Showing posts with label thinglink. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thinglink. Show all posts
Sunday, November 29, 2015
REMIX: Adding Conversations to ThingLink
ThingLink has added a new feature to encourage collaboration and conversations about images. It's called REMIX.
What is REMIX?
-from the ThingLink Blog...In music a remix is a song that has been edited to sound different from the original version — it may include additional effects and elements, or the composition of the elements has been changed.
ThingLink’s Remix feature follows the same idea with images. A rich media image is always a composition of content that conveys a unique experience. Now you can take an image you see, click the Remix button, add elements to it, and republish a new version. By doing so, you’re enabling a new conversation on the same image.
How Does REMIX Work?
Enable REMIX
If you are already using ThingLink you will need to turn REMIX on. Look for the option when you click on My Channel. New users will find this feature to be automatically enabled.
If you are already using ThingLink you will need to turn REMIX on. Look for the option when you click on My Channel. New users will find this feature to be automatically enabled.
Try REMIX
You can REMIX someone else's image by going to ThingLink.com, selecting an image, and clicking on the REMIX icon to create your own version of the image in your account. Once the image is in your account you can add tags. The tags will appear on your REMIXed image, but they will only appear as Comments on the original image. The comments will have a link to your REMIXED version.
Here is an example of an image I REMIXED. Click the image to view the conversation.
A few Ways to Use REMIX with Students
You can REMIX someone else's image by going to ThingLink.com, selecting an image, and clicking on the REMIX icon to create your own version of the image in your account. Once the image is in your account you can add tags. The tags will appear on your REMIXed image, but they will only appear as Comments on the original image. The comments will have a link to your REMIXED version.
Here is an example of an image I REMIXED. Click the image to view the conversation.
A few Ways to Use REMIX with Students
- Teachers can post an image with discussion questions for students to REMIX and answer.
- Students can create an interactive image to demonstrate knowledge and ideas. As part of the sharing process, students can REMIX and add comments and responses to the ideas presented.
- An interactive image can be used to present a real world problem to students. They can REMIX the image with possible solutions to the problem.
Common Core Connections
Try REMIX to launch learning experiences that engage students in a range of collaborative discussions to build on the ideas of others and express their own ideas clearly. This is one of the skills identified by the Common Core.
ThingLink: Make Images Interactive
Thinglink is an interactive image tool that provides users with the ability to turn any image into a multimedia launcher. Users can create multiple "hot spots" on specific parts of an image and turn the image into a multimedia launcher. Embed video, record audio with the click of a button and a free SoundCloud account, or link to any website. Compatible with any blog or website that has a widget to support javascript, this is a great tool for those of us who use Blogger, Wikispaces or WordPress. To experience Thinglink, roll your mouse over the Apollo 11 collage I created below to see where the hot spots are, then click on any of them to enjoy the multimedia.
Directions:
To use Thinglink, simply follow these steps:
- Go to the Thinglinwebsite and sign up for a free account.
- Follow the directions on the site to install the widget on your blog or wiki.
- Upload an image to Thinglink..
- Click on the paper clip icon in the upper left corner to Edit Tags.
- Drag your mouse across an image. You should see the crosshair tool, or plus sign.
- You will be prompted to add a link to a website or video OR click the orange button to record with SoundCloud. A free SoundCloud account is required.
- Repeat as often as needed.
- Click the green Save button.
- Click on the Embed Image icon in the upper left corner.
- Copy the code.
- Paste the code into your blog or a wiki widget.
- Voila!
Uses in the classroom:
- Create a themed collage with links to multimedia resources to support all learners.
- Create a word cloud using Wordle, then turn the largest words into hot spots with links to more information.
- Use an image as a launcher with links leading to student-created projects.
- Post an historical photo and use 3rd party software, such as SoundCloud, to give students the opportunity to record their voices speaking from the person's point of view.
- Use a Thinglinked image to create a scavenger hunt or modified WebQuest.
