Ooooh, Ooooh, Ooooh...Another Cool Tool....

I just found another cool tool for creating word clouds from the Wordle.net website. This tool allows you to take any text copy, url of a document or site and create a word cloud from the most prominent words in the text or website. Then, you can either link to the wordle.net word cloud, or you can screen capture the resulting wordle graphic for use in websites, text, or for other purposes. You must credit Wordle.net under the Creative Commons license, but that is definitely appropriate for the free use of this cool tool. Here is a word cloud that was created from this site, which I snipped from wordle.net and have inserted here.

Graphic created using Wordle.net

Other options are available to the user on Wordle.net, such as, code which directly links the graphic to a web page. This is an example of using the embedded code:

A word cloud created on Wordle.net from embedded code.

As you can see, the embedded version is more degraded and pixelated than the captured graphic; I would suggest a snip, save as jpg, and insert method for a better resolution word cloud graphic. Try it; you might like it! :)

Collaboration elaboration....

Wowee! I just checked out a few collaboration tools since I am going to need to collaborate on writing a research paper for this course with another student. The first tool I have looked at is Acrobat.com, which includes a suite of collaboartion tools. Collaborate on documents using Adobe Buzzword, save documents online or export in many common formats; present using ConnectNow, which allows real-time chat, conference call-in, audio-video presentation and more; share documents with others via Share; save your created files or uploaded documents online for easy access and sharing. A free sign-up is all that is required to start using Adobe's online collaboration suite.

Another tool that could work for my collaborative project is Hylighter.com, which is a free online document collaboration tool. Documents can be imported from my computer, website url, and created using the java wordprocessing tool included in Hylighter.com. Invitations for collaborating on documents can be sent from within Hylighter.com. The tool makes collaborative editing and commenting on a document easy. Exporting is available as PDF, DOC, and HTML formats. A free sign-up is required to use this tool.

I love all the online tools that are available to everyone to use!

Exciting Online Event for Educators....

LearningTimes. net sent me an email regarding the K12 Online Conference 2008 free event, which began on October 13 with preconference keynote speeches and continues through October 31. Participation is open to everyone. Check it out at the K12Online 2008 Help Desk hosted by wikispaces.com. Since pre-conference events have already taken place, there area audio podcasts available. If you decide to attend any of the sessions, or listen to the audio podcasts, etc., let me know what you think.

Awesome Asynch???

This week's class met online in asynchronous environments created by students in CI 5323, Online Learning Communities. The purpose of the online meetings was to present readings assigned to the class, create an activity and discussion--asynchronously. I have enjoyed viewing the presentations and answering questions as part of the asynchronous experience. Up to this point, I have simply submitted my answers and reflections to the questions asked--and added comments to a few other student's posts.

I most enjoyed the variety of the presentations as well as the convenience of being able to participate online when convenient to my own schedule. One aspect that I have not enjoyed is the repeated checking for posts from other class members--so that I might read their responses and discuss various points. I personally don't care for the wait-time between my responses and responses from others to "discuss" comments. The time lag that the asychronous assignment presents takes patience and requires rereading my notes to be thorough in my responses to other students. I am tempted to shorten my answers just to be finished with the assigned task--so I can check this off my list. I guess, although I have read the articles well, I am finding less engagement in this asychronous assignment that in the synchronous assignment.