This
week saw the introduction of many technologies, tools and ideas relating to
simulations and interactive tools. For
this embedded task, I have opted to reflect on the online timeline approach
specifically using Tiki-Toki. I have had
zero experience with a tool like this one but I found it to be quite easy to
use and to understand.
TIKI-TOKI
Tiki-Toki
is web-based presentation software that allows users to create interactive
timelines to be shared online. Tiki-Toki allows users to view timelines in either
a 2D or 3D function including text, images and videos, create your own
backgrounds, whether it is an image or a colour out of their colour schemes and
create different categories for stories or events and colour code them.
Tiki-Toki allows you to share your timelines with friends or colleagues, and
depending on which access option you select, it can also allow you to group
edit and embed timelines on other sites. The image below shows you what access
options are available. For the purpose of this task, I selected the ‘Free
Account’ option.
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| Access options |
Like
Prezi, I was hesitant at first because it is so new to me, but I found it to be
so easy to not only sign up, but also edit and make your timeline. The software
has easy access (there is no download required) and an easy sign up process
that just requires a username, password, and email address. To start a timeline
is quite simple, you must enter a title, a start and end date and an
introduction, but also have the option to select background image/colour and credit,
and about section and an intro image and credit. You are able to change this at
anytime in the settings toolkit as well as add stories or events and categorise
your items. The instructions are quite simple and there is an option to have
help assist on or off. I think Tiki-Toki would be suitable for most people with
a general knowledge of what certain options can do. I do think high-school
students will be able to use this tool with ease. Depending on the access
options available, you are able to have a group-editing timeline in the paid
options. There is one designed specifically for teachers, which allows one
teacher timeline, and up to 50 student timelines. In advanced settings you are
able to select your privacy setting to public, private or password protected.
To be able to group edit, a secret word is created and all who edit must input
this word to give them access. The following images are screenshots from a Tiki-Toki
timeline in the making.
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| Creating a new timeline |
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| Account Settings |
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| Time Line layout and settings (note 2D/3D option on bottom left side and create new story on top right side) |
IN
THE CLASSROOM
Tiki-Toki
will prove very useful in the classroom as it is yet another creative and
interactive way of presenting information and engaging students. Students are
given the opportunity to visualise meaningful ideas in creative and interactive
manners. Tiki-Toki timelines will allows students to present their
stories/ideas for assessment pieces, a diary, timeline of events and many other
learning activities. I believe that with the use of timelines students will
become more engaged in their learning because learning becomes fun. This tool would
prove useful in both individual and collaborative tasks (obviously, subject to
which access type you have), as well as presentation of learning materials for
teachers. Much like the other tools reflected on in this course, Tiki-Toki is
interactive, creative, motivating and encourages exploration, challenge and
assessment. The following table shows only some of the activities involving the
use of Tiki-Toki in the classroom, the advantages and disadvantages, and use
within the context of my chosen subjects including History and Biology using
the SAMR Model. You will notice that there are no activities for Substitution
and Augmentation, as I strongly believe that this software has a significantly improved
function in all areas and unless a task only asks you to use text (which, lets
be honest, probably won’t happen), Tiki-Toki redesigns the whole experience of
timelines.
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SAMR Level
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Examples
of Activities
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Advantages/
Disadvantages
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Context (History and Biology)
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Substitution
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Augmentation
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Modification
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Present
a timeline of events for a specific topic using an online scaffold including
videos and images. Group or individual task.
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Significant
redesign from written timeline. Allows ease of use of images and videos
linked into timeline. Ability to presented online/in class/in group
presentations. Becomes more interactive (and fun) for students. Easier than
writing everything. Distractions and
bullying possible. Easier to download all information and less time consuming
for both teacher and student. Also allows more information (ie. Able to fit
more in an online timeline than a written).
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History
– Present a timeline of a historic event of your choice. Use images and
videos from viable sources.
Biology
– Present a timeline of Human Evolution using images and videos. Use of
scientific resources encouraged.
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Redefinition
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Teachers
set task for students to create an online diary using Tiki-Toki to document
their learning progress over the course of a specific period of time.
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Nothing
(that I have heard of) that gives students an opportunity to document their
learning progress in a simple but interactive way. Students become responsible
for their learning. Distractions are possible. Teachers can monitor students
learning.
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History
– As suggested, students document learning progress. Use to take notes, link
in resources they find useful etc. Use as an assessment piece for end of term
to show that student has contributed to their learning experience.
Biology
– same as History.
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