ThingLink
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Thinglink is a digital tool that allows it's users to make images more interactive by incorporating hotspots featuring text, images, audio, video, and websites. It takes images to the next level. I was fascinated by this tool as I was using it. I would love to use it for my library for a virtual tour. If you are not familiar with this tool please take a look at my Screencastify video about it.
What projects can I use Thinglink for?
Educators can use this tool in so many ways. They can assign projects to their students to use this tool to create book reports, history projects, science research, etc. Teachers can then in turn use this tool to incorporate more interactive learning for their students. They can create digital posters and infographics. Here is an example of a book report created by Mary Anne Yount. I am not sure what other tools she used but I think that it is possible someone could also use Pic-Collage to create an image that you would like to make interactive with Thinglink.
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| Mary Anne Yount Newberry Book Report : Image Source |
This tool teaches students creativity and technology literacy. It also is a student focused and student led way of leading active learning. This tool would benefit different types of learners. Visual learners would benefit from the pictures and videos, auditory learners from the videos and audio files, kinesthetic learners from the act of clicking and looking around at an interactive image, and learners that work best from reading will feel comfortable with this tool because of its text hotspots.
How do I get started?
Students and educators can use either a tablet or a computer to use this tool. They can download the free app or just log in on an internet browser. The educator can set up a free/paid teacher's account. This account will look different from the student's free account. The teacher can then invite and add students to her classroom group. Each member will need a valid email address.
Here is a Thinglink I created to tour the Thinklink website:
Want to find out more?
Thinglink Educational Tutorials
Resources:
Yount, Mary Anne (2016). A Newbery Novel: Hatchet. Thinglink. https://www.thinglink.com/user/711269506919432193
Colorful Brush Painted Map of The World (n.d). Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/en/colorful-color-brush-painted-1974699/
USA Capital Map (n.d.) Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/en/usa-capitals-map-united-states-155594/
Kenya Flag (n.d.) Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/en/kenya-flag-national-flag-nation-162332/
Great stuff in this post! Lots of examples to get people started including a detailed tutorial. I like the idea of creating virtual tours with Thinglink.
ReplyDeleteI love the virtual tour as well. I would like to do this at me library.
DeleteHi Hannah, I have never used Thinklink, but it sounds so fun and interactive. I wasn't sure on the many ways to use it and now I have ideas popping into my head to make projects and assignments a little more fun for students and interesting for me to grade. Thank you for sharing this information and the extra links.
ReplyDeleteHello Hannah! Thinklink looks like an awesome tool! I really like the example you provided of the book report that uses Thinklink. I would love to do a book report using Thinklink, after seeing this example. I think my students would have a lot of fun with it, especially since many of them are familiar with Pic-Collage and using Thinklink would be a fun way to enhance their project.
ReplyDeleteYou did a really nice job providing an array of information about Thinklink, including multiple examples, ways to get started, and additional resources. Thank you for your thorough description!