Once I understood the meaning of the acronym, I began to think about technologies and learning strategies that could be used to support TWRCing. I also created a poster to help reinforce the concept using the visual part of my brain (yes, I do believe in practicing what I preach/teach). Please feel free to share the poster found at the bottom of this post with your students and colleagues.

There are many strategies that you can use to support the TWRCing strategy and many of the tools I am sharing below could overlap and be used in conjunction with each other.  Keeping that in mind, here are a few of my thought regarding technologies that could be used to support the separate elements of  TWRCing…

Think

• Offer students an opportunity to create a comic based on the passage, chapter, or book that they have read.  Tell them ahead of time that they will create a comic based on what they are about to read.  That way they are more likely to visualize the passage as they read.  A few free Web 2.0 Comic generators that could be used include:
  • MakeBeliefsComix.com
  • ToonDoo
  • KerPoof Scholastics
  • Pikistrips
  • Comics Sketch
  • Witty Comics
• Students who have trouble writing and drawing could create and record a Voki character that vocalizes their thoughts.
• Ask students to mindmap what they have read using any number of mindmaps that are available as software packages or Web 2.0 tools.  Read through some of my Web 2.0 Mindmapping reviews to select the tool that best suits student needs:
  • Reproducible Graphic Organizer Resources
  • Create Graphic Organizers Using Generators & Web 2.0 Apps
  • Graphic Organizers: Web 2.0 apps Part II
  • Graphic Organizers: It’s a Wrap (for now)

Wonder

• Tell students they will read quietly for a set number of minutes and then ask students to share questions or predictions about what will happen next.  Use the online timers and Mindmapping tools below as you help students wonder out loud.  Project the timer online during reading time.  Then, use a mind mapping tool to develop project student thoughts on an interactive (or non-interactive board) at the front of the room:
  • Timers
    • e.ggtimer.com
    • I.D.E.A.S. Online Timer
    • TimeMe.com
    • Online-Timer
    • Classroom Timer
    • Fiery Ideas Timer
    • One Plus You Count-Down Timer
  • Mindmapping Tools (see list shown above)
• Show Document is a nifty net platform that can be used to facilitate collaborative online meetings. The product features numerous features that can be used together or one at a time.  The interactive white board and shared text editing features of this suite of tools would be particularly useful as students posted wonder statements and responded to peer statements.
• Depending on the material students are reading they could also use Debategraph, a Web 2.0 tool that can be used to “help groups collaborate in thinking through complex issues by building and sharing interactive maps of domains of knowledge from multiple perspectives.”

Reflect

• Students can journal periodically using time-frames established by the instructor using any one of the following online journals:
  • eWoff - a diary that can be used to record notes, reflections, and whatever else. Use it for private thoughts, a public journal, or both.
  • Penzu – a simple service that makes it very easy to write and save private notes or posts with images.
  • MyDearDiary – I found the interface of setting up a diary was pretty simple. The following privacy options are available: public, members only, semi-private, and private.
  • Visit my Web 2.0 Wonders for Summer Journaling post to learn about additional online Journals.
• Students will need Twitter accounts to use this tech-focused strategy for reflection (check to see what your school policy is).  Assign a twitter hashtag for the book or article students are reading.  Then, students can use Write4.net to type their thoughts and reflections. Information from the site:  ”Publish full articles without needing a blog or site. There’s no setup or login. Just write your text and Write4net will publish it using your Twitter account. That’s it. So easy. And free!“
• Create a class blog where students can add their reflections and respond to peer observations.  Visit Blogged.com to search through various blogs that could be introduced as exemplars.  While there are a number of blogs available for student use, two of my favorites include…
  • Class Blogmeister – a blog tool created for educators and students that includes build in privacy controls
  • Edublogs – blog hosting site for educators and students (the site has recently added pay-for options, but the free version is still an excellent option)

Connect

• Use a Venn Diagram to compare/contrast a reading/book with another literature/article/book that was covered in class previously.  Some quick Venn generators include…
  • Venn Diagram Generator –  input data using online forms
  • Read Write Think Circle Venn Generator
  • MIT Venn Diagram Generator
• Mindmapping Tools (see list above)

As much as I advocate the integration of technology when it is meaningful and a good fit, I also realize  that technology is not alway handy or timely.  Therefore, I created a bookmark-worksheet that you can download, print, and put to use as you develop student TWRCing skills.

twrc

Here is the poster I mentioned at the beginning of this post…

Don’t you just love this little guy?
The image used to create this poster was posted to Flickr by Alice Jamieson.
Click on this mini poster if you would like to view a larger version for printing.
Click on the title of this blog if you would like to email this post to a friend.

If you like this post you might also enjoy my following past posts:

• Literature Circles
• Guided Reading Materials
• 25+ Reading Comprehension Strategies

Web 2.0 Timeline Generators
1. Dipity.com – This marvelous online timeline creator makes it easy to pull in videos, pictures, and updates from hundreds of sources instantly so that students can create their own virtual timelines. The site also features a number of marvelous timelines created by other people who subscribe to this free service. Individuals can comment on the posted timelines making it a perfect vehicle for peer review of student-completed timelines. Timelines can also be turned into widgets that could be posted on a webpage or in a classroom blog. This is a great Web 2.0 Timeline tool!
2. Capzels – this is one of my favorite timeline generators to date. Explores some of the timelines posted on the site and you will understand why! You can create a timeline that includes text, images, sound, and more. In addition, you can set privacy options… all for free with registration. A great timeline resource
3. Timeline Index – this interactive timeline gives you an opportunity to drill down to a timeline of your choice. Select a person, event, timeframe, location, or object; then, keep clicking until you have refined your timeline. Timelines can be printed or turned into a widget (see sample below). Create a free account if you would like to save your timelines. Timelines created with this tool could be used with an Interactive whiteboard since many of the events/people link to expanded information.
   
