RWT Timeline

RWT Timeline allows users to create chronological sequences of events. When launching RWT Timeline, users must first create a profile by entering their name and creating an avatar. Next, users must title their outline; decide if they want to organize it by date, time, or event; and then tap the “start” button. Once selected, users are presented with a blank timeline. To create an entry on the timeline, users tap the timeline and then enter a label, short description, full description, and an image for an entry. (Not all this information is required to create an entry.) Once entered, users tap the “check” button, and RWT Timeline will create the entry on the timeline. This process can be repeated until all information is posted on the timeline.

Once an entry is placed on the timeline, users are able to manipulate its location on the timeline by tapping and dragging it. Once the timeline is finished, users can save it as a draft, a final, or send a final to someone over email. If the timeline is saved as final, it will be saved to users’ camera roll and in the app. If it is saved as a draft, the timeline will only be saved in the app.

Instructional Ideas for RWT Timeline

1. After reading a text, teachers can have students trace a character’s movement, the plot, or the actions in the text by creating a timeline using this app.
2. To draft a research paper, teachers can have students create a timeline as an outline. On the timeline, students can lay out their paper. If students are outlining a current-event paper, they may include information pertaining to the background of the topic, significance of the topic, and their arguments that are (un)supportive of the topic. Related to a historical person, students can offer information about the person’s childhood, education, work, and legacy. If they are writing an experiment, students can offer information about the phenomenon being experimented, their data-collection procedures, findings, and implications.
3. To differentiate instruction when students create a timeline, teachers can let students choose if they wish to use this timeline creator, or another one such as Timeglider. To support students in making their choice, teachers can allow students to use both timeline creating websites and then have students respond to the following: (1) Which website was easier to use?, (2) What did you like or not like about the timeline website?, and (3) Based on these two websites, what would you like to see added to them to make them “perfect” for you? Teachers can then facilitate a conversation based on students’ responses. At the conclusion of the conversation, teachers can have students choose and use the timeline creator website of their choice.
4. At the beginning of the year, teachers can use the app as part of a “Get To Know Me” activity by having students create timelines about their lives. Some entries to include on the timeline are births, vacations, and significant events/achievements (e.g., first car, graduation from elementary school, winning a big game, among others). These timelines can be shared by posting to a class website (e.g., Edmodo, Schoology), and teachers can require classmates to write responses to their classmates’ timelines.
5. If teachers are using literature circles, the student who is assigned the Travel Tracer role can use this app to record a character’s movement.

Screenshots for RWT Timelines