Wordart is an interactive website which allows users to create and design custom word clouds. Wordart has a wide range of customisation tools these include different fonts, colours, word sizes and how they appear (shape, pattern, etc.). Wordart also allows users to change how frequently the words appear. There is also a feature that allows you to add a link to words allows for definition and extra learning.
Figure 1: WordArt.com. (n.d.). [Custom word art image]. https://wordart.com
Figure 2: Erika Sandstrom (2018, Sep 18) How to use www.wordart com [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJQ-bdBajF4&t=183s
Wordart can be used in every subject as it is a powerful tool for creatively displaying main keywords. A specific example would be in a Kindergarten PDHPE class which aligns with the PHE-IHW-01 learning outcome. This outcome focuses on identifying factors that affect health, identity and well-being. The teacher can get students to brainstorm and then use Wordart to create a poster that can be used around the room. This would allow students to say words that relate to who they are. Using Wordart would allow students to see what is most popular in their classrooms and recognise the importance of culture. It would also create a sense of community, which connects to Vygotsky's sociocultural theory about how social interaction can affect learning in a positive way. Caingcoy (2023) states that culturally responsive pedagogy is important to create inclusive learning environments, which Wordart allows. Wordart may be hard for younger users to figure out but is a great resource for teachers. Below are two examples that could come out of an activity like this. Left being what sport you enjoy, right is what you are grateful for.
Syllabus:
PHE-IHW-01 identifies factors that contribute to identity, health and wellbeing
Both images created by Amaka Okenwa
Wordart is a beneficial resource as it is an interactive, free-to-use website that allows you to create word clouds. It supports all areas of learning as you can place whichever words you want and change the shape to fit. For example, a tree is a good example when learning about the environment. It supports learners of all ages, as it is simple to create and can be used as a schema activation tool. This is a versatile tool that can be used in all educational settings.
References + Word Count 352
Caingcoy, M. (2023). Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: A Systematic Overview. Diversitas Journal, 8(4), 3203–
3212. https://doi.org/10.48017/dj.v8i4.2780
Erika Sandstrom (2018, Sep 18) How to use www.wordart com [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJQ-bdBajF4&t=183s
Marginson, S., & Dang, T. K. A. (2017). Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory in the context of globalization. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 37(1), 116–129. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2016.1216827
Nezhyva, L. L., Palamar, S. P., & Marienko, M. V. (2022). Clouds of words as a didactic tool in literary education of primary school children. CTE Workshop Proceedings, 9, 381–393. https://doi.org/10.55056/cte.127