Ever wonder if there was a simple tool to get your visual learners in the classroom to be able to share content with others in a creative and innovative way?
If so, you may want to take a look at Thinglink. (https://www.thinglink.com) Thanks to the information provided by Sue
Gorman in her webinar presented by Illinois Computing Educators (ICE, for
short), you can do just that.
How are others using this tech?
Ms. Gorman’s presentation was an excellent mix of guidelines
for selecting technology tools for the classroom (choose your learning goals,
make practical pedagogical decisions about the nature of the learning
experience and selecting and sequencing appropriate activity types to combine
to form the learning experience), why we want student to create (to keep
students thinking, communicating and invested) and examples of how current
educators are using this particular technology tool in the classroom to get
various types of learners engaged in the classroom. Standouts from the presentation included blogs
by Kathy Knutson (Technology is Loose in the Library at http://ohekidstech.blogspot.com/2014/03/kahoot-is-hoot-gamification-of-media.html)
and Meghan Zigmond (Zig Zagging Through Education and Technology at http://zigzaggingedtech.blogspot.com/p/app-smashing.html)
and Thinglink pages by Sue Oxnevad about SAMR models and Tim Nielson. These examples were so great that I had to
watch the webinar and then go back and find the blogs and pages so I could see
what these tech savvy teachers were up to!
Webinars: In general...
What I like so much about webinars like these is that they give a brief look, not only at a technology that you may not know much about, but also a glimpse into how others in education are using it with students in innovative and creative ways. Not only are the teachers in the examples that Ms. Gorman gives using this tool themselves as a fun and interactive way to teach, but they are modeling the behavior for students and providing them the opportunity to use the technology to share with their fellow students. Thinglink is a great tool that can enable even the younger students (grades 2 and up) to take content and think outside the box. They are taking information that they have found and making it their own. What educator doesn’t love that?How would I use it?
It’s easy, fun and sharable! With that said….there is my first Thinglink! I know it won’t be my last!https://www.thinglink.com/scene/526407029573550081
Sources for Thinglink:
All book art from: www.goodreads.com
Background Image: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=7685
Thanks for including the links to some of the blogs mentioned by Sue. I'm sure ThingLink will find a great place in your program. In terms of your sample, you could even have students create ThingLinks on their favorites!
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