Generating Word Clouds

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Predictions, Word Clouds and Nursing Conflict

“Predictions, Word Clouds and Nursing Conflict” is an activity that uses word clouds (www.wordle.net) for the purpose of using the vocabulary as a prediction of what the reading will be about (pre-reading technique).

Outcomes:

The learner will be able to:

  • Use vocabulary to predict what a reading will be about
  • Gain more vocabulary related to nursing and conflict
  • Practice reading strategies
  • Use vocabulary to write 2-3 paragraphs to provide a detailed description about how to manage conflict

Preparation:

  • Discuss concept of word cloud with different size of font correlating to the number of times a word appears in a text
  • Discuss writing expectations 2-3 paragraph summary to address the purpose of the writing, express main ideas with supporting details, good use of grammar, etc.

Delivery:

  1. Introduce the tool if necessary
    • Clarify participation expectations
      • Grading criteria
      • I.e. One wordle with one written summary
  2. Choose a piece of text related to the topic: Nursing and Conflict (LearningNurse.com - Managing Conflict PDF 30KB)
  3. Copy the text into the word cloud tool; print the result
    • Choose 5 words from the word cloud. Look up their definitions. Create a list of the words and their definitions
    • Share the word cloud with a partner; have partner predict what the text is about
  4. Share word list with partner. Create a combined word list using your list and your partner’s list

Activity Reference Links:

The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) skills addressed by this activity are:

  • Listening
  • Speaking
  • Reading
  • Writing

Reading

ES: Global Description CLB: Global Description ES: Speaking Tasks CLB: Speaking Tasks

Reads more complex texts to locate a single piece of information or reads simpler texts to locate multiple pieces of information.

Language of the text is mostly concrete and factual, with some abstract conceptual and technical vocabulary items, and may require low-level inference to comprehend it (e.g. person may guess some new words by recognition of prefixes and suffixes). (6)

Reads industry publications, press releases, economic impact reports and newspaper articles.

Reads health and safety notices posted on bulletin boards to apply safe working practices on the job.

Reads a report, interview, news item or a story, that includes explanations and examples identifies seven out of ten important points. Retells the text in own words. (6)

Writing

ES: Global Description CLB: Global Description ES: Speaking Tasks CLB: Speaking Tasks

Either longer or shorter pieces of writing intended to inform, explain, request information, express opinions, or give directions.

Links paragraphs to form coherent texts to express ideas on familiar abstract topics, with some support for main ideas, and with an appropriate sense of audience. (8)

Demonstrate good control over common sentence patterns, coordination and subordination, and spelling and mechanics. Has occasional difficulty with complex structures (e.g., those reflecting cause and reason, purpose, comment), naturalness of phrases and expressions, organization and style. (8)

Writes detailed job specifications.

Writes an outline or a summary of a longer text. (8)