Review of Tagxedo

Name of the Tool: Tagxedo

URL of the Tool http://www.tagxedo.com/app.html

Please select the one, primary category for this tool: Communication Tool, Collaboration Tool, Productivity Tool, Creativity Tool, Critical Thinking/Problem Solving Tool, Reflection Tool, Feedback Tool, Networking/Social Tool, Presentation Tool. Tagxedo is a creativity tool.

Please describe this tool in your own words (in about 250 words). Tagxedo turns words into art! Users can write or copy and paste words- anything from famous speeches, poetry, classroom rules, to a group of synonyms to the site. Tagxedo then sizes the words according to frequency of use and takes out non-useful words such as like, and, the, on, and and. The words are then arranged into a design that the user chooses. The site has options such as a globe, heart, flower, etc. The user may also choose the font styles and color options.  

What do you need to know before using this tool? (What skills do you need to have?) Users should be familiar with basic word processing skills such as typing, font selection, etc.

What do you need to have before using this tool? (Resources) A word or document selection- such as a love letter, diary entry, speech, poem, word wall, etc.

How do you use this tool? (Write the basic steps using a numbered list)

           1.   Load text- type or paste word bank into tagxedo create

           2.   Choose color/theme/font/shape

           3.   Save design


      Locate an example of an educational resource created with this tool and include the URL for this example. http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2012/01/tagxedo-create-word-clouds-with-style.html

Please describe a scenario of how a teacher might use this tool in a classroom setting. Language Arts teachers could use this tool to help students display their writing. For example, students who wrote poems could display their poems in a creative manner using Tagxedo.

What are the advantages of using this tool in a teaching environment? This tool encourages students to be creative and it fosters a love of language and words.

What are the disadvantages of using this tool in a teaching environment? This tool arranges words into a piece of art. It isn’t a writing tool.