Wordle (Web 2.0 PD Menu)

Wordle

Wordle is a way to generate word clouds using text. Word clouds can be tweaked by changing the color, fonts, and color schemes of the text. Wordles can be used in different curricular areas within elementary and secondary levels.

Wordles can be saved as a PDF. The following are instructions on how to save a Wordle as a PDF using a MAC and a PC. There's a "Print..." button below the Wordle area, on the left-hand side. Press it. You will be prompted to allow the Wordle "Java applet" to access your printer. Please check the check box that says "Always permit", and accept the dialog.

On the Mac, you'll have to press the "Print..." button again. Mac users can simply "Save as PDF" from their built-in printer dialog.

Windows users will need to use third-party software to generate a PDF from the print dialog. Adobe Acrobat is fine, but u can use the free CutePDF Writer. If you do use CutePDF, you'll also need to install Ghostscript, a free PostScript interpreter.
The PDFs you make in this way are fully scalable, and suitable for making posters, T-Shirts, etc.

Wordle Tip:

If you place a ~ between compound words or words in a sentence, the words, phrase, or sentence will stay together. This is a great tip for educators to know when having their students create Wordles. www.world.net


Examples of Class Wordles created in CSD:

KidBlog-Elementary Student Blogging

One frustration for Elementary teachers is finding a blog service that allows elementary students to blog without using an email. Does such a service exist? Kidblog is simple for elementary students to use, it's free, and it is safe to use in a classroom setting. This is a great tool to use that allows students to focus on their writing instead of focusing on the technology tool. Teachers have the control of the comments that their students leave and the blog can only be seen by the teacher and students. A teacher can set up the account where parents can view the blog, but a password is required. Comments cannot come from outside sources and personal information is not collected in Kidblog. I feel that when students blog, teachers are encouraging collaboration, but it needs to be in a safe environment. This is one solution for elementary teachers to use to encourage blogging. Check it out!

VOIP-Social Software

VOIP is shortened for the term Voice over Internet Protocol and is a general term used referring to the family of transmission technologies used for the delivery of voice communications over the internet (wikipedia.org). These are a few places found where you can sign up to call your family, friends, and co-workers for free, or for a lower price, over the internet. Check these out. Just sharing!

Lingo Talk

Skype (My personal favorite.)

Voip

Creative Educator

The Creative Educator is an educational magazine produced by Tech4Learning, inc. that can be subscribed to for free. Creative Educator features articles about educators and how they have used educational technology in their classrooms. This magazine is filled with ideas, tips, etc. and is really worth subscribing to if you are a teacher. If you go to their website, and click on subscribe, there is an information box for you to fill out and submit to the magazine.