Reflection 5- Dipity

Hi all,

As a part of this weeks work on assessment task one we were required to write two blogs. Hopefully you have already read my blog entry on Glogster. If not, click on the following link to have a read Reflection 4- Glogster. This week we were given the option of choosing to review any digital tool we liked.  For the purposes of this blog I have chosen to review an online program known as Dipity.

Dipity is an free online timeline creation program which allows users to create timelines to suit a range of purposes. As mentioned by the creators of Dipity 'users can create, share, embed an collaborate on interactive, visually engaging timelines that integrate video, audio, images, text, links, social media, location and time stamps.'

Overall I found this program quite simple to work with. In fact, I believe it would be one of the easiest tools I have reviewed so far. It was easy to join and simple to create my own timeline. While becoming familiar with Dipity I searched a range of other timelines to form some ideas of my own. I found a large number of blogs on a range of topics. One that I found particulary interesting was the timeline on the life of Steve Jobs. This timeline can be found below.

Steve Job's Life and Career on Dipity.

While looking at this timeline I instantly thought of its potential uses in the classroom. In the upper primary school years students are often required to read an autobiography or biography of someone famous. This timeline could be used to supplement student reading or students could be required to create their own timeline as they read.

In order to become familiar with the Dipity tool, I created a short timeline of my own. This timeline could be used to teach students about the history of  Australia or could be created by students to show their own understanding.

history of Australia on Dipity.

I also created a second timeline which is quite different to the first two examples. This timeline could be used in the classroom as an alternative to journal writing or to supplement a 'show and tell' of what students did over their school holidays. 

My holiday on Dipity.

While creating these timelines I had a go at adding in videos, images and links to additional information. I also created a SWOT analysis of my own thoughts while looking at this digital tool.

For more information on creating a Dipity timeline you can watch the following video.

I believe that Dipity is ideal for use in the classroom as it can be used for a wide range of key learning area activities. Its use in the classroom is supported by a range of concepts we have looked at in our e-learning tutorials. The first of these concepts is supporting students using a range of learning styles. According to week one moodle work 'Each learner in your class has a unique combination of prior experience, prior knowledge, perceptions and attitudes, learning style, intelligence, personality and temperament.' Each of these elements will affect how students discover and internalise new information.  Like most of the digital tools we have looked at so far, the use of Dipity in the classroom will support visual learners. This is due to the large amount of images and videos embedded within each timeline. However Dipity can be arranged so that auditory learners can also be supported. This can be done through the use of audio tracks such as podcasts describing the events included in the timeline.

The use of Dipity in the classroom is also supported by the social constructivist learning theory. Week one moodle work describes the social constructivist learning theory as 'learning that is founded upon social interactions within a learning community or expert community.' Dipity is an excellent example of this as it allows students to comment on eachothers work, add events to others timelines or have additional information added to their own timeline. This is advantageous as it allows students to gain new knowledge or insights into historical events from their peers or other members of the community. Dipity also provides great scaffolding opportunities for teachers.

Programs like Dipity are particularly advantageous as the allow users to access a range of multi-media tools such as images, videos, audio and text. I believe that multi-media is a very important part of digital learning and essential part of preparing students for the 21st century. Multi-media can be seen everywhere around us, in fact right at this moment I am listening to the radio (audio), typing on the computer (text) and using facebook (videos, images, text, audio). If I was unaware of the uses and types of multi-media i am currently using I would be unable to effectively communicate with my peers, friends and the wider community.

From what I understand, the use of multi-media in the classroom encourages information retention as they are able to relate new information to pictures or videos they have seen. The manipulation of materials whether that be images or audio or video also aids in subject understanding. By analysing these multi-media tools students are able to create their own understandings. The use of Dipity in the classroom supports all of these vital skills.

As I have already mentioned I believe that Dipity could be used within the classroom for a range of purposes. It could be used to create timelines of historic events in history class, to record what has happened so far in a book (fiction or non-fiction), as a part of reflective writing, for use in presentations or assignments. Teachers could also use this program to engage students in a new topic, to gauge student knowledge in a new topic or even to map what they have taught so far throughout the school year (as a revision tool for students. I believe that this programs ideal use is in the intial stage of blooms taxonomy (Remembering) or the final stage (creating).

When working with Dipity in the classroom it is vital that students are familar with the neccessary legal and ethical rules of online content. When creating a timeline students will often be retriving ideas and information belonging to others on the internet.They need to be aware of copyright laws and how to properly reference the use of someone else's work. For more information on this feel free to have a look at some of week 2's moodle content.

Programs such as Dipity will help teachers and students achieve a range of learning outcomes. These could include but are not limited to; self directed learning, collaborative learning, assessing and building on prior knowledge.

Thanks for reading guys,
Michelle.