Timelines

Copied from:
http://vrroom.naa.gov.au/records/?ID=19541

Looking at all of the Group Four tools, while I can see great value in all of them, it is the Web 2.0 timelines that I feel would be most useful to me in the lower to middle primary school environment. There are many online timelines, each offering slightly different functions, but all are basically graphic organisers that can be used as a visual tool for inquiry learning. They can be used to look chronologically at family history, student biographies or history topics that may span centuries. Timelines offer much to a variety of learning styles, but particularly the visual, mathematical and kinaesthetic intelligences. By using timelines, research tells us that students get a better understanding of the chronology of events and help them situate the people, places and dates they have learned about. It will also help activate prior knowledge. Seeing the information visually also helps students grasp the concepts of cause and effect between events (Fillpot, 2013).

I originally planned to use Dipity, but for whatever reason, I could not get anything to upload to it. I tried different browsers, different computers and even an iPad, but it did not like me! Which just goes to show that when using ICT it does always pay to have a plan B, e.g. sheets of paper, markers and rulers to make a more traditional timeline!

So, I used Tiki Toki to make my timeline. It did not have all of the same features as Dipity, such as being able to embed video and audio, but maybe that saved some viewers from 'attention blink' due to cognitive overload (Stansbury, 2008)! Options for creativity still exist as different templates can be used and pictures uploaded.  Creating a timeline, is also a good way to discuss the purpose and legalities of copyright and the use of tools such as the Creative Commons and Flickr.

For older users I would also recommend Fake Book.  While not strictly a time line, it does allow for the sequential addition of information in the format of FaceBook. This has the added bonus of giving ample opportunity for the teaching of online etiquette in a controlled environment.

Here is my finished Tiki-Toki product (well, work in progress!)

Ned Kelly

Bibliography

Fillpot, E. (2013). Teaching with timelines. Retrieved April 6, 2013, from Teaching History.org: http://teachinghistory.org/teaching-materials/teaching-guides/24347

Stansbury, M. (2008, March 26). Analysis: How multimedia can improve learning. Retrieved March 24, 2013, from eSchool News: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2008/03/26/analysis-how-multimedia-can-improve-learning/