Time for another Tune Into Technology, the perfect summer link-up because I have time to try out everyone's ideas for and then steal 'em and say I did it all myself. Seriously Learning to the Core and iTeach 1:1 have a great thing going--so jump in this and share your tips too.
A few months ago I wrote about ThingLink (which is a pretty amazing website) that allows users to annotate images and digitally "write" on them with links, images, and quotes, and/or your own typing. It's really easy to use and I was jazzed up when Jen at Tech With Jen wrote about and shared some of the uses with it. So of course, I had to go and check it out. Then I knew I'd need to find a way to use it..and I did.
Then in April, Jeanette from Third Grade Galore (who I teach with) and I got together to figure out a culmination project for her students after they read the book Charlette's Web. We discussed it for a while and I share the idea of using ThingLink with her (and she ran with it). It would be a good use of technology and reading skills intertwining with one another.
For their final project (and I hope I'm getting all the details correct) were going to create an interactive ThingLink with three of the most important parts from the book.
Here is what a finished one looked like:
Here were the steps students took:
- Pick three important plot points from the book. Students could decide which ones they picked and why.
- They had to draw what those scenes were (using those inference skills).
- Jeanette and students took photos of each set of three pictures.
- Upload to ThingLink.
- Students then typed in what was happening in each scene.
- BOOM! All Done (but this actually took the kids a little more time)
I love seeing the combination of art, reading, and technology all coming together (and pretty seamlessly too). This is a project that allows students at all different learning levels to differentiate for themselves as they work. Some kids only wrote one detail per image, while others wrote almost a paragraph and had multiple links on images. This isn't even including the peer review where students could leave comments.
- ThingLink is free, they also have an educator portion too.
- It can be used on computers and mobile devices.
- You can use images from the inter webs or upload your own.
- Almost all ThingLink creations are public and easy to access.
- All can be embedded in sites (much like I've done with these)
In closing..if you get a chance check out ThingLink and give it a try.
You will love it and be happier than a bear in a swimming pool.