Try Thinglink
*Go to my wiki to view my favorite copyright-friendly images sources for students and teachers.
Create a Multimedia Memory Book with ThingLink
As another school year comes to a close it’s time for students and teachers to celebrate and reflect on all the wonderful experiences from the school year. ThingLink is the perfect tool for creating multimedia memory books to help students capture memories, preserve them, and share them with friends and family across the globe.
Read more on the ThingLink Blog
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
The Ultimate Word Wall with ThingLink & Padlet
I also love Word Walls and have been using them for as long as I can remember. While I was once frustrated by trying to keep taped images up on a physical wall, I now find the process to be streamlined and slick with the help of one of my favorite tools, Padlet
Benefits of Padlet at a Glance
- Padlet is a free, flexible and user friendly tool that is available online, 24/7
- Users can create account and design Padlets for a variety of purposes for teaching and learning.
- Students can contribute to Padlets without an email address, just tap to add an image.
- Padlet works well on a computer and also from the web browser on an iPad.
- There's no tape or physical space limitations with these types of word walls.
- Padlet is capable is displaying text, images and video.
- Padlet can be embedded into a blog, wiki or website.
- Padlet supports ThingLink interactive images!
Using Padlet to Create The Ultimate Word Wall of Interactive Images
As the interactive images for the challenge started rolling in, I had the idea to build a Word Wall of vocabulary activities. The word wall is embedded below, but to get a better view you might want to visit the full wall on the Padlet site.
Click on any image to preview and explore any interactive vocabulary image created by teachers from all over the world. If you want to explore the full version of an image, click the Share icon on the ThingLink image to grab the link. If you want to embed the image into your own space, grab the embed code.
Be sure to check back as many more images are submitted. This wall will grow throughout the summer.
Be sure to check back as many more images are submitted. This wall will grow throughout the summer.
For a better viewing experience go to Padlet to view this wall.
Join Us for the ThingLink Teacher Challenge
Collaborative Learning with ThingLink - Wagon Wheel
I recently added instaGrok to the bulletin board for one click access to a useful interactive learning tool and search engine. I used the Mastery Connect App to quickly reference the CCSS and demonstrated a way to use Wordle as a starting point to engage students in a CCSS aligned vocabulary activity.
Let's not forget Digital Citizenship. All images are linked back to original sources and credit is given. Creative Commons Share Alike Licenses are always appreciated.
There are many untapped learning opportunities to be pulled out of the song. I am looking for resources to make good learning good connections. Feel free to tap on the Padlet and add ideas and links or suggest learning connections you see. Stay tuned and watch it grow.
The Wagon Wheel is growing nicely!
Monday, November 23, 2015
A ThingLink PD Toolkit of Resources
The resources created have been collected and curated into one interactive image. I believe they are valuable for personal learning needs, as well as for use during professional development offerings. They were created to be shared and reused.
Explore, Share and Reuse This Interactive Image
Feel free to embed this interactive image into your own digital space. You can use, remix and share the resources when working with other educators to save yourself the time and trouble of reinventing the wheel. Enjoy!
Saturday, November 21, 2015
A ThingLink Channel for Teachers
Explore this interactive ThingLink Channel of ideas and directions for using the new ThingLink Teacher features.
Be sure to read the full posts as I continue to guest blog on the ThingLink Blog in February and March.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Learn About Culture Through Images
A ThingLink Launcher
Using ThingLink Beyond the Classroom Walls
ThingLink is an amazing tool for teaching and learning that is now supported across platforms to provide teachers and students with a variety of flexible options to extend the learning beyond the classroom walls. The recent addition of the Android app, along with existing the iOS app and web based platform, completes the full circle of possibilities for creating interactive images.
Read more on GettingSmart.com
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
ThingLink UnPlugged & Self-Published
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| Explore this interactive image by @pmmerlin on our wall |
The ThingLink app makes the most out of the ease of use of the camera and video capabilities available on iOS and Android, allowing users to capture life on the go and become engaged in the learning at the moment.
