“Cool Tools for 21st Century Projects – Secondary INFOhio’s 21st Century Learning Commons Essential Thing 11”

1. “Cool Tools for 21st Century Projects – Secondary INFOhio’s 21st Century Learning Commons Essential Thing 11”

2. Bubbl.us is a simple and free web application that lets you brainstorm online.1 • Create colorful mind maps online • Share and work with friends • Embed your mind map in your blog or website • Email and print your mind map • Save your mind map as an image:

4. bubbl.us • Brainstorm ideas • Build a family tree • Create flow charts • Create handouts • Presentations • Notes Need some ideas on using bubbl.us in the class room, then check out this website http://www.web2teachingtools.com/bubbl_us.html

5. What is Wordle “Wordle is a tool for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends.” Check out this word cloud from Google

6. Wordle Hints • Retype the words that you want to emphasize 2 or 3 times to make them stand out • Use a ~ between words to group words together such as trick~or~treat • You can customize the color palette under the color choices, to make the background and lettering your choices. • Choose your font under font choices • Under layout, you can determine the maximum word usage

7. Try making a Wordle www.wordle.net Create your text, then click Go

9. You can change fonts, layout design, even colors, including creating a custom palette

12. Saving Wordles to use later • To save a wordle as an image that you can use later follow these steps • Press print screen on the keyboard. • Go to MS Paint (Under Accessories); click edit and then paste. Your wordle will appear on the screen. • Use the cropping tool to select the part of the word cloud that you wish to save. • Save as a jpg file ready to use OR copy into a software program like Word, Publisher or PowerPoint.

13. Saving a Wordle • If you have Windows 7, use the snipping tool to save your wordle as a jpg or other graphic formats • “Save to gallery” will save your Wordle to public gallery

14. Sample Wordles I worked with a group of 8th grade students on some enrichment projects for their Reading class. Once a week the students participated in a Book Club on Blackboard. Their assignments and other information was posted online. One project involved creating a wordle for a book that they read. Each student has to submit a list of the words and explain how the words related to the book. Any graphics that were used had to be included on a separate “Works Cited.”

15. The Vampire Earth Series tells the story of David Valentine and his struggle against the Kurians. Words/phrases chosen for the wordle and how they relate to the series: 2065– The series begins in the year 2065. Post-apocalyptic– The series is set in post-apocalyptic America. David Valentine– He is the main character in the series. Southern Command– Southern Command is the main rebel group fighting the Kurian Order. Lifeweavers– The Lifeweavers are an alien species closely related to the Kurians. They are the main enemies of the Kurians. They came to Earth to save the human race. Hunters– Hunters are humans altered by the Lifeweavers to fight the Kurians and their creations. There are three castes: Wolves, Cats, and Bears. Kurians– The Kurians are an alien species closely related to the Lifeweavers. They took control of Earth in 2022, and rule it without mercy. They gain immortality through absorbing the vital aura (an energy created by living things) of sentient beings, such as humans. Quislings– Quislings are humans who serve or assist the Kurians. Reapers– Reapers are vampire-like creatures created and controlled by the Kurians. When a Reaper kills a sentient being, its vital aura is transferred to the Reaper’s master. Grogs– Grogs are the non-human beings employed by the Kurians. Some are aliens, others are genetically engineered creatures.

16. HEAT Michael Arroyo is a boy who is a pitcher in little league, and the age limit is twelve years old, but his birth certificate is in his native Cuba, so he can’t prove his age. Wordle words Michael- Michael is the main character’s first name. Arroyo- Arroyo is the main character’s last name. baseball- Michael plays baseball. pitcher- Michael is a pitcher. Cuba- Michael used to live in Cuba before he moved to the United States. Carlos- Michael lives with his brother named Carlos since both of his parents have died. Williamsport- Michael’s team is trying to make it to the Little League World Series, which is in Williamsport Pennsylvania. eighty- Michael can pitch a baseball eighty miles per hour. Manny- Michael’s best friend’s name is Manny. Yankees- Michael’s favorite professional baseball team is the Yankees

17. Sample Wordles In English 3, during the second 9 weeks, students are part of a Book Club. They are in groups of 3-5, all reading the same book. All of the work is online using Blackboard. One of the assignments is to complete a Wordle for the book. In addition to creating the Wordle, students must submit a list of the words and/or phrases used and explain how their choices are related to the book. Any pictures that are added must be included on a works cited page.

18. Sample Wordles

24. Poetry (word poems, analysis, etc.) State/country reports Reflections Creating a memory Review a historical document Spelling lists Vocabulary Convert a sonnet, play or even children’s book into wordle Analyzing famous speeches List of class rules Characters in a book Ways to say things differently Art reflections (place the wordle on a piece of art Summary of political speech Uses for Wordle

25. Who Am I? (historical features or even student biographies) Today in History Song lyrics Nutrition – diet/content Results of a search query Keywords to use for a search query Essays into wordles To Do Lists Survey results News articles with main points Minutes of a meeting Brainstorming Guessing games Tell me about Art projects such as t-shirt designs, mugs, etc. More Wordle uses

26. Glogster Glogster is an interactive online poster site where users can add links, photos, stickers, text, sound, music, animation and more to a page.

27. Poetry (word poems, analysis, etc.) Create an interactive tale or country reports Reflections Creating a memory Review a historical document with links to videos and more Convert a sonnet, play or even children’s book into a visual scrapbook Create a “Choose Your Own Adventure” graphic novel. Make a personal portfolio Make a clickable diagram of a concept or model Create a visual glossary Write an interactive book review Make a e-poster for your favorite author or book Uses for Glogster

28. Try using Glogster glogster.net OR create your own classroom using edu.glogster.net

30. Sample Glogsters from 8th grade

37. Who Am I? (historical features or even student biographies) Today in History with links to videos, websites, music Song lyrics Invent a game or puzzle with videos, images, sound and text elements requiring players to interact to move Make a talking storybook using narration and sound effects attached to pages and images. News articles with main points Create an interactive exhibit of an event or era with pictures, videos and links to primary sources. Guessing games with links to videos, sounds, etc. with the answers Tell me about More Glogster uses

38. How to Use Glogster • Go to glogster.com. Register or just click on the button “Try to Create your own” • Make a e-poster for an author you love, or a book that you think someone would like to read. It may be fiction or non-fiction (or any topic that you would like). • You can choose from different backgrounds and images provided. You can upload your own pics, music and video clips to use too. • Add some links. Add frames to your pics. Change your colors. Add graphics using the ones available on Glogster. Add a YouTube video.

39. Saving a Glogster • How to share my Glog? • Sharing your Glog is easy – there several ways of sharing it online. You can either: • The easiest way to promote your Glog is using the +SHARE GLOG function. It lets you send the Glog to your profile at any of the major social websites, like MySpace or Facebook • Click "Embed into your page" below the Glog to show it on your website – the size of the Glog is preserved, so this is a useful opportunity for example for teachers • Click the “Send to friends” button below the Glog. Preview of the Glog will be included. • Spread the word about your Glog by inviting a friend from your Glogster profile. • If a Glog is Private, only its creator can share it. • How to print a Glog or view it Full Screen? • Right-click the Glog and select Print or Full Screen.

40. Saving Glogster • To save a glogster as an image that you can use later follow these steps • Press print screen on the keyboard. • Go to MS Paint (Under Accessories); click edit and then paste. Your glogster will appear on the screen. • Use the cropping tool to select the part of the word cloud that you wish to save. • Save as a jpg file ready to use OR copy into a software program like Word, Publisher or PowerPoint. ***Sometimes you can only save half of the Glogster, so you may have to repeat the step and paste the two parts together

41. The possibilities are only limited to your imagination!