August 30, 2007
Xtimeline - create timelines
Found this great timeline maker, xtimeline, on the web. I picked up the link from a podcast about Smartboards and followed the link up.
It allows you to create dynamic timelines easily, adding details, images,video and flash for each event you add.
The example below sums up what a great tool it is.
Xtimeline - History World War 1 example
As a teacher I could create these timelines to accompany topics, however, I think the true value of this website is getting students to create their own timelines.
Xtimeline is an intuitive to use, and I think most students would find it easy to use. It would be an excellent tool to support revision of chronology for a topic.
One tool that could be useful is the ability to create a timeline using an RSS feed - this might be useful when creating a timeline for something like a school trip, and presenting a diary of the vents in a slightly different way.
As a web2.0 site, xtimeline does offer potential e-safety issues, and you cannot be certain the information presented is accurate and unbiased. Encouraging students to use this to create timelines can expose them to slightly inappropriate material. It is obviously worth tackling this issue when using xtimeline, and hopefully students won’t spend too much time exploring the Heroes timeline.
It’s a pity there is not an educational version of this that removes the e-safety issues.
Filed by Paul at 11:41 am under free stuff, internet, web tools
