This website allows users to create interactive pictures for presentation. The website allows the user to upload pictures to it and then place interactive buttons on the picture for educational and business presentations.
Glitchy Review:
I would give this product a 4. I say this because it really works for OLDER students (think no one below 3rd grade). First ThingLink has a FREE sign up for teachers, you heard me FREE! While you do have limited access a Basic account allows you to sign up one class, access to limited icons for your creations, and an image editor. Even with these limitations there is still a lot you are able to do. I can create an interactive image to which I can share with my students via a projector, create a channel or follow channels, and attend webinars (one of the best parts). My students can create and share images they make as well.
This program does take some time to learn the ins and outs of this program; however, they do have handy videos at the bottom of your page to aid you and your students along the way. This is an easy program for a teacher who is experienced with technology and can take a new user a couple of videos and playing around to get. Most of my students were able to get the basics themselves and were working on their ThingLink before I finished explaining how to start one! The rest of my students were able to figure things out after I got them started and really enjoyed exploring the website.
As for student engagement, my students LOVED it. They are able to log in using their Google Drive and showcase their knowledge in a different way. They got so engaged in ThingLink (I as well) that we were late to lunch! For 6th graders to be late you know they were having a great time! My students were able to critical think with their partner on what they wanted to do with the ThingLink as well as how they were going to approach showing their knowledge. When used in the classroom this could be used as a different form of assessment, test prep, or final project; honestly the uses for it are endless.
ATTENTION to those teachers, schools, and districts who use AVID; this would be a great way to combine Google Templates (where students can make one-pagers) as the image and take their one pagers to a new level!
Now if you decide to pay there are a couple of different options available to you. Please remember these payment plans are per TEACHER. The different options allow for more classes per teacher as well as different abilities ThingLink has to offer. For example, you will have access to professional development for teachers, more preloaded and custom icons for teachers and students to use, and ability to make videos and 360 degree pictures editor; the list goes on and on.
Glitchy Rating: 4 (since it is best for older students)
User Rating: 2 there are parts of this you can explore and learn on your own and parts where you will need to reference the video below as we as the videos available on the website.
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