Tech Tac Toe-thinglink

I was easily able to set up all of my students with a free thinglink account. All I had to do was enter their names in a text box and the tool generated a list of user names (faux email addresses) and passwords. It warns you that this list will only be presented once; it gives you option to make a PDF, so I chose that option and saved it. I then printed out the list and cut it apart so I could give the information to the students.

I like to think of myself as tech savvy, but I have learned that applies exclusively to my personal use. When it comes to having my students using technology I tend to forget all about my motto “persistence” and give up. To better facilitate the students making their thinglink I worked with them in small groups of four during Daily 5 rotations. I also had a student who helped the other students log in and answer questions. The students were excited to try something new and were eager to help each other out. This proved to be a great way to work. The next time we do this I will break the students up into groups and have a trusted student work as a leader in each group.

The biggest challenge that thinglink posed for me was changing the size of the image, as you can see below. I know there must be a way to change the image size, however despite searching the thinglink FAQs I have not found it. Perhaps the image will need to be resized in another program before importing it, which would be an inconvenience, but not a deal breaker. As a teacher I can follow all of my students and make a Remix of the thinglinks they created, but I could not find a way to edit their images. I also have to have the students change their thinglinks to private, so only people with the link can view their thinglinks.

This is a great assessment tool for students, a way to introduce or summarize material, or as beginning of the year introduction activity or end of year reflection activity. The thinglinks we created were “All about me” and we will go back and edit them before the end of the year to get the students thinking about their biggest accomplishment and what they are most proud of from this year. I am excited to continue using this tool in class!

*Through our school district all students have a signed an image release.