Options Regardless of Device: Venn Diagram Maker (Part 1)

Just as today's classrooms are more diverse than ever, the devices available to teachers are more diverse than ever. Whether you are using tablets, laptops, Chromebooks, or Macbooks, how can you you manage the device diversity that exists? This series is filled with tools that can be used as Apps or on the web.

Read Write Think:

If you are not using Read Write Think in your classroom, you may want to consider doing so. It is a website filled with classroom resources, lesson plans, interactives, and professional development resources. Today I would like to focus on a tool many of us have been using since the dawn of time - Venn Diagrams. Let's check out Read Write Think's Venn Diagram Maker.

Why Use It?

Students have been using Venn Diagrams for ages; however, we sometimes forget that students may have difficulties with the tools we provide. Perhaps, they have difficulty writing in the template you provided them in class. Maybe they have fine motor difficulties or a broken wrist.

Perhaps this could be a tool to engage the unmotivated student. Maybe this tool is easier to use for your hands-on learners. What if you are trying to provide options for students to use high-tech and low-tech options in school? This is a perfect tool to help design learning experiences for all students in your classroom, without neglecting the needs of others. Best of all - it is simple and easy to use.


Step 1: Add Your Name and Title

This is the perfect tool for any classroom because you can use the web version or iPad App version. Today I will be focusing on the web version. Once you start the Venn Diagram Maker, you will need to add your name and title.



Step 2: Add Content

You can easily customize your Venn Diagram by adding circles, changing its color, and providing its name. Click on the New Item icon to add content to each circle. You will need to provide a label and item description.

For example, if you were talking about the Enron Corporation, you may use the label "Unethical" and then use the item description section to describe your answer. When you are ready to add your item to the diagram, click on the check mark icon. Then drag and drop your label, wherever you want it. When you are finished with your diagram, just hit next.

NOTE: You may notice that you will not see your item description. This won't appear until you print or save your diagram as a PDF. More on that next!



Step 3: Save or Finish

After you hit next, you will immediately see a preview of your diagram and several different options:

1. Save Draft - if you are not finished, no worries! Save your draft as a .RWT file and work on it again. You can even send it to yourself.
2. Save Final - save your diagram as a PDF.
3. Share Final - you can have RWT send your file via email. No email address needed!
4. Print Final  

Conclusion: 

Check this tool out and let me know what you think! Do you have other tools that you would like to share. I would love to hear about them!