have been researching books and finding  visual references for my groups unit on refugees.  We have decided to use the books "Seedfolks" and "Children of War"

I have found many photos for the visual references we can use in our unit.

 

 

 Some of the samples from my research!

Thank you for visiting my blog!