I want to introduce a free collaborative site called ThingLink.  This is a simple web 2.0 site that allows you to upload an image and then attach a number of interactive links to that image by simply clicking on a spot on the image and then copying the URL you want to link.  As a sample, I started a simple Abraham Lincoln ThingLink.  Just position your mouse over the image and click on any of the buttons that show up.  This took me about 5 minutes to do.  Another sample is a Google Docs ThingLink loaded with a variety of tutorials.

The Google Docs ThingLink illustrates one of the powerful features of this website.  As I mentioned, this is a collaborative site ... ThingLinks created by others are available for use.  I didn't created the Google Docs link, I just shared it with you.  So this site is potentially a rich resource for information you might want to share with your class.

Imagine using this site as a collaborative class project.  You can allow others to freely add links to the image.  So you could upload an image related to something you are studying, and then allow class members to research information about that subject they want to share with the class.  Or you could assign different groups within your class separate topics and ask them to create their own ThingLink to share with the class.  And of course, all of these projects can be easily shared with parents by simply providing a link.

Try it out!

UPDATE:  I just came across this very helpful resource on ThinkLink.

Anthony and I had a great time at FECT2013 in Orlando last week, one of the nation's largest technology educator's conferences.  We attending 9 different workshops, 4 keynote addresses, and wandered through several acres of vendor displays during this 3-day event.  We took copious notes and came away with lots of great new resources and ideas.

Unfortunately, in a conference like this, it is kind of a "firehose approach" to providing information ... many of these workshops have names like "60 apps in 60 minutes" or "49 Ways to Use the Web in Your Classroom".  One of the keynotes was a "Tech Shootout" with the presenters introducing a variety of new tech devices in 1-2 minute snippets.  We have only begun to sort through all this information.

One of the ideas we came away with was the "Tech Tuesday" idea.  Rather than a firehouse, we want to provide you with some information and inspiration in the form a soaker hose .... one app or web resource each week with some practical ideas how it can be used in the classroom.  And we would love to include your "discoveries" as well; if you come across something you think we could all benefit from, send Anthony or me a write up and it could be the next Tech Tuesday tip!

This week I am going to start of with something that will primarily be of interest to elementary teachers.  This is a website that is a compilation of drill and practice activities on the web in a variety of subject areas.  This really struck my fancy because of the Arcademic Skillbuilder games (Alien Addition, Meteor Multiplication, etc.) included.  I remember when I was given these games on a floppy disk by a KU professor in the early 80's when they were being developed to run on the Apple IIe computer!

A couple of notes about this resource:

This is a resource that provides applications that are going to be fairly low on the SAMR model we have talked about (see below) ... probably at the Substitution level.  These don't provide practice in advanced 21st Century skills.  But they can be fun, helpful activities to supplement what you are doing in the classroom, probably as alternatives to flashcards, worksheets, etc.


You will also find that some of these will work better on a laptop or desktop computer rather than an iPad.  Many are going to employ flash technology to work at all ... to use that you will need a flash browser on your iPad.  There is a $3 Flash browser for the iPad called Puffin.  You can demo this by downloading on your personal iPad.