EDUcullen: TAGXEDO
OVERVIEW
Easy-to-use web site creates artistic shapes from your typed words and builds four important skills.
WHAT IS IT?
A lot of people are familiar with Wordle: you input text, it outputs a lovely “word cloud.” Never heard of Wordle? No worries, you’re about to learn something more engaging for your youngster: Tagxedo.
WHAT IT HELPS
I recommend Tagxedo for four reasons:
- voice (style)
- vocabulary (learning words personally important to the writer)
- spelling (familiar and unfamiliar words)
- keyboarding
The bonus? There’s a product at the end your child can show to others: computer-generated artwork.
NEED TO KNOW
You are just two steps from a finished product. First is the most important of Tagxedo’s many options: choose a shape.
I let my daughter select from the 100+ icons. After choosing a tree, we started step two: think of words to describe the shape. Throughout this stage, I asked her a recurring question: “What word can tell about your tree?” We came up with:
- many leaves
- change colours
- tall
- red
- yellow
- orange
- brown
- autumn
Whereas Wordle would produce these in a cloud shape, you can see that Tagxedo outputs text as the very figure you’re describing.
The tree is colourful. #AutumnWords #Tagxedo http://t.co/zxd3mmZjlm pic.twitter.com/q3PPBX7W6b — Isabelle (@IsabelleMNOP) October 6, 2013
Under the “Save | Share” option, you can save, link to, or print the image. A minute after finishing the text, my daughter has a piece of art she created with her own words. It’s on her wall and shared online with relatives. Quick, smart, fun – and done.
NICE TO KNOW
Tagxedo presents other options for (older) users keen on finesse.
- colour theme
- font
- orientation (text direction)
- layout (words change location within the shape)
A quick tap on the arrows gives a randomized appearance. I enjoy the “Orientation” option to quick-change the look of the words. 
Fortunately, if you don’t like your new layout, Tagxedo includes a “History” button; you can review and recall any previous looks. 
You can see these features modelled in the brief Tagxedo video guide.
TEACHERS
If you have computers and dictionary access, this is an excellent centre. Students can work in small groups (i.e., share a computer) and must stay on task as you’ll be looking for their finished artwork. You can tie the use of Tagxedo to several curriculum outcomes. (I’m choosing Grade 1 for this example and shortening the wording of expectations.)
| SKILL | New Brunswick (descriptive text) | Ontario | Ontario ESL (G1-3) | Common Core |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| voice | show knowledge/interest in subject | writing 2.2 • use pictures & words to convey attitude/feeling |
writing stage 1 • express ideas through drawing, first language |
writing 1.W.5 • add details to strengthen writing |
| vocabulary | use basic vocabulary; attempt to use descriptive language | oral 2.4 • choose appropriate words from vocabulary |
writing stage 1 • write some personally relevant words |
language 1.L.6 • use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to |
| spelling | spell high-frequency words; attempt to spell unknown words | writing 3.1 & 3.2 • spell high-frequency & unfamiliar words |
writing stage 1 • dictate to a scribe |
language 1.L.2 • spell known words & use phonics to spell unknown words |
| keyboarding | n/a | media literacy 3.4 • produce short media text |
writing stage 1 • begin to use computers |
writing 1.W.6 • use digital tools to produce and publish writing |
LINKS
Tagxedo: http://www.tagxedo.com/app.html
Tagxedo instructional video: http://www.vimeo.com/mrpetercullen/thisistagxedo
Wordle: http://www.wordle.net
The Guest Room 
We saw this used at TEDxHK yesterday in a couple of presentations. very cool!
I’m a HUGE fan of tagxedo! The only glitch is, you can’t use Tagxedo in Google Chrome. Stick to Safari, Firefox or old school Netscape!
Thanks for visiting the guest room Claudia!