Thing #6: Image Generators

For my learning exercise the two items I chose to explore and reflect on were Tagxedo and BigHugeLabs.  I sampled all four tools but found these two tools had more features that involved creating images from words to express a message.

Tagxedo was interesting because it allowed you to turn any manuscript into visual artwork in which you can customize according to your own preference.  The text you use for can be uploaded 3 ways; by uploading a document, using an URL, or by entering the text in tagxedo.  Once the text is enter it formulates randomly into a desired shape that you are able to edit by changing the color/theme, font/layout, and orientation of words.  Students could use this application to as another form of taking notes or reviewing text.  Key words and colors would assist with generating understanding and help to become processed in students memory.  For instance, for an experiment I used the "Three Little Pigs" story. I gathered the story from a website (http://www.storybus.org) and pasted in Tagxedo.  Once it was generated it highlighted key repeated words.  I used the shape of a pig head for the text so that one would know and remember that the story was about pigs.  The key words serve as the main aspects of the story and also can be used as vocabulary words.  In this assignment you have not only storytelling, but also story review and vocabulary.

BigHugeLabs is filled with alot of creative things that could be utilized using your photos.  With one or more photos you are able to create projects ranging from posters and magazine covers, to calendars and photo booths, to puzzles and jigsaw, and to maps and billboards.  I would prefer students to use this application to demonstrate their learning visually.  They could also create a visual aid to help remember what they learned about something in particular by using what they believe was important and narrowing down particular pictures that would trigger the importance of an objective.  As an experiment I created a motivational poster about life.  I used a tye dye picture from a website (http://www.tafreehmella.com) of a rose to represent how unique and different life can be.  I then used a couple common quotes that I remembered quickly.  An assignment as such could be created by students and posted around the room to uplift students at any given time.