When I first began this assignment, I kept getting sidetracked, linking to other sites from the assigned sites. A few days ago, I finally forced myself to concentrate and complete the assignment without more searching--much less fun, but utilitarian.
So, the first site I played with in more depth was TimeToast. As a history teacher it love assigning timelines for homework. Before web2.0, I ask the students to make collages, layers, etc on a typical poster. This year I tried using Glogster--great for posters, but not for timelines. Then I found Dipity, a very interactive timeline, with the ability to add videos, music, blogs, photos, and many other features to a timeline. Students can share, and allow others to edit, which makes it a great group project assignment. Students can also find existing timelines, but need to check the accuracy. Timetoast is very similar, and appears simpler, however, it has fewer features. When tried to set up an account with Timetoast, I waited over 30 minutes and no email was sent to allow me to interact. Will try again.
The second site I where I searched for a great while was Ideas Wisconsin Teachers. The site beats our Maryland site, Thinkfinity, hands down. It is much more user friendly, the resources are easier to categorize by age, grade, and subject. The lessons are mostly links with review by educators. I was looking for lessons about foreign policy and found a whole repository of primary sources at Mt. Holyoke College. I think this site caters to actual teachers, with input from teachers more than other state websites I have visited. It allows suggestions and dialog, which are very important to teachers in the 21st century. Although Maryland standards are not the same, the Standards tool, which organizes lessons, if far superior to the current MSDE site.
I highly recommend both sites for secondary teachers!
So, the first site I played with in more depth was TimeToast. As a history teacher it love assigning timelines for homework. Before web2.0, I ask the students to make collages, layers, etc on a typical poster. This year I tried using Glogster--great for posters, but not for timelines. Then I found Dipity, a very interactive timeline, with the ability to add videos, music, blogs, photos, and many other features to a timeline. Students can share, and allow others to edit, which makes it a great group project assignment. Students can also find existing timelines, but need to check the accuracy. Timetoast is very similar, and appears simpler, however, it has fewer features. When tried to set up an account with Timetoast, I waited over 30 minutes and no email was sent to allow me to interact. Will try again.
The second site I where I searched for a great while was Ideas Wisconsin Teachers. The site beats our Maryland site, Thinkfinity, hands down. It is much more user friendly, the resources are easier to categorize by age, grade, and subject. The lessons are mostly links with review by educators. I was looking for lessons about foreign policy and found a whole repository of primary sources at Mt. Holyoke College. I think this site caters to actual teachers, with input from teachers more than other state websites I have visited. It allows suggestions and dialog, which are very important to teachers in the 21st century. Although Maryland standards are not the same, the Standards tool, which organizes lessons, if far superior to the current MSDE site.
I highly recommend both sites for secondary teachers!
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