Timelines


A timeline is " a way of displaying a list of events in chronological order, sometimes described as a project artifact. It is typically a graphic design showing a long bar labelled with dates alongside itself and usually events labelled on points where they would have happened.' ( from Wikipedia ). 

 

Timeline Makers

http://www.timetoast.com/

 

 

Great easy site

http://www.softschools.com/teacher_resources/timeline_maker/ 

 

Timeline Makers are traditionally used to explore the life of an idividual or the events of a particular period. You could also use them to explore the day in the life of a person such as a Priest or Rabbi. I haven't come across any tools that allow you to compare two timelines simultaneously but obviously it would be possible to get students to produce different timelines for comparison. These could be used to explore differences or to think about an event from multiple perspectives. For example, using a Timeline to map the possible thoughts and feelings of Martin Luther and the Pope during the Reformation. In some tools you can attach pictures, text and video so why not use a Timeline Maker to make a presentation rather than Powerpoint. As always care should be taken to check the appropriateness of the material on display when using public websites.

1. Dipity - This is one of my favourite timeline makers. It requires Internet Explorer 7 to run which may be a problem for some networks. While Dipity has limitations such as not being able to go BC, it does allow you to add pictures, video and text to your timeline. What really makes it stand out from the crowd is that if you give your timeline points a geographical tag it will automatically produce a google map of all your key points. So, for example, if you collected the points in a person's life you could also see their geographical journey.

2. Capzles - This is one of the best looking Tools around. You can begin building a Capzle without validating your e-mail. The Uploader works quickly and is striaghtforward to use. I thought the tool for dating and tagging the photos would work better if you could enter dates rather than scroll through them. In addition the actual day and year had to be exact or it would not save with the entered date but rather the default date of creation. So for example, if you enter Fri 4th 1965 and Friday was actually the third, then it will not save. Of course if you are a stikler for detail then this may well be a positive. The easiest way to get the correct day is to type the year into the box rather than scroll and then click on the date in the calendar. Once events are entered they will automatically be put in order. This example does not include video, audio or text but the multimedia elements are easily attached. There is also a comment box for viewers to add comments about the finished Timeline. Click on the Capzles logo on the bottom left to see the full size timeline in all its glory.


4. Our Story - Comes with a Parenting Magazine 'Mom Tested' recommendation so should be relatively safe to use. You can add video or photos to your timeline. You can be as specific or vague about the date as you like. You can tagg photos and there is also a place to edit your photos and videos. The timeline can be private or public and others can comment on it if you wish. You also have control of who can edit your timeline. There is a small choice of designs for your timeline. Each user can only create one timeline on the free account therefore you would need to delete the existing line before adding a new one. There is no facility to print the timeline although you can purchase a book version if you want. There is a question function which I never quite worked out. One of the best features of this tool is that the finished timeline can be played like a movie as you can see in the example below.

5. TimeRime - Your e-mail address needs to be authenticated to begin using this tool. As always make sure the posted Timelines are suitable for students. When I registered the 2 featured timelines were Aids and Gay Cancer. There is a BC function by using minus numbers (-500) You can add additional text, links, pics and video which appear beneath the Timeline. You can add a general period which appears at the bottom of the timeline. (Civil Rights 1960-1970) It seems to be possible to only have photos/items appear at different zoom levels but I found it simplest when they just appeared at level 1. It took a while to work out how to edit the items after they had been entered in order to correct mistakes. The easiest way was to click on the name of the item which was in a small box to the right of the screen just above the Google ads. Unfortunately on the day I used the tool the advert was for Gay Partners and I don't think this would be acceptable to some parents. I presume that if I visited the site on another day with a different featured site then the adds would be different. You can have several timelines appearing in different tabs for comparison but you couldn't superimpose one on the other which would be a useful feature.

6. Timetoast - You must validate your e-mail before beginnning. It has a very simple interface which allows you to add an event which includes a small description, a picture and a link. You must use the exact date and the timeline automatically puts the events in order. The finished timeline is a cisp, clear timeline. You can share the timeline with others although it cannot be edited without using the original password. There is a comment box for viewers to leave feedback. Multiple timelines can be made although they must be viewed separately.

7. Viygo - the tool can be started without validating your e-mail. I found it a bit complicated to use and once saved it wasn't easy to find. No clear instructions to help.

8. Xakasha - You don't need to validate the password to begin. Dates only go back to 1700 and is designed more for your own life. However, you could use for a timeline in the last 300 years. Full date needs entered and once event is created you can add pictures, video etc. You can only create one timeline. The only way to allow group editing would be to share the password. There are a range of backgrounds to choose from and the finished product looks very stylish. I particularly like the way it integrates the video into the timeline. (It has now become Kronomy, still looks great although a lot of celebrity type timelines now on site - sexiest women etc. which may be unsuitable for school use)

9. Dandelife - Timeline that also enables streams to be added. This is a mash-up tool designed to compete with social networking sites. May be a bit more than is needed for classroom use

10. Rememble - See the review under Multimedia scrapbooks

 

 11. Timeglider - Good looking timeline maker. Has a simple bar at the side to change the view from decades to days. You can insert pictures and text as well as the date. This is an example of world war 1.

 

12.
Tiki-Toki - A good looking Timeline, also has a group edit setting which could be useful for school use.


13. Time Magazine Timelines - This is a fairly basic looking timeline but perhaps the key feature is the ability to use photos from Time Magazine's archive.

 

 

 


TikiToki

 

TikiToki  is a great application for multimedia timelines making . It allows its users to create stunning animated timelines. TikiToKi is very easy to use and above all its basic version is completely free . 

Time Glider
This is a web tool that lets you create, collaborate on, and publish zooming/planning interactive timelines for free.It is like Google Maps but for time.

OurStory
Ourstory enables you to write stories, tag friends, and add media to collaborative timelines either privately or in public.

Read Write Think
Read Write Think has a beautiful timeline tool that allows users to add project labels and easily create timelines.

Xtimeline
Xtimeline is a free web-based timeline that you can use to easily create and share timelines with pictures and videos.

TimeToast
TimeToast is another  great tool that allows you to create timelines and share them on the web. The process only takes a couple of minutes and is very simple to use.

Dipity
Dipity is a free digital timeline website. Users can create, share embed and collaborate on interactive, visually engaging timelines that integrate video, audio, images, text, links, social media, location and timestamps.