Tammy Rosado ITEC 7445 Dr. Cameron Summer 2013 Emerging Technology Project

What is ThingLink? ThingLink is an interactive technology tool which allows the user to: “Create authentic, valuable, and rich interactive stories around historical events using media (video, sound, photos, written words, etc.) found online. Annotate graphs and timelines. Record an instructional message to students inside an image. Embed interactive images into student blogs. Enable students to curate content inside an image to demonstrate understanding of a topic.” (ThingLink.com, 2013)

Support of Price Middle School’s Technology Vision The vision of Atlanta Public Schools is to be a student- centered, high-performing urban school district, where all students become successful, life-long learners and leaders. (Atlanta Public School’s Strategic Plan, 2012) ThingLink supports Price Middle School’s Technology Vision by providing students the opportunity to demonstrate their mastery of topics through the use of a 21 st century technology learning tool.

Appropriateness for Price ThingLink requires students to be able to read, think, utilize a computer and synthesize information using a computer and the internet as tools Can be used as a communication and assessment tool Requires user to critically examine and choose the type of information to link Assignments can be differentiated by the type of required links to be added to image Price Middle School students are capable of these skills

Objectives Increase student achievement through the use of instructional technology Increase students’ communication and collaboration skills across the curriculum Utilize higher order thinking skills within the Common Core standards

Target Audience Price Middle School has approximately 325 students enrolled in grades six through eight, with a free and reduced lunch rate of 95%, internet access throughout the home is not consistent, but parents have cell phones which can access the ThingLink product All students at school will be able to create own account using their APS student account Students in all classes could utilize this tool and allow for equitable access to the tool

Equipment and Software Needs ThingLink for a PC requires a computer, mouse, and internet access. For iPad usage an iPad and internet access is needed. A stylus would be an excellent additional tool if available.

Technical Support For teachers, administrators and students there would be little or no technical support needed ThingLink is a website that requires access to the internet and does not require to be downloaded As an iPad app, the iPad administrator would need to download the app to each machine and update it as needed

Cost of ThingLink The cost of ThingLink is free both for PC and as an app Microphones with headsets would be ideal to fully implement ThingLink Cost per Microphone/Headset would be less than $20.00 with our educational discount with Staples paid from Title I funds

Funding for Supplementary Items Business partners could provide funding for a class set from Price High Alumni or IBM Donor’s Choose grant Alternative to school purchasing – have students provide their own

Let’s Take a Look at ThingLink Click on the Question Mark Above to View a Video **Ensure All Pop Off Blockers are turned Off**

Implementing ThingLink In your Classroom There are many ways that you can utilize ThingLink in your classroom The next few slides provide examples Students should be instructed in the rules of copyright for images, text and other digital resources to avoid plagarism Use your imagination Additional resources are available at the end of the presentation

ThingLink in Language Arts As a communication tool Collaborate with other students to complete task Use as a book talk with students creating links to various sections of books which can include Creating a biography or autobiography Writing a story – can collaborate with other students and tell a story

ThingLink in Reading Students can locate a photo that inspires the type of writing Students can type their responses to the photo in the links they create Students can practice their reading fluency by reading aloud what they have written for a link

ThingLink in Mathematics Students can communicate the process of completing a math problem Communicate and explain graphs and charts

ThingLink in Social Studies Create a report about a historical person, place or event Annotate graphs Create interactive maps that demonstrate mastery of standards

ThingLink in Science Students can describe and explain scientific processes such as the water and rock cycle Create, demonstrate and explain a food chain Create an interactive Biome project in 7 th grade

ThingLink in Art Students can select a piece of art that represents a concept being taught and demonstrate their mastery of the concept through written and verbal communication Students can create their own art and upload photo of it to ThingLink and explain their process of completing the project

ThingLink in Foreign Language Utilize maps of country where language is spoken with student identifying geographical locations and places of interest Can write in foreign language Can provide explanation in the foreign language Students can select a scene that represents the vocabulary that has been studied. Students present in writing and verbally their mastery of vocabulary

Limitations of ThingLink The use of ThingLink as a classroom assignment will require students to be instructed in safe, ethical and legal uses of information they choose to utilize in their assignment. Instruction in copyright and plagiarism is also needed. Due to lack of computers within classrooms, the use of the computer lab would be required and may not be available. It is suggested that when working with ThingLink that students are monitored closely to ensure appropriate pictures and links are being accessed.

Research to support ThingLink School Library Journal ( 2012) highlighted ThingLink as a valuable collaboration tool It employs a constructivist approach to learning where students create their own organization of information and explain their thoughts ThingLink utilizes writing and communication skills on various levels that correlate with the Common Core Standards

Plan for Implementation Teachers, administrators, and students will need to create their own accounts Teachers will require a brief professional development session on how to create their own images to show as examples for their classes Media Specialist/Teacher/Instructional Technology Specialist will present ThingLink to students in the computer lab and provide assistance as students are creating their first image

Plan for Implementation (p.2) After students have demonstrated mastery of placing text and links to an image they will be introduced to adding voice to their image Students will also be shown how to share their image by providing links or embedding the image into a presentation or blog or wiki

Reflection I think ThingLink will be a great addition to our school’s technology toolbox. Students enjoy working with images and manipulating items on the computer. ThingLink provides students with an opportunity to share with others their thoughts. Teachers and students will be able to demonstrate mastery of the new Common Core and the CCGPS Standards across the curriculum. Often the addition of new technology tools is only for the core classes, but ThingLink provides opportunities for all classes.

Reflection With the students’ freedom to be creative, I believe we will see an increase in participation in class and an increase in completion of assignments using this tool This technology tool will allow teachers to tailor assignments to the specific diverse needs of students. Assignments can be differentiated easily by assigning different types of links to be added to the image.

For Additional Ideas Baumbach, D. J. (n.d.). 27+ Interesting Ways* to Use ThingLink in the Classroom*and tips.mrsgage.weebly.com. Retrieved July 3, 2013, from mrsgage.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/5/5/ Published in April of 2013 by Technology Specialist in Phoenix, this presentation shows how to use ThingLink in the classroom. classroom/ Article on Edudemic website that provides suggestions on how to use ThingLink. Contains excellent examples classroom/ Elementary teacher from Canada explains how to use ThingLink lesson/ Article with examples from Academic Partnerships in Dallas lesson/

References for Presentation Strategic Plan ( ) / Our Plan. (n.d.). Atlanta Public Schools. Retrieved July 4, 2013, from Bartoletti, R. (2013, January 24). Faculty eCommons ThingLink: How to Transform an Image into a Full- Blown Lesson - Faculty eCommons. Faculty eCommons Faculty eCommons ». Retrieved July 4, 2013, from Power, D. (2012, November 29). Spotlight on Startups: ThingLink Makes Your Photos Interactive. Social Media Management Software for Business | Sprout Social. Retrieved July 4, 2013, from ThingLink Education - ThingLink. (n.d.).Make Your Images Interactive - ThingLink. Retrieved July 4, 2013, from "Using ThingLink in the Classroom - YouTube." YouTube. N.p., 10 Apr Web. 4 July