View Our Wall of UnPlugged Learning Experiences
This week's images are self-published on a Padlet Wall. Watch it grow. View wall.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Design Your Digital Self
- View the challenge
- Explore the interactive channel of resources to guide your learning
- Sign up for the ThingLink Teacher Challenge
- Watch our showcases grow.
Go to the ThingLink Blog
Sunday, November 15, 2015
73+ Ways to Use ThingLink by Donna Baumbach
Are you looking for ways to use ThingLink? Are you wondering if you should sign up for the Free Educator Premium Upgrade before December 31st?
Please view this extraordinary collaborative slideshow created by my talented friend, Donna Baumbach and follow her on Twitter @AuntyTech
73+ Ways to Use ThingLink in the Classroom
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Grab Your Free ThingLink EDU Upgrade
Upgrade to ThingLinkEDU Premium until December 31st
In an effort to support education even better, ThingLink is now offering free EDU Premium Accounts for teachers until December 31st. Sign up and receive a full year of premium features including the ability to:
- Create classroom groups.
- Work within a protected education friendly environment.
- Upload custom icons.
- View detailed image stats
- Use image carousels
- Explore more new and exciting features as they are launched after the start of the new year.
Get Started with ThingLinkEDU Premium
Here is a bit of advice I give to all teachers who are just starting out with ThingLink. Start with something simple, something you know about. This will allow you to experience the ease of use of the tool itself without getting caught up in the power of being able to create virtually anything you can imagine for teaching and learning.
Start Simple with Santa Strawberries
I used some of the new holiday icons to create this simple starter image.
Resources to Explore & Learn More
- Video: Get Started with ThingLink
- Wiki of Resources: The ThingLink Toolkit for Teachers
- SlideShow: 73+ Ways to Use ThingLink in the Classroom, by Donna Baumbach @AuntyTech
- Interactive Graphic: 5 Ways to Create Interactive Graphics for Teaching & Learning
- Article: 10 Innovative Ways to Use ThingLink in the Classroom
Upcoming Simple K12 Webinar
January 16th4:00 - 4:30 PM ESTSponsored by SimpleK12
Registration is open to members
January 16th
4:00 - 4:30 PM EST
Sponsored by SimpleK12
Don't Forget: Sign up for a Free ThingLinkEDU Premium Account Today
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Tech Connections: Teach Above the Line with ThingLink
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| Shannon Sloger's Slogan in reference to the SAMR Model |
For as long as I can remember I have been an advocate for helping teachers understand the stages of technology integration in order to effectively use tech as a tool for learning.
I've adopted a few different tech integration models over the years, discussed the ideas with administrators for use as a starting point for tech integration, and kept the ideas front of mind as I invent and discover new ways for using technology as a tool for learning.
Discussing the stages of tech integration has led to some thought-provoking and inspiring conversations, but the ideas have not gained a lot of momentum in my face-to-face teaching environment until now. As many districts jump on board with iPad implementation, Apple's use of the SAMR model as a framework for tech integration presents a consistent, clear and powerful message that is spreading!
I recently met Shannon Soger, 1-1 coordinator and instructional coach from D100 in Chicagoland, who shared a brilliant PD strategy and challenge used with the Fab 40 teachers in her 100% 1:1 school. The goal for teachers working within this amazing environment is to teach above the line. Of course this simple mantra and point of reference serves as a quick and easy self-evaluation tool. Teaching above the line is a clear and attainable goal to strive for. Thanks Apple, and thank you Shannon for leading the way!
