In this month's School Library Journal, there is an article that refers to online tools that can be used for visualization of information. I checked a few of them out and I think they are worth mentioning.
Google Documents - If you haven't figured this out yet, Google provides an online method of creating word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database documents. It also creates forms that can be used for surveys or tests. For those that don't have the luxury of Microsoft products, but do have internet access, it is a great way to be able to create documents. They can be saved and emailed.
Flubaroo - Working in conjuction with Google docs, this program makes grading assignments easy. Basically you create a test (using the Google doc forms) online and email it to your students. (Or if you have a webpage, you can create a link to it.) Students take the test. You create an answer document and install the flubaroo program and it will automatically grade the tests. You need to be a little tech saavy to use it, but once you have tests created with answer documents, you can use them year after year.
Google Fusion Tables - This feature can be used to create visualization tools like maps, charts, and graphs by uploading data, but can also be more advanced by allowing multiple users to add information for comparison purposes. See this example from the Texas Tribune. This could be easily integrated in math, science, and social studies classes.
Other graphic options include Hohli and Many Eyes. My personal favorite visualization tools, however, are creating word clouds. There are several options available to create word clouds and it just takes some playing with each program to to create what you want. They are fun to create and it is a great way to visualize information. The text can be pasted into programs, typed from scratch, or linked to another website by putting in the URL. Here are the choices for creating word clouds:
Wordle: Easy to use with no software installation required. Limited design flexibility. Cannot create custom shapes. Do not have to sign up with an account.
Tagul: Users are required to set up an account and an email address is necessary. Software not required for basic creations. Custom shapes require additional software and you are charged for custom shape creation.
Tagxedo: Requires software installation to use. Once installed, it is easy to create custom shapes with no fees. (I made a t-shirt with the shape of Texas made out of a bunch of different words once.) Files can be saved as .pdfs. I prefer this program when it works. Had issues using it on a Mac computer. Would be difficult to use in SAISD due to software installation requirements.
If you get a chance, check some of these out and see if you might integrate them into your instruction.
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