Wordle

include component="page" wikiName="techtools4literacy" page="word cloud menu wordle"

=[|Wordle (http://www.wordle.net)]=
 * ==Benefits [[image:lois_lenski_people.jpg width="362" height="177" align="right" link="People"]]==
 * Free
 * No sign-up or e-mail required.
 * Generated Wordles are licensed under a Creative Commons license and thus maybe freely used in any student work.
 * Very easy to use. Short learning curve for students.
 * Quick, does not take much time to create. Can easily be done whole class.
 * Offers several options for customization (font, color, layout).
 * ==Challenges==
 * The Wordle word cloud generator is not dedicated to educational use and may display some objectionable material on the site.
 * Site creator has stated that no objectionable material will ever be displayed on the site's home or creation pages. See the [|Wordle FAQ]page for verification. If a school's web-filtering system allows for specific web page blocking it may be configured to block any objectionable content on the Wordle site. Have your network administrator block the following base URLs to prevent your users from inadvertently accessing anything that's not safe for classrooms.
 * http://www.wordle.net/gallery
 * http://www.wordle.net/next
 * http://www.wordle.net/random
 * The Wordle generator requires Java to run correctly. If you do not have Java installed on your web-browser, you may [|download it here.]
 * The Wordle generator requires a Java applet which runs on the local computer (not the Internet) and the applet may be blocked by some users Firewall settings.(A red x appears to show that the applet is not working properly). See the [|Wordle FAQ] page for information on how to troubleshoot the Firewall issue.
 * The Wordle image may only be saved on the Internet or through screen capture. Most of the Wordle images on this site were saved using [|Snag-It], but PC users may also utilize the Prnt Scrn Key on their keyboard to save a Wordle image. (Directions on how to use the [|Print Scrn Key].) I like to save my Wordles by capturing them with Snag-It and saving the jpg file to my Flickr account. That way I always have access to my Wordle images.
 * Wordle images may be saved to the Internet, but this requires a code name and users must keep track of the image URL as Wordle images are not searchable.
 * Wordle images saved to the Internet may be embedded into websites using the provided embed code, but are saved in this small size with a link to the larger version.

media type="custom" key="11558004"


 * ==Helpful Hints==
 * The size of the word is indicative of the number of times the word is repeated in the text.
 * It is very easy to copy and paste text from the Internet or from student work in Word or another program into the Wordle application. Text may also be entered directly.
 * Wordle does not recognize words are the same when first letters are capitalized.
 * Default settings eliminate common English words such as the, a, an, prepositions, etc. All words can be included if desired by clicking on the Language tab at the top of the completed Wordle and clicking the Remove Common English Words option. Note that this will cause the Wordle to regenerate.
 * Numbers are eliminated from Wordles by default, but may be included by clicking on the Language tab and clicking on the check box next to the Remove Numbers option at the top of the page.
 * Words may be removed from a completed Wordle by right clicking on the word in the completed Wordle. Words may not be added except by using the Wordle creation interface.