Creating Word Clouds
that Develop 21st Century Learning Skills

by Kim Parra, M.A.

Updated 4/1/2011

 

 

         

 

 

 

1. ABOUT WORD CLOUDS

 

What is a Word Cloud?


A word cloud is a visual depiction of a set of words or terms which have been grouped together in a number of ways such as alphabetically or because of their frequency (number of times they appear).

Depending on the parameters used to generate a word cloud, various attributes such as the size of each word, weight, color or a combination of the three can be used to display frequency and importance of each word or term.

In general terms, words or terms featured in word clouds that have a large font size and/or weight means they have been mentioned more often than other words or terms. If a word cloud was generated from a well written educational document, ideally the most important terms should appear the largest as they are mentioned the most, usually highlighting their importance to the subject being discussed. (From: http://www.clrcloud.com/whatis)

Here is one example:

(CBS)  Golfer Tiger Woods had a lot to say today (February 19, 2010), in his first public appearance since his car accident last November.

CBSNEWS.com ran his public statement today through a word cloud generator at http://www.wordle.net/ to see which words were most frequently used in his statement.  The words, "people," "want," "Elin," and "behavior" pop in the word-cloud.

Perhaps the single most important thing that Tiger said today was "I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior." But that doesn't show up prominently in the world-cloud.  It's in the lower right corner. What's more important? What you say? Or how often you say it?

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/19/sportsline/main6223719.shtml

 

Here is another example:

 

View all of the president's speeches in a word cloud at:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/17/washington/20090117_ADDRESSES.html

 

 
 
 

2. WHY WORD CLOUDS

 

Without a doubt, visuals are critical for kids when it comes to the learning process. Because word clouds give greater prominence to the words that appear most often in the supplied text, these clouds create a great learning visual for students by prominently displaying the most used terms. These clouds can be made into posters at the younger levels or used as a cover sheet to a course syllabus for older students.

 

Word clouds can develop several important 21st Century learning skills. It can spark students’ creativity when they share original writing compositions and research assignments. Critical thinking skills are employed when using Word Clouds to analyze main ideas, make predictions, and critique/revise student essays.

 

SKILLS/USE

DESCRIPTIONS
Data Analysis Entering questions and responses to generate common themes. Discussion can follow on the responses that appear in the word cloud.
Student Reflection Reflect on concepts, text, or ideas learned.  Students can create a word cloud to describe what they learned.
Discussing Text  Create a visual of words used most often in text. Teachers and students can create word clouds from text they have just read, and discuss important and underlying themes.
Editing/Revising Writing Notice words that are over-used and replace with new vocabulary. Students can paste their papers into a word cloud and notice words that appear frequently. They can replace them with synonyms. They may also notice that certain concepts do not appear as they would like them to,  and visualize how to add more details.
Chapter Summaries Create visuals to study key concepts.  Students can create a word cloud that will convey the major points of a chapter and use it as a way to present information or study for a test.
Display Student Work "About Me" introductions, poems, essays, unit opener/closer. Students can copy/paste written assignments (essays, poems) into a word cloud, change the font and color schemes, and display their work in a visually appealing manner.
Language/Vocabulary Introduce new vocabulary.  Teachers can create a word cloud of new vocabulary that students will encounter in a new chapter, story, or assignment.
Writing Create sentences from word clouds.  Teachers can create word clouds about specific topics and students can use the generated clouds to write sentences about the topic.

(From Ullanda Taylor, 2008)

OUT WORD CLOUD
 

3.  WORD CLOUDS IN THE CLASSROOM

 

What follows are links to information about how to use word clouds in the classroom.  Use this resource for designing your lesson plans.

 

     Ways to use Wordle in your classroom.

    43 ways to use Wordle in your classroom.

