Wordle - Word Cloud

LINK:  http://www.wordle.net/

WHAT

Wordle is a tool to generate word cloud as shown below. It makes the most frequent word larger than the rest. What is best with this tool is that you could choose how do you display the words.

The frequent words are larger than the rest, make students pay attention of the particular word that is also an important content to the text. It is suitable for pre-reading activity.

EXAMPLE 

Text: 'I Believe I Can Fly' by R.Kelly

As you could see, it is presented in an interesting way. 

HOW

• Go to the page. You will be directed to the website. 

• Create your own - There is a little explanation of what the web is about. Few examples are shown as well. You could click the 'create your own' link to start making your own. 

• Paste text - As you could see, you could paste the text in the space provided. 
• Paste URL - Besides, you could also paste a URL of webpage and it will create a wordle of that page. For example, I use this blog URL and it will generate a word cloud of my blog. 'Student' is one of the most frequent word in my blog.

• Click 'submit' button - You will be directed to this page:

 

Using the same text, there are few editing that could be performed if we want to. 

• Edit - you could undo the editing
• Language - you could leave the word as spelled, or guess the word (this is for ...). Make the word upper case or lower case.  Besides, you could also delete the common words and words in another language.
• Font - various fonts 
• Layout - this is useful editing tool to avoid word crowded if you choose to a very long text. You could choose the maximum words and the less frequent words are not choosen. Re-arrange them in alphabetical order, horizontally or vertically.
• Colour -Make it colourful 
• Right click - If you right click the word, you could remove the word from the text. 
• Randomize - basically it gives you choices of different layout.

Besides editing,

• Print - Print it directly
• Save - Save it to public galerry to be viewed by all internet users, as well as share it with your friends.
• Embedded code - Once you save it, there is a code that could be embedded in your own blog or homepage. This link will direct the users to the wordle site. 

ADVANTAGES

• Useful for pre-reading or pre-listening activity. Since we could edit the amount of words shown, and also its ability to make the most frequent words bigger than the rest, it works well as a summary of a long text. Students get the gist of the text before proceeding to the next activity. 
• Colours and different shape. 

DISADVANTAGES

• There is no URL link provided but only embedded code. 

CONCLUSION

This website promoting a more interesting way of presenting a text. I would use it for variation in my classroom activity because it comes in shape and colours. So, if it could light up the mood, it will surely come in handy.

Dvolver - Creating interesting comic!

LINK - http://www.dvolver.com/moviemaker/make.html

WHAT

Dvolver is a fantastic website for English teachers who look for variety in their language teaching. It is a video making website that include a cartoon comic strip where we choose from few themes, characters, and backgrounds given. In brief, learners could create their own dialogue and present it in the form of movie, depending on their own creativity.

Rather than asking the students to create dialogue on paper, in pairs or group, Dvolver promote a more interesting and fun way of creating dialogue. Due to its colourful and animated nature, students will have more interest and feel excited to create a dialogue. If they are excited about it, it is more likely that they will remember what is being taught and language is processed effectively.

The activity of creating comic strip also contribute to cognitive development, especially when students have to create a scene that suit their intended dialogue.

HOW

• Select background and sky

 

• Select the plot. It has four plots. 

• Choose the character.

• Type in the character line. 

• Choose the background music. You may want to add a new scene, depending on your story line. 

 

• Select the movie title and include your name too. 

• You can preview the movie, and send it to anyone through email. You could also choose 'back' button to make some changes. 

 

EXAMPLE

Title: Teach me dvolver

Author: myself

ADVANTAGES

1. No sign up - It is easily accessible where you could start right away without signing in. 
2. Choices - There are choices of background and theme as well as characters, which are interesting and able to encourage dialogue making. 
3. Free - This website is totally free. 
4. It is simple - You just follow the instruction and you could always go back to the previous step if you made some mistakes. 
5. Allow creativity - It is a good practice of English because learners will come out with their own idea while performing the task. 

DISADVANTAGES

1. Choice - The limited choice of theme or plot. It means, learners may not possibly come out with a broader theme aside from what is given.
2. Speakers - The maximum speakers are two, which is also limited. 

CONCLUSION


The fact that multimedia is always an interesting tool for anyone regardless age and gender make Dvolver a powerful website. Everyone would favour a comic dialogue, especially when it is simple and easy to make. Language teachers will not escape any opportunity to create another classroom activity that apply this concept. For that reason, I do not fine any limitation not to use this in classroom or as homework or project. Though they might be issue of technical problem (lack of computers / no internet access), it can still be done with careful plan. Good Luck