An Example: My Journey with ThingLink
Last fall I was consulted by Neil Vineberg, CMO of ThingLink, to think about ways to encourage teachers and students to use the flexible interactive tool in preparation for the ThingLink Interactive Image Contest. My advice and approach was to create and publish a comprehensive wiki of resources, known as The ThingLink Toolkit.At that time, ThinkLInk was a tool I was using to create my own resources, but in order to make the tool appealing to classroom teachers, I knew I would have to make connections to help them meet their busy teaching demands. If you haven't heard by now, the plate is full and right in the middle is a strong push to begin implementing the Common Core State Standards in our classrooms.
Weaving Digital Tools into the Common Core
With increasing expectations to implement the CCSS, I decided to create samples of student projects that weave digital tools into the Common Core to demonstrate the flexibility of ThingLink as an effective and efficient tool for constructing knowledge. To create the samples, I had to dig deeper into the Common Core myself and embrace it.I must say the experience of designing The ThingLink Toolkit was challenging and exciting because it stretched my boundaries and required me to research, explore and think a lot. In the end, I created some resources I am very proud of and also a few duds, of course, but I realize that creating this toolkit of resources was an exercise in teaching above the line, and the samples I created demonstrate my ability to work at the top level, redefinition.
The ThingLink Interactive image contest was launched and recently the deadline for entries has passed. Students have created some amazing interactive images that required them to engage in CCSS aligned learning experiences. They used higher order thinking skills to design, present, and share ideas. They redefined concepts through multimedia. The end results are impressive, but the real gain is in the deep learning that occurred during the process of creating their images.
Please view, explore and touch some of the student entries on the contest site and see how ThingLink can be a powerful tool for teaching and learning, then try it yourself.
ThingLink Education Contest Entries
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Connecting with Some Amazing Educators
One of the early challenges was to Design Your Digital Self as an introduction to other participants. We started by creating an avatar, then we added it to ThingLink and tagged our images with Rich Media tags to define ourselves through multimedia.
I used Padlet to create a wall of ThingLink Teacher Challenge participants and would like to introduce readers of this blog to these amazing educators. The activity itself can be used with students as you kick off the school year and establish best practices for Internet safety as you teach them about protecting their identities when publishing anything on the web.
Meet the ThingLink Challenge Participants
I invite you to explore this Padlet wall of interactive images, connect with these educators on Twitter (#TLChallenge), join our Google+ community and expand your own PLN this summer!
Created with Padlet
For the best viewing experience, view the full wall on Padlet
Why Padlet?
Benefits of Padlet at a Glance
- Padlet is a free, flexible and user friendly tool that is available online, 24/7
- Users can create account and design Padlets for a variety of purposes for teaching and learning.
- Students can contribute to Padlets without an email address, just tap to add an image.
- Padlet works well on a computer and also from the web browser on an iPad.
- There's no tape or physical space limitations with these types of word walls.
- Padlet is capable is displaying text, images and video.
- Padlet can be embedded into a blog, wiki or website.
- Padlet supports ThingLink interactive images!
Join Us
There's still time to join us and take the ThingLink Teacher Challenge. This free, online professional development activity is self-paced to fit in with teachers' busy summer lifestyles. There are no deadlines and each challenge is designed to be flexible. New participants are joining every day.
Monday, November 9, 2015
ThingLink: Design Engaging Learning Experiences
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| Nov. 12th @4:00 PM CST |
ThingLink is one of the most frequently used tools in my digital toolkit because it is flexible, user friendly, and it can be used to help me meet my goals. I believe ThingLink allows me to create whatever I can possibly imagine!
What is ThingLink?
ThingLink, an online tool that provides users with the ability to turn any image into a multimedia rich interactive graphic. Add video, images, audio, and links to any website with the click of a button. Pack a lot of content into a small space and embed it into a variety of online learning platforms for easy access, 24/7. ThingLink is user friendly flexible and free.
A Few Ways to Use ThingLink
In preparation for my Simple K12 webinar this week, I put together this interactive image to illustrate some effective ideas for using ThingLink. Please explore this image.
