Web 2.0 and Emerging Learning Technologies/Timetoast
Main characteristics of TimeToast:
- Users are allowed to create and design their own interactive timelines in this webpage. This can be embedded into any site so as to share it on the web.
- You can add details, photos, and links to the timeline, however TimeToast has not yet developed the feature for adding video(s).
- Anyone who has a valid email address can join Timetoast for free. You don't need to register to read other timelines but you must sign up if you want to create one or leave comments.
- When you sign up you are sent an email to activate your account. As soon as you have activated it, it is then possible to create your first time line by adding a title, a picture, events, dates, links, and content.
Teaching and learning possibilities
This application can be useful in education as a tool to teach any topic related to time, history, or important events. Not only can it be an interactive source for teaching but it could also be an enjoyable way of learning.
For example, teachers could ask students to create their own timelines by investigating a topic such as the FIFA World Cup (URL: http://timetoast.com/timelines/24318), taking down notes and creating a timeline. They can even design timelines about a book they have read (http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/24852), their own lives, or any topic dealt in class and then share it with the classmates.
Adding new events is as simple as typing a Date and a Description. Short, clear directions are provided in order to help you. We think TimeToast is a very useful tool for creating and/or recording historical events via timelines.
Example links
World War II
http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/15297
Teachers could introduce the Past Tense using the timeline above that is about the main events of the Second World War. In addition, students may learn not only English Language but also History.
Thomas Alva Edison
http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/14462
This timeline is a good example to use for practising the passive voice by telling what was invented by Edison, among other grammatical functions.
FIFA World Cup
http://WWW.timetoast.com/timelines/24318
By learning about the Fifa World Cup students will learn the past tense, countries and nationalities.
Christopher Columbus
http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/6406
Using the timeline about Christopher Columbus students can learn not only History but also English. By describing his life and his trips, the students can practise the Past Tense.
With this application, it is very easy to introduce different topics and would be effective not only for small groups but also for people who work on their own. This simple visual tool can be used with writing and history activities, as well as with social studies. In addition, this application is very easy to use. All buttons do what you expect them to do and include the typical mouse-over description of their function.