Monday, January 7, 2013

Create Stylish Word Clouds with Tagxedo

The De-tech-tive 4 Teachers Word Cloud
Tagxedo is a free, online web tool that students can use to create very visually appealing word clouds.  As you can see from the image on the left, word clouds can be generated in the shapes related to the topic.  For visual learners this is an excellent tool to highlight or emphasis key terms, concepts or themes.

Tagxedo offers many terrific features such as:
1. customization of fonts, themes, colors, orientation and shapes.  
2.  saving images for printing and sharing
3.  numerous fine-tuning options

(the pedagogical rationale for the use of technology in the classroom)  



Visual Literacy

To interpret, recognize, appreciate, and understand information presented through objects and/or symbols


To elaborate, refine, analyze, and evaluate ideas in order to improve and maximize creative efforts.

Language Skills

To expand and improve vocabulary by using various language expressions such as synonyms, homonyms, antonyms, etc.    

Sample Activities:

The official blog of Tagxedo offers an excellent resource for teachers entitled "101 Ways to Use Tagxedo".  Below is a sampling of some of the great lesson ideas offered:  

1.  Contrast Candidates in a Political Debate - Using debates, speeches, slogans, promises, etc., students can examine the political platform of two or more political candidates.

2.  Current Events - Using key terms from various news outlets (newspaper, radio, television, etc.), students can summarize the latest newsworthy event.

3.  Make a Self Portrait - Using one's dreams, hopes, character traits, goals, etc., students can summarize their personality. 

4.  Make a Tagxedo Poem - Using a favorite poem or one written personally, students can create a word cloud highlighting its theme.  

How to Get Started:

View the video tutorial below to create your first Tagxedo word cloud in minutes!

Tagxedo is a fantastic resource to help students improve a variety of 21st Century skills.  Click here to get started!

This post originally appeared on The De-tech-tive 4 Teachers.


  1. nice, If I can get it right I'll use tagxedo in some of my blogs. can it be also used for WordPress sites?

    1. Yes, absolutely. Tagxedo can be used with any website, blog, etc.

  2. Thanks so much for sharing! I love the idea of kids using this for test reviews or brainstorming. Thanks again.

    1. I actually didn't think of the idea - a colleague did. My students loved it as it didn't feel like they were studying.