thinglink (www.thinglink.com) is a program that allows users to create interactive pictures that can be placed on Facebook, shared on Twitter, emailed, or embedded (see below). In addition, you can check out the statistics on viewing of the picture. In a classroom setting, this would be phenomenal to ensure that everyone really did look at the image you requested them to. If you have 30 students in a class, then there should be 30 hits to signify the group is with you. You can even tell how many times a tag has been clicked on which again provides the ability to monitor student participation.
I’m imagining a map with tags that each tell a story or give some historical or geographical fact that will benefit students. With an upgraded account, embedding this pictures on your website will be a breeze and bring content to an interactive level.
As a note, you can link your tags on a picture so that they can provide additional resources to support student learning.
thinglink was nice enough to agree to provide a free upgraded account to educators who wrote to them at education@thinglink.com and mention @myweb4ed, our Twitter account name.
I’m waiting for my upgrade now but here is a link to my trial run with thinglink. This is a picture of my grandson, Zak, with his cousin, my granddaughter, Addy! By placing your mouse over the picture, you’ll be able to see the tags. Did you notice the background? That’s part of the thinglink program, as well.
If you take advantage of this free upgrade, a $5 a month savings, please post here or send me a tweet to @myweb4ed to let me know! And, be sure to thank thinglink for their support of educators!
Carol Mortensen has nearly twenty-three years of educational experience. She began as a substitute teacher as she worked toward her degree. Upon graduation, Carol began teaching middle school Math and Algebra I and served as the technology liaison for her campus. She served as a teacher for 16 years and was lucky to have taught at Hillcrest Middle School, a 1:1 campus where every student was issued a laptop computer. She also worked as an Instructional Technology Trainer for her district providing training and technology integration support for campus and district staff, faculty and administrators. Currently, Carol enjoys her position as the Campus Technology Integration Specialist for Deer Park High School – South Campus. Before taking this position this year, she served for three years as the Campus Technology Integration Specialist at Fairmont Junior High in Deer Park Independent School District. In this position, Carol provides integration support and training to the students, staff, faculty, and administrators at the campus and district level. In addition, Carol is an online Math instructor for Aventa Learning and K12. The Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) named Carol the Classroom Teacher of the Year for her innovative and creative use of technology to create a 24/7 virtual classroom using her classroom website. Carol has presented at school districts throughout Texas as well as state and local conferences on a variety of technology integration topics. Her article on the use of websites as an instructional tool was recently published in the TechEdge Magazine. In February 2011, her article, Lessons Learning In a 1:1 Classroom, was published by TechEdge. The article was republished in ISTE’s Learning and Leading magazine in August 2011. She was named Fairmont Junior High’s Teacher of the Year for the 2011-2012 school year. Carol is passionate about the positive impact that technology has on student achievement. Her presentations are packed with real-life solutions, quality resources, and humor. She has an ability to connect with her audience and motivate them to take technology integration to a higher quality level.
Glad you like it, Carli!