Create Interactive Images with Thinglink

One tool that I intend to make great use of this year is Thinglink.  Thinglink gives users the ability to create interactive images by uploading a picture and linking the image to websites, videos, and text.  This could be a great project for students or could be used by teachers to create student guides.  Thinglink's site is free and does allow students to connect with others by commenting on one anothers' creations.  If a picture is worth 1,000 words, imagine how much more powerful it could be by linking different media to it and sharing the vast knowledge available on the Internet.  Check out an example below to get an idea of how Thinglink works.  How can you use this with your students?

Share My Lesson: Free Lessons Created for Teachers, By Teachers

One great find from ISTE 2013 was the website Share My Lesson.  Share My Lesson is an extensive database containing over 265,000 resources and over 300,000 members.  Teachers can not only search and share lessons, but also follow people whose lessons they really like.  Lessons are searchable by grade, subject, or topic and linked to the Common Core Standards.  Searches and resources can be saved to one's account for later reference.  My quick searches of "Internet Safety" and "Scary Story Writing" yielded some impressive resources that included not just lesson plans, but weblinks and student handouts as well.  This is a site worth bookmarking and using on a regular basis for its simplicity and the extensive collection of resources available.  Why reinvent the wheel when there are others out there who have done it already and have freely shared what has worked for them?  You may be inspired to share your great ideas as well and connect with a large network of educators just waiting to learn from you.

Bilblonasium: an Online Reading Community for Kids

 If you are looking for an exciting tool that will engage your students in reading and connecting with others who love reading, look no further than Biblionasium. Biblionasium is an online community designed especially for kids to share favorite books, keep reading logs, find reading suggestions, and connect with other like-minded readers. The design is similar to Shelfari, only student accounts are managed by teachers and do not require student email addresses. Biblionasium offers a paperless alternative to traditional reading logs in a safe, private, online space. Teachers can easily track and organize student data and even create groups and reading challenges for students.  Biblionasium offers the social media experience for today's connected students in a safe, fun, yet educational environment with a format that is sure to engage even the most reluctant reader.