4. Our Story – “Our Story is here to help you build and enrich your relationships and connections by guiding you (and others in your circle) to recall, write about, and illustrate life’s most important memories.” View the video below for details about this fantastic timeline generator…
5. xtimeline – xtimeline is a free web-based timeline. Easily create and share timelines with pictures and videos. Registration is free and required if you want to create and comment on timelines…great for providing feedback to students who develop timelines.
6. Preceden – this online tool lets you you make simple, powerful timelines for just about anything and you can set the permissions for each timeline. Free registration is required to create a timeline.
7. Lifeblob – Build your Social Timeline using RSS feeds, photographs, text or a combination of all on Lifeblob and see how your life intersects with those of your family and friends.
8. Timetoast – this online tool can be used to create interactive timelines, which can be shared anywhere on the web. Anyone can join Timetoast and start creating and sharing their own timelines. Free registration requires a valid email address.
9. Classtools.net – “A timeline is a great way of getting students to select and summarize key events across a defined period. This online tool allows them to do this simply and effectively, and to color-code the events if they choose to do so. They can also add a background image before printing off their work and / or saving it as a webpage for the school intranet / website!”
10. Fantasist Timeline Generator – simple and fun to use (but limited in scope), create a timeline by creating a name for your generator; then, establish a time span of years and determine how many events you would like to see each year.
11. Freetimeline – Free timeline allows you to build, save, share, and print arbitrary timelines absolutely free. Registration for an account is fast and free… no email required.
12. Center for History and New Media Timeline Builder – create a timeline after you have set up a free account. The timeline creator is straight-forward with few bells and whistles…great for text-based timeline creation.
13. Teachnology – create a vertical or horizontal timeline using the simple generators found at this site. The generators found at this site are probably best suited to younger students since there are minimal events available for each timeline.
14. Thinkport – “This builder will help you construct a timeline, adding events, descriptions, and images that help bring content alive.”
15. Our Timelines.com – create a text-based personal timeline of your life using this generator to see what important events in history mix in with your personal history.
16. Read*Write*Think Timeline Student Tool – use this online generator to make simple, text-based timelines with a limited number of events. This generator is probably best suited to younger students since there are minimal events available for each timeline.



Encompassing Timelines

17. HyperHistory Online – this timeline provides extensive information about world history during the last 3,000 years and abbreviated timelines for the years before that. The site is separated into five categories: People, History, Events, Maps, and Options (which covers the items that don’t fit into the other categories). This site links the timeline events and their dates with scientific, cultural, and religious facts and events. This is a great timeline to explore and share with students.
18. The History Place – explore several different timelines that are subject-specific. Topics include: American Revolution, The Civil War, 20th Century Topics (like Natives of North America, Apollo 11, etc), World War II timelines, Presidents of the U.S., and World History.
19. Timelines of History – this site is initially a bit confusing as you presented with a number of date-specific hyperlinks. The presentation of data is a bit dry, but very informative. Don’t miss the On This Day Video with Randy Barton, which is part of the site. The video incorporates a timeline and Randy shares highlights in history that are fun and interesting.
20. Historical Timeline – “Here you will find 5 timelines featuring some of the key events, inventions, and leaders which had a major impact on the world’s history.”



Subject-specific Timelines that can be explored online…

21. Edison Invents! – view a timeline featuring the life and innovations of Thomas Edison.
22. The Presidential Timeline of the Twentieth Century – explore the lives and administrations of twelve Presidents of the United States. The timeline features resources from the presidential libraries.
23. Fact Monster Timeline Archive – students can explore a number of diverse timelines using this portal page.
24. Alternatime – Students could spend hours exploring this huge portal of links to timelines.
25. Google News Timeline – view news headlines in a calendar/timeline fashion.
26. Timeline of Computer History – click on a year to see some great vintage photos and read some interesting information about computer technology.
27. A Teacher’s Guide to the Holocaust Timeline – this timeline focuses on the history of the Holocaust, chronicling the years from 1918 to 2003.
28. PBS Educational Resources – Many of the PBS Program Links incorporate timelines. Visit the PBS program link using the link I provided and perform a search for the word timeline.
29. Infoplease Archive Timelines – a portal of timeline links.
30. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History – a great resource for art teachers and students, timelines can be viewed by geographic area or time period.



Miscellaneous Timeline Resources

31. Footnote.com – While this site is not a timeline creation site, it is a marvelous companion site that could be used to develop timelines that include digitally archived artifacts. Through a partnership with The Library of Congress National Archives and other institutions, this site will help you and your students find document-based materials. Students will also discover several timelines dispersed throughout the site as they research.
32. Excel Timeline Templates – use the marvelous Excel templates found on this site to create some great looking and informative timelines.
33. Word Timeline Template – create a basic timeline in Word using this free template from Microsoft.



Teaching with Timelines

34. Timeline Helps – This timeline teaching site targets home-school educators, but the information is relevant for all educators.
35. Timeline Graphic Organizer
36. Printable Blank Timeline
37. Printable Blank Timeline Pieces
38. Scholastic Vertical Timeline Worksheet
39. Make a Timeline Worksheet
40. Time for Kids Timeline Worksheets – nine different worksheets
41. EdHelper Ready Made Timelines for Bulletin Boards – several multi-page timelines that can be used for bulletin boards
42. Enchanted Learning Make Your Own Timeline Worksheets