    Guess the Wordle

    Wordle in the classroom

    How to notice things in an English class

    Build literary skills with Wordle

    19 ways to use Wordle

    Word clouds in the differentiated classroom

    Best practices: Words as images

    Build Literacy Skills with Wordle

    20 Top Uses for Wordle

** 101 Ways to use Tagxedo

   

4.  21st CENTURY SKILLS

 

What are 21st Century Skills?*

“21st Century Literacy Skills” is a term that is used a lot these days. What does it mean? Several similar definitions from different sources have emerged. Three definitions follow. All three definitions point to the same goal: that being ICT (Information and communication technologies) literate is much more than just having good technology skills. It is learning core subjects with application of these learning skills and communication tools.
1.  Published by Educational Testing Service (ETS), Digital Transformation; A Framework for ICT Literacy identifies these skills as the ability to:
  • Collect and/or retrieve information
  • Organize and manage information · Interpret and present information
  • Evaluate the quality, relevance, and usefulness of information
  • Generate accurate information through the use of existing resources

http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/Information_and_Communication_Technology_Literacy/ictreport.pdf

2.  Learning for the 21st Century which is designed to articulate a vision for learning in the 21st Century and provide guides for creating a framework for action is prepared by Partnership for 21st Century Skills, a unique alliance of education, business and government leaders formed in 2002 working to fully address the education needs and challenges of work and life in the 21st century. Their definition of six key elements for fostering 21st century learning is excerpted and adapted from Learning for the 21st Century

  • Emphasize core subjects

  • Emphasize learning skills

Information and communications skills;

Examples: Using communication, information processing, and research tools (such as word processing, e-mail, groupware, presentation software, and the Internet) to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create, and communicate information). These skills include information and media literacy skills.

Thinking and problem-solving skills;

Examples: Using problem-solving tools (such as spreadsheets, decision support, and design tools) to manage complexity, solve problems, and think critically, creatively, and systematically.

Interpersonal and self-directional skills

Examples: Using personal development and productivity tools (such as e-learning, time managers, and collaboration tools) to enhance productivity and personal development. These skills include accountability and adaptability skills

  • Use 21st Century tools to develop learning skills

Use digital technology and communication tools to

Access, manage, integrate and evaluate information;
Construct new knowledge
Communicate with others effectively.
Examples: Using 21st Century tools (such as word processing, e-mail, presentation software, the Internet, spreadsheets, decision support programs, design tools, e-learning, time management programs, and collaboration tools) combined with learning skills in core subjects equals 21st Century Skills (ICT Literacy)

  • Teach and learn in a 21st century context.

Learn academic content through real-world examples;

Learning must expand beyond the four classroom walls

  • Teach and learn 21st century content

(3 emerging content areas)
Global awareness
Financial, economic and business literacy, and
Civic literacy.

  • Use 21st Century Assessments that measure 21st Century Skills

High quality standardized tests
Classroom assessments for teaching and learning

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/downloads/P21_Report.pdf

3.  NCREL North Central Regional Education Laboratory identifies broader 21st Century Skills as achieving 21st Century Learning through
  • Digital Age Literacy.

Basic, scientific, economic and technological literacy
Visual literacy and information literacy
Multicultural literacy and global awareness

  • Inventive Thinking

Adaptability and managing complexity
Self-direction
Curiosity, creativity, and risk taking
Higher-order thinking and sound reasoning

  • Effective Communication

Teaming, collaboration, and interpersonal skills
Personal, social, and civic responsibility
Interactive communication

  • High Productivity

Prioritizing, planning, and managing for results
Effective use of real-world tools
Ability to produce relevant, high-quality products

 

 

5.  LESSON PLAN ASSIGNMENT

 

 Now it's time to put together a terrific lesson using the web-based application Wordle or Tagxedo. Here are the directions for this assignment:

 

1.  Your lesson plan should be no longer than 1 1/2 pages typed. 

2.  The format  should be exactly as follows:

       

 Teacher Name

    

     Grade level

     Subject

     Brief description of the lesson

     Objectives/anticipated outcomes

     21st century skills addressed in this lesson.

     Materials needed

     Procedure:

     Activity

     Assessment

     

 

3.  Remember to use Wordle or Tagxedo as the main activity of your lesson.

4.  *Attach a printout of your Wordle/Tagxedo project, as an illustration of what your student world clouds will look like.

5.  Attach the lesson plan (top) and Wordle/Tagxedo (bottom) together to hand in.

 

 

6.  WORDLE & TAGXEDO RESOURCES

Here are some resources to help you:

YouTube Wordle Tutorial

How to use Wordle

Using Tagxedo Video Tutorial

Tagxedo - How to Save & Print

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