Resources for Using ThingLink
This blog is filled with examples and ideas for using ThingLink for teaching and learning. In addition to a few dedicated posts you will find that ThingLink is woven into many different ideas and examples I have shared. Beyond that, please visit my ThingLink Toolkit. The toolkit is a comprehensive collection of resources to help teachers and students successfully use ThingLink for teaching and learning. There you will find many examples and quite a few tutorials to get you started.If you are a Simple K12 member, I invite you to attend the webinar I am hosting on Tuesday, November 12th for 30 minutes of learning, live and worldwide!
Registration is open to members
Free Webinar: Transform Teaching & Learning with ThingLink
ThingLink EDU is a digital tool that provides users with the ability to turn any image or video into a multimedia rich interactive learning tool. Start with an image or start with a video. Annotate it with audio, video, images and links to any content on the Internet with the click of a button.
Please join us for a free webinar as we explore inspiring examples and easy-to-follow instructions to help you transform teaching and redefine learning with ThingLink.
August 18th at 4:00 PM CST
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Take ThingLink App Smash Challenge
The series of posts will be published on the ThingLink Blog.
About the ThingLink App Smash Challenge
App Smashing is a popular method of combining two or more apps together to create, publish and share content. App Smashing challenges us to discover new possibilities for teaching and learning with an iPad and presents us with greater possibilities for making the device meet our goals. ThingLink is well suited for for powering any App Smash because of the presentation possibilities for turning any image into a rich multimedia content launcher. Join the talented members of the ThingLink EDU community and use ThingLink to smash some apps. #TLAppSmashObjective
In this activity you will
- Use ThingLink as a presentation tool to demonstrate how to combine the functionality of two or more apps to create, publish and share content. #AppSmash
- Share and submit your interactive image through a Google Form to be added to the ThingLink App Smash Challenge Channel.
- Explore the ThingLink App Smash Channel and Touch the interactive images that inspire you.
- Promote through social media. #TLAppSmash
Overview
In this activity you will grab an iPad and explore ways to combine the best features of two or more of your favorite apps to help students create, publish and share content. You will create an original App Smash image, or poster, then upload it to ThingLink. Use Rich-Media Tags to present your ideas.
Rationale
The iPad is a popular tool in classrooms today, but many apps are limited in functionality. As teachers become more comfortable with technology use they can begin to invent new ways to use the devices for learning. App Smashing allows us to combine the best features of our favorite apps to facilitate student driven learning experiences through creativity, sharing and publishing.
Example
This examples uses the built-in web browser and recording features in Explain Everything to create a narrated guided tour of a ThingLink interactive image. The resulting video was published on YouTube and embedded back on the ThingLink image through a Rich Media Tag. Explore this interactive image to learn more about this ThingLink App Smash.
Create Your Own ThingLink App Smash
Steps at a Glance
Explore the channel of interactive directions below for tutorials and more.- Create an original #AppSmash image poster.
- Upload the image to ThingLink.
- Tag the image with Rich Media tags, text, or links to present your ideas.
- Remember to add a tag with your name on your image.
- Remember to add a Twitter Tag and other social media icons.
- Submit your image to the ThingLink App Smash Challenge.
- Explore the ThingLink App Smash Channel and touch your favorite App Smash entries throughout the month.
- Stay tuned to see who will be invited to share during our Interactive App Smash webinar in early December
Explore Channel of App Smash Examples
The examples in the channel below were created by ThingLink Expert Educators. Interactive images submitted for the App Smash Challenge will be added to this channel. Get inspired and connect!
Additional Help and Support
Submit a ThingLink App Smash
Mystery Photos
A few years ago I used Mystery Photos to kickoff some collaborative discussions among students participating in an online learning project I had the pleasure of facilitating, Regions of the United States. The ideas here are supported by the Common Core and worth revisiting. (CCSS SL-5, CCSS W-7)
Mystery Photos
Do some research. Engage in an online discussion. Create your own mystery photo.
Create your own Playlist on MentorMob!
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