After discovering ImageSpike yesterday, I started wondering how its use could be expanded across disciplines: social studies, science, math, etc.  It dawned on me that IamgeSpike would be an exceptional tool for language studies.  namely, it could be used to construct maps, charts, or other visuals that incorporate vocabulary study.  I imagine having Spanish students work with technology to create a "spiked" image, labeling items in an image in Spanish (see image below).  These images could then become student study tools for review and practice.  The same concept could be applied to anything that can be labelled: the names of states, the parts of a cell... you could even create an image of math problems and then "spike" in the answers.  ImageSpike is quickly becoming one of my favorite tools for the upcoming school year.  Also, I failed to mention in my last post that ImageSpike gives you embed code to post on your own website/blog/e-portfolio.

I recently discovered ImageSpike after reading about it on the Free Technology for Teachers blog, and I can see endless possibilities with this tool!  This would be a wonderful way to make my images more interactive.  According to the website, ImageSpike allows users to "mark up" photos with "interactive hotspots."  This sounds confusing at first, but it's easy to understand the concept once you see a "spiked" image.  It's also very easy to create one.  

To spike an image, first upload a picture from your PC or supply the URL address.  Next, click on areas of the picture to create "hot spots."  Hot spots are dots that appear on your image.  When you hover over the dot, a link appears.  You can link these hot spots to videos, web pages, images, etc.  Again, just supply the URL for the content you want to link to the hot spot.  It's multimedia on steroids.

Below is my first ever "spiked" image--a photo of Bernini's The Rape of Proserpina.  This shows how I would use ImageSpike in my own classroom: to link resources to an image, keeping my information organized and visually stimulating.  I could also see having students create images loaded with their own hot spots; this could take place of a standard poster board presentation, or could be used as part of a student presentation.  I could also have students visit a "spiked" image (similar to the image below) and then take notes or answer questions related to the media that students are directed to.  This would also work great with maps; I already have plans to create a spiked image of the journey of Odysseus to use this upcoming school year.  How will you use ImageSpike?