Wordle (www.wordle.net) is a sweet, simple website where users can generate word clouds. And while naysayers might say that word clouds were cool in 2000 and they are a little passé by today's standards, I say they are wrong.
I contend that word clouds are effective because they aren't popular. We aren't saturated by them anymore, so when we see one, perhaps it represents something relevant and worth considering.
I'm championing them as a learning tool. If a picture is worth one thousand words, than a picture of a word cloud must be exponentially more valuable. And because a word cloud emphasizes the frequency of words, they can be an honest representation of the zeitgeist of an organization.
Consider the word cloud below (all word clouds were created with Wordle, unless otherwise noted). I merely copied and pasted the full text of the Constitution of the United States into the word cloud generator at wordle.net, and look at the results:
History teachers could hang up a poster like this right next to the Constitution. It's a bit easier to digest (and provides an inherent value dipstick).
I also see great value in implementing a word cloud for clubs, departments, and organizations. Again, it is a great way to instantly get a feel of how the organization sees itself (as told by the mission statement). Here is a snapshot of the Monroe Community College mission statement. I work here, and as I really believe that our core ideology is embodied in this graphical representation (note that in addition to copying and pasting the mission statement into the generator, I skewed the frequency of "MCC" by adding it several more times manually - I did this because I wanted it to render larger than any other word).
I'm championing them as a learning tool. If a picture is worth one thousand words, than a picture of a word cloud must be exponentially more valuable. And because a word cloud emphasizes the frequency of words, they can be an honest representation of the zeitgeist of an organization.
Consider the word cloud below (all word clouds were created with Wordle, unless otherwise noted). I merely copied and pasted the full text of the Constitution of the United States into the word cloud generator at wordle.net, and look at the results:
 |
| You could look at this for an overview of the values of our constitution, or you could read the whole thing. Your call. |
History teachers could hang up a poster like this right next to the Constitution. It's a bit easier to digest (and provides an inherent value dipstick).
I also see great value in implementing a word cloud for clubs, departments, and organizations. Again, it is a great way to instantly get a feel of how the organization sees itself (as told by the mission statement). Here is a snapshot of the Monroe Community College mission statement. I work here, and as I really believe that our core ideology is embodied in this graphical representation (note that in addition to copying and pasting the mission statement into the generator, I skewed the frequency of "MCC" by adding it several more times manually - I did this because I wanted it to render larger than any other word).
 |
| Look at those words! Don't they just scream "welcoming learning environment"? Our mission statement rules. |
Thematically, word clouds can elucidate difficult readings. This collection of word clouds are different arrangements of the text from Henry V (as a math major, I struggled with Shakespeare in college - this might have helped me decrypt some of the themes and major players).
Advanced users can explicitly weigh the words, thus creating a pictorial representation of who they are, what they believe, or their hobbies. Teachers could survey the students on a topic (for example, "Who was the most developed character in To Kill a Mockingbird?"), and generate a word cloud based on the responses. If the teacher has multiple sections reading the same book, the word clouds could be juxtaposed next to each other, displaying the different (or same) values from class to class.
Word clouds can be personal (as in creating a word cloud to represent oneself), and can also be collaborative (aggregating responses from a group of people). I also recently saw a word cloud on my LinkedIn feed. So I guess I'm not the only one who still believes in them (in this screenshot, I'm not sure if wordle.net was used in the creation of the word cloud):
 |
| Someone in LinkedIn likes word clouds... |
To demonstrate the potency of a word cloud, I leave you with this one. You figure out what it means.
 |
| What do you see in this cloud? |
These unlawful gambling sites additionally be} operated by a non-public individual, groups, or organized crime figures. Problem gamblers typically become very good 1xbet at asking for money, either directly or not directly. They could use pleading, manipulation, or even threats to get it. It takes follow to ensure you are not enabling your loved one|your beloved|the one you love}'s gambling dependancy. While compulsive and downside gamblers want the support of their household and pals to assist them in their battle to cease gambling, the decision to quit has to be theirs. As a lot as you could need to, and as onerous as it is seeing the consequences, you can not make someone cease gambling.
ReplyDelete