Word Clouds Increase Metacognition.
In the classroom, it is often a technique to create a concept map and as students learn they add ideas and knowledge to that map. As the map grows the discussion that is lead in the classroom can review and help students build schema that is more readily accessible in their vocabulary. I believe that using the word cloud to analyze their thoughts and usage, shows them a visual representation of how they are thinking about a content topic.
The visual learner can see their ideas and knowledge as they look over their creation. As they manipulate words, effects, and shapes in Tagxedo; we as educators can probe them about their choices o shapes, colors, text direction, and font choices to increase their critical thinking on the topic. If we get them through the filtering of their own content for intent and message, then we have moved them towards the actionable part of beliefs and action steps. Using a word cloud to clear up understanding, to prompt further research and to analyze a message provides the impetus that we should be promoting in students throughout the course of the school year.
My word cloud is created from an article that advocates teachers using homework to increase the level of academic achievement in students. The research breaks down the levels of achievement based on how challenged and relevant the work is for students. Children's effort and motivation came from their feeling that their work was not only challenging but also necessary for their own achievement goals. The word cloud really emphasized the points that I found to be the important message from the article, so I was pleased that I understood what I read. In retrospect, if students completed this activity I the same way, they could really check themselves for their own understanding, as I found myself doing after it was created. Overall, I think using this technique in the classroom could really create some inner dialogue for students and that is functionally critical thinking.
The visual learner can see their ideas and knowledge as they look over their creation. As they manipulate words, effects, and shapes in Tagxedo; we as educators can probe them about their choices o shapes, colors, text direction, and font choices to increase their critical thinking on the topic. If we get them through the filtering of their own content for intent and message, then we have moved them towards the actionable part of beliefs and action steps. Using a word cloud to clear up understanding, to prompt further research and to analyze a message provides the impetus that we should be promoting in students throughout the course of the school year.
My word cloud is created from an article that advocates teachers using homework to increase the level of academic achievement in students. The research breaks down the levels of achievement based on how challenged and relevant the work is for students. Children's effort and motivation came from their feeling that their work was not only challenging but also necessary for their own achievement goals. The word cloud really emphasized the points that I found to be the important message from the article, so I was pleased that I understood what I read. In retrospect, if students completed this activity I the same way, they could really check themselves for their own understanding, as I found myself doing after it was created. Overall, I think using this technique in the classroom could really create some inner dialogue for students and that is functionally